Finding Aid for the Randall (Josephine D.) Junior Museum records
1880-2014
SFH 692
Finding aid composed by Norman Yee
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
2022
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Title: Randall (Josephine D.) Junior Museum records
Creator:
Randall Museum
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 692
Physical Description:
7 cartons, 3 oversize manuscript boxes, 1 flat oversize box.
(11 Cubic Feet)
Date (inclusive): 1880-2014
Date (bulk): (bulk 1956-2002)
Abstract: Collection contains administrative papers and publications of the Auxiliary of the Josephine D. Randall Junior Museum and
later the Josephine D. Randall Junior Museum Society as well as records of the Museum. Also includes records, historical photographs,
photo albums, and scrapbooks of the Museum.
Physical Location: The collection is stored off-site.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
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], Josephine D. Randall Junior Museum records (SFH 692), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco
Public Library.
Provenance
Collection was received from the Recreation and Park Commission in 2016.
Related Materials
Researchers are encouraged to see also
San Francisco Recreation Department records (SFH 375),
Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of San Francisco Refugee Shacks Collection (SFH 9), and the
San Francisco Ephemera Collection (SF SUB COLL).
Conservation Note
During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Paper clips have been
removed, but some metal staples remain. Photo albums and scrapbooks remain on their original pages.
Materials Transferred
Periodicals
The Junior Naturalist Vol. 1, no. 1 (Apr. 1938)-v. 1, no. 3 (June 1938); v. 1, no. 6 (Sept. 1938)-v. 14, no. 9 (Sept. 1951) and
The Third Dimension were removed from collection and cataloged separately.
Josephine D. Randall and museum staff panoramic photograph sent to Preservation for flattening.
Administrative History
The Josephine D. Randall Junior Museum was the brainchild of Josephine Randall, San Francisco’s Superintendent of Recreation
and the city’s first female department head, and Bert Walker, a naturalist at San Francisco’s Camp Mather. Originally named
the “Junior Recreation Museum,” it opened in February 1937 on Ocean Avenue, occupying a building at the Old County Jail on
Ocean Avenue after the jail relocated in 1934. The Junior Museum was the first recreation center of its kind in San Francisco
and the third of its kind in the United States.
The Junior Museum fostered learning and camaraderie through clubs focused on subjects of interest within arts and sciences
with adult leaders as guides. Programs were designed to provide opportunities for children to teach themselves with the Junior
Museum eschewing formal classes. Clubs included the Science club, Rockminors club, and the Model Airplane club. The Junior
Museum also operated its own print shop where The Junior Naturalist and The Third Dimension were written, printed, and published.
Having long since outgrown the facilities on Ocean Avenue, the Junior Museum was eventually relocated to its current location
at Corona Heights where it reopened on September 23rd, 1951 thanks to the tireless efforts of Josephine Randall. In recognition
of her visionary work as the city’s Superintendent of Recreation, the Recreation and Park Commission suspended its longstanding
rule against naming buildings after living people and dedicated the new facility as the Josephine D. Randall Junior Museum.
Scope and Content
Collection includes papers, scrapbooks, photo albums, flyers, and brochures related to the history of the Randall Museum.
Also included are loose photographs and photo negatives.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged in 4 series.
Series 1: Administrative Papers
Series 2: Publications and Press
Series 3: Events, Programs, and Exhibits
Series 4: Historical Photographs
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Randall Museum -- Museum
Recreation -- California -- San Francisco.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- History
Randall Museum
1
Administrative Papers
1956-1989
box 1, folder 1
Randall Museum Mission Statement
box 1, folder 2
Randall Junior Museum Operations and Background Guidebook
1971
box 1, folder 3
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: By-Laws
1956, 1971, 1976, 1982
box 1, folder 4
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: Annual Reports
1961-1966
box 1, folder 5
Auxiliary Progress Reports and Administrative Papers
1957-1959
General
Includes Articles of Incorporation.
