Finding aid to the Adolph Sutro Collection, 1873-1906
Finding aid prepared by Tim Wilson
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
2012
Title: Adolph Sutro Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1873-1906
Date (bulk): 1894-1896
Collection Identifier: SFH 57
Creator:
Sutro, Adolph, 1830-1898
Physical Description:
5.0 boxes
(5.0 cubic feet)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 557-4400
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: The collection contains bills, payrolls, receipts, cancelled checks and other records for numerous Sutro enterprises and properties
including Cliff House Ranch, Napa County Ranch, Reese Block, San Miguel Ranch, Sutro Baths, Sutro Heights and Sutro Railroad.
The most extensive records cover the years 1894 and 1896. In addition, the collection contains a fairly complete set of weekly
programs for Sutro Baths from March 1896 through April 1907.
Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials:
Collection materials are in
English.
Access
The collection is open for research. Please call the San Francisco History Center for hours and information at 415-557-4567.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Adolph Sutro Collection (SFH 57), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Provenance
There is no information on the provenance of this collection. These materials have been in the custody of the San Francisco
History Center since before 1996.
Related Materials
Researchers are encouraged to see also the SFPL Ephemera Files on: Adolph Sutro; Buildings: Sutro Baths, and Buildings: Cliff
House. The SFPL Small Manuscripts collection also contains family letters (with transcripts) to Adolph Sutro. Additional Adolph
Sutro business papers are available at the University of California, Berkeley, the Bancroft Library, the Stanford University
Library Manuscripts Division, and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.
Biographical Note
Adolph Heinrich Joseph Sutro (1830-1898) was an American financier, philanthropist and public official. He was born at Aix-la-Chapelle,
Rhenish Prussia on April 29, 1830.
Adolph, along with his mother and most of his brothers and sisters, moved to the United States in 1850; he continued on to
California the following year. In 1860, he moved to Nevada during the Comstock bonanza. Sutro designed and oversaw the construction
of a tunnel (known as "Sutro Tunnel") to alleviate ventilation and flooding problems inherent in mining operations at the
Comstock Lode. In 1878 when the tunnel was completed and in operation, Sutro sold his interest in it for about $1,000,000
and returned to San Francisco where he entered the real estate field.
His business interests in California included: Sutro Baths; Sutro Heights; the Reese block; the Cliff House; San Miguel Ranch;
Merrie Way and Railroad; and the Napa County Ranch, Arcadia. He improved these properties and even opened the grounds surrounding
his own home to the public. He served as Mayor of San Francisco 1894-1896. His real estate holdings eventually amounted to
one-twelfth of the property in San Francisco.
He was married to Leah Harris (d.1893) and they had six children: Emma Laura Sutro Merritt, Rose Victoria Sutro Morbio, Charles
Walter Sutro, Kate Sutro Nussbaum, Edgar Ernest Sutro and Clara Angelina Sutro de Choiseul. Adolph Sutro died in San Francisco,
California on August 8, 1898.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains bills, payrolls, receipts, cancelled checks and other records for numerous Sutro enterprises and properties
including Cliff House Ranch, Napa County Ranch, Reese Block, San Miguel Ranch, Sutro Baths, Sutro Heights and Sutro Railroad.
The most extensive records cover the years 1894 and 1896.
The bills and receipts offer a good example of the household costs for those of the upper class in San Francisco. The payrolls
offer examples of the numbers of people employed by Sutro during this time period, the work that they did, and the rate of
pay for each type of job. The 1873 receipts and disbursements for the Sutro Tunnel are the earliest materials in the collection;
these include some payrolls. Some of the receipts for Sutro Heights and the Merrie Way include the purchase of amusements
from the 1894 Midwinter Fair, and the cost to dismantle and move those pieces from Golden Gate Park to Sutro Heights.
