California Historical Society | 3,446 followers on LinkedIn. Working statewide to inspire and empower people to make California’s past a meaningful part of their contemporary lives | The California Historical Society (CHS) is a membership-based, non-profit organization with a mission to inspire and empower people to make California's richly diverse past a meaningful part of their contemporary lives. CHS headquarters at 678 Mission Street in San Francisco accommodate the North Baker Research Library, exhibition galleries, retail store, and administrative offices.