The Care And Use of the County Archives of California

inistrative and his records are accumulated as a result of his administrative activity, the recorder is essentially an archivist, his chief and only duty being to see that the instruments presented to him. are properly transcribed into permanent record books or otherwise safely filed. Since 1850, when the office was created, the duties have gradually been increased through statutory provisions requiring that additional kinds of instruments be recorded. The act which created the office of county recorder, set forth his duties to be as follows: "The Recorder shall have the custody of and shall safely keep and preserve all the books, records, deeds, maps, and papers deposited and kept in his office, and it shall be his duty to record or cause to be recorded correctly: 1st. All deeds, mortgages, releases of mortgage, conveyances, deeds of trust, bonds, covenants, powers of attorney, leases, transcripts of judgments, or other instruments of writing, whereby any real estate is conveyed or may be affected, which shall have been proved or acknowledged according to law and authorized to be recorded. 2nd. All papers and documents found in or transmitted to their respective offices, of and concerning lands or tenements, and which were received from the Mexican authority at the change of government. 3rd. All marriage contracts and certificates of marriage. 4th. All commissions and official bonds required by law to be recorded in their offices. 5th. All trans...