Description
The San Francisco Photographs collection contains 13 albumen prints taken by Carleton E. Watkins circa 1872 to circa 1879.
The collection features various views of San Francisco, and includes two prints (Nos. 11 and 12) which were originally taken
as part of a larger panorama of the city. Points of interest pictured in the collection include Bush Street; California Street,
showing St. Mary's Cathedral and the terminus of the California Street Cable Car Company; Montgomery Street; exterior and
court views of the Palace Hotel; Market Street; a Chinatown alley; the Cliff House and Seal Rocks; and city views taken from
what are presently the Nob Hill and Russian Hill areas which show Telegraph Hill, Washington Square, and Goat Island (now
Yerba Buena Island). Also pictured are Watkins' photographic wagon (No. 6) and the photographic studio of I.W. Taber and T.H.
Boyd (No. 3).
Background
Carleton E. Watkins was born in Oneonta, Oswego county, New York, on November 11, 1829. He was the youngest of five children
of a Scottish innkeeper. During his youth he became acquainted with Collis P. Huntington, who frequented his father's hotel.
Soon after the discovery of gold, both young men went to California, where Huntington later became one of the Big Four who
built the Central Pacific Railroad.
Extent
13 photographic prints, albumen, 21 x 31 cm. or smaller; mounted on 8 album leaves.
13 digital objects
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted
in writing to the Curator of Pictorial Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library
as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader.
Availability
Restricted originals. Use viewing prints only. Use of originals only by permission of the Curator of Pictorial Collections,
The Bancroft Library.