Of particular note are the Sutro Baths programs from March 1896-April 1906. These programs list the entertainment to be presented
at the Sutro Baths. The programs were produced weekly for most of the years, and coverage appears to be fairly complete from
1896-1901. Starting in 1902 there are occasionally missing programs, and some months are not covered at all. There is only
one program from 1905.
Arrangement
Arranged into 13 series: Series 1. Sutro Activities; Series 2. Sutro Personal; Series 3. Cliff House; Series 4. New Cliff
House; Series 5. Sutro Heights; Series 6. Napa County Ranch, Arcadia; Series 7. San Miguel Ranch; Series 8. Office--Montgomery
Street; Series 9. City Properties; Series 10. Sutro Baths; Series 11. Merrie Way--Amusements; Series 12. Railroad and Power
House; Series 13. Miscellaneous checks.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sutro Baths (San Francisco, Calif.).
Sutro, Adolph, 1830-1898--Archives
Cliff House (San Francisco, Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)--Social life and customs
Sutro Heights (San Francisco, Calif.)
Series 1
Sutro Activities,
1873-1896
(bulk 1885-1896)
Physical Description:
28.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The series contains the receipts, cancelled checks, and bills for several of Sutro's concerns. Of note are the folders on
library expenses, Midwinter Fair acquisitions and payrolls, and the "Liberty Statue" on Mount Olympus. The tunnel receipts
from 1873 are the earliest items.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 1, Folder 2
Board of Election Commission,
1895-1896
Box 1, Folder 6
Financial statements including liabilities,
1896
Box 1, Folder 7
Hugo Sutro account,
1882-1895
Box 1, Folder 9
Interest, (loans, notes),
1885-1894
Box 1, Folder 10
Liberty statute, Mount Olympus,
1888
Box 1, Folder 11
Library: association membership,
1886
Box 1, Folder 12
Library: books (purchases, shipping notices),
1882-1894
Box 1, Folder 13
Library furnishings, repairs,
1886-1894
Box 1, Folder 14
Library rent, utilities,
1885-1894
Box 1, Folder 15
Library salaries and wages,
1885-1894
Box 1, Folder 16
Library supplies,
1885-1984
Box 1, Folder 17
Midwinter Fair acquisitions,
1893-1894
Box 1, Folder 19
Olympic Club proposal,
1888
Box 1, Folder 21
Payrolls (work on Midwinter Fair, acquisitions),
1894
Box 1, Folder 22
Periodicals (subscriptions),
1882-1896
Box 1, Folder 23
Printing ink business,
1894
Box 1, Folder 24
Property Taxes,
1882, 1893-1894
Box 1, Folder 25
"Railroad War,"
1894-1896
Box 1, Folder 28
Tunnel receipts and disbursements,
1873
Series 2
Sutro Personal,
1882-1896
Physical Description:
14.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The series contains the receipts, cancelled checks, and bills for various household and medical expenses for the Sutro family
and for several of the family's residences.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 1, Folder 31
Household furnishings and expenses,
1882-1896
Box 1, Folder 32
Medical expenses,
1886-1896
Box 1, Folder 33
Medical reports,
1893-1896
Box 1, Folder 34
Paintings, portrait, pictures,
1882-1894
Box 1, Folder 36
Removal and burial of son's body in Home of Peace cemetery,
1894
General note
Son G.E. Sutro.
