Finding aid to the Edgewood Records
1851-2014
SFH 29
Pennington Ahlstrand, with help from Barb Heddy, Stacia Fink and Mary Gentry in 2001. Revised by Wendy Kramer in 2012. Revised
by Katherine Ets-Hokin in 2019.
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
2003
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Title: Edgewood Records
Date (inclusive): 1851-2014
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 29
Creator:
Edgewood (San Francisco, Calif. : Orphanage)
Physical Description:
(30 Linear Feet)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: Annual reports, board minutes, admission and discharge records, indenture and adoption files, correspondence, administrative
and financial records, property and maintenance records, and photographs of children, staff, buildings, activities, and events
for the San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum, which became Edgewood. The collection also includes a small amount of records
from the San Francisco Nursery for Homeless Children that were acquired by Edgewood.
Physical Location: The collection is stored offsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English.
Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Edgewood Records (SFH 29), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Provenance
Gift; from Edgewood Center for Children and Families, Sept. 20, 2003. Second gift; from Edgewood Center for Children and Families,
July 16, 2015.
Related Archival Materials at Other Institutions
Related archival materials at other institutions include: photographs of some of the early Managers at the California Historical
Society; and photographs of early orphanages at the Society of California Pioneers.
Related Archival Materials at San Francisco History Center
Related files in the San Francisco History Center may be found in the San Francisco Ephemera Collection under "SF Buildings.
Edgewood Orphanage." Some annual reports of San Francisco orphan societies are available in the San Francisco History Stacks,
searchable in the library's online catalog.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Pennington Ahlstrand, with help from Barb Heddy, Stacia Fink and Mary Gentry. Completed May 2001.
Second gift processed by Katherine Ets-Hokin in 2019.
Organizational History
Edgewood, currently known as Edgewood Center for Children and Families, was the first children's services agency in San Francisco.
Founded by the San Francisco Orphan Asylum Society in 1851 as the San Francisco Orphan Asylum (SFOA), it has undergone many
name changes and several alterations in mission and function over the years. In 1862, in order to distinguish it from other
agencies then in existence, its name was changed to San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum (SFPOA). In 1944, encouraged by
popular parlance of the children, the name was officially changed to Edgewood. Over the years, the institution evolved from
being an orphanage to a home additionally serving children and adolescents with problem family situations; and in 1951, it
became a residential treatment program for teenagers. In subsequent years outside of the scope of this collection, Edgewood
has also provided day treatment, educational services, and services to children and adults with learning disabilities. It
has occupied several sites and campuses throughout the city.
San Francisco Orphan Asylum (SFOA) was founded in 1851 to help a group of siblings orphaned by cholera en route to San Francisco,
probably from Australia. The Reverend Albert Williams and his wife hosted meetings in late January and early February of 1851
at the 1st Presbyterian Church. The ladies who attended the meetings agreed to found the San Francisco Orphan Asylum Society.
Although the originating meetings were held at the Presbyterian Church, the orphanage was never affiliated with any specific
denomination. ln 1854, the motto "Feed My Lambs" was adopted and incorporated into the official seal of the Society, which
was used until 1920.
The Board of Managers of the SFOA were all women until 1958, and the first elected Managers were Mrs. A. Williams, Mrs. S.H.
Will(e)y, Mrs. Emily A. Warren, Mrs. Harriet Boring, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Waller, Mrs. C.V. Gillespie, Mrs. Dub(b)s, Mrs. Taylor,
Mrs. Joyce and Mrs. O.C. Wheeler. Many other women attended meetings and served on committees for the Society. For legal reasons,
the Managers appointed three gentlemen to hold property in trust for the SFOA, and the first Trustees were Charles Gilman,
Stephen Franklin and Daniel L. Ross. The first matron was Mrs. Wilson, and Dr. Coit was the on-call physician.
On March 12, 1851, nine children moved into the orphanage's first home, a prefabricated cottage in Happy Valley. The cottage
had been imported from Boston by Mr. W.D.M. Howard and the "family" lived there rent-free for three months. The children ranged
in age from 3 to 12 years. Elizabeth Dodds, Agnes Dodds, Charles Dodds and Henry Bacon were siblings, as were Robert & Eliza
Plumbridge and Margaret, Patrick & Agnes Ward. (Spelling of names varied from document to document.) More children were admitted
to the orphanage within days as the Managers visited assigned areas of the City, inquiring about children in need of aid.
