Due the nature of the newspaper business and the need to draw ever more readers, managing editors generally prefer chess columns aimed at the general reader, rather than the chess player. So, as a rule, there are more columns written concerning general chess topics than regional ones. Even so, chess columns are generally published weekly, which means that they can get the local news to chessplayers more quickly than the monthly magazines. This list, of course, represents only a small fraction of the California chess columns published since 1850. But, as more information is unearthed, it will be included.

An underline ( _ ) means 'and'. For instance, January 1_3, means January 1 and January 3.
A hyphen ( - ) means 'to'. For instance, January 1-3, means January 1, January 2 and January 3.
KW means information was taken from "Chess Columns, A List" by Ken Whyld.

Argonaut: (published weekly in San Francisco)

     Editor: J. F. Welsh
     THE CHESS PLAYER, 1884 (Canadian Chess Chat 1952)

     Editor: J. E. Tippett
     12/1/1884-1888 KW

     Editor: Dr. H. J. Ralston
     1952 (Sacramento Chess News Volume III, Issue 3, April 12, 1952)

Argus, The: (published every week in Fremont - Newark)

     Editor: Richard R. Shorman
     1968-1974

Chess, Monday, December 9, 1968
Chess, Monday, February 10, 1969
Chess, Saturday, June 26, 1971
Chess, Sunday, January 7, 1973
Chess, Sunday, June 2, 1974
Chess, Sunday, July 28, 1974
Chess, Sunday, September 8_22, 1974
Chess, Sunday, November 10, 1974

Berkeley Barb: (published in Berkeley)

     Editor: Jude Acers
     1972-1975

Some issues of the Berkeley Barb, especially during the 1972 Fischer-Spassky match, contained chess articles (on the match) instead of his Chess Barbs column. Later issues, December 1972 on, contained chapters from his still-to-be-published The Road. These articles and chapters aren't listed, because they're not chess columns.

Chess Barbs, March 3-9, 1972
Chess Barbs, March 10-16, 1972
Chess Barbs, March 17-23, 1972
Chess Barbs, March 24-30, 1972
Chess Barbs, March 31-April 6, 1972
Chess Barbs, April 7-13, 1972
Chess Barbs, April 21-27, 1972
Chess Barbs, April 28-May 4, 1972
Chess Barbs, May 5-11, 1972
Chess Barbs, May 12-18, 1972
Chess Barbs, May 19-25, 1972
Chess Barbs, May 26-June 1, 1972
Chess Barbs, June 9-15, 1972
Chess Barbs, June 16-23, 1972
Chess Barbs, June 23-29, 1972
Chess Barbs, June 30-July 6, 1972
Chess Barbs, August 4-10, 1972
Chess Barbs, August 11-17, 1972
Chess Barbs, August 18-24, 1972
Chess Barbs, August 25-31, 1972
Chess Barbs, September 1-7, 1972
Chess Barbs, September 8-14, 1972
Chess Barbs, September 15-21, 1972
Chess Barbs, September 22-28, 1972
Chess Barbs, September 29-October 5, 1972
Chess Barbs, October 6-12, 1972
Chess Barbs, October 13-19, 1972
Chess Barbs, October 20-26, 1972
Chess Barbs, November 10-16, 1972
Chess Barbs, November 17-23, 1972
Chess Barbs, November 24-30, 1972
Chess Barbs, December 1-7, 1972
Chess Barbs, December 22-28, 1972
Chess Barbs, January 5-11, 1973
Chess Barbs, January 12-18, 1973
Chess Barbs, January 19-25, 1973
Chess Barbs, February 2-8, 1973
Chess Barbs, February 9-15, 1973
Chess Barbs, February 16-22, 1973
Chess Barbs, March 9-15, 1973
Chess Barbs, March 16-22, 1973
Chess Barbs, March 30-April 5, 1973
Chess Barbs, April 13-19, 1973
Chess Barbs, April 20-26, 1973
Chess Barbs, April 27-May 3, 1973
Chess Barbs, May 4-10, 1973
Chess Barbs, May 18-24, 1973
Chess Barbs, May 25-31, 1973
Chess Barbs, June 1-7, 1973
Chess Barbs, June 15-21, 1973
Chess Barbs, July 13-19, 1973
Chess Barbs, July 20-26, 1973
Chess Barbs, July 27-August 2, 1973
Chess Barbs, August 3-9, 1973
Chess Barbs, August 17-23, 1973
Chess Barbs, August 24-30, 1973
Chess Barbs, September 14-20, 1973
Chess Barbs, September 21-27, 1973
Chess Barbs, September 28-October 4, 1973
Chess Barbs, October 5-11, 1973
Chess Barbs, November 23-29, 1973
Chess Barbs, January 4-10, 1974
Chess Barbs, January 18-24, 1974
Chess Barbs, January 25-31, 1974
Chess Barbs, February 1-7, 1974
Chess Barbs, February 8-14, 1974
Chess Barbs, February 15-21, 1974
Chess Barbs, March 1-7, 1974
Chess Barbs, March 22-28, 1974
Chess Barbs, March 29-April 4, 1974
Chess Barbs, April 5-11, 1974
Chess Barbs, April 12-18, 1974
Chess Barbs, May 17-23, 1974
Chess Barbs, November 15-21, 1974
Chess Barbs, November 22-28, 1974
Chess Barbs, December 27-January 2, 1975
Chess Barbs, January 24-30, 1975
Chess Barbs, January 31-February 6, 1975

