The California State Library has selected Newport Beach as the California History Section’s City of the Month. This distinction highlights organizations involved in local cultural preservation and outreach, as well as the varied local history resources available to researchers at the State Library.
The California History Section holds a premier collection of documents from and about California's rich history. Their vaults house thousands of rare books, maps, newspapers, and periodicals in addition to a huge collection of unique photographs, letters, and ephemeral items such as posters, pamphlets and sheet music. In July of 2018, in an effort to better support the work of local governments and historical societies in promoting and preserving the past, the California History Section started the City of the Month program as a companion to their County of the Month program. This recognition honors the diverse character of California's many cities while providing research tips to individuals interested in finding out more about California local history.
The State Library has prepared an excellent Research Guide for Newport Beach History.
The Newport Beach Public Library also houses an extensive Local History Collection at the Central Library. This unique collection is comprised of historical works and rare publications documenting life in California. Special emphasis on Orange County cities and luminaries are featured. The Balboa branch of the Newport Beach Public Library houses a robust collection of nautical books, DVDs, fiction, and periodicals, both historical and contemporary.
