Harold (Bill) Giddings Bradley's Corner Bar Photograph Collection
Finding aid created by San Francisco History Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
2022
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
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http://sfpl.org/sfhistory
Title: Harold (Bill) Giddings Bradley's Corner Bar Photograph Collection
Dates: 1950-1990
Collection Number: SFP 95
Creator/Collector:
Giddings, Harold (Bill) Lloyd
Bradley's Corner Bar
Extent: 1 manuscript box with 370 color prints
Online items available
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: The collection documents gay bar culture of Bradley’s Corner Bar with 370 color prints of mostly men and some lesbian women.
Bradley’s Corner Bar, 1949 – 1987, was a neighborhood tavern located at 900 Cole Street in San Francisco. In March 1965 the
tavern became a gay bar and in 1967, the bar was owned by Harold (Bill) Lloyd Giddings and Thomas (Tom) W. Stuart. Giddings
became the sole proprietor
in 1971 and owned the bar until 1987. Bill Giddings compiled this collection of photographs of Bradley’s Corner Bar. The bar
events documented in the photographs include Halloween with cross-dressing, holiday and birthday parties and one wedding celebration.
Most of the photographs are of the interior of the bar with a few exterior shots. The photographs not of the bar include a
bus trip to Guerneville and house parties.
Language of Material: English
The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.
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.
[Identification of item]. Harold (Bill) Giddings Bradley's Corner Bar Photograph Collection. Collection Number: SFP 95. San
Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
Gift. 2007-89.
Biography/Administrative History
Harold (Bill) Lloyd Giddings was born August 11, 1927 in Yuba City and graduated from Colusa High School in 1945. Following
high school he served in the United States Army and the Merchant Marines. He learned his cooking skills while a Merchant Marine
and subsequently worked for Standard Oil as
a cook on various oil tankers. Upon retirement from Standard Oil, he owned and operated Bradley’s Corner Bar in San Francisco.
Giddings enjoyed bartending as well as cooking. After selling Bradley’s in 1987, Giddings moved to Guerneville and ultimately
Santa Rosa. Harold Giddings died on February 12, 2008.
Scope and Content of Collection
The photograph collection documents gay bar culture of Bradley’s Corner Bar with 370 color prints of mostly men and some lesbian
women. Bradley’s Corner Bar, 1949 – 1987, was a neighborhood tavern located at 900 Cole Street in San Francisco. In March
1965 the tavern became a gay bar and in 1967, the bar was owned by Harold (Bill) Lloyd Giddings and Thomas (Tom) W. Stuart.
Giddings became the sole proprietor in 1971 and owned the bar until 1987. Bill Giddings compiled this collection of photographs
of Bradley’s Corner Bar. The bar events documented in the photographs include Halloween with cross-dressing, holiday and birthday
parties and one wedding celebration. Most of the photographs are of
the interior of the bar with a few exterior shots. The photographs not of the bar include a bus trip to Guerneville and house
parties. The photographs are all color prints with some being Technicolor prints and Polaroids. The photographers are unknown
and there is limited handwritten identification on the backside of the photographs.
Gay bars - California - San Francisco.
Gay bars
Gay business enterprises -- California -- San Francisco.
Gay men -- California -- San Francisco -- Photographs
Gays -- California -- San Francisco -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Photograph collections.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Photograph collections.
Photographic prints -- 20th century.
Photographic prints, 1960-1970
Photographic prints, 1970-1980
Photographic prints, 1980-1990
Instant camera photographs