Have you heard of "public lands" but you're not quite sure what that means? Are you curious about what California's land looked like in the past? 

Join us for an introduction to searching for historic land records and a tutorial on using the US Federal General Land Office Records database.

This publicly-accessible database is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and contains thousands of land records, maps, and surveys that contain a multifaceted history of the American West (and beyond).

In this session, we’ll cover how to find master title plats, cadastral surveys, surveyor’s field notes, as well as original patent documents (focusing on California) so if you want to learn how the US Federal government documents federal and private land title, rights, and usage, this workshop is for you.

There are many uses of these primary source documents; whether you have an interest in history, federal law and governance, natural resources (agriculture, mining, forestry etc), land use (urbanization, privatization, environmentalism etc), or surveying and cartography, there should be something in this session for you! 

We'll begin with an overview of native lands, US federal public land management, surveying, and legal land descriptions. Then we'll shift to a hands on demonstration of the GLO Records Database for searching and downloading land record documents. 

Attendees should arrive with their own laptops if they wish to participate. Compters will not be provided.

Please note that this workshop series is only open to current Stanford University Affiliates, with full SunetID privileges.