Most of the children were not actually orphans. Many were half-orphans (one parent was deceased), and in later years, they
were children of "broken homes" or other problem family situations. By 1852, there were 26 children in the orphanage and the
family clearly needed a new, larger home, so they moved a short distance to a house owned by General Halleck in Pleasant Valley.
General Halleck refused to accept rent for the use of the home.
The Board of Managers heard about land in San Francisco that was available through public auction. For $100, they purchased
property considered to be far beyond the City limits and basically in the middle of nowhere. Within a few years, the City
grew up around the orphanage, which was located on a two-block lot bounded by Haight, Buchanan, Hermann and Laguna Streets.
(In 2001, this site was occupied by the University of California Extension building and campus.) Legend has it that Haight
and Waller Streets are named for Mrs. Haight and Mrs. Waller, both prominent San Franciscans who served on the SFOA Board
of Managers for a time. The orphanage would be located on Haight Street from 1854 to 1919.
The Managers funded the purchase of this property and the intial construction of the building by canvassing door-to-door throughout
San Francisco, sometimes collecting up to $1000 per day. The Managers had to borrow $5000 at 10% interest to complete construction
of the building. On March 22, 1854, the children moved from Pleasant Valley to the new building, "located near Mission Dolores."
It was a two-story dormitory-style building built of stone quarried from the site of the old Mint and carted free of charge
by the Spring Valley Water Company. In addition to the children, the residents included a matron (and sometimes her husband
and children), a nurse and a teacher. As the number of residents grew, so too would the number of staff. The children were
schooled at the orphanage from 1854 to 1897. Before and after this period, they attended local public schools.
When the Society was first founded, the Managers raised awareness by placing an article in the
Alta California
and raised money for operating expenses by requesting donations from local Protestant churches, encouraging regular "subscription"
donations and requesting board for half-orphans when the parent or friends of a child could afford it. An August 1852 meeting
of the Managers reports a charity concert by Signora Biscaccianti, probably at the Jenny Lind Theatre. The Managers were very
concerned with propriety and would refuse money raised in inappropriate ways, such as through the purchase of raffle tickets.
As the reputation of the orphanage grew, community leaders and clergy from other areas (Nevada, Sacramento), would ask the
Managers to admit children from their region. The Managers refused "without some appropriation being made for their support."
Managers discontinued requesting money from San Francisco citizens, relying instead on government funding, in-kind donations
and bequests.
Finally, in 1855, SFOA received a grant of $5000 from the State of California to help with the expenses of the children, who
were often wards of the State. In 1860, SFOA received another $6000 from the State, and this money was used to enlarge the
building. In 1862, the SFOA re-incorporated and changed its name to San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum (SFPOA) to distinguish
it from other children's agencies that were in existence. In 1861, SFPOA had received the title to a building and the lot
on Montgomery between Jackson and Pacific Streets. The building had served as the Sansome Hook & Ladder Company, and the lot
was owned by James Lick. The building and lot were sold to raise money, and the resulting funds were used to construct what
became known as the "Sansome" wing of the orphanage in 1863.
In 1865, the Managers noted that very few of the children living at SFPOA were actually from San Francisco. Because of this,
the Managers continued their policy of not soliciting donations from the local populace and continued requesting funds from
the State. While the Managers refused to actively request money from the people of San Francisco after the home on Haight
Street was built, they did continue to accept "subscriptions" -- a regular annual donation -- and donations in many forms.
Many of the names of people who contributed to SFPOA over the years are familiar still -- Levi Strauss, Eadweard Muybridge,
H.H. Bancroft, Mrs. Stanford, Mrs. Crocker, Adolf Sutro, John McLaren, Bruce Porter, Spreckels, Milton Bradley, Mrs. Dean
Witter, James Phelan, Gabriel Moulin, James Flood and Lillie H. Coit. The children who lived at SFPOA were fondly remembered
by philanthropists and merchants alike. The children were given trips to the movies, circuses, the Mid-Winter Fair of 1893,
the Pan-Pacific International Exposition of 1915, Mt. Tamalpais, Sutro Baths, the Chutes, a wide variety of concerts and other
events. For decades, the children were allowed to ride the Muni streetcars and the merry-go-round at Golden Gate Park free
of charge. By 1913, Mr. Scott Southwork came by once a week to give children rides in his motorcar.
