The records of the California Flower Market, Inc. include photographs, photograph albums, manuscript materials, books, articles, ephemera, and audiovisual materials from the late 1800s to 2014, with the bulk covering the period 1910 to 1990. Together they tell the story of the California Flower Market, Inc. from its beginnings in 1912 when 54 Japanese American flower growers joined together as shareholders to create the organization.

The flower industry in San Francisco and the extended Bay Area dates back to the late 1800s when flower sellers would gather at an outdoor flower market at the corner of Kearney Street and Market Street in San Francisco. Conveniently located, it enabled growers to transport their produce to the market using the Southern Pacific and Key System ferry lines and trains. From its inception, the flower market served growers primarily represented by three ethnic communities: Chinese Americans, Italian Americans, and Japanese Americans.

10 Linear Feet 5 record cartons, 2 manuscript boxes, 7 oversized flat boxes, and 2 photograph album boxes.

Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by the California Flower Market, Inc. were transferred to the California Historical Society (CHS) in December 2019 by the California Flower Market, Inc. Reproduction or publication of materials in this collection beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of CHS. Please contact rights@calhist.org.

CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/