Joseph B. Pecora, as the de facto historian of the Alamo Square neighborhood, conducted research on historical neighborhood homes and buildings as part of his involvement in the Alamo Square Neighborhood Association, which he later compiled and published as a book titled, "The Storied Houses of Alamo Square." This collection contains research papers of Joseph B. Pecora and papers related to his involvement with the Alamo Square Neighborhood Association. Includes drafts, photographs, newsletters, ephemera, correspondence, and notes pertaining to research conducted on historic Alamo Square homes and buildings. Of note is a collection of contemporary photographs of the Alamo Square neighborhood and buildings by Ron Henggeler and a collection of house drawings by Jack Walsh.

Born on February 2, 1937, Joseph Benedict Pecora was a graduate of Taft High School in Taft, California, He went on to graduate from UCLA in 1959 with a degree in International Relations. He then attended the Air Force language school at Syracuse University and served in Germany as a Czech radio intercept analyst, and later joined the State Department as a U.S. Diplomatic Courier with postings in Manila and Frankfurt. He purchased a Victorian house near Alamo Square in San Francisco in 1979. Later, the neighborhood was slated for demolition by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency but was rescued by a grassroots campaign of residents including Mr. Pecora. This campaign allowed the neighborhood to be reborn as a renowned designated historic district. Discovering a love for history and Victorian architecture and design, Mr. Pecora launched a newsletter for the newly formed Alamo Square Neighborhood Association, with each issue containing a researched history of a neighborhood house, including its architecture and residents. In the process of studying the historic homes, he became the de facto Alamo Square historian, and eventually compiled these histories into his book, The Storied Houses of Alamo Square. Mr. Pecora was also an active member of other local and national organizations, including the Victorian Alliance, the Decorative Arts Forum, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He died on November 30, 2020.

2 cartons (2 Cubic Feet)

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.