The BTC files are divided into two series: the San Francisco Building Trades Council (later known as the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council) and the San Francisco Building Trades Council's Temple Association. Neither series contain complete records for their respective organization. Types of materials within the collection include articles of incorporation and by-laws, title papers and other real estate documents, membership certificates, minutes, wage rates and statistics handbooks, and financial and membership records. A detailed series list is attached.

The San Francisco Building Trades Council (BTC) was formed in February 1893 by several local unions of carpenters, plasterers, painters, cornice makers, and granite stone cutters to represent the interests of the city's construction trades workers. Under the 29-year reign (1893-1922) of its second president, P. H. McCarthy, the organization grew to considerable influence in San Francisco's vibrant labor movement and in the political realm. In 1908 the BTC affiliated with the Building and Construction Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor. At some point the name of the organization was changed to the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council.

Copyright has not been assigned to the Labor Archives & Research Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Labor Archives & Research Center 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.

Collection is open for research.