[en] A program of optical studies of compact galactic x-ray sources was conducted at Lick and Leuschner Observatories of the University of California. Results of this program include the identification of the x-ray pulsar Hercules X-1 with the unusual variable star HZ Herculis, and the discovery of low amplitude optical pulsations from the system. The x-ray source 3U 0614+09 has been optically identified with an 18th magnitude blue star which is similar to the optical counterpart of Sco X-1. An extensive search for the optical counterparts of nine compact x-ray sources near the galactic center is also described. Several interesting candidates were observed, including a peculiar strong emission line object likely to be associated with 3U 1728-24