Finding Aid to the Frank Borel Motion Picture Portrait Photograph Collection (1922-1950) SFP 152

Finding aid composed by Christina Moretta

San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

2022

100 Larkin Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

sfhistory@sfpl.org

URL: http://www.sfpl.org/sfhistory

Title: Frank Borel Motion Picture Portrait Photograph Collection

Date (inclusive): 1922-1950

Identifier/Call Number: SFP 152

Creator: Borel, Frank Merton, 1887 - 1954

Physical Description: 2 pamphlet boxes and 1 flat box (1.5 Cubic Feet)

Contributing Institution: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

100 Larkin Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 557-4567

info@sfpl.org

Abstract: The collection consists of over 146 black and white photographic prints of motion picture actors and actresses collected by San Francisco millinery designer Frank Borel. Almost all the photographs are inscribed to Frank Borel and autographed by the celebrity. Most of the portraits are of people related to motion picture but does include those related to performing arts. The bulk of the collection is from the 1930s-early 1950s.

Physical Location: The collection is stored on site.

Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

Publication Rights

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

[Identification of item], Frank Borel Motion Picture Portrait Photograph Collection (SFP 152), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Provenance

Gift.

Related materials

For entertainer portraits, researchers are encouraged to view San Francisco Portrait Photograph Collection (SFP 136); San Francisco Cabinet Card Collection (SFP 59); San Francisco Public Library Performing Artists Photograph Collection (SFP 87); Theater, Motion Picture and Performing Arts Photograph Collection (SFP 153); and San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Photo Morgue (SFP 39).

Biographical / Historical

Frank Merton Borel was born on September 13, 1887 to Louise and Francois Borel in Alameda County, California. The family moved to the South of Market, San Francisco by the 1890s. In 1910, Borel began his career as a salesman in a local wholesale millinery house. Borel traveled to Paris to learn more of the millinery trade. Upon return, he opened his own designing house and hat salon, Francois, located at 251 Post Street. From the 1930s until his death, Borel lived with his sister and a male assistant from his hat salon in Ashbury Heights at 187 Delmar Street. A confirmed bachelor, Frank Merton Borel died on February 2, 1954 in San Francisco, California.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of over 146 black and white photographic prints of motion picture actors and actresses collected by San Francisco millinery designer Frank Borel. Almost all the photographs are inscribed to Frank Borel and autographed by the celebrity. Most of the portraits are of people related to motion picture but does include those related to performing arts. The bulk of the collection is from the 1930s-early 1950s. Most of the photographers were motion picture studio photographers. Only a few photographs are dated. Based on the appearance of the backsides of the photographs, most had been mounted in scrapbooks and removed. The scrapbooks and photographs were on display at Borel's hat salon at 251 Post Street.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by surname.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Actors--United States--Pictorial works

Actresses--United States--Pictorial works

Entertainers -- Portraits.

Autographs -- Collections.

Portrait photographs

Women -- Portraits.

Men -- Portraits.