Berkeley Daily Gazette: (published in Berkeley)

     Editor: Alan Benson
     1974

Benson on Chess, Tuesday, October 1, 1974

Berkeley Gazette: (published in Berkeley)

     Editor: Lance Gilmore
     1977 (1977 USCF Yearbook)

California Spirit of the Times: (published in San Francisco)

     1859 KW

Call: (published Sunday in San Francisco)

     1896 KW

     Editor: E. J. Clark
     Sunday, February 2, 1913-Sunday, August 31, 1913

     Editor: Henry Overeem
     1953 KW

City of San Francisco: (published in San Francisco)

     Editor: Jude Acers
     1976

January 6, 1976

Communicator: (published in San Luis Obispo)

     Editor: Wendell Holmes
     1977 (1977 USCF Yearbook)

Concord Press: (published in Concord)

     Editor: Jerry Long
     1967

Chess, August 24, 1967

Daily Californian, The: (published by UC Berkeley)

     Editor: Alan Benson
     Early 1970's

Daily Democrat, The: (published every Monday in Danville)

     Editor: Gary Pickler
     1971-1974 (1974 USCF Yearbook)

Chess, January 4_11_18_25, 1971
Chess, February 1_8_15_22, 1971

Davis Enterprise: (published in Davis)

     Editor: Thomas G. Dorsch
     1974 (1974 USCF Yearbook)

Epitome, The: (published in Los Angeles)

     3-February-1894 KW

Evening Express: (published in Los Angeles)

     Editor(s): Clif Sherwood, Stasch Mlotkowski
     September-1921 KW

Golden Era: (published in San Francisco)

     20-February-1859 KW

Hayward Daily Review: (published every Sunday in Hayward)

