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Paul Baffico Rebuilding the San Francisco Cable Car Line Color Slide Collection
SFP 105  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Biography/Administrative History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Indexing Terms
  • Additional collection guides

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Paul Baffico Rebuilding the San Francisco Cable Car Line Color Slide Collection
    Dates: 1982-1984, 2009
    Collection Number: SFP 105
    Creator/Collector: Baffico, Paul
    Extent: 1 carton with 3,324 color slides
    Repository: San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
    San Francisco, California 94102
    Abstract: The Paul Baffico Rebuilding the San Francisco Cable Car Line Color Slide Collection contains 3,324 color slides documenting the repair and rebuilding of San Francisco’s cable car system during the period of October 12, 1982 to June 18, 1984, taken by professional engineer Paul Baffico. The slides, either Ektachrome or Kokochrome, are arranged in chronological order. The photographic archive is accompanied by Baffico’s detailed description and explanation of the work or action in every slide.
    Language of Material: English

    Access

    The collection is available for use during the San Francisco History Center's Photo Desk hours.

    Publication Rights

    The photographer retains all copyright. 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

    Paul Baffico Rebuilding the San Francisco Cable Car Line Color Slide Collection. San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center

    Acquisition Information

    Gift. 2009.

    Biography/Administrative History

    Paul Baffico was born in 1951 and is a native of San Francisco, California. In 1965 Baffico joined the Carpenter’s Union and became an apprentice carpenter. In 1969, he finished the apprentice program and became a Journeyman Carpenter. Baffico worked for several large contractors in the construction industry until 1984 when he became a construction manager. Photography had always been a hobby for Baffico and photo documentation is his preferred style for his work.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The Paul Baffico Rebuilding the San Francisco Cable Car Line Color Slide Collection contains 3,324 color slides documenting the repair and rebuilding of San Francisco’s cable car system during the period of October 12, 1982 to June 21, 1984, taken by professional engineer Paul Baffico. The slides, either Ektachrome or Kokochrome, are arranged in chronological order. The photographic archive is accompanied by Baffico’s detailed description and explanation of the work or action in every slide. Each slide in the collection is dated on the paper mount. In 1982 it became necessary to shut down San Francisco’s entire cable car system for a rehabilitation program on the trackways and remodel the Cable Car Barn. Baffico decided to document this engineering feat from the first day of construction to the city-wide celebration when the line was re-opened. Baffico is a professional engineer with decades of experience in the construction and transportation industries and he was able to explain the actions, context and meaning of the work shown in each specific photograph. The photo documentation does not cover every construction site, but it does represent a composite portrait of the construction process that was employed during the construction phases of the Cable Car reconstruction project. The documentation also includes public outreach events and block parties during the construction period as well as the city-wide celebration of the re-opening of the Cable Car system with Mayor Feinstein, Tony Bennett and the Cable Car Parade on June 21, 1984 (217 slides). Baffico’s detailed narrative to the photographs is in print in the collection and as a PDF with the finding guide.

    Indexing Terms

    Cable cars (Streetcars) -- California -- San Francisco.
    Railroads, cable -- California -- San Francisco.
    Railroads, Cable -- California -- San Francisco -- Maintenance and repair.
    Railroads, Cable -- California -- San Francisco -- Design and construction.
    Transportation--California--San Francisco.
    Slides -- Color --1980-1990

    Additional collection guides