box 1

Agar, Jack

box 1

Allyson, June

box 1

Alvary, Lorenzo

oversize-box 3

Andrews, Dana

box 1

Arden, Eve

oversize-box 3

Astaire, Fred

box 1

Baker, Josephine

box 1

Bankhead, Talulah

box 1

Barbieri, Fedora

oversize-box 3

Bari, Lynn

box 1

Barrymore, Diana

box 1, oversize-box 3

Barrymore, Jr., John

box 1

Bergman, Ingrid

box 1

Bjoerling, Sigrid

box 1

Blyth, Ann

box 1

Brian, David

box 1

Brownlee, John

box 1

Calhoun, Rory

box 1

Carey, Macdonald

box 1

Chevalier, Maurice

box 1

Clift, Montgomery

box 1

Conley, Eugene

box 1

Corey, Wendell

oversize-box 3

Crain, Jeanne

box 1

Curtis, Mary

box 1

Dahl, Arlene

box 1

Dailey, Dan

box 1

Danilova

box 1

Day, Doris

oversize-box 3

Day, Laraine

box 1

De Haviland, Olivia

box 1

Del Monaco, Mario

box 1, oversize-box 3

Del Rio, Dolores

box 1

Diennes, Roper

box 1

Dietrich, Marlene

box 1

Di Steffano, Giuseppe

box 1

Donlevy, Brian

box 1

Douglas, Kirk

box 1

Douglas, Paul

oversize-box 3

Drake, Dona

box 1

Duff, Howard

oversize-box 3

Duncan Sisters

oversize-box 3

Dunham, Catherine

oversize-box 3

Durbin, Deanna

box 1

Ernster, Deszoe

oversize-box 3

Eythe, William

box 1

Fenn, Jean

box 1

Fifield, Elaine

box 1

Fontaine, Joan

oversize-box 3

Ford, Glenn

oversize-box 3

Gable, Clark

oversize-box 3

Gabin, Jean

oversize-box 3

Garland, Judy

oversize-box 3

Garson, Greer

box 1

Gbur, Jan

oversize-box 3

Gifford, Frances

oversize-box 3

Gilmore, Virginia

box 1

Goddard, Paulette

oversize-box 3

Grable, Betty

box 1

Granger, Stewart

oversize-box 3

Granville, Bonita

box 1

Greco, Jose & Amparo, Nila

oversize-box 3

Grey, Nan

box 1

Guarrera, Frank

box 1

Harrison, Rex

box 1

Hart, Richard

oversize-box 3

Haymes, Dick

box 1

Hayward, Louis

box 1

Hayward, Susan

oversize-box 3

Hayworth, Rita

box 1

Heflin, Van

box 1

Henie, Sonja

box 1

Holliday, Judy

box 1

Holt, Tim

oversize-box 3

Hunt, Marsha

box 1

Hutton, Betty

box 1

Keel, Howard

box 1

Lancaster, Burt

box 1

Lansbury, Angela

box 1

Lanza, Mario

oversize-box 3

Leeds, Andrea

box 1

Lessy, Ben

box 1

Lewis, Brenda

oversize-box 3

Loy, Myrna

box 1

Lund, John

box 1

Lundgen, Bill

oversize-box 3

Lupino, Ida

box 1

Martin, Tony

box 1

Mature, Victor

box 1

Mayo, Virginia

box 1

Milland, Ray

box 1

Mitchum, Bob

box 1

Montalban, Ricardo

box 1

Moorhead, Agnes

box 1

Neal, Patricia

box 1

Nelli, Herva

box 1

Nikolaidi, Elena

box 1

Ouspenskaya, Maria

box 1

Parks, Larry

oversize-box 3

Payne, John

oversize-box 3

Peck, Gregory

oversize-box 3

Perry, Joan

oversize-box 3

Pidgeon, Walter

box 1

Powell, Jane

box 1

Price, Vincent

box 1

Redgrave, Michael

box 1

Rogers, Ginger

box 1

Rogers, Roy

box 1

Roggero, Margaret

box 1

Roman, Ruth

oversize-box 3

Romero, Cesar

box 1

Rossi Lemeni, Nicola

box 1

Russel, Rosalind

box 2

Sablon, Jean

box 2

Sanders, George

box 2

Sayao, Bidu

box 2

Scott, Lizbeth

box 2

Scott, Randolph

oversize-box 3

Sheridan, Ann

box 2

Shore, Dinah

box 2

Skelton, Red

box 2

Southern, Ann

box 2

Stewart, Jimmy

box 2

Sullivan, Brian

box 2

Svanholm, Set

oversize-box 3

Swanson, Gloria

box 2

Swarthout, Gladys

box 2

Sze, Yi-Kwei

box 2

Taylor, Robert

box 2

Tebaldi, Renata

box 2

Thebom, Blanche

box 2

Todd, Richard

box 2

Trenet, Charles

box 2

Trevor, Claire

box 2

Tufts, Sonny

box 2

Valli, Alda

box 2

Vera-Ellen

oversize-box 3

Walker, Bob

box 2

Warenskjold, Dorothy

oversize-box 3

Wells, Jacqueline

oversize-box 3

West, Mae

oversize-box 3

Wilde, Cornel

box 2

Williams, Bill

box 2

Williams, Esther

oversize-box 3

Wyman, Jane

box 2, oversize-box 3

Young, Loretta

box 2

Unidentified