Finding Aid to the Frederick Kellam Papers
1880-1973
SFH 454
Finding aid prepared by Katherine Ets-Hokin
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
2017
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Title: Frederick Kellam Papers
Date (inclusive): 1880-1973
Date (bulk): 1880-1929
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 454
Creator:
Kellam, Frederick, 1865-1953
Physical Description:
1 carton, 1 small pamphlet box, 1 shoe box.
(1.5 Cubic Feet)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: Frederick Kellam served as secretary for the Royal Insurance Company during the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. He rose through
their ranks until he retired in 1929 as General Manager of North American operations. The Royal Insurance Company played a
critical role financing the rebuilding of San Francisco after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.
Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
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.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
All requests for permission to publish from photographs must be submitted in writing to the Photo Curator. Permission for
publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Frederick Kellam Papers (SFH 454), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated in 2016 by Kellam de Forest, Frederick Kellam's grandson.
Related Materials
Researchers are encouraged to see also Here Today Gone Tomorrow by the Junior League of San Francisco, the Junior League Collection,
the San Francisco Ephemera Collection and SFH 16 Royal Indemnity Company Records of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and
Fire 1892-1987.
Researchers are encouraged to see also the San Francisco History Center’s vertical files, reference cards, and small
manuscripts collections on the 1906 earthquake and fire; as well as biographical files and cards for individuals. Researchers
should also check the catalog holdings of the San Francisco Public Library for related materials.
Biographical / Historical
Frederick Kellam (1865-1953) arrived in California from New Haven Connecticut in 1887. He secured work with the Royal Insurance
Company serving as their secretary during the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. He would spend the entirety of his distinguished
career with the Royal Insurance Company serving as the assistant manager of the San Francisco office (1918) manager of the
New York Office (1922) and retiring as General Manager in charge of North American operations (1929). During his career he
also investigated loss in Guatemala (1899) and Honolulu (1900).
He married Edith Bishop (1876-1963) and they raised three children (Elizabeth, Frances and Gareth) in post-earthquake San
Francisco until moving to New York (1922) and eventually settling in Santa Barbara (1929). Mr. Kellam was a member of the
Bohemian Club and served as president and honorary life member of the Presidio Golf Club.
The Royal Insurance Company of Liverpool opened its New York office in 1881 and established itself in San Francisco in 1853.
After the 1906 Earthquake the Royal Insurance Company proved to be one of a handful of insurance companies that payed in full
to its policy holders and subsequently played an essential role in rebuilding San Francisco.
Scope and Contents
Frederick Kellam worked for the Royal Insurance Company from 1887-1927 and served as their secretary during the 1906 San Francisco
Earthquake. The collection includes his papers, photographs, nitrate negatives and a glass plate. The collection includes
a small sample of earthquake materials but the bulk of the collection relates to Mr. Kellam’s family and later work with the
Royal Insurance Company.
Series 1 includes materials relating to the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Royal Insurance, Kellam family histories, correspondence
and writings. Series 2 includes photographs of early San Francisco, the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, and Kellam family portraits.
Series 2 also includes nitrate negatives of vernacular photography with images representing the Kellam family and their home
in San Francisco, street scenes in San Francisco and possibly Guatemala, and nature scenes. Series 2 also includes one glass
plate.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 2 series: Series 1: Papers, Series 2: Graphic Materials. Series 2 contains 3 subseries: Subseries
1: Photos, Subseries 2: Negatives, Subseries 3: Glass Plates.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Insurance companies, British -- California -- San Francisco.
Earthquake insurance -- California -- San Francisco.
Earthquakes -- California -- San Francisco -- Photographs.
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906.
Kellam, Frederick, 1865-1953
Royal Insurance Company
Processing Information
During Processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Some metal staples
remain.
