James E. Gordon Color Slide Collection of San Francisco Murals
Finding aid created by San Francisco History Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
2016
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
http://sfpl.org/sfhistory
Title: James E. Gordon Color Slide Collection of San Francisco Murals
Dates: 1976-1984
Collection Number: SFP 90
Creator/Collector:
Gordon, James E.
Extent: 1 manuscript box with 465 color slides
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: This collection contains 465 color slides which document murals, primarily in San Francisco between 1976 and 1984. Collection
contains significant documentation of murals at North Beach Place public housing and the O’Farrell Theater as well as many
neighborhoods throughout San Francisco.
Language of Material: English
The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.
All requests for permission to publish from the collection 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.
James E. Gordon Color Slide Collection of San Francisco Murals. San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
Gift from photographer. 2011-102.
Biography/Administrative History
James E. (Jim) Gordon was born in 1938 in Buffalo, New York and received a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Miami, Florida.
He served four years in the United States Navy and was employed for over 14 years at Golden Gate Regional Center in San Francisco.
He served as first secretary of Bay Area Gay Liberation and co-founded the San Francisco Gay Democratic Club (now the Harvey
Milk LGBT Democratic Club). Gordon later co-founded the Harvey Milk Archives, in partnership with Milk’s partner Scott Smith,
the holdings of which are divided between the Hormel LGBTQIA Center of the San Francisco Public Library and the GLBT Historical
Society in San Francisco.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains 465 color slides which document murals, primarily in San Francisco between 1976 and 1984. Neighborhoods
documented include North Beach, South of Market, Fillmore, Haight-Ashbury, Castro/ Eureka Valley, West Portal and the Mission
as well as Oakland and Berkeley. Collection contains significant documentation of North Beach Place public housing (49 slides)
and the O’Farrell Theater (21 slides) as well as photographs of Vesuvio Cafe, Moscone Center (during construction), French
American School, Paltenghi Youth Center, Balboa Theater, Garfield Park, Bernal Dwellings, Valencia Gardens, and Balmy Alley.
Slides have hand-written captions detailing the location of each photograph, as well as mural artist’s names (when available).
Mural painting and decoration, American - California - San Francisco - 20th century.
Street art - California - San Francisco.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
Neighborhoods-California-San Francisco.
Photography-California-San Francisco.
Slides -- Color --1970-1980
Slides -- Color --1980-1990