Archives

The Capp Street Project Archive documents the process, intention, and realization of installations and temporary projects sponsored by the Capp Street Project, 1983-1998. Under the auspices of California College of the Arts Libraries, the archive preserves and organizes materials relating to the projects and makes these materials available for study and research. Capp Street Project became part of The Wattis Institute in 1998.

From the 1960s through the 1980s, Environmental Psychologist Robert Sommer photographed large-scale driftwood sculptures created in the Emeryville mudflats. His images of these iconic—now gone—sculptures reflect a time of radical change in the Bay Area. Oral histories of Mudflats creators were made possible by a 2017 California Humanities grant.

From the silverware of the college’s founder, Frederick Meyer, to student zines from the 1970s, the CCA/C Archives is a treasure trove of materials related to the evolving history of the college over 110 years.

The Simpson Library houses a collection of work documenting Joseph C. Sinel's career in design. The "father of industrial design," Sinel was an instructor at California College of Arts & Crafts in the 1920s and again in 1949/1950, later receiving CCAC's honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

The collection includes original work in graphic design, typography, and industrial design; as well as photographs and artwork and correspondence.