San Francisco Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Photograph Records, 1907-1977

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Summary

Creators:
San Francisco (Calif.). Public Works San Francisco (Calif.). Dept. of Public Works
Abstract:
Extent:
13 boxes and 74 photograph albums
Language:
Preferred citation:

San Francisco Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Photograph Records. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of approximately 16,770 photographs documenting the planning, construction, use and maintenance of San Francisco Department of Public Works (SFDPW) Bureau of Engineering projects from 1907 – late 1970s in San Francisco, California. SFDPW Bureau of Engineering was responsible for street improvements; the design and construction of civic buildings including schools and City Hall; and infrastructure construction. The department was initially tasked with organizing street construction and paving projects throughout the city and the earlier visual materials represent that focus. Photos also document construction of sewers and cisterns, construction of reinforced concrete, and construction of pumping stations. SFDPW usually worked on several projects simultaneously, and often completed several smaller projects in various locations. Photo documentation of projects also includes Twin Peaks Reservoir, Stockton Street and Twin Peaks Tunnels, Ocean Beach Esplanade, and numerous boulevards, streets and sewers. Limited photo documentation of O'Shaughnessy Dam and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Includes photographs of maps and architectural plans/competitions. Formats represented include photograph albums, black and white photographic prints, glass plate negatives and film negatives. Over 350 glass plate negatives, 3,000 negatives, 600 + loose prints; 74 photograph albums with over 12,770 photographic prints. Photograph albums do have an in-house card index. Up to 1922, the prints in the albums were made from the corresponding glass plate negatives in the records collection. It should be noted that the collection is most likely incomplete: there are photograph albums that had been lost before the transfer to the San Francisco History Center and there are gaps in the sequencing of the glass plate negatives and film negatives.

Biographical / historical:

San Francisco's Board of Public Works was created on January 8, 1900 by Article VI of the City Charter, directed by three commissioners. The original four bureaus were: Engineering, Streets, Building, and Light and Water Services. This photograph record series documents the building of infrastructure in San Francisco following the 1906 earthquake, particularly during the administrations of City Engineers Marsden Manson and M.M. O'Shaughnessy. Long known as the Department of Public Works or DPW, the agency is now known as San Francisco Public Works. It constructs, manages, designs, maintains and repairs the city's public buildings and infrastructure.

Acquisition information:
Transferred to the San Francisco History Center City County Archives from the San Francisco Department of Public Works (2002-60). Additional materials transferred 2020-20, 2021-8 and 2022-13 by San Francisco Public Works.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and is available for use during Photo Desk hours.

Terms of access:

No copyright as San Francisco Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Photograph Records are in the Public Domain.

Preferred citation:

San Francisco Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Photograph Records. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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