Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Guide to the John W. Geary School PTA Records, 1930-1974
MS 3595
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: John W. Geary School PTA Records,
Date (inclusive): 1930-1974
Collection number: MS 3595
Creator:
John W. Geary School
Extent: 2 linear feet
Repository:
California Historical Society, North Baker Library
San Francisco, California 94105-4014
Language:
English.
CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates:
https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/
Copyright has not been assigned to The North Baker Research Library. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the
Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The North Baker
Research 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.
[Identification of item], John W. Geary School PTA Records. MS 3595, California
Historical Society, North Baker Research Library.
The John W. Geary School, a small elementary school (200-300 students) located on Cook and
Geary Streets in San Francisco, opened on March 31, 1930. It was named for the last Alcalde
of San Francisco, who was also the City's first mayor.
The J.W. Geary School PTA was organized in February, 1930. Before World War II, the PTA's
activities included clothing, newspaper and tinfoil collections, card and sewing parties,
and creation of school holiday festivals and festivities. In 1940, members went to the
convention of the California Congress of Parents and Teachers in Los Angeles. During and
after the War, changes occurred in the way in which the PTA mothers related to their
children's school. There was an apparent decline in the importance of the PTA, perhaps
relative to the opening of other choices of activity and work for women. Also, the mothers
appear to have entered into a more equal partnership with school personnel. For example,
while there were still luncheons, fund-raising food sales and festivals, a bookfair was
added, and the mothers evidently assumed much responsibility for its contents. Programs show
increased awareness of health, safety and racial issues.
Fathers had only the most peripheral of roles in relationship to this PTA. Rather, the
records reflect the changing role of women between 1930 and 1974. This is shown both by the
decline of interest in recording minute details of small events, and by the improved
intellectual content of the programs. However, it should be noted that, throughout the
entire history of this organization, it exists almost entirely apart from major community
and world concerns.
In 1974-75, the J.W. Geary School was expected to close because of the need to earthquake
proof the building, which would have necessitated evacuation while the repairs were being
made. The repairs were not made, the last class was graduated on June 11, 1977, and the
school was subsequently demolished.
The records of the John W. Geary School PTA begin in April 1930. Included are
correspondence, minutes, flyers, programs, newsletters, and scrapbooks. The most revealing
and complete materials from the early days of the school are the publicity scrapbooks which
were, for the most part, meticulously kept. During and after World War II, the
record-keeping became more fragmentary, and there are no records after 1974.
- California Congress of Parents & Teachers
- John W. Geary School
- Education-San Francisco
- Public Schools
- San Francisco Public Schools
- San Francisco--Social Life & Customs
- Schools
- Women in California
- Community Organizations
A few photographs and pamphlets have been transferred to the photography and ephemera
collections.