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Inventory of the Board of State Harbor Commissioners for San Francisco Harbor Records
F3413
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Title: Board of State Harbor Commissioners for San Francisco Harbor Records
Inventory: F3413
Creator:
Board of State Harbor Commissioners for San Francisco Harbor
Board of State Harbor Commissioners
Extent: 81.5 Cubic Feet, 1062 Volumes, and 14 Items
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The records of the Board of State Harbor Commissioners for San Francisco Harbor and its predecessor, the Board of State Harbor
Commissioners, document California's efforts to manage the port of San Francisco. This record group contains 81.5 cubic feet
of textual records, 1062 volumes, and 14 photographic items covering the period 1863-1963.
Physical location: California State Archives
Language:
English
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], Board of State Harbor Commissioners for San Francisco Harbor Records, F3413:[volume number], California
State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
The California State Archives acquired the records of the Board of State Harbor Commissioners for San Francisco Harbor through
a series of records transfers over several years.
Chapter 306 of the Statutes of 1863 created the Board of State Harbor Commissioners. The Commission originally consisted of
three Commissioners, one of whom was elected by the electors of the State, the second was elected by the Senate and Assembly,
and the third was elected by the electors of the City and County of San Francisco. Each Commissioner was required file a fifty
thousand dollar bond and oath of office with the California Secretary of State. Upon receipt of their commissions, the Commissioners
controlled the entire San Francisco Bay waterfront extending six hundred feet into the waters of San Francisco Bay.
The Commissioners held possession and control of the waterfront, with the improvements, rights, privileges, franchises, easements,
and appurtenances connected therewith, for the following purposes and uses: to keep in good repair all the sea walls, embankments,
wharves, piers, landings, and thoroughfares, for the accommodation and benefit of commerce; to dredge such number of the docks
as the commerce of the harbor may require, to a depth that will admit of the easy arrival and departure of the vessels which
load and unload at the wharves and piers; to construct new wharves, piers, landings, and thoroughfares, at the foot of the
streets, as the wants of commerce may require; to construct all works necessary for the protection of wharves, piers, docks,
landings, and thoroughfares, and for the safety and convenience of shipping; to provide for the construction, out of the surplus
funds growing out of the revenues arising from said wharves, such sea wall or other structure along the waterfront of the
City and County of San Francisco; to collect rents, tolls, wharfage, craneage, and dockage.
Chapter 145 of the Statutes of 1911 amended the procedures for appointing Commissioners so that the Governor appointed all
Commissioners. Chapter 835 of the Statutes of 1929 created the San Francisco Harbor Bond Finance Board. Furthermore, the act
provided for the issuance and sale of state bonds to create a fund for the improvement of San Francisco harbor by the board
of state harbor commissioners, created a sinking fund for the payment of the bonds, to define the duties of state officers
in relations thereto, and to make an appropriation of five thousand dollars for the expense of printing the bonds.
Chapter 368 of the Statutes of 1937 changed the name of the commission to the Board of State Harbor Commissioners for San
Francisco Harbor. It also established the Harbors and Navigation Code for California to consolidate and revise the law relating
to harbors, ports, and navigation. Chapter 112 of the Statutes of 1957 renamed the Board of State Harbor Commissioners for
San Francisco Harbor the San Francisco Port Authority. After 1957, the San Francisco Port Authority consisted of five commissioners
who continued to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Chapter 1333 of the Statutes of 1968 transferred all authority, jurisdiction and control of the San Francisco Port Authority
over San Francisco Harbor and facilities to the City and County of San Francisco. Upon the transfer of these authorities,
the port authority ceased to function and was dissolved. The newly created Harbor Commission of the City and County of San
Francisco consisted of five members, each member serving for a term of four years. The members were appointed by the mayor
and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco.
The records of the Board of State Harbor Commissioners for San Francisco Harbor and its predecessor, the Board of State Harbor
Commissioners, document California's efforts to manage the port of San Francisco. This record group contains 81.5 cubic feet
of textual records, 1062 volumes, and 14 photographic items covering the period 1863-1963. Prominent series in this record
group includes wharf and pier books, correspondence, construction and maintenance files, personnel files, accounting records,
legal files, reference books, and oversized photographs.
Organized into 18 series: (1) Wharf and Pier Books, (2) President's Correspondence, (3) Secretary's Correspondence, (4) Engineer's
Office Correspondence, (5) Miscellaneous Correspondence, (6) President's Unbound Correspondence, (7) Secretary's Unbound Correspondence,
(8) Central File. Unbound Correspondence, (9) Engineering Department. Unbound Correspondence, (10) Foreign Trade Zone Correspondence,
(11) Construction and Maintenance Files, (12) Personnel Files, (13) Legal Files, (14) Belt Railroad Files, (15) Miscellaneous
Files, (16) Reference Books, (17) Accounting Records, and (18) Oversized Photographs.
San Francisco Port Authority
California. Board of State Harbor Commissioners for San Francisco Harbor