Box 1, Folder 37
Rent for Rose Sutro,
1882
Box 1, Folder 38
Residence Hayes and Fillmore furnishings,
1887-1894
Box 1, Folder 39
Residence Hayes and Fillmore gardens and lawn,
1893-1894
Box 1, Folder 40
Residence Hayes and Fillmore groceries,
1887, 1893-1894
Box 1, Folder 41
Residence Hayes and Fillmore repairs: materials used,
1887, 1893-1894
Box 1, Folder 42
Residence Hayes and Fillmore utilities, maids (household),
1887, 1893-1894
Series 3
Cliff House,
1882-1896
Physical Description:
34.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The series contains bills, payrolls, receipts, and cancelled checks detailing some expenses for the Cliff House. This structure
burned down in December 1894. The years covered are primarily 1882 and 1884, and then 1894-1896.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 1, Folder 44
Beach: labor reports,
1891
Box 1, Folder 45
Blasting powder,
1894-1896
Box 1, Folder 46
Brooms, pails, etc.,
1894
Box 1, Folder 47
Building materials,
1882, 1885, 1894-1896
Box 1, Folder 49
Cottage (repair, papering),
1894
Box 1, Folder 50
Electrical supplies,
1894-1896
Box 2, Folder 1
Hardware and tools,
1882, 1894-1896
Box 2, Folder 2
Hydrographic survey,
1894
Box 2, Folder 4
Land's End Landing survey,
1894
Box 2, Folder 5
Miner's candles,
1894-1896
Box 2, Folder 11
Payroll; Power House,
1896
Box 2, Folder 13
Repair men,
1884-1886, 1896
(bulk 1884-1886)
Series 4
New Cliff House,
1895-1896
Physical Description:
21.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The series contains bills, payrolls, receipts, and cancelled checks detailing the expenses for the New Cliff House. Construction
was completed in 1896.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 2, Folder 20
Blasting powder,
1895-1896
Box 2, Folder 21
Building materials,
1895-1896
Box 2, Folder 25
Electrical (supplies and work),
1896
Box 2, Folder 27
Furnishings and decor,
1896
Box 2, Folder 29
Hardware and tools,
1895-1896
Box 2, Folder 32
Mantels and grates,
1895-1896
Box 2, Folder 33
Paints and oils,
1895-1896
Series 5
Sutro Heights,
1882-1896
Physical Description:
75.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The series contains bills, payrolls, receipts, and cancelled checks for Sutro Heights expenses. The bills and receipts offer
a good example of the household costs. Some of the receipts for Sutro Heights and the Merrie Way include the purchase of amusements
from the 1894 Midwinter Fair, and the cost to dismantle and move those pieces from Golden Gate Park to Sutro Heights.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 2, Folder 39
Aquarium [payroll],
1885-1886
Box 2, Folder 40
Building material,
1885-1894
Box 2, Folder 42
Cannon, cannon ball,
1896
Box 2, Folder 43
Carriages, wagons,
1882-1894
Box 2, Folder 44
Carriages, wagons,
1882-1896
Box 2, Folder 48
Cow (purchase),
1894-1895
Box 2, Folder 49
Earthquake indicator,
1888
Box 2, Folder 50
Expense accounts,
1894, 1896
Box 2, Folder 54
Gardens, conservatory,
1882-1896
Box 2, Folder 55
Gardens, conservatory,
1894
Box 2, Folder 56
Gardens, conservatory,
1895-1896
Hardware, tools,
1882-1896
Physical Description:
6.0 folders
Box 2, Folder 67
Harrington Cottage, 1896
1896
Box 2, Folder 68
Heater and boiler,
1895-1896
Box 2, Folder 72
Housekeeping account,
1890, 1894
Box 2, Folder 75
Paints and oils,
1885-1894
Box 2, Folder 76
Paints and oils,
1895-1896
Payrolls,
1882-1896
Physical Description:
4.0 folders
Box 2, Folder 81
Plant and garden receipts,
1896
Box 2, Folder 82
Photography supplies,
1889, 1894, 1896
Box 2, Folder 85
Residence: chimney sweep,
1895
Residence: food and supplies,
1886-1896
Physical Description:
3.0 folders
Residence: furnishings and maintenance,
1886-1896
Physical Description:
3.0 folders
Box 2, Folder 89
1886-1888
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
Box 2, Folder 91
1886, 1895-1896
(bulk 1895-1896)
Box 2, Folder 92
Salamander and sea lion food,
1894
Box 2, Folder 96
Stable construction,
