San Francisco Carte-de-Visite Collection, 1862-1898
Online content
Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- San Francisco Carte-de-Visite Collection
- Dates:
- 1862-1898
- Creators:
- Shew, William J., 1820-1903 Taber, I. W. (Isaiah West), 1830-1912 Lainer, Charles Morse's Palace of Art
- Abstract:
- Extent:
- 1 box with over 140 cartes-de-visite
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
San Francisco Carte-de-Visite Collection. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The artificial collection contains approximately 140 cartes-de-visite taken by over 30 known San Francisco, California photographers/photography studios working mostly in the 1860s and 1870s and collected by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. The cartes-de-visite range in date from the 1860s – 1880s and are albumen photographic prints mounted on card. Photographers and studios most prominently represented include Bradley & Rulofson; C. L. Cramer's California Gallery; E. R. Higgins; Charles Lainer; G. D. Morse / Morse's Palace of Art; New York Gallery; William Shew; C. E. Watkins' Art Gallery and Wise & Prindle. At least half of the portraits are unidentified. The versos of the cards include printed studio name and location and/or handwritten notations about the sitter. The collection does include a small amount of cartes-de-visite by photography studios outside of San Francisco and the United States.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The collection was collected and assembled by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. The collection includes multiple accessions and donations received over the life of the San Francisco History Center.
- Acquisition information:
- The portraits were acquired from various sources, including donations and purchases.
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- 1862-1898
- 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:
-
San Francisco Carte-de-Visite Collection. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center
- Location of this collection:
-
San Francisco Public Library100 Larkin StreetSan Francisco, CA 94102, US
- Contact:
- (415) 557-4567