box 1, folder 1
1906 Earthquake. 3rd Anniversary, Royal Insurance Pamphlet
1909
box 1, folder 2
1906 Earthquake. Permits and Personal Account
1906
box 1, folder 3
1906 Earthquake. Report of Chamber of Commerce on Insurance Statements, Earthquake Pamphlet
1906
box 1, folder 5
Correspondence. Between Kellam and Atkinson (Liverpool Office)
1922-1928
box 1, folder 6-7
Correspondence. Congratulatory for Promotion
1926
box 1, folder 8
Correspondence. Congratulatory Letters
1922
box 1, folder 9
Correspondence. Early Writings to and by Kellam, and Letter from World War I Soldier in the King's Royal Army
1880-1906
box 1, folder 10
Fire Insurance Charts
1898-1910
box 1, folder 11
Invitations, Menus, Bohemian Club Ephemera
1922-1925
box 1, folder 12
Loss Investigation. Guatamala and Honolulu
1899-1901
box 1, folder 13
Loss Investigation. Honolulu. Reports, Correspondence
1896-1909
box 1, folder 14
Manuscript of FBK's Forefathers and his Own Early Days in San Francisco
circa 1930
box 1, folder 17
Operation Statements for Various Insurance Companies
1922-1927
box 1, folder 18
Panama Pacific International Exposition. View Book, Season Book
1915
box 1, folder 19
Report to the Board of Fire Underwriters of the Pacific
1905
box 1, folder 20
Residence. 3153 Pacific Avenue. Insurance Papers, Hardware, Reciepts
1912-1921
box 1, folder 22
Royal Insurance Company. Christmas Card
1940
box 1, folder 23
Royal Insurance Company. Commemorative Pamphlet
1928
box 1, folder 24
Royal Insurance Company. Correspondence, Invitations, Menus
1897, 1929
box 1, folder 25
Royal Insurance Company. Hollerith Tabulating Machines Report
1924
box 1, folder 26
Royal Insurance Company. Office Manual and Notes for Special Agents
1922
box 1, folder 27
Royal Insurance Company. Retirement as General Attorney
1929
box 1, folder 28
Royal Insurance Company. Premiums and Losses
1916-1925
box 1, folder 29
Royal Insurance Company. Walter Carter
1973
box 1, folder 30
Settlement of Losses Under Policies of General Reinsurance by F.B. Kellam
1901
box 1, folder 31
Swedenborgan Church. Lyon Street, San Francisco
before 1915
Series 2
Graphic Materials
box 2, folder 1
Family Portraits including Albert Kellam
circa 1890
box 2, folder 2
Family Portraits including F.B. Kellam
circa 1920
box 2, folder 3
Insurance Executives. W.G. Rich, F.B. Kellam, Roy S. Folger
1943
box 2, folder 4
Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society. Montgomery and Sacramento
circa 1893
box 2, folder 5
Rob Whiteley and F.B. Kellam at Shackamaxon
1927
box 2, folder 6
Royal and Queen Management and Adjusting Staff Standing in Earthquake Ruins. [Northwest Corner of Pine and Fillmore Street]
1906
box 2, folder 7
Royal Insurance Company Building. San Francisco
circa 1910
box 2, folder 8
Royal Insurance Company. Walter Carter
1965, 1973
box 2, folder 9
Swedenborgian Church. Lyon Street
before 1915
shoebox 3
Airship Pictures
circa 1910
shoebox 3
Baby Elizabeth
circa 1898
shoebox 3
Elizabeth's Photos
circa 1900
shoebox 3
Exterior and Interior
circa 1910
shoebox 3
Exterior Views with a Woman
circa 1900
shoebox 3
Family Pictures
circa 1910
shoebox 3
Family Vacation
circa 1900
shoebox 3
Frances Kellam
circa 1910
shoebox 3
Gareth Kellam Eight Months
circa 1904
shoebox 3
Groups and San Francisco
circa 1910
shoebox 3
Interior and Exterior Views
circa 1910
shoebox 3
Interior and Exterior Views with Portraits
circa 1900
shoebox 3
Interior and Exterior with Children
circa 1900
shoebox 3
Los Altos Woods
circa 1911
shoebox 3
Mister Kellam, Fancy Dress
circa 1910
shoebox 3
San Francisco and County
circa 1910
shoebox 3
Street Views and Children
circa 1905
shoebox 3
Views From My Window
1913
shoebox 3
Views of Streets and Children. May Include Presidio Heights District
circa 1910
shoebox 3
Views of Streets, Countryside, Children, Men
circa 1910
shoebox 3
Woman with Three Small Children
circa 1905
Sub-Series 3
Glass Plates
Six Men Posing for Photograph
circa 1910
Location
This glass plate is located in the Photo Room and is listed on the photo room range list by collection number.
