Collection consists of approximately 16,770 photographs documenting the planning, construction, use and maintenance of San Francisco Department of Public Works (SFDPW) Bureau of Engineering projects from 1907 – late 1970s in San Francisco, California. SFDPW Bureau of Engineering was responsible for street improvements; the design and construction of civic buildings including schools and City Hall; and infrastructure construction. The department was initially tasked with organizing street construction and paving projects throughout the city and the earlier visual materials represent that focus.

San Francisco's Board of Public Works was created on January 8, 1900 by Article VI of the City Charter, directed by three commissioners. The original four bureaus were: Engineering, Streets, Building, and Light and Water Services. This photograph record series documents the building of infrastructure in San Francisco following the 1906 earthquake, particularly during the administrations of City Engineers Marsden Manson and M.M. O'Shaughnessy. Long known as the Department of Public Works or DPW, the agency is now known as San Francisco Public Works. It constructs, manages, designs, maintains and repairs the city's public buildings and infrastructure.

13 boxes and 74 photograph albums

No copyright as San Francisco Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Photograph Records are in the Public Domain.

The collection is open for research and is available for use during Photo Desk hours.