Everything ever written, or to be written, about the American Indians of California is in some way a record of the history of these people. A full bibliography of California Indian history, therefore, would run to a volume of substantial size. This bibliographical essay is a guide to some works of basic importance for introducing the reader to the subject. Titles selected are from a list about four times as large. The 193 citations pertain to the Indians of California as a whole as well as of individual tribes. Published between 1846 and 1976, the materials review their history from aboriginal times to the present and discuss the varied effects of Spanish, Mexican, and United States expansion against tribes who were also varied in their aboriginal cultures. The essay is organized by subheadings: the study of Indian civilization, Native world view, demography, Indian-white relations to 1870, the reservation period and urbanization, and Indians and the law. An alphabetical list of all works cited is included. All citations in the essay are keyed by means of bracketed numbers to the more complete information in the list. Preceding the list are two sets of recommended titles--one for the beginner and the other for a basic library collection. Works suitable for secondary school students are denoted by asterisks in the alphabetical list. Also listed are 17 artifact, manuscript, and pictorial repositories. This book can be useful to both beginning students and advanced scholars. (Author/NQ)