Welcome to the Governors' Gallery, a tribute to the individuals who have served as chief executive of the State of California from 1850 to present.

Index of Governors

For each of the past Governors, the Gallery contains:

• A brief biography,
• Official portrait,
• Inaugural Addresses,
• Selected facts, and
• A timeline of events in California, the U. S. and the World.

In the Inaugural Address, each Governor has the opportunity to present the policies and priorities for his or her term in office. As a historical document, each Inaugural Address provides a useful view of the social, economic and political issues of that time, as seen by that Governor and in the language of that era. In time, the Governors' Gallery will also contain annual State-of-the-State addresses and other key documents.

The Governors' Gallery was developed by the California State Library, under the guidance and direction of Dr. Kevin Starr, State Librarian Emeritus. The State Capitol Museum provided invaluable assistance, including the brief biographies from its publication, The Governors of California and their Portraits. The California Department of General Services gave permission to use the images of the official portraits. See Sources and Credits for a more complete listing of books, resources and credits.

Comments and suggestions for the Governors' Gallery should be sent to Governors' Gallery at the California State Library.