The Managers were heavily involved in the lives of the children. A Visiting Committee regularly inspected the orphanage building
and occupants, observing the children's health, manners, clothing, cleanliness, lessons and the methods used by Matrons and
teachers in handling the children. When necessary, the Managers themselves helped the Matron-- for example, by mending the
children's clothes during their board meetings. And when Elizabeth Dodds (the first orphan admitted to the orphanage) left
to learn the dressmaking trade, the Managers presented her with $50 to help her on her way.
The Managers also decided which children to accept for admission to the orphanage. They investigated the habits and health
of parents, whether living or dead. They thoroughly researched couples requesting to adopt children or take them for indenture,
often checking references and asking neighbors about the applicant's character. Even after a child was sent for adoption or
indenture, the Managers checked on the child once a year, ensuring that the child was receiving education, food, clothing
and a generally appropriate upbringing. By 1867, new guardians had to sign a contract, specifying the terms of the indenture
or adoption. Even when a parent returned to remove their own child from the orphanage, the Managers checked on the parent's
financial situation and living accommodations to be sure that a child would be well-cared for. It was not unusual for children
to be repeatedly admitted to the orphanage over the course of a few years.
The number of children living at the orphanage on Haight Street grew from a couple dozen to 300 in later years. The children
were divided by age and gender and lived dormitory-style in large rooms. Reports indicate that the Hayes Valley neighbors
enjoyed having the children in the area, and the orphans socialized with the local children. After the children began attending
the public schools in the late 1890s, it was not unusual for the neighborhood children to play in the orphanage garden with
their friends. At the home, the children were allowed to have small garden plots, to keep a dog or cat, or sometimes tend
chickens and other animals at the orphanage. The older boys learned the Sloyd method of woodworking skills and the girls learned
cooking and sewing. Children were expected to do their homework, do chores as assigned, and some children took drawing, dancing
or music lessons. During the Spanish-American War, the boys became fascinated with military practices and formed their own
marching regiment with uniforms. The girls did calisthenics and made articles of clothing for needy people. One year the girls
made and dressed several dozen "Chinese" dolls and donated them to the Red Cross.
A diphtheria outbreak in 1902 necessitated a quarantine of the children for several months. Morale declined severely when
the orphans were not allowed to see their school chums nor play with neighbor children. The Managers were very concerned about
this and arranged a camping trip at Armstrong's Grove near Guerneville. They memorialized this summer outing as "Camp Alvord"
when Mrs. Mary E. Alvord, then President of the Board of Managers, suddenly passed away. This was not the first time the children
had been away from the City during the summer, but this "camp" was so successful that it was decided that the orphanage should
make this an annual event. A bequest enabled the Managers to purchase land in Rancho EI Rio, near Alamo and Danville in Contra
Costa County. The orphans attended "Camp Swain" (named for Ann T. Swain) from 1911 to 1946, when the property was sold. (Some
of the original SFPOA camp structures are still standing on the land, which is now a park.)
In the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906, devastation was everywhere. Orphanages were no exception. Everyone escaped the building
unharmed. (Some records and ledgers that were kept at Managers' homes were lost in the Fire; but the orphanage itself, being
west of Van Ness, was not destroyed, and that is why this collection exists.) The building was damaged but repaired by November.
In the meantime, the children lived for a few weeks in the State Normal School, located on the southern half of the orphanage
property, which had just been leased to the State of Califorma. Later, the children were sent to Petaluma, where they reportedly
lived in the stables near Kenilworth Pavilion at the county fairgrounds.