box 1, folder 6
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: Membership Lists
1958-1966
box 1, folder 7
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: Membership Lists
1970-1979
box 1, folder 8
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: Membership Lists
1980-1988
box 1, folder 9
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: New Membership and Renewals
1961-1975
box 1, folder 10
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: Annual Budgets and Treasurer's Reports
1959-1988
1959-1965
box 1, folder 11
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: Correspondence
1959-1989
1983-1989
box 1, folder 12
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: Agendas and Meeting Minutes [1/2]
1956-1971
box 1, folder 13
Auxiliary of the Randall Museum: Agendas and Meeting Minutes [2/2]
1956-1971
box 1, folder 14
Josephine D. Randall Junior Museum Society: By-Laws and Meeting Minutes
1982-1989
box 1, folder 15
Josephine D. Randall Junior Museum Society: Annual Election of Officers
1978-1988
1978-1982
box 1, folder 16
Josephine D. Randall Junior Museum Society: Officers and Directors
1985-1988
box 1, folder 17
Advisory Committee: Standing Rules and Meeting Minutes
1971-1988
box 1, folder 18
Josephine D. Randall Junior Museum Society: Endowment Trust Agreement and Papers
1983-1987
box 1, folder 19
Randall Museum Renovation: Support Group Transition
1987-1988
box 1, folder 20
Randall Museum Renovation: Master Plan Process
1983-1988
box 1, folder 21
Thomas A. Mandas Memorial Fund Book
1980-1984
2
Publications and Press
1938-2014
box 2, folder 1
Josephine D. Randall: Awards and Certificates
1948-1964
box 2, folder 2
Progress Report
Newsletter
1962-1986
box 2, folder 3
Regarding the Randall
Newsletter
1991-1999
box 2, folder 4
Press Releases
1955-1997
1955-1967
box 2, folder 5
Junior Recreation Museum Handout Series
1939-1941
box 8, folder 1
Randall Museum History Scrapbook
1938-1974
General
White cover. Includes clippings with few labeled photos.
box 11, folder 2
Clippings Scrapbook [1/2]
1940-1946
box 11, folder 3
Clippings Scrapbook [2/2]
1940-1946
box 8, folder 2
Randall Museum History Scrapbook
1951-1959
General
Red cover. Includes some loose clippings and 20th anniversary proclamation.
box 8, folder 3
"Publicity Book II. Auxiliary – Jos. D. Randall Jr. Museum" scrapbook
1958-1964
General
Gray cover. Includes clippings and flyers.
box 9, folder 1
Randall Museum History Scrapbook
1968-1974
General
Brown cover. Some photos are labeled.
box 9, folder 2
History "Album"
1982-1983
General
Red cover. Some photos of staff, but mostly clippings, flyers, and programs.
box 2, folder 6
History Scrapbook [1/2]
1990-1995
box 2, folder 7
History Scrapbook [2/2]
1990-1995
box 2, folder 8
Randall "Archives"
1994-1999
box 2, folder 9
Randall "Archives"
1998-2000
box 2, folder 10
Randall Museum Clip Reports
2000-2007
box 2, folder 11
Randall Museum Clip Reports
2008-2010
box 2, folder 12
Randall Museum Clip Reports
2011-2014
box 2, folder 13
Randall Junior Museum Clippings, undated
box 2, folder 14
Junior Academy Flyers, undated
box 2, folder 15
Woodcut Information Sheets, undated
box 2, folder 16
Award of Merit to Botany Club
1938
box 11, folder 4
Randall Museum Lapel Pins
3
Events, Programs, and Exhibits
1963-2009
box 2, folder 17
Randall Museum Brochures and Flyers [1/3]
1961-1997
box 2, folder 18
Randall Museum Brochures and Flyers [2/3]
1961-1997
box 2, folder 19
Randall Museum Brochures and Flyers [3/3]
1961-1997
box 3, folder 1
Seasonal Activities Brochures
1960-1976
box 3, folder 3
Junior Museum Fun Day
1963-1968
box 3, folder 4
Junior Museum Workshops
1965-1986
1965-1969
box 3, folder 5
Animals and Science Class Photos
1970-1994
General
Bulk undated. Includes some labels, negatives, ("Good B/W (animals + people)")
box 3, folder 6
Arts and Crafts Class Photos
1970-1996
1993-1996
General
Includes Chinese Lion Making and Frame-making with "Kids from Hamilton Center."
