Napa Valley College is fortunate to have a local history collection, entitled the California Collection. The books were purchased from a bequest to build a local history collection and promote student and community interest in Napa's heritage. The collection comes primarily from the holdings of David Wheatley, a local prune farmer, and avid collector of California history.

Through a generous gift of Jessamyn West's husband, Henry Maxwell McPherson and daughter, Ann McCarthy Cash, the Napa College Library is pleased to feature the Jessamyn West Collection. Jessamyn West (1902-1984) was born in Indiana and spent her childhood there as a Quaker in an Irish Quaker community. She wrote several novels set in the southeastern part of the state. The Friendly Persuasion, published in 1945, was later made into a movie starring Gary Cooper. West lived in Napa from the 1950's until her death in 1984. In 1998, upon presenting a book for the collection, Mr. McPherson wrote: "For Napa College Library. This is the literary history of my wife, Jessamyn, who shared my struggles and successes in birthing and nurturing Napa College. Her one and constant reminder: The Library is the heart and soul of any college."

To support Napa Valley College's Viticulture and Winery Technology program, the library has developed a special Viticulture Collection of books donated by local vintners.