In 1910, Mr. Ginn arranged a legacy to pay for boys to attend the Lick/Wilmerding vocational schools. Some fifty-five boys
from SFPOA served in the military during World War I. The Managers tried to stay in touch with children who left the orphanage
to make their way in the world. In poor economic times, they encouraged the former residents to return to the orphanage rather
than suffer the embarrassment of bread lines, etc. Many alumni returned for Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday parties. Sometimes
they had younger siblings who still lived at the orphanage and other times they were interested in mentoring or helping orphans
themselves. By 1926, at least two former residents graduated from the local high school and went on to college--a boy to California
College of Arts & Crafts and a girl to nursing school.
By 1919, the orphanage building on Haight Street was no longer habitable. The repairs done after the Earthquake and the age
of the building were conspiring to make the children homeless until the Managers negotiated a deal to rent the Maria Kip Orphanage
until SFPOA could build a new facility. The Kip home was located at 7th Ave and Lake Street, near the Presidio. The Kip children
went to an affiliated home while SFPOA occupied their building. After much deliberation, the Managers decided to sell the
Haight Street property and build a new orphanage elsewhere in San Francisco. The Haight property was sold to the State of
California, which had been leasing it since 1905. None of the Managers could bring themselves to attend the razing of the
old Orphanage building.
SFPOA ended up being in the Kip Orphanage for five years. It was a difficult time for the staff and administrators. The Kip
home was much smaller and arranged differently, with a yard that did not allow for the gardens and play areas the children
had had at the old home. Sloyd and sewing classes were halted for lack of space. The older children were allowed to go to
thc YMCA and the YWCA for recreation. At this time they also started a Boy Scout Troop and a Girls' Friendly Society. There
was a great deal of personnel turnover during these years, and the Managers were trying new procedures in managing the home,
including having a Superintendent instead of a Matron. Many of the new procedures were due to the fact that the State of California,
and the City and County of San Francisco began regulating social services agencies more heavily. Enormous amounts of documentation
were required when applying for financial aid for any child, and SFPOA had 80-120 children in residence. Admissions often
came from the San Francisco Juvenile Court. Reports and forms had to be completed and sent in regularly. Officials came to
visit and inspect the orphanage and could withhold funds from agencies that were not adhering to new standards. The Managers
also re-incorporated as the San Francisco Protestant Orphanage Society in 1920.
As the Managers explored available real estate, they also researched the styles and methods of other orphanages. They visited
the Pacific Hebrew Orphanage in San Francisco and a dozen other institutions in California. In 1923, the Managers negotiated
the purchase of a 10-acre property on Vicente Street in the Parkside District of San Francisco (the property abuts what is
now Stern Grove). They also decided that instead of building another dormitory-style institution, they would adopt the cottage
system for SFPOA, similar to that of the Pacific Hebrew Orphanage. The cottage system was intended to better simulate family
life for children who were separated by choice or chance from their parents and other family members.
On the new campus, there were six cottages, an administration building and a laundry building. In 1951, a Recreation building
would be added. Each cottage housed up to 20 children and a cottage mother. The rooms were big and airy. Each child had her
or his own closet. There was a living room, kitchen and dining room in each cottage. The buildings were designed by Bliss
& Faville, and constructed by Lindgren & Swinerton. John McLaren offered to move vegetation from the old orphanage site to
the new campus. By the time the children moved into the new orphanage, the neighborhood was being settled. Streets had been
graded, street lights installed, streetcar routes added to service that part of town, and some sidewalks had been installed.
An oral history interview with a former resident revealed that the children actually walked to their new school on a boardwalk
for a time.
Great care was taken in deciding how to divide the children into the cottages. Most of the time siblings were housed together,
but it was to the orphanage's benefit to segregate the older boys into a cottage of their own. The children were allowed to
visit any cottage and play with any other children, and there was some friendly competition between cottages. The children
continued to spend their summers at Camp Swain.
The staff and teenagers of SFPOA noticed that some of the children were embarrassed about being called "orphans," either because
of social stigma or because they did have parents--only about 6% of the children were actually orphans. For psychological
benefit, the children of each cottage were invited to designate a name to replace the cottage's original number. Even seven
decades later, the cottages are called Lane Hall, Dimond Cottage, Stow Hall, Halleck Hall, Pine Lodge, and Williams Cottage.
As early as 1930, the children began calling their home "Edgewood," and in 1944 the name was officially changed. Sometimes
the children referred to themselves as "P.O. kids."
