 He also published his monumental reference work "Artists in California, 1786-1940" in 1986 with biographies of over 20,000 California artists, and this work along with Hughes' collection and dealership helped bring California art to the notice of the art world.The Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento took an interest, and helped organize and publish revised editions of the work, which is universally recognized as the definitive work in its field.Hughes is the author of "Artists in California, 1786-1940" (1986).