Finding aid to the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company Records
SFH 438
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
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Title: Fireman's Fund Insurance Company Records
creator:
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 438
Physical Description:
2 Cubic Feet
One small flat box, one small pamphlet box, one oversized flat-file, one oversized framed item, one glass plate box.
Date (inclusive): 1898-1940, circa 1970
Date (bulk): 1898-1906
Abstract: In 1863 William Holdredge created the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. His company established a fireman’s retirement fund
with financing coming from 10% of his company’s annual net profit. This simultaneously reassured his customers that they were
safe from fire and encouraged the firefighters to protect the city from fire.
Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
Language of Material: 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.
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.
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], Fireman's Fund Insurance Compancy Records (SFH 438), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco
Public Library.
Provenance
Donated by the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company in 2015.
Related Materials
Researchers are encouraged to see also the catalog holdings of the San Francisco Public Library for related materials.
Conservation Note
During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes.
Administrative History
In 1860s San Francisco fire was a persistent and frequent threat to the city’s wooden structures. Volunteer firefighters received
no compensation for their work which made them inconsistent and unreliable. The city suffered fires so frequently that insurance
companies were wary of insuring San Francisco businesses. In 1863 William Holdredge created the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company
to insure San Franciscan’s against fire. His new company established a fireman’s retirement fund with financing coming from
10% of his company’s annual net profit. This simultaneously reassured his customers that they were safe from fire and encouraged
the firefighters to protect the city from fire.
The 1870s brought three devastating fires to the country, all insured by the Fireman’s Fund. Beginning in 1871 with the Great
Chicago Fire, in 1872 a massive fire burned Boston, and in 1875 the mining town of Virginia City (Nevada) burned to the ground.
Each fire brought enormous losses to the Fireman’s Fund Company but they paid out their claims and continued to grow while
many of their competitors folded. By January 1906 Fireman’s Fund had 6,000 agents and offered marine and the first national
auto insurance policies.
The April 18, 1906 San Francisco Earthquake proved too much for the Fireman’s Fund. The company’s headquarters and records
were destroyed during the Earthquake and Fire but the firm accepted each claimant’s word as evidence of their coverage. Estimates
put client claims at $11.2 million which exceeded their assets by $4.2 million.
To compensate for the company’s gap in assets they paid half the claim in cash and half in stock settling 8,600 claims without
litigation. After the earthquake claims were paid Fireman’s Fund distributed its remaining assets to stockholders and went
out of business.
The company was immediately succeeded by the debt free Fireman's Fund Corporation with identical leadership. The new corporation
appropriated all of its predecessor's ongoing business and agency network and continued to grow and profit throughout the
twentieth century. In 1982 the corportation moved its headquarters to Novato.
Scope and Content
The Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company was founded in San Francisco in 1863 and paid policy holders half cash and half stock
after the 1906 Earthquake. The collection consist of ephemera, photos, framed art, glass plates and realia.
Arrangement
The Collection is arranged in 3 series. Series 1: Ephemera, Series 2: Graphic Materials, Series 3: Realia. Series 2 has 3
sub-series. Sub-series 2.1 Photos, Sub-series 2.2: Framed Art, Sub-series 2.3: Glass Plates.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Fireman's Fund Insurance Companies.
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.
Earthquakes -- California -- San Francisco -- Photographs.
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906.
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
box 2, envelope 1
Automobile Tour Book
circa 1920
box 2, envelope 6
Fire Alarm Card, Copy of Policy
circa 1900
box 2, envelope 7
Fireman's Insurance Co. Policy Reproduction/Photocopy
1899
Series 2
Graphic Materials
box 1, folder 1
Early Fireman's Fund Photos
oversize-folder 1
Home Mutual Insurance Co. of California, Fireman's Fund Insurance Agents and Cars
1864-circa 1925
Location
This file is located in M43 flat file drawer 2.
box 1, folder 2
Photos of San Francisco Including Fireman's Fund Interests
1895-1949
Scope and Content
Images include the Fireman's Fund Building, 1906 Earthquake, Fireman's Fund plane with C.C. Wright, Fireman's Fund cars and
agents, Golden Gate Bridge, S.S. Columbia, and S.S. Glensslin.
box 1, folder 3
Stereoviews of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Ruins
1906
Sub-Series 2
Framed Art
Physical Description:
1 oversize items
Wood and gesso Fireman's Fund advertising sign.
26.5 inches by 35 inches
frame Framed Art, SFA-0676
California's Million Dollar Company Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.
after 1886
Physical Description:
1 oversize items
26.5 inches by 35 inches
Location
This item is located in M43 with framed art.
Sub-Series 3
Glass Plates
Location
These glass plates are located in the Photo Room and are listed on the photo room range list by collection number.
1906 Earthquake Ruins, City Hall
1906
1906 Earthquake Ruins "Cracking Spreckles Safes"
1906
1906 Earthquake, View Showing Smoke in the Distance
1906
box 2, small-box 1
Pocket Knife, Silver Pencil, Lapel Pin
1898-1970s
box 2, small-box 2
Four Match Safes [Lighters] Two Copper, Two Silver
circa 1900
box 2, small-box 4
The Fund Printing Block, Compass, Three Calendar Coins
1902
