Finding Aid to the Cow Hollow Improvement Club Records,
1939-1974
MS 3161
Finding aid prepared by California Historical Society staff; revised by Tanya Hollis in 2010.
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
© 2001, revised 2010
Title: Cow Hollow Improvement Club records
Date (inclusive): 1939-1974
Collection Number: MS 3161
Creator:
Cow Hollow Improvement Club (San Francisco, Calif.)
Extent:
4 boxes
(2.0 Linear feet)
Repository:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
Abstract: Contains organizational papers, including constitution and bylaws, minutes, membership lists, correspondence, and reports,
as well as cases before the Board of Appeals concerning new constructions and conversions, newspaper clippings, and several
zoning reports and maps. Correspondence contains detailed accounts of block-by-block zoning procedures. Also includes materials
pertaining to the establishment of the Delancey Street Foundation in 1968, which founded a drug rehabilitation center in Cow
Hollow.
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Cow Hollow Improvement Club Records, MS 3161, California Historical Society.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the North Baker Research Library. All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise
use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Library and Archives, North Baker Research Library,
California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical
Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such
permission must be obtained from the copyright owner.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research
and educational purposes.
National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections Number:
NUCMC 82-359
Separated Materials
Photographs shelved as MSP 3161.
Arrangement
Arranged in four boxes, as follows: Box 1: Organizational and membership materials; Box 2: Correspondence, arranged alphabetically
by street; Box 3: Reports and cases before the Board of Appeals; Box 4: Zoning and development materials, and miscellany.
Scope and Contents
Contains organizational papers, including constitution and bylaws, minutes, membership lists, correspondence, and reports,
as well as cases before the Board of Appeals concerning new constructions and conversions, newspaper clippings, and several
zoning reports and maps. Correspondence contains detailed accounts of block-by-block zoning procedures.
Also includes materials pertaining to the establishment of the Delancey Street Foundation in 1968, which founded a drug rehabilitation
center in Cow Hollow.
History
The Cow Hollow Improvement Club records document the activities of one of San Francisco's well known neighborhood associations.
Residents of the area founded the organization in 1946 in order to advance and promote their neighborhood, as well as improve
the welfare of the City of San Francisco. With both a sense of history and humor, the members choose the name Cow Hollow in
honor of the farms which once overlooked the hillside. Within a short time, the Club boasted a membership of over thirty-two
families within the district boarded by Lyon to the west; Pierce to the east; Filbert to the north; and, Pacific to the south.
Among the early successful efforts of this permanent and vigorous neighborhood association, was the establishment of a playground
in 1948; increased fire and police protection; improved transportation; development of underground facilities; and, improved
zoning ordinances sensitive to resident needs.
From its inception, the Club members were most active in determining zoning ordinances. Whenever an issue of construction
arose, members were notified and a consensus was reached. Without hesitation, the Club went directly before the Board of Appeals
over zoning conflicts if they believed that they would aversely affect the overall welfare of the Cow Hollow district. Often,
they were successful in their efforts to curtail additional construction.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Delancey Street Foundation (San Francisco, Calif.).
Citizens' associations--California--San Francisco.
Cow Hollow (San Francisco, Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)--Buildings, structures, etc.
San Francisco (Calif.)--Social life and customs.
Container List
Box 1, Folder 1
History of Cow Hollow Improvement Club
Box 1, Folder 3
General Correspondence
1939-1974
Box 1, Folder 4
Membership Correspondence
1953-1974
Box 2, Folder 7
Baker Street
1947-1956,
1970
Box 3, Folder 19
Reports on the Board of Appeals
1964
Box 4, Folder 28
Presidio Gate Study
1964-1965
Box 4, Folder 29-30
Delancey Street Foundation Studies
1968,
1973
Box 4, Folder 31
Traffic Control Study
1971