     Editor: Richard R. Shorman
     6-August-1967 to 1981

Chess, August 6_13_20_27, 1967
Chess, September 3_10_17_24, 1967
Chess, October 1_8_15_22_29, 1967
Chess, November 5_12_19_26, 1967
Chess, December 3_10_17_24_31, 1967
Chess, January 7_14_21_28, 1968
Chess, February 4_11_18_25, 1968
Chess, March 3_10_17_24_31, 1968
Chess, April 7_14_21_28, 1968
Chess, May 5_12_19_26, 1968
Chess, June 2_9_16_23_30, 1968
Chess, July 7_14_21_28, 1968
Chess, August 4_11_18_25, 1968
Chess, September 1_8_15_22_29, 1968
Chess, October 6_13_20_27, 1968
Chess, November 3_10_17_24, 1968
Chess, December 1_8_15_22_29, 1968
Chess, January 5_12_19_26, 1969
Chess, February 2_9_16_23, 1969
Chess, March 2_9_16_23_30, 1969
Chess, April 6_13_20_27, 1969
Chess, May 4_11_18_25, 1969
Chess, June 1_8_15_22_29, 1969
Chess, July 6_13_20_27, 1969
Chess, August 3_10_17_24_31, 1969
Chess, September 7_14_21_28, 1969
Chess, October 5_12_19_26, 1969
Chess, November 2_9_16_23_30, 1969
Chess, December 7_14_21_28, 1969
Chess, January 4_11_18_25, 1970
Chess, February 1_8_15_22, 1970
Chess, March 1_8_15_22_29, 1970
Chess, April 5_12_19_26, 1970
Chess, May 3_10_17_24_31, 1970
Chess, June 7_14_21_28, 1970
Chess, July 5_12_19_26, 1970
Chess, August 2_9_16_23_30, 1970
Chess, September 6_13_20_27, 1970
Chess, October 4_11_18_25, 1970
Chess, November 1_8_15_22_29, 1970
Chess, December 6_13_20_27, 1970
Chess, January 3_10_17_24, 1971
Chess, February 7_14_21_28, 1971
Chess, March 7_14_21_28, 1971
Chess, April 4_11_18_25, 1971
Chess, May 2_9_16_23, 1971
Chess, June 6_13_20_27, 1971
Chess, July 4_25, 1971
Chess, August 1_8_15_22_29, 1971
Chess, September 5_12_19_26, 1971
Chess, October 3_10_17_24_31, 1971
Chess, November 7_14_21-_28, 1971
Chess, December 12_19_26, 1971
Chess, January 9_16, 1972
Chess, February 6_13_20_27, 1972
Chess, March 5_12_19, 1972
Chess, April 2_9_16_23_30, 1972
Chess, May 7_14_21_28, 1972
Chess, June 11_18_25, 1972
Chess, July 2_9_16_23_30, 1972
Chess, August 6_13_20_27, 1972
Chess, September 3_10_17_24, 1972
Chess, October 1_8_15_22_29, 1972
Chess, November 5_12_19_26, 1972
Chess, December 3_10_17_24, 1972
Chess, January 7_14_21_28, 1973
Chess, February 4_11_18_25, 1973
Chess, March 4_11_18_25, 1973
Chess, April 1_8_22_29, 1973
Chess, May 6_13_20_27, 1973
Chess, June 3_10_17_24, 1973
Chess, July 1_8_15_22_29, 1973
Chess, August 5_12_19_26, 1973
Chess, September 2_9_16_23_30, 1973
Chess, October 7_14_21_28, 1973
Chess, November 4_11_18_25, 1973
Chess, December 2_9_16_23_30, 1973
Chess, January 6_13_20_27, 1974
Chess, February 3_10_17_24, 1974
Chess, March 3_10_17_24_31, 1974
Chess, April 7_14_21_28, 1974
Chess, May 5_12_19_26, 1974
Chess, June 2_16_23_30, 1974
Chess, July 7_14_21_28, 1974
Chess, August 4_11_25, 1974
Chess, September 1_8_15_22_29, 1974
Chess, October 6_13_20_27, 1974
Chess, November 3_10_17_24, 1974
Chess, December 1_8_22_29, 1974
Chess, January 5_12_19_26, 1975
Chess, February 2_9_16_23, 1975
Chess, March 2_16, 1975
Chess, April 20, 1975
Chess, May 4_25, 1975
Chess, June 8_22_29, 1975
Chess, July 6_13_20_27, 1975
Chess, August 3_10_17_24_31, 1975
Chess, September 7_21_28, 1975
Chess, October 5_12_19, 1975
Chess, November 9_16_30, 1975
Chess, December 7_14, 1975
Chess, January 4_18_25, 1976
Chess, February 8_15_22_29, 1976
Chess, March 7_14_21_28, 1976
Chess, April 11_18, 1976
Chess, May 2, 1976
Chess, June 6, 1976
Chess, August 22, 1976
Chess, September 19, 1976
Chess, October 3, 1976
Chess, November 7_14_21, 1976
Chess, January 9_16_30, 1977
Chess, February 6_13, 1977
Chess, March 6_13_20, 1977
Chess, April 3_10, 1977
Chess, May 1_8_29, 1977
Chess, June 17, 1977
Chess, August 7, 1977
Chess, September 4_11_18_25, 1977
Chess, October 2_23_30, 1977
Chess, November 6_13, 1977
Chess, December 11_25, 1977
Chess, January 1_8_22, 1978
Chess, February 5_12_19_26, 1978
Chess, March 12_19_26, 1978
Chess, April 2_9_23_30, 1978
Chess, May 7_14, 1978
Chess, June 18_25, 1978
Chess, July 2_16_23_30, 1978
Chess, August 6, 1978
Chess, September 3_10_17_24, 1978
Chess, October 1_15_29, 1978
Chess, November 5_12_19_26, 1978
Chess, December 3_10_17_31, 1978
Chess, January 7_14_21_28, 1979
Chess, February 4_18_25, 1979
Chess, March 4_11_18, 1979
Chess, April 1_8_15_22_29, 1979
Chess, May 6_13_27, 1979
Chess, June 3_10_24, 1979
Chess, July 1_8_15_22_29, 1979
Chess, August 5_12_19_26, 1979
Chess, September 2_9_16_23, 1979
Chess, October 28, 1979
Chess, November 4_11_18, 1979
Chess, December 2_9, 1979
Chess, January 13, 1980
Chess, February 10_17_24, 1980
Chess, March 16_23_30, 1980
Chess, April 6_27, 1980
Chess, May 4_11_25, 1980
Chess, June 8_15_22_29, 1980
Chess, July 13_20_27, 1980
Chess, August 3_10, 1980
Chess, September 7_28, 1980
Chess, October 5_12_19_26, 1980
Chess, November 2_9_16_23_30, 1980
Chess, December 7_14_28, 1980
Chess, January 4_11_25, 1981
Chess, February 1_8_15_22, 1981
Chess, March 1_8_22_29, 1981

