San Francisco Oversize Photograph 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 Oversize Photograph Collection
Dates: 1870-1990
Collection Number: SFP 135
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 7,100 photographic prints
Online items available
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: 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.
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.
San Francisco Oversize Photograph Collection. San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
Collected by the San Francisco History Center from various sources, including the San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Photo Morgue,
donations and purchases.
Biography/Administrative History
Collected and assembled by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Identified photographers, photography studios, and publishers including San Francisco News-Call Bulletin staff photographers,
Gabriel Moulin/Moulin Studios, Pacific & Atlantic Photos, Acme Newspictures, Associated Press, Wide World, International News
Photos, United Press International, United States Army, United States Navy, Redwood Empire Association, and Aero Photographers.
There are also photographs made by or for the companies they depict.
Each listing represents a file containing from one to more than fifty photographs per listing. Photography styles include
aerials, professional commissioned photography, and news photos. Many photographs have identifying information on the verso
such as description, date, provenance or photographer information, and/or a caption for the corresponding San Francisco News-Call
Bulletin newspaper article. A small percentage of photographs are unmarked with no identification of photographer.
Streets -- California -- San Francisco -- Photographs.
Parks -- California -- San Francisco.
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.)
Golden Gate International Exposition--(1939-1940 :--San Francisco, Calif.)
Neighborhoods-California-San Francisco.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Oakland and San Francisco, Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Aerial photographs.
Photographic prints
Photographic prints -- 20th century -- San Francisco
Photojournalism
Aerial photographs