UCSF Cornerstone Collection, 1895-1968

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Summary

Title:
UCSF Cornerstone Collection
Dates:
1895-1968
Creators:
University of California, San Francisco
Abstract:
The cornerstone of the medical school, laid on March 27, 1897, was comprised of a copper box which functioned as a time capsule. The copper box was unearthed and cut open in March of 1967 when the building was torn down. Collection includes materials related to the cornerstone time capsule, including publications and memorabilia buried inside it, as well as publications commemorating the centenial of the medical school. Additionally, UC Hall on Parnassus, was demolished in January 2023. A copper box which functioned as a time capsule was unearthed. The cornerstone contained materials from 1915-1916 that included UC publications, San Francisco newspapers from 1916, hospital blueprints and construction photographs as well as miscellaneous memorabilia.
Extent:
2.05 Linear Feet (1 carton, 2 manuscript boxes, and 1 oversize folder) and 4.37 Linear Feet (1 manuscript box, 2 oversize boxes)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

UCSF Cornerstone Collection, AR 2015-09. Archives and Special Collections, University of California, San Francisco.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes materials related to the cornerstone time capsule, including publications and memorabilia buried inside it, as well as publications commemorating the centennial of the medical school, including San Francisco newspapers, a copy of the site deed donated by Adolph Sutro, photos of the Affiliated College Buildings, and University announcements of the establishment of the schools of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and law.

The 2024 accrual contains materials from 1915-1916 consisting of UC publications, San Francisco newspapers from 1916, a hospital plot plan blueprint and construction photographs from Lewis P. Hobart, as well as miscellaneous memorabilia.

Biographical / historical:

The original UCSF Medical School Building was completed in 1898 and torn down in the spring of 1967. The building was erected to consolidate the Affiliated Colleges onto Parnassus Avenue. The site was donated by the mayor of San Francisco, Alfred Sutro, in 1895. The cornerstone of the medical school, laid on March 27, 1897, was comprised of a copper box which functioned as a time capsule. The copper box was unearthed and cut open in March of 1967 when the building was torn down.

UC Hall was designed by architect Lewis P. Hobart and completed in 1917. It was demolished in early 2023 to make way for a new Parnassus Research and Academic Building, a key part of the revitalization of Parnassus Heights. The copper box cut open in November of 2023 after the building was torn down in January.

Acquisition information:
Collection was separated from the archives legacy university classification system.
Processing information:

Processed by David Uhlich in 2015. Updated by Lupe Samano in 2024.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged by material type.

Accruals:

Future additions may be expected.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
David Uhlich
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-07-28 15:54:22 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

UCSF Cornerstone Collection, AR 2015-09. Archives and Special Collections, University of California, San Francisco.

Location of this collection:
UCSF Library & CKM Archives and Special Collections, 530 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94143-0840, US