Arnold Genthe photograph collection, 1895-1925

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Summary

Creators:
Genthe, Arnold, 1869-1942
Abstract:
Collection of portraits of prominent San Franciscans taken by Arnold Genthe between 1899 and 1920; photographs of the aftermath of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire; and photographs Chinese American inhabitants of San Francisco's Chinatown between 1895 and 1906. Collection contains film and glass negatives; original photographic prints created by Genthe and copy prints presumably made from the negatives in this collection.
Extent:
2.67 Linear feet
Language:
English and Materials primarily in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item, date]; Arnold Genthe photograph collection, PC RM Genthe; [box number, folder number]; California Historical Society.

Background

Scope and content:

Comprises film and glass negatives; and original photographic prints created by Arnold Genthe between 1895 and 1925. Most of the photographic prints are signed by Genthe. Also contains copy prints, presumably created from the negatives in this collection.

Collection contains a sub-series of original portraits of artists, authors, dancers, actors, and other prominent San Franciscans who were contemporaries of Genthe, including Jack London. Another sub-series contains 16 original and many copy prints of photographs of the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire.

Bulk of collection is in the Chinatown sub-series which contains a few original prints and many copy prints of San Francisco's Chinatown. Known as Tangrenbu, this 10 block area was inhabited by most of San Francisco's Chinese American population. Photographs depict Chinese American children and families; tradespeople; and street scenes showing details of Chinatown's architecture, store fronts, and inhabitants. Many of the titles Genthe chose for his images contain language and descriptions considered offensive. Please see John Kuo Wei Tchen's introduction in Genthe's Photographs of San Francisco's Chinatown for a contemporary analysis of Genthe's photographs of Chinatown.

Biographical / historical:

Arnold Genthe was born in Berlin, Germany on January 8, 1869. He emigrated to San Francisco in 1895 where he taught himself photography. He photographed the Chinese Americans living and working in San Francisco's Chinatown. Genthe opened a studio in San Francisco sometime between 1890 and 1900 where he made portraits of prominent San Francisco citizens, artists, authors, dancers, and actors. The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire destroyed his studio, but provided him with the opportunity to document much of the destruction in the city. Genthe rebuilt his studio in San Francisco in 1907 and published his Chinatown photographs in 1908. He moved to New York in 1911, continuing to work in photography, primarily in portraiture, until his death in 1942.

Acquisition information:
Negatives transferred from Library of Congress to the California Historical Society in 1954.
Physical / technical requirements:

Many glass plate negatives are cracked or broken and should not be handled.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

California Historical Society collections have been transferred to Stanford University Libraries. Collections will be unavailable as Stanford accessions them and updates records. Please contact chscollection@stanford.edu with any inquiries.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item, date]; Arnold Genthe photograph collection, PC RM Genthe; [box number, folder number]; California Historical Society.

Location of this collection:
Department of Special Collections, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
chscollection@stanford.edu
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