Finding Aid to the San Francisco Arts Festival Photographs and Records, 1948-1985 (bulk 1967-1985) SFP 30

Finding aid prepared by Kitty Lee.
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
2013


Title: San Francisco Arts Festival Photographs and Records,
Date (inclusive): 1948-1985
Date (bulk): 1967-1985
Collection Identifier: SFP 30
Creator: San Francisco (Calif.). Art Commission.
Physical Description: 1 carton, 2 boxes, 1 shoebox (2.5 linear 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: The San Francisco Arts Festival Photographs and Records consist of photographic prints, slides, negatives, and a small amount of written and ephemeral records documenting the annual festival that was sponsored by the San Francisco Art Commission.
Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.

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.

Publication Rights

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], San Francisco Arts Festival Photographs and Records (SFP 30), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Provenance

Donated by Debra Lehane in July 2001 for the San Francisco Art Commission.

Related Materials

Researchers are encouraged to see also the San Francisco Ephemera Collection under "Fairs and Festivals-- San Francisco Art Festival" and the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection Folder "S.F. Districts -- Civic Center -- Art Show."

Biographical/Historical note

The San Francisco Arts Festival in California was the largest and oldest free outdoor public art event on the West Coast, founded in 1938 by San Francisco artists and then sponsored by the San Francisco Art Commission from 1946-1986. The SF Arts Festival exhibited local and contemporary Bay Area artists and craftsmen from San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano counties. Exhibiting predominantly visual arts, the annual show promoted artistic interest and advancement in its local and regional community by providing a venue for local and contemporary artists and craftsmen to sell, display, and develop sponsorship in a time in history when “official” art was only accepted in museums.

Scope and Contents

The San Francisco Arts Festival Records consists of photographic prints, slides, negatives, and a small amount of written and ephemeral records documenting the annual festival that was sponsored by the San Francisco Art Commission. The photographic material depicts participating visual and performing artists, festival attendees, exhibition artwork, the outdoor festival site at the Civic Center, and other subjects. The photographic prints document the festival for the years 1948, 1957, 1967-1979, and 1981-1985; negatives are from 1972-1978; and the set of slides is from 1984.
Most of the material was received unidentified and undated; dates by year have been added where they could be deduced from similar, dated material present in the collection. Subject matter and persons are also often unidentified; however, names of persons, dates, subject matter, and photographer are sometimes given on the backs of the photographic prints. Notable people depicted in the photographs include George Moscone, Kay Boyle, and Thad Brown attending the opening ceremonies during various years. Some images were used in the festival program brochures. Records include includes reports, newspaper clippings, brochures, a catalog, public relations materials, and press packets.
Photographic prints are 8" x 10," some of which correspond to negatives in Series 2. Negatives cover a wider range of subject matter than the prints and include negatives that are not printed. Most of the photographs and negatives are by Phillip Chan, with additional photos by Henry L. Cox (1957), Gerhard E. Gscheidle (1971), and C.S. Garrison and Michael Dixon (1972).

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in four series: Series 1: Photographs; Series 2: Slides; Series 3: Negatives; Series 4: Records. Each series is arranged chronologically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Art festivals -- California -- San Francisco -– Photographs
Art, Modern -- Exhibitions
San Francisco Arts Festival -- Photographs

 

Photographs, Series 1 1948-1985 and undated

Physical Description: 1 carton, 9 folders
Box 1, Folder 1

1948

Box 1, Folder 2

1957

Box 1, Folder 3

1967

Box 1, Folder 4

1968

 

[Children Participating in San Francisco Arts Festival] , [1968]

 

[Sculpture in Civic Center and San Francisco Arts Festival], [1968]

Box 1, Folder 5

1969

 

[Man Viewing Sculpture at San Francisco Arts Festival] , [1969]

Box 1, Folder 6

1970

Box 1, Folder 7

1971

Box 1, Folders 8-9

1972

 

[People Standing in Line in Front of San Francisco Art Commission Building for San Francisco Arts Festival Screening], [1972]

Box 1, Folders 10-12

1973

Box 1, Folder 13

1974

Box 1, Folder 14

1975

 

[Aerial View of Civic Center and San Francisco Arts Festival], [1975]

Box 1, Folders 15-19

1976

Box 1, Folders 20-28

1977

Box 1, Folders 29-30

1978

Box 1, Folders 31-32

1979

Box 1, Folders 33-35

1981

Box 1, Folder 36

1983

Box 1, Folder 37

1984

Box 1, Folder 38

1985

Box 2, Folders 1-9, Box 1, Folders 39-41

Undated

Box 2, Folder 13

Series 2 Slides, 1978-1984

Physical Description: 3 folders(ca. 200 slides)
Box 2, Folder 10

1978

Box 2, Folder 11

1982

Box 2, Folder 12

1984

 

Series 3 Negatives, 1972-1978 and undated

Physical Description: 1 shoebox
Box 3, Envelopes 1-5

1972

Box 3, Envelopes 6-7

1973

Physical Description:
Box 3, Envelopes 8-10

1974

Box 3, Envelopes 11-14

1975

Box 3, Envelopes 15-21

1976

Physical Description:
Box 3, Envelopes 22-27

1977

Box 3, Folder 28-31

1978

Box 3, Folder 32-44

Undated

 

Series 4 Records, 1975-1984

Physical Description: 1 box
Box 4, Folder 1

History of Festival

Box 4, Folder 2

Arts Festival Reports, 1975-1978

Box 4, Folder 3

Programs and News Clippings, 1977-1985

Box 4, Folder 4

Arts Festival Brochure, 1977

Box 4, Folder 5

Catalog, 1978

Box 4, Folder 6

Publicity, 1978

Box 4, Folder 7

SF Art Commision Honor Award Show, 1978

Box 4, Folder 8

34th Annual SFAF Program mock-up, 1980

Box 4, Folder 9

Publicity, 1980

Box 4, Folder 10

Publicity, 1982

Box 4, Folder 11

Arts Festival Reports, 1984

Box 4, Folder 12

SF Art Commision Press Packet, 1984

Box 4, Folder 13

SF Art Commision Press Packet, 1984