California Midwinter International Exposition and California Photograph Album, 1891-1894

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Summary

Title:
California Midwinter International Exposition and California Photograph Album
Dates:
1891-1894
Creators:
Abstract:
Extent:
1 photograph album (27 photographic prints); album 20 cm x 23.5 cm, prints 13 cm x 18 cm (largest print)
Language:
Preferred citation:

California Midwinter International Exposition and California Photograph Album . San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Background

Scope and content:

The buckskin bound photograph album contains 27 photographic prints documenting the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894 in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California as well as other significant locations in California. There are 16 photographs of the California Midwinter International Exposition, all platinum prints. The well-composed photographs include general views of the Fair as well as two women posing on a camel, Native Americans walking through the Fair and an exterior of Dante’s Inferno. The album also contains two other groups of photographs of subjects other than the Midwinter Fair. The cyanotypes include a landscape view of Washoe Lake and of a waterfall dated July 2, 1891. The third cyanotype is of the residence of James S. Greenwood in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The glossy gelatin silver prints of various locations include Hotel Del Monte in Monterey, the Sacramento River near Chico and the lake at the home of E. J. Baldwin, Santa Anita Rancho. There are two photographs by W. K. Vickery of San Francisco, one of the Mission Dolores Cemetery and the other of the Protestant Orphan Asylum on Haight Street. Some of these are labeled in pencil verso and the cyanotypes have penned dates and location.

Biographical / historical:

The California Midwinter International Exposition was held in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco from January 1 to July 9, 1894. The inspiration for the Fair was the World's Columbia Exposition at Chicago the previous year. The Midwinter Fair, as it became known to be, sought to promote California's mild, salubrious year-round climate, as well as to portray its beauty and wealth of diverse resources. In addition to featuring exhibits from counties throughout the state, the Exposition invited other states and nations to exhibit wares and customs characteristic of their regions.

Acquisition information:
Purchase 2017

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center staff.
Date Prepared:
1891-1894
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish from photographs must be submitted in writing to the Photo Curator. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

California Midwinter International Exposition and California Photograph Album . 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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