Louise Schussler Scrapbook
Finding aid created by San Francisco History Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
2016
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
http://sfpl.org/sfhistory
Title: Louise Schussler Scrapbook
Dates: 1895-1899
Collection Number: SFP 89
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 1 scrapbook
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: The scrapbook documents the social life of Louise “Lulu” Schussler and her family from 1895 to early 1899. Scrapbook includes
photographic prints; printed cards, invitations and calling cards; clippings from magazines and newspapers; theater programs;
drawings and plant pressings. Louise, known as “Lulu”, was the eldest child of Hermann Schussler- a water systems engineer,
famous for designing the Comstock water system.
Language of Material: English
The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.
All requests for permission to publish from photograph collections 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.
Louise Schussler Scrapbook. San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
Purchase. 2009.
Biography/Administrative History
Louise Hermina Schussler was born January 7, 1870 in San Francisco, California to Hermann F. and Louise A. Schussler. Hermann
Schussler was a water systems engineer, famous for designing the Comstock water system, and played an important role in the
design of water systems in San Mateo and Maui. Louise, known as “Lulu”, was the eldest of three children, and married Martin
Preuss, a German farmer. The Preuss’ lived between Santa Clara, California and Florence, Italy. She died in Italy on December
29, 1925 and is buried in the Protestant Cemetary in Rome.
Scope and Content of Collection
The leather-bound volume contains 204 photographic prints, including 10 cyanotype prints, 160 printed cards, invitations and
calling cards, 211 clippings from magazines and newspapers, 60 theater program excerpts, drawings and plant pressings which
document the social life of Louise “Lulu” Schussler and her family. She compiled this scrapbook of materials dating 1895
to early 1899. Wedding invitations, calling cards, seating cards and handwritten notes document upper-class San Francisco
social life, specifically in the German- American community. The bulk of the photos were taken by Louise Schussler and document
Schussler family and friends in San Francisco, San Mateo, Napa, Sacramento and Hawaii. Photos sent by friends (Dora Isenberg,
Mrs. Cropp, Mrs. Walters) engaged in sugar production in Kauai are included as well. Theater playbill excerpts and musical
programs from over 50 chiefly San Francisco performances and newsclippings relating to the Spanish- American War. Photographs
relating to the work of Schussler’s father, Hermann Schussler, include photographs of Pilarcitas Creek, which was redirected
to serve the city of San Francisco, and the Hawaiin island of Maui, where he engineered much of the Eastern Maui irrigation
system.