San Francisco Stereograph Collection
Finding aid created by San Francisco History Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
2022
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
http://sfpl.org/sfhistory
Title: San Francisco Stereograph Collection
Dates: 1860s-1915
Collection Number: SFP 45
Creator/Collector:
Muybridge, Eadweard, 1830-1904
Watkins, Carleton E.
Keystone View Company
Extent: 4 stereograph boxes with 800 stereographs
Online items available
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: The artificial collection consists of over 800 stereograph cards of San Francisco, California collected by the San Francisco
History Center, San Francisco Public Library. The stereograph cards range in date from the 1860s – 1915. Events depicted on
the stereographs include expositions California Midwinter Exposition in Golden Gate Park and the Panama-Pacific International
Exposition and the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.
Language of Material: English
The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.
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.
[Identification of item]. San Francisco Stereograph Collection. Collection Number: SFP 45. San Francisco Public Library. San
Francisco History Center
The stereographs were acquired from various sources, including donations and purchases. When known, provenance information
is written on the stereograph verso with the accession number.
Biography/Administrative History
Stereographs are two photographs mounted side by side and appear three-dimensional when inspected with a viewer.
The collection was collected and assembled by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. The collection
includes multiple accessions and donors received over the life of the San Francisco History Center.
Scope and Content of Collection
The artificial collection consists of over 800 stereograph cards of San Francisco, California collected by the San Francisco
History Center, San Francisco Public Library. The stereograph cards range in date from the 1860s – 1915. Events depicted on
the stereographs include expositions California Midwinter Exposition in Golden Gate Park and the Panama-Pacific International
Exposition and the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. Places represented are Woodward’s Gardens, significant San Francisco buildings
such as the Palace Hotel, and businesses, as well as many general views.
The collection represents more than 40 photographers and publishers with the majority being San Francisco photographers but
the collection includes publishers across the United States. Photography studios and publishers represented include Thomas
Houseworth, B.W. Kilburn, Eadweard Muybridge, William Shew, Carleton Watkins, and Keystone View Company. There is a small
section of unidentified photographers.
Photography, Stereoscopic
San Francisco (Calif.)-- Photographs.
California Midwinter International Exposition (1894 : San Francisco, Calif.)
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.)
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906.
Stereographs
Card photographs