Santa Barbara Community Archives Project

02/05/2026

SBCAP participant Camryn Foss and her family's history in surfing is featured in today's Coastal View News. As always, a great local history article by the amazing surf historian Vince Burns. If you haven't seen the board Vince mentions in the article, drop everything and go check out the surf museum at Surf N Wear's Beach House

A priceless cache of 8 mm film has brought into focus some of the earliest days of surfing at Rincon and the life and times of the Point’s first known

12/01/2025

Images and footage of weddings, holidays and pieces of Santa Barbara history are being preserved thanks to the Santa Barbara community archives project

11/19/2025

Thank you to the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society for hosting us last weekend!📽️💟

11/14/2025

In collaboration with the UCSB Library and the Santa Barbara Community Archives Project, our society is proud to present:

⭐️”Screening Our Stories: Home Movies from Santa Barbara”⭐️ Led by curator and Santa Barbara Community Archives Project co-founder Laura Jean Treat Liebhaber, the film will showcase the project to digitize and preserve local family histories!

Join us at our free and open to the public monthly meeting on November 15th from 9:30am-12:00pm at the Sahyun Genealogy Research Library, 316 Castillo Street, Santa Barbara for refreshments and informal talks on topics from beginning genealogy to writing family histories, a brief business meeting, and the presentation of Laura’s program. Advance registration is required to attend the program in-person or via Zoom. Register here: https://sbgen.org/meetings-classes/calendar-new/ #!event/2025/11/15/monthly-meeting-hybrid 🎥🎞️

10/29/2025

10/10/2025

Join the 🎞️ Santa Barbara Community Archives Project 🎞️ at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art for Community Archiving Day, Sunday, October 12 from 12–4 PM!

SBCAP began at UCSB Library in 2022 to help preserve the stories that make up Santa Barbara County, one family photo at a time. Bring 1–5 cherished photographs of your family, friends, or workplace to be digitized for free and added to the community archive, and enjoy complimentary Museum admission as part of Second Sunday at SBMA. 🎨

Eligible Content: Photographs which document you, your family, friends, or workplace in Santa Barbara County.

Criteria:
📸 1-5 individual photographic prints in total
📸 Unframed, loose, and measuring 8.5” x 11” or smaller
📸 Must have been captured by you or a family member
📸 Acceptable to share online

Help celebrate and preserve our shared history! 🎞️

10/01/2025

Join the Santa Barbara Community Archives Project in preserving local history at Free Second Sunday for community members at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art! Bring your cherished family photographs for free digitization and explore the museum's wonderful offerings!

Sunday, October 12, 2025
12 - 4 PM
Art Learning Lab, SBMA

09/25/2025

Are you an SBHS alumni returning for the 150th Anniversary All Don's Reunion? Bring your treasured photographs from high school for digitization! We will be having another photo scanning session in collaboration with the Santa Barbara High School Alumni Association- Board of Directors !🌟📸

When: Thursday, October 9 from 4pm - 6pm
Where: SBHS Alumni Room

09/14/2025

Happy Grandparents' Day! 👵💝📸 We have digitized several photographs from Santa Barbara County featuring cherished memories with Grandparents.

The Santa Barbara Community Archives project is an initiative to preserve family stories from Santa Barbara County. By archiving your photos, you are one step closer to protecting your valued memories and contributing to the historical record of the region.

Learn more about SBCAP: https://spotlight.library.ucsb.edu/starlight/sbcap

Photographs contributed by Rebecca Vasquez, Dennis Koski, and Jeanette Arnoldi.

09/03/2025

Fall means that school's in session! 🍂📚📸Santa Barbara High School has been in session for 150 years! Enjoy these photos from 1985, 1973, 2001, and 1923.

Thank you to Yolanda Medina, Sharon Henning, and the Santa Barbara High School Alumni Association for sharing these incredible memories!

See more from SBHS Alumni: https://spotlight.library.ucsb.edu/starlight/sbcap/browse

08/20/2025

Today is National Radio Day, marking the first broadcast in 1920. To celebrate, we are sharing a photograph circa 1950-1965 featuring KTMS Radio, the Santa Barbara News-Press radio station. Tony Molina, seen at the microphone, hosted La Hora Mexicana, frequently featuring Mexican musicians. Richard Hidalgo (left back row), president of the Union Civica, worked with the Mexican consulate and produced several Mexican cultural events.🎙📻📸

Learn more about the Hidalgo family: https://spotlight.library.ucsb.edu/starlight/sbcap/browse/hidalgo-family

Photographs contributed by Araceli Hidalgo.

08/04/2025

Meet the family behind the iconic Arnoldi's Cafe! Founded by Joe and Ilda Arnoldi in 1936, the cafe still serves Italian delights.🍝 Many Santa Barbara residents can remember enjoying family dinners, weddings, and bocce ball games at this local gem!🌟📸

Learn more about the Arnoldi Family: https://spotlight.library.ucsb.edu/starlight/sbcap/browse/arnoldi-family

Photographs contributed by Jeanette Arnoldi.