Since the middle 1980s, the Victor Valley College Library has been collecting books, manuscripts, maps, oral histories, photographs, and other materials on the Victor Valley and the High Desert.

Local organizations, such as the Mohave Historical Society, government agencies, and private individuals have donated or loaned material to this collection to help make possible a central place for historical research.

Materials are organized, cataloged, and preserved so that they will be accessible to everyone in the community and interested researchers, as well as to future generations.

Donations to the collection are gratefully accepted and acknowledged. As it grows in depth and breadth, the collection becomes more valuable to researchers, students, and interested community members.

The Local History collection consists of over 1,800 photographs, historical maps, old newspapers on microfiche, land records, oral history tapes and transcripts, numerous subject files, manuscripts, and many rare books on desert history.

Photographs are copied and cataloged for easy access. Subject files cover such topics as railroads, mining, schools, ranches, businesses, development, plants, animals, geology, water issues, land use, and history of people and towns. Oral histories include interviews from the 1970s of old-timers who had lived in the Victor Valley as far back as the early 1900s.

This unique collection is available to all students, researchers, and community members who enjoy learning about the rich heritage of the Victor Valley.

Regular hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, or by appointment. Call 245-4271, ext. 2298 for questions or to schedule an appointment.