The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Digital Collection

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Summary

Abstract:
The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Digital Collection is a compilation of selected holdings from collections housed in the archives and special collections of The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley; the California Historical Society, San Francisco; The California State Library, Sacramento; Stanford University, Stanford; The Huntington Library, San Marino; and The Society of California Pioneers, San Francisco. Presenting approximately 14,000 images and 7,000 pages of text, the digital collection makes accessible material related to the history of the earthquake and fire in San Francisco, as well as presenting material on other areas affected throughout the state. The project website for The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Digital Collection includes a full introduction to the collection, online exhibit, panoramic image, interactive map search and other ways to explore this rich collection.
Extent:
8920 digital objects (approximately 14,000 images and 7,000 pages of text)
Language:
Collection materials are in English

Background

Scope and content:

On April 18, 1906, San Francisco was wrecked by a powerful earthquake and for the next few days was consumed by fires that destroyed a large portion of the city. The earthquake's epicenter was located near the city along the San Andreas Fault. Damage from the earthquake was widespread, occurring for hundreds of miles along the extensive fault line. As San Francisco was then the West Coast's most populous city and it's leading economic and cultural center, the repercussions of the earthquake and fire throughout the region were tremendous. Since then, documentation pertaining to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire has been collected and preserved these many years at various libraries and archives throughout the state. In preparation for the 100th anniversary of the disaster, some of these institutions have collaborated in an effort to make selected primary source materials accessible in a digital format. The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Digital Collection is the result of this effort.

The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Digital Collection is a compilation of selected holdings from collections housed in the archives and special collections of The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley; the California Historical Society, San Francisco; The California State Library, Sacramento; Stanford University, Stanford; The Huntington Library, San Marino; and The Society of California Pioneers, San Francisco. Presenting approximately 14,000 images and 7,000 pages of text, the virtual archive makes accessible material related to the history of the earthquake and fire in San Francisco, as well as presenting material on other areas affected throughout the state. The materials were selected to illustrate broad topical themes:

  • Pre-1906 earthquakes
  • San Francisco on the eve of the earthquake and fire
  • The 1906 Earthquake
  • The Ensuing Firestorms
  • The Relief Effort
  • The Reconstruction effort, culminating in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition
  • Earthquake damage outside San Francisco
  • The Science of the Earthquake

The materials selected are drawn from a variety of printed sources and archival collections, compiled by institutions and libraries with varying missions. Many of the collections have distinctive histories of their own. In some cases entire collections have been included; more often a selection of materials relating to the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire has been selected from a collection with broader scope. While the materials presented in The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Digital Collection are extensive, they are only selective and do not include comprehensively the wealth of historical and archival materials documenting this topic at participating institutions. Users should note the source of the materials found on this site and contact the holding libraries or archives for further information.

The project website for The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Digital Collection includes an introduction to the collection, online exhibit, panoramic image, interactive map search and other ways to explore this rich collection.

Physical location:
Please consult the individual repositories for current information on the location of these materials. Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
510-642-6481
bancref-library@berkeley.edu
Website