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San Francisco Carte-de-Visite Collection
SFP 44
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Title: San Francisco Carte-de-Visite Collection
Dates: 1862-1898
Collection Number: SFP 44
Creator/Collector:
Shew, William J., 1820-1903
Taber, I. W. (Isaiah West), 1830-1912
Lainer, Charles
Morse's Palace of Art
Extent: 1 box with over 140 cartes-de-visite
Online items available
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: 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.
Language of Material: English
The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.
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.
[Identification of item]. San Francisco Carte-de-Visite Collection. Collection Number: SFP 44. San Francisco Public Library.
San Francisco History Center
The portraits were acquired from various sources, including donations and purchases.
Biography/Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Photographers -- California -- San Francisco.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Biography -- Portraits.
Cartes des visite
Card photographs
Albumen prints -- 19th century
Photographic prints -- 19th century
Men -- Portraits.
Women -- Portraits.
Children -- Portraits.
Group portraits