At Edgewood, life for the children was very similar to regular family life. Each child was expected to perform chores according
to his or her abilities, they could do extra work to earn pocket money, they had bicycles and pets, they played basketball
and baseball in the park with the neighborhood children. Edgewood children went to school, did homework, participated in scouting
activities, went to dances, hosted parties in the gymnasium, exchanged gifts and took photographs of each other. Camp Swain
was "self-governing" in that the children elected a "mayor" to be in charge of planned activitics throughout the summer.
During the Depression, children stayed an average of 35 months at Edgewood. When other orphanages closed, some of those children
were sent to Edgewood. Some children were admitted to Edgewood for the summer months only, so they never lived at the Vicente
campus as the children were at Camp Swain for vacation.
In 1948, a group of women got together and founded the Edgewood Auxiliary. Volunteer fundraising and assistance groups had
been started at least twice before, circa 1883 and 1923, but these women were determined to make a profound difference in
the lives of Edgewood children. In the first ten years, the Auxiliary took the children to the Ice Follies, threw bridal showers
for young Edgewood brides, bought a school bus to facilitate transportation to and from special events, hired a tutor for
children who needed help with schoolwork, decorated the recreation room, funded birthday parties for the children, paid for
hot lunches, gave gifts to those children graduating from high school, and purchased flashlights for the children to have
at Camp Swain, a television set, an encyclopedia and sports equipment. The Auxiliary made sure that Edgewood celebrated its
centennial in 1951 with a great deal of media attention. The Auxiliary hosted annual fundraising events such as the Garden
Fair and the Crystal Ball.
In 1951, Edgewood officially changed from a child-care agency to a residential treatment program for emotionally-disturbed
children, mostly teenagers. In 1964, the residential day treatment program was initiated, with a focus on younger children
and their families. Edgewood programs continued to change and grow over the years. Other programs that Edgewood sponsored
during this time were: the Edgewood Learning Center, an intensive assessment and treatment program for learning disabled children
and adults;a day-treatment program, a fully-independent non-public school; the Primary Intervention Program in San Francisco
public schools; a sub-acute unit that is a fully-accredited alternative to psychiatric hospitalization; a diagnostic shelter
care program; Parents Helping Parents; Grandpatents Who Care; and Therapeutic Foster Care. For a time, Edgewood was open only
to boys of a certain age (the age group changed several times), but was again coeducational by 1979. In 1980, the Lucinda
Weeks Center merged with Edgewood. In 1998, Edgewood won the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award for its Kinship
Support Network, which started in 1995. In 2001, Edgewood has three campuses: the original Vicente campus, the Kinship Support
Network on Rhode Island Street near Pacific Bell Park, and the East Palo Alto campus.
Scope and Contents
The San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum (SFPOA) / Edgewood records contain listings of children admitted to and discharged;
the minutes and annual reports created by the Board of Managers; photographs of children, staff, buildings, and events; and
administrative records of the institution. Included are documents regarding all facets of management of institutional management,
including personnel, taxes, construction and building repair, supply of foodstuffs and other goods, transportation of children
and staff, entertainment, schooling, contact with parents and guardians, financial obligations, endowments, investments and
legacies.
Also included in the collection are records of the San Francisco Nursery for Homeless Children, San Francisco Female Hospital
and San Francisco Foundling Home. Exact provenance of these items is unknown, but it is assumed that these homes sent their
residents and records to SFPOA/Edgewood when they closed.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into two record groups: Record Group 1: San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum/Edgewood; and Record
Group 2: San Francisco Nursery for Homeless Children. Each record group is divided into series and subseries.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Adolescent psychotherapy -- Residential treatment -- California -- San Francisco.
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Social conditions.
Orphanages -- California -- San Francisco.
Children -- Institutional care -- California -- San Francisco.
San Francisco Nursery for Homeless Children
San Francisco Orphan Asylum
San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum
San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum / Edgewood Record Group 1
1851-2014
Arrangement
Organized into eight series: Series 1: Board of Managers; Series 2: Records of Children; Series 3: General Administrative
Files; Series 4: Finances; Series 5: Property and Maintenance; Series 6: Publications; Series 7: Photographs; Series 8: Artifacts.
