Dobay (Norma Garrigues) Family Photograph Collection, 1890-1950

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Summary

Title:
Norma Garrigues Dobay Family Photograph Collection
Dates:
1890-1950
Creators:
Dobay, Norma Garrigues
Abstract:
Extent:
1 carton
Language:
Preferred citation:

Norma Garrigues Dobay Family Photograph Collection. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the photographs of Norma Garrigues who, in 1937, was born into a French- American family which had been in San Francisco since the 1890s. The collection comprises primarily of photos taken and collected into albums by Norma’s mother, Emma Galy. The first album documents family and friends enjoying leisure activities such as swimming, camping, picnics, and travel to Lake Tahoe and Crater Lake in the 1920s and 1930s. The second album contains many photographs taken at the Golden Gate Exposition on Treasure Island (1939-1940) and family gatherings in San Francisco, Stockton and Los Angeles. There are photographs documenting Emma’s parents’ French laundry businesses located on Haight Street and in Hayes Valley as well as their homes on Haight Street and in the Sunset neighborhood. The third album is a collection of family portraits, collected by Natalie Goudy (Norma’s grandmother) and dates from the 1890s to the early 1950s. There are 11 additional folders, sorted by family member, containing studio portraits, wedding photos, and school photos, also ranging from the 1890s to the 1950s. Other ephemera includes a school graduation memories book, two newspaper clippings, and three postcard books sent from the southeastern United States.

Biographical / historical:

All four of Norma Garrigues Dobay’s grandparents immigrated to San Francisco from France in the 1890s, marrying and starting families shortly after their arrival. Many of the Garrigues women worked in and then later became proprietors of their own French laundries and raised their children in San Francisco. The families lived in South of Market, Haight, and Sunset neighborhoods.

Acquisition information:
Gift. 2007.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center staff.
Date Prepared:
1890-1950
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit. The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

Norma Garrigues Dobay Family Photograph Collection. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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