1888-1896
Stables feed and bedding,
1882-1896
Physical Description:
4.0 folders
Stables harness and grooming,
1882-1896
Physical Description:
2.0 folders
Box 2, Folder 101
Stables harness and grooming,
1882-1894
Box 3, Folder 1
Stables harness and grooming,
1895-1896
Box 3, Folder 2
Stables maintenance,
1889, 1895
Box 3, Folder 3
Stabling charges,
1882-1896
Telephone,
1888, 1890, 1894, 1896
Physical Description:
2.0 folders
Box 3, Folder 9
Veterinary,
1885-1886, 1895-1896
Series 6
Napa County Ranch, Arcadia,
1893-1896
Physical Description:
11.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The Napa Valley/County Ranch series contains receipts for materials and groceries purchased for the ranch (household expenses,
soap, flour, etc.) for 1893-1894.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 3, Folder 13
Fares, freight, road tolls,
1893-1894
Box 3, Folder 16
General merchandise,
1893-1894
Box 3, Folder 17
Hardware, paints, building materials, etc.,
1893-1896
Box 3, Folder 19
Land: purchase, surveys, tax [receipts],
1893-1894
Box 3, Folder 22
Stables and carriages,
1893-1894
Box 3, Folder 23
Water analysis,
1893-1894
Series 7
San Miguel Ranch,
1882-1896
(bulk 1893-1896)
Physical Description:
10.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The San Miguel Ranch series contains receipts and bills for various ranch expenses which included land purchase, surveys,
and payrolls.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 3, Folder 24
Bull-strayed and redeemed,
1894
Box 3, Folder 25
Hardware, tools, building materials,
1885-1886, 1893-1896
Box 3, Folder 27
Land: purchase, surveys, title, deeds [receipts],
1889-1890, 1893-1894
Payrolls,
1885-1896
Physical Description:
3.0 folders
Box 3, Folder 30
1894
General note
Tree planting.
Box 3, Folder 31
1896
General note
Tree planting.
Box 3, Folder 32
Seeds and planting,
1882, 1894, 1896
Series 8
Office--Montgomery Street,
1882-1896
Physical Description:
10.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The series contains receipts and bills for various Montgomery Street office expenses which included land purchase, contracts,
insurance, surveys, payrolls, and petitions.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 3, Folder 34
Contract for grading,
1889
General note
Lake Street between First and Sixth Avenues.
Box 3, Folder 35
Deeds, titles, abstracts,
1882-1896
Box 3, Folder 36
Insurance,
1882-1888, 1896
Box 3, Folder 37
Judgements/Suits,
1885-1888, 1894, 1896
Box 3, Folder 38
Petitions to City (Developments),
1886, 1890
Box 3, Folder 39
Repairs, property location not specified,
1882-1894
Box 3, Folder 40
Salaries, wages,
1882-1896
Box 3, Folder 41
Supplies, utilities, maintenance,
1882-1896
Box 3, Folder 42
Surveyors-Engineers,
1893-1896
Box 3, Folder 43
Unspecified payments (purpose not indicated),
1882-1894
Series 9
City Properties,
1882-1896
Physical Description:
11.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The series contains receipts and bills for various San Francisco properties.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 4, Folder 1
Badlam Block, Humboldt Building from Fair,
1890, 1894
Box 4, Folder 2
Byfield Tract, German Village buildings-Fair,
1894, 1896
Box 4, Folder 3
California Street,
1885-1896
Box 4, Folder 5
Greenwich Street,
1882-1896
Box 4, Folder 6
Jackson and Battery,
1882-1896
Box 4, Folder 7
Market and 6th,
1882-1894
Box 4, Folder 8
Outside Lands, Block 72,
1890, 1894, 1896
Box 4, Folder 9
Park Lane Tract,
1885-1896
Box 4, Folder 10
Reese Block,
1886, 1893-1896
(bulk 1893-1896)
Box 4, Folder 11
Reese Block payroll,
1894, 1896
Series 10
Sutro Baths,
1893-1906
Scope and Contents
The Sutro Baths opened in 1896 and featured seven pools; one was kept at ocean temperature while the others were heated to
different temperatures. The Baths also included a museum and several restaurants. The pools closed in the 1950s and Sutro
Baths as a whole closed in 1966.