Herald & News: (published every Monday in Dublin - Livermore - Pleasanton)

     Editor: Richard R. Shorman
     1969-1971

Chess, April 21, 1969
Chess, December 8, 1969
Chess, February 16, 1970
Chess, April 13, 1970
Chess, June 15_22, 1970
Chess, July 27, 1970
Chess, September 14, 1970
Chess, October 5, 1970
Chess, December 21_28, 1970
Chess, January 11, 1971
Chess, June 14, 1971
Chess, July 5, 1971

High Flyer: (published at Beale AFB in Marysville/Yuba City)

     Editor: Bill Wall
     1971

Independent and Gazette, The: (published in Richmond)

     Editor: John Larkins
     1978

Friday, March 24, 1978

Los Angeles Daily News: (published in Los Angeles)

     Editor: George Koltanowski
     1956 KW

Los Angeles Examiner: (published in Los Angeles)

     Editor: Stasch Mlotkowski
     1919-mid 1921 KW

     Editor: Harry Borochow
     mid 1921 KW

Los Angeles Herald: (published in Los Angeles)

     Editor: Samuel Lipschutz
     20/01/1895 KW

Los Angeles Times: (published Sundays in Los Angeles)

     Editor: John Dougherty
     9-Jan-16 (Checker (with chess) Column) to 4-Jan-20 (Chess & checker Headquarters)

     Editor: Clif Sherwood
     23-October-1927 to 2/33 KW

     Editor: Herman Steiner
     1932/1933-1955 KW

Chess, May 22, 1938

     Editor: Isaac Kashdan
     1955-1982

Chess, November 27, 1977
Chess, December 18, 1977
Chess, January 22, 1978
Chess, February 26, 1978
Chess, March 5_12_26, 1978
Chess, April 9_16, 1978
Chess, July 9_23, 1978
Chess, August 6, 1978
Chess, December 9, 1979
Chess, March 23, 1980
Chess, January 18, 1981
Chess, February 1_8, 1981
Chess, March 14, 1982