box 3, folder 7
Seasonal Activities Brochures
1977-1985
box 3, folder 8
Special Events Photos
1981-1994
box 3, folder 9, box 11, folder 1
"Ceramics" Class Photos
1981-1990
General
Bulk undated. Includes some negatives. 1 oversize photograph stored in box 11.
box 3, folder 10
"Woodshop" Class Photos
1981-1995
General
Bulk undated. Includes some labels and negatives.
box 3, folder 11
"Camps & Outings" Photos
1985
1994
box 3, folder 12
"Animals" Exhibit Photos
1993
General
Bulk undated. Includes negatives, slides, and polaroids.
box 3, folder 13
Randall Museum "Grafitti" Photos
1993
box 3, folder 14
Randall Museum Theater
1994-1995
box 3, folder 15
Science Class Photos
1994-1995
General
Bulk undated. Includes some labels and negatives.
box 3, folder 16
Halloween Photos and Negatives
1995
box 3, folder 17
Fall Reception
September 27, 1996
box 3, folder 19
Randall Museum Annual Family Halloween Fest
1996
box 3, folder 20
"We Want to Know!" Fondest Memories Program
1996-2009
box 4, folder 1
"2004 etc" Programs and Flyers
2004-2008
box 4, folder 2
Randall Museum Visitor Sign-In Sheets
2005
box 4, folder 3
Arts and Crafts Class Photos, undated
General
Includes negatives, polaroids, Making Paper: Summer Science program, Clown Class.
box 4, folder 4
"Randall Museum Beginners Science and Crafts Class", undated
box 4, folder 5
"Science Teacher's Workshop" Photos, undated
box 4, folder 6
"Shamanic Classes" Photos, undated
box 4, folder 7
Christmas Show and Boutique
1967-1987
box 4, folder 8
Summer Hostesses Volunteer Program
1964-1967
box 4, folder 9
Elizabeth Berrien: Wire Sculptures
2001
box 4, folder 10
Earthquake Shack: Documents [1/2]
1995-1997
box 4, folder 11
Earthquake Shack: Documents [2/2]
1995-1997
box 4, folder 12
Earthquake Shack: Photos and Slides, undated
box 4, folder 14
Randall Museum: Tickets and Invitations
1960-1998
box 4, folder 15
Pinwheels by James Harbinson
1996
box 4, folder 16
Display Clippings
1979-1989
box 4, folder 17
Display Photographs, undated
4
Historical Photographs
1880-2004
1937-2004
box 4, folder 18
"Pictures of Miss Randall" Photos and Negatives, undated
box 4, folder 19
Historic Photos
1880-1950
box 4, folder 20
1906 Earthquake Photos: Photos of Corona Heights, Brick Factory, States
1906
1952
box 4, folder 21
"Randall Museum History" album
1937-2002
box 4, folder 22
History Photo Album and Scrapbook
1947-1973
box 10, folder 1
History Photo Album
1986-1988
General
Marbled maroon cover, well captioned with people and events identified, mostly staff and board members.
box 4, folder 23
"On the Hill, Outdoor Photos"
1992
box 4, folder 24
Isabel Wiel "Randall Museum Vol. 1" [1/2]
Jan-Jun, 1995
box 4, folder 25
Isabel Wiel "Randall Museum Vol. 1" [2/2]
Jan-Jun, 1995
box 5, folder 1
Isabel Wiel "Randall Museum Vol. 2" [1/2]
Jun-Aug, 1995
box 5, folder 2
Isabel Wiel "Randall Museum Vol. 2" [2/2]
Jun-Aug, 1995
box 5, folder 3
Isabel Wiel "Randall Museum Vol. 4" [1/2]
Oct, 1995-Apr, 1996
box 5, folder 4
Isabel Wiel "Randall Museum Vol. 4" [2/2]
Oct, 1995-Apr, 1996
box 5, folder 5
Randall Museum Photo Album
1995
box 5, folder 6
Randall Museum Photo Album 1
1996
General
Some subjects identified: Elise Hillend, Jurassic Park exhibition, Barbara Eber, Ruth Winker, Society dinner (Deborah de Lambert,
John Dillon, Isabel Wiel), Norman, Dennis, Dale, Dean, Chris, Dale Dennis, Isabel, Lisa Bruno; Dale, Amy, Nancy, Julie Dodd,
Halloween, Carl, Haldy, Mari, Susan, Quinton.