Series 1
Board of Managers
1851-1957
Physical Description: 6 boxes, 3 folders
Arrangement
Arranged in three subseries: 1.1: Minutes; 1.2: Annual Reports; and 1.3: Miscellaneous Business Documents.
Subseries 1.1
Minutes
1851-2008
Scope and Contents
Annual report has a broken run. Some years are missing after 1930, especially the 1940s and after 1960.
box 1, folder 1
Constitution, By-Laws & Minutes of the Proceedings of the San Francisco Orphan Asylum Society (Liber A),
1851-1861
box 1, folder 2
Revised constitution, revised by-laws & minutes (Liber B),
1861-1867
box 1, folder 3
Revised constitution, revised by-laws & minutes (Liber C),
1867-1875
box 1, folder 4
Revised constitution, revised by-laws & minutes (Liber D),
1875-1882
box 1, folder 5
Revised constitution & minutes (Liber E),
1882-1889
Subseries 1.2
Annual reports
1851-1941
box 4, folder 1
Annual Reports, bound in 1 volume
1851-1870
box 4, folder 2
Annual Reports, bound in 1 volume
1871-1891
box 4, folder 3
Annual Reports, bound in 1 volume
1892-1910
box 4, folder 24
Annual report drafts
1930-1931
box 4, folder 25
Miss Stow's handwritten draft of the 90th Annual Report,
1941
box 4, folder 26
Miss Stow's typescript draft of the 90th Annual Report,
1941
Subseries 1.3
Miscellaneous Business Documents
1860-1957
box 52, folder 12
Articles of incorporation, by-laws, amendments,
1919-1942
box 52, folder 13
G.W. Haight, Powers of a corporation,
1903
box 3, folder 16-17
List of fees, G.W. Haight
1897-1898
box 3, folder 18
Opinion on status of Board of Trustees
1898
box 3, folder 19
Board of Managers correspondence
1919
box 3, folder 20
Articles of Incorporation
1920
box 3, folder 21
Letter from Elizabeth Watt Campbell
1921
box 3, folder 22
Resignation letter from Louise de Voe Brickell
1925
box 3, folder 23
Resignation letter from Nellie Stow
1934
box 3, folder 25
Promotional brochure
1948
box 3, folder 26
Auxiliary projects
1948-1966
box 3, folder 27
Promotional brochure
ca. 1957
box 3, folder 28
Misc. notes by Miss Stow
undated
box 3, folder 29
Howard's Boston Houses, from
The Argonaut
1937
box 3, folder 30
Eugenics Made Plain
, by Havelock Ellis
ca. 1910
box 3, folder 31
Rev. Albert Williams quotations re: Edgewood history
undated
box 3, folder 32
Quote from
California, an Intimate History
, by Gertrude Atherton,
1914
box 3, folder 33
Total population figures
1851-1965
Series 2
Records of Children
1851-1963
Physical Description: 49 volumes, 3 boxes, 9 folders
Arrangement
Arranged in eight subseries: 2.1: Admissions and discharge records; 2.2: Indenture and adoption files; 2.3: Correspondence;
2.4: Baptisms; 2.5: Applications for children; 2.6: Matron's and Supervisor's reports; 2.7: City, State, and County documents;
2.8 Oral Histories.
Record books of Admission and Discharge Indexes
1851-1957
Physical Description: 48 volumes in boxes
Scope and Contents
Fifty record books containing handwritten information regarding admission and discharge of children. Most volumes contain
a combination of admissions and discharges, while a few contain solely one or the other.
Arrangement
Admission and discharge records are grouped alphabetically by type and then chronologically.
