San Francisco Postcard Collection
Finding aid created by San Francisco History Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
2023
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
http://sfpl.org/sfhistory
Title: San Francisco Postcard Collection
Dates: 1900-1990
Collection Number: SFP 21
Creator/Collector:
San Francisco Public Library.
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center.
Extent: 5,000 postcards
Online items available
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: The artificial collection contains over 5,000 photomechanical postcards of San Francisco, California collected by the San
Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. The postcards range in date from the turn of the 20th century to 1990s.
Events depicted on the postcards include world expositions the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and the Golden Gate
International Exposition and the disaster 1906 Earthquake and Fire. Places represented are significant San Francisco buildings,
businesses, hotels and restaurants as well as many general views. Postcard publishers include by Edward H. Mitchell, Curt
Teich, Smith News Company, Pacific Novelty Company, Stanley A. Piltz Company, and Mike Roberts.
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]. San Francisco Postcard Collection. Collection Number: SFP 21. San Francisco Public Library. San
Francisco History Center
Collected from various sources, including donations and purchases.
Biography/Administrative History
Collected by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Scope and Content of Collection
The artificial collection contains over 5,000 photomechanical postcards of San Francisco, California collected by the San
Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. The postcards range in date from the turn of the 20th century to 1990s.
Events depicted on the postcards include world expositions the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and the Golden Gate
International Exposition and the disaster 1906 Earthquake and Fire. Places represented are significant San Francisco buildings,
businesses, hotels and restaurants as well as many general views. Postcard publishers include by Edward H. Mitchell, Curt
Teich, Smith News Company, Pacific Novelty Company, Stanley A. Piltz Company, and Mike Roberts. Some postcards have handwritten
inscriptions and are stamped and posted. There are a small number of postcards sets and postcards with holiday greetings and
cartoons.
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906 -- Pictorial works.
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.) -- Pictorial works.
Golden Gate International Exposition (1939-1940 : San Francisco, Calif.) -- Pictorial works
San Francisco (Calif.) -- 20th century -- Pictorial works
Postcards
Postcards -- California -- San Francisco
Ephemera