     Editor: Jack Peters
     1983-2006

Chess, October 16, 1983
Chess, February 1_8, 1987
Chess, April 4, 1993
Chess, August 29, 1993
Chess, January 2_9_16_23_30, 1994
Chess, February 6_13_20_27, 1994
Chess, March 6_20_27, 1994
Chess, April 3_10_17_24, 1994
Chess, May 1_8_15_22_29, 1994
Chess, June 5_12_19_26, 1994
Chess, July 3_10_17_24_31, 1994
Chess, August 7_14_28, 1994
Chess, September 11_18_25, 1994
Chess, October 2_23_30, 1994
Chess, December 18, 1994
Chess, July 20_27, 2001
Chess, August 3_10, 2001
Chess, September 14_21_28, 2001
Chess, October 5_12_19_26, 2001
Chess, November 2_9_23_30, 2001
Chess, December 7_14_28, 2001
Chess, January 4_11_18, 2002
Chess, March 29, 2002
Chess, April 12_19, 2002
Chess, May 3_31, 2002
Chess, June 21_28, 2002
Chess, July 12, 2002
Chess, August 2, 2002
Chess, September 20, 2002
Chess, July 18_25, 2004
Chess, August 1_8_15_22_29, 2004
Chess, September 5_12_19_26, 2004
Chess, October 3_10_17, 2004
Chess, March 13_20_27, 2005
Chess, April 3_10_17_24, 2005
Chess, May 1_8_15_22_29, 2005
Chess, June 5_12_19, 2005
Chess, July 3_10_17_24, 2005

Mercury: (published monthly in Los Angeles)

     Editor: R. H. Kuhns
     1947 KW

Monterey Peninsula: (published in Monterey)

     Editor: Stanley MacCartey
     1979 KW

Press Telegram: (published in Long Beach)

     Editor: Clif Sherwood
     00/03/1931 KW

Redwood City Weekly News: (published in Redwood City)

     Editor: Frisco Del Rosario
     1989-1991

Chess, May 3_10_24_31, 1989
Chess, June 7_14_21_28, 1989
Chess, July 12_19_26, 1989
Chess, August 9_16_23, 1989
Chess, September 6_13_27, 1989
Chess, October 4_11_18_25, 1989
Chess, November 8_15_22_29, 1989
Chess, December 6_13_20, 1989
Chess, January 3_10_17_24_31, 1990
Chess, February 7_14_21_28, 1990
Chess, March 7_14, 1990
Chess, February 20_27, 1991
Chess, March 13_20_27, 1991
Chess, April 10_17, 1991
Chess, May 1_29, 1991
Chess, June 5_19, 1991

Register: (published in Santa Anna)

     Editor: Kevin Burnette
     1983-1987 KW

Richmond Independent: (published in Richmond)

     Editor: Lance Gilmore
     1977 (1977 USCF Yearbook)

Sacramento Bee: (published in Sacramento)

     Editor(s): Richard E. Fauber, Frank Garosi
     1974-1987

Chess, Sunday, May 4_18, 1975
Chess, Sunday, June 8, 1975
Chess, Sunday, July 27, 1980
Chess, Sunday, August 3_10, 1980

Sacramento Union: (published every Sunday in Sacramento)

     Editor: Jay B. Gee
     1942-1953

San Francisco Chronicle: (published in San Francisco)

     Editor: Ernest J. Clarke
     (Sunday) 6/1921-29/6/1930

     Editor: George Koltanowski
     (daily) 5/1947-February 25, 2000

     Editor: Shelby Lyman
     (daily) February 28, 2000-2006

San Francisco Journal: (published in San Francisco)

     1903 KW

San Francisco News: (published in San Francisco)

     Editor: Dr. H. J. Ralston
     1956 KW

Santa Clara Vision: (published in Santa Clara)

     Editor: Sandi Ordinario
     1998

Out of the Ordinario chess files, January 22, 1998

Santa Rosa Press (Democrat): (published in Santa Rosa)

     Editor: George Koltanowski
     1949-1956 KW

Star-News: (published in Pasadena)

     Editor: Douglas S. Houghton
     1930- KW

     Editor: Percy Bowater
     1944- KW

To the Point: (Russian language paper published every Wednesday in San Francisco)

     Editor: Victor Todortsev (Russian candidate master)
     1996-2006

In the World of Chess, Number 490, July 15-21, 2004

Tribune Calendar, The: (published every Sunday in Oakland)

     Editor: Shelby Lyman
     1988

Chess, August 14, 1988
Chess, September 4_11, 1988
Chess, October 9_16, 1988

Vallejo Times-Herald: (published in Vallejo)

     Editor: George Koltanowski
     1956 KW