San Francisco Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Photograph Records
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 Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Photograph Records
Dates: 1907-1977
Collection Number: SFP 26
Creator/Collector:
San Francisco (Calif.). Public Works
San Francisco (Calif.). Dept. of Public Works
Extent: 13 boxes and 74 photograph albums
Online items available
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: 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.
Language of Material: English
The collection is open for research and is available for use during Photo Desk hours.
No copyright as San Francisco Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Photograph Records are in the Public Domain.
[Identification of item]. San Francisco Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering Photograph Records. Collection Number:
SFP 26. San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
Transferred to the San Francisco History Center City & County Archives from the San Francisco Department of Public Works (2002-60).
Additional materials transferred 2020-20, 2021-8 and 2022-13 by San Francisco Public Works.
Biography/Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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. Photos also document construction
of sewers and cisterns, construction of reinforced concrete, and construction of pumping stations. SFDPW usually worked on
several projects simultaneously, and often completed several smaller projects in various locations. Photo documentation of
projects also includes Twin Peaks Reservoir, Stockton Street and Twin Peaks Tunnels, Ocean Beach Esplanade, and numerous boulevards,
streets and sewers. Limited photo documentation of O'Shaughnessy Dam and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Includes photographs of
maps and architectural plans/competitions.
Formats represented include photograph albums, black and white photographic prints, glass plate negatives and film negatives.
Over 350 glass plate negatives, 3,000 negatives, 600 + loose prints; 74 photograph albums with over 12,770 photographic prints.
Photograph albums do have an in-house card index. Up to 1922, the prints in the albums were made from the corresponding glass
plate negatives in the records collection. It should be noted that the collection is most likely incomplete: there are photograph
albums that had been lost before the transfer to the San Francisco History Center and there are gaps in the sequencing of
the glass plate negatives and film negatives.
Public Works -- California -- San Francisco
Streets -- California -- San Francisco -- Photographs.
Storm sewers -- California -- San Francisco
Tunnels -- California -- San Francisco -- Design and construction
Water Supply -- California -- San Francisco.
Bridges -- California -- San Francisco
San Francisco (Calif.). -- Dept. of Public Works -- Archives
San Francisco (Calif.). -- Bureau of Engineering. -- Archives
Photographic prints
Glass Negatives
Transparencies
Photograph albums.