The artificial collection contains over 7,100 oversize photographic prints of San Francisco places, activities and cultural resources collected by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library compiled from selections from the San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Photo Morgue, gifts of donors, and purchases. The collection spans more than a century of San Francisco from the early 1870s to 1990s. The images provide comprehensive information about many activities and events important to San Francisco and its 20th century growth. The photographs document neighborhoods; streetscapes; significant landmarks; cultural events: theater, celebrations, parades, fairs and expositions; activism: protests and strikes; buildings: residences, hotels, nightclubs, resorts; and means of transportation: railroads, streetcars, airplanes, automobiles, ships and boats.

Collected and assembled by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

7,100 photographic prints

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.

The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.