The receipts and bills detail the variety of expenses from admissions and payrolls, to the Hospital Resuscitation Room and
Orchestorion. The series includes a fairly complete set of weekly programs for Sutro Baths from March 1896 through April 1907.
Arrangement
Arranged into two subseries: Sutro Baths Business, and Sutro Baths Programs. The Business subseries is arranged alphabetically
by folder title; the Programs are arranged chronologically.
Series 10 A
Sutro Baths Business,
1893-1896
Physical Description:
66.0 folders
Box 4, Folder 13
Advertising (newspapers),
1893-1896
Box 4, Folder 14
Amusement Department (general),
1896
Box 4, Folder 21
Building materials,
1894-1896
Box 4, Folder 23
Cleaning materials,
1893-1896
Box 4, Folder 26
Contractors (construction),
1894
Box 4, Folder 31
Electrical Plant and supplies,
1894-1896
Box 4, Folder 40
Hardware and tools,
1894-1895
Box 4, Folder 41
Hardware and tools,
1895-1896
Box 4, Folder 42
Hospital Resuscitation Room,
1896
Box 4, Folder 45
Lamps and lanterns,
1895-1896
Box 4, Folder 49
Newspaper subscriptions,
1896
Box 4, Folder 50
Office furniture and supplies,
1896
Box 4, Folder 52
Paints and oils,
1894-1896
Payrolls,
1894, 1896
Physical Description:
9.0 folders
Box 5, Folder 3
Plaster decorations,
1894
Box 5, Folder 6
Printings (tickets, etc.),
1896
Box 5, Folder 8
Programme Department,
1896
Box 5, Folder 15
Ventilation Department,
1894-1896
Box 5, Folder 16
Watchman’s gun, etc.,
1896
Series 10 B
Sutro Baths Programs,
1896-1906
Physical Description:
96.0 folders
Box 5, Folders 98-106
1903 (February-March, May-August, October-December)
Series 11
Merrie Way--Amusements,
1890, 1894-1896
(bulk 1894-1896)
Physical Description:
8.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The Merrie Way, also known as the Sutro Pleasure Grounds, was located to the east of the Sutro Baths. This amusement included
several attractions that were purchased from the 1894 Midwinter Exposition and were moved from Golden Gate Park to Sutro's
property.
The series includes receipts and payrolls for the Firth Wheel, the Haunted Swing and the Mirror Maze. There are also files
for the Mechanical Village and the Shooting Gallery.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 5, Folder 115
Firth Wheel Payroll,
1894, 1896
Box 5, Folder 117
Haunted Swing Payroll,
1896
Box 5, Folder 120
Mirror Maze Payroll,
1896
Box 5, Folder 121
Shooting Gallery-Railroad Terminus [includes payroll],
1890
Series 12
Railroad and Power House,
1894-1899
Physical Description:
8.0 folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Contents
The series includes receipts, bills, and reports primarily for the Power House.
Box 5, Folder 122
Bonding of Motormen,
1897
Box 5, Folder 123
Charges for power to Baths and Heights,
1896
Box 5, Folder 124
General expenses,
1894-1899
Box 5, Folder 126
Power House (general),
1895-1896
Box 5, Folder 127
Power House Engineer Reports,
1896
Box 5, Folder 128
Power House Engineer Reports,
1897
Box 5, Folder 129
Power Charge Disagreements and Analyses,
1898-1899
Box 5, Folder 130
Series 13
Miscellaneous checks,
1886