Houses and Properties Pathfinders

Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in California by Avina, Rose H.
Traces the beginnings of land grants in the North, Spanish and Mexican laws related to land grants, and the Mexican Ranchos from 1822-1847.

The House Journal by Bernhard, Sandy and Ela, Tom
Files on houses and buildings by street address.

The House Research Guide by Brownstone Biographies 
A step-by-step manual for owners, occupants, and other old house lovers. MISSING.

Ranchos of California by Cowan, Robert G.
A list of Spanish Concessions and Mexican Grants including Marin County land grants.

They Chose to Be Different by Crandall, Chuck 
Unusual California homes, three of which are in Mill Valley.

A Guide to Architecture in San Francisco and Northern California by Gebhard, Montgomery, et al.
See pages 208-212.

City of Mill Valley Assessment Book 1901-1907 by Janes, Louis 
Property assessment records for Mill Valley. MISSING.

Mill Valley Home Info by the Mill Valley Historical Society
Files on houses and buildings by street address.

Description of Lots Dated 1906-1910 by White, Ralston
Handwritten book with copies of surveys of lots and alleys.  Covers streets in Homestead Valley and Mill Valley proper.

Bay Area Houses by Woodbridge, Sally 
See index under "Mill Valley".

Directory Shelf: 061.9462-979.462
Directories and phone books of clubs, government organizations, private and public organization, businesses, and people in Marin County, Mill Valley, and San Francisco from 1914-2001. Haines Directories from 1976-2010. History Room use only; cannot be checked out.

Houses and Buildings Files
Files on houses and buildings by street address.

Maps Case 3 
A variety of maps of the San Francisco Bay Area, Marin County, and Mill Valley, including Sanborn Maps.

Anne T. Kent California Room<, Marin Civic Center Library

Assessor-Recorder's Office, Marin Civic Center
For those interested in discovering historical and/or legal data for their real property, the Assessor-Recorder’s office may prove to be a useful source of information.  For each parcel of assessable property in the county, the Assessor’s Office can generate a paper record containing assessment and ownership history, deed references and, where applicable, a building description record which usually contains a scaled sketch of the building plus actual or estimated dates of original construction, additions, remodeling, etc.  This information may be obtained at Room 208 in Marin Civic Center.  Also in this office is Assessor’s Mapping Services which may be helpful when attempting to research historical lot line changes.

The Recorder’s Office (Room 232) contains a microfilm repository of all recorded deeds and other documents going back well over 100 years.  A deed reference is necessary to access this data.  References may be obtained from the Assessor’s records (as above) or from the Grantor-Grantee index located in the Recorder’s section.

A parcel number - a unique number assigned to all assessment units - is valid only back as far as the property is unchanged as regards lot lines and boundaries.  History prior to such changes usually lies with the inactive or “dead” parcel, which records may or may not be available.  Parcel numbers are different from subdivision lot numbers.

Any property owner bearing identification can review her/his assessment records at the Assessor’s Office in Civic Center and may obtain copies at a nominal charge.  Records of another’s property may be obtained only with a signed letter of authorization from the owner of record.