box 5, folder 7
Randall Museum Photo Album 2
1996
General
Some subjects identified: Isabel Wiel, office (Isabel, Julie Dodd, Linda Moll), new cabinets, John telescope, Norah, Amy,
Dean, Peter Boyer, Alice, Norman, Barbara Eber, Linda, Lisa Bruno, Janai, Chris, Jersey.
box 5, folder 8
Randall Museum Photo Album
Sep-Dec, 1996
General
Includes Julie Dodd's Candy House workshop, Dec 1996.
box 5, folder 9
Randall Museum Photo Album [1/2]
Jan-Oct, 1997
General
Includes Earthquake Shack photos.
box 5, folder 10
Randall Museum Photo Album [2/2]
Jan-Oct, 1997
box 5, folder 11
Randall Photo Album
Aug, 1997
box 5, folder 12
Randall Photo Album
Jan-Jun, 1998
General
Includes some labels, Science Fair 1998 and earthquake shack identified.
box 6, folder 1
Randall Photo Album
Jun-Aug. 1998
box 6, folder 2
Randall Museum Photo Album [1/2]
1998
box 6, folder 3
Randall Museum Photo Album [2/2]
1998
box 6, folder 4
Randall Museum Photo Album
1998-1999
General
Includes certificate of appreciation to Isabel Wiel.
box 6, folder 5
Randall Museum Photo Album
1999
box 6, folder 6
Randall Museum Photo Album
Jan-Dec, 1999
box 6, folder 7
Randall Museum Photo Album
Oct, 1999-Jun 2000
box 6, folder 8
Randall Museum Scrapbook
Jun, 2000-Jul, 2001
General
Includes flyers and some labels, but mostly photos.
box 6, folder 9
Randall Museum Photo Album
Jan-Dec, 2001
box 6, folder 10
Randall Museum Photo Album
Jan-Dec, 2002
box 10, folder 2
"Museum and Gardening" photo album, undated
General
Black cover. Appears incomplete with gaps and loose photos.
box 6, folder 11
"Demolition, New Beginnings" Photos, undated
box 6, folder 12
"Other Places" Photos and Negatives, undated
box 6, folder 13
Photo "Negatives Vol. II + III", undated
box 7, folder 1
Gaar Photos: Prints
1864-1955
General
Historical photos from Greg Gaar Collection.
box 7, folder 4
Loose Photos
1993-1995
General
Some images undated. Includes negatives of staff and society 1993 and staff at Halloween 1994.
box 7, folder 6
Loose Photos "Pictures taken"
1999
box 7, folder 7
Loose Photos "Pictures taken"
Jan-Dec, 1999
box 7, folder 11
Loose Photos, undated [1/4]
box 7, folder 12
Loose Photos, undated [2/4]
box 7, folder 13
Loose Photos, undated [3/4]
box 7, folder 14
Loose Photos, undated [4/4]
box 7, folder 15
Loose Photo Negatives
1911-1925
box 7, folder 16
Loose Photo Negatives, undated
box 7, folder 17
Polaroid Photos of Staff, undated
box 7, folder 18
Historic Slides: Paint Shop
box 7, folder 20
Historic Slides: Rec. Department Chalk Draw
box 7, folder 21
Historic Slides: Unlabeled [1/2]
box 7, folder 22
Historic Slides: Unlabeled [2/2]
box 7, folder 23
Randall Museum Slides, undated
box 7, folder 24
"Odd, Unknown Subjects" Unlabeled Slides and Negatives, undated