box 5, folder 1
Admissions [Volume 1]
1851-1854
box 5, folder 2
Admissions [Volume 39]
1890-1891
box 5, folder 3
Admissions [Volume 42]
1895-1899
box 5, folder 4
Admissions [Volume 63]
1907-1913
box 5, folder 5
Alphabetically Arranged List [Volume 19]
1878-1885
box 9
List of Children [Volume 10]
1858-1882
Physical Description: flat-box
box 10
List of Inmates [Volume 18]
1873-1902
Physical Description: flat-box
box 11
Matron's Record [Volume 44]
1896-1912
Physical Description: flat-box
box 7, folder 2
Minutes / Register [Volume 14]
1867-1881
box 5, folder 6
Record [Volume 21]
1878-1904
box 5, folder 7
Record [Volume 22]
1879-1886
box 5, folder 8
Record [Volume 25]
1880-1895
box 7, folder 6
Record [Volume 26]
1881-1904
box 7, folder 7
Record [volume 27]
1882-1884
box 5, folder 9
Record [Volume 30]
1886-1892
box 5, folder 10
Record [Volume 32]
1887-1891
box 7, folder 8
Record [Volume 33]
1887-1901
box 7, folder 9
Record [Volume 35]
1888-1897
box 5, folder 11
Record [Volume 40]
1892-1898
box 12
Record [Volume 41]
1893-1896
Physical Description: flat-box
box 5, folder 12
Record [Volume 43]
1896-1903
box 7, folder 10
Record [Volume 46]
1898-1905
box 5, folder 13
Record [Volume 47]
1898-1905
box 5, folder 14
Record [Volume 49]
1899-1918
box 13
Record (of Orphans) [Volume 50]
1899-1922
Physical Description: flat-box
box 5, folder 15
Record [Volume 58]
1905-1915
box 14
Record (of Orphans) [Volume 59]
1906-1914
Physical Description: flat-box
box 13
Record (of Orphans) [Volume 65]
1908-1913
Physical Description: flat-box
box 15
Record [Volume 83]
1929-1942
Physical Description: flat-box
box 6, folder 1
Record of Admissions [Volume 56]
1904-1916
box 6, folder 2
Record of Admissions [Volume 62]
1907-1910
box 16
Record of Children [Volume 37]
1890-1917
Physical Description: flat-box
box 6, folder 3
Record of Discharge [Volume 45]
1897-1903
box 6, folder 4
Record of Discharge [Volume 36]
1888-1903
box 6, folder 5
Record of Discharge [Volume 54]
1903-1906
box 6, folder 6
Record of Discharge [Volume 61]
1906-1917
box 6, folder 7
Record of Discharges [Volume 64]
1907-1914
box 6, folder 8
Record of Discharge [Volume 66]
1908-1916
box 6, folder 9
Record of Discharge [Volume 67]
1909-1918
box 14
Record of Inmates [Volume 57]
1904-1906
Physical Description: flat-box
box 17
Register (of the Orphans) [Volume 2]
1851-1878
Physical Description: flat-box
box 6, folder 10
Register [Volume 12]
1863-1868
box 6, folder 11
Register [Volume 16]
1869-1873
box 7, folder 5
Register [Volume 23]
1879-1890
box 18
Register [Volume 24]
1879-1896
Physical Description: flat-box
box 12
Register [Volume 28]
1897-1957
Physical Description: flat-box
box 6, folder 12
Removal Record [Volume 15]
1867-1885
Subseries 2.1
Admission and discharge records
1851-1963
Scope and Contents
Some admission records include discharge records and vice versa. Admission and discharge records may also include baptismal,
marriage or other records.
box 19-20
Admission and Discharge Records filed by Year
1851-1896
Conditions Governing Access
To access children's admission and discharge records contact the San Francisco History Center.
box 20-46
Admission and Discharge Records filed by Children's Number
1897-1963
Conditions Governing Access
To access children's admission and discharge records contact the San Francisco History Center.
box 20, folder 1
Children Discharged, Relatives and Foster Homes
1890-1904
box 20, folder 2-4
Children Discharged, A-Z
1890-1904
box 47
Subseries 2.2
Indenture and adoption files
1853-1916
Arrangement
Filed alphabetically by child's birth name.
Hamburger, Lena
1909, 1910
Kelly, Mary Ellen -- see Saunders, Elene
Koenicke, Henry
1905, 1908
Peterson, Mary Winifred
1903
Schmidt, Maria
1871, 1872
Schwilks, William
1872, 1872
Austin, Minnie Constine
1877
box 47, folder 114-118
Letters of inquiry for adoption and indenture
1927-1945
Physical Description:
5 folders
box 48
Subseries 2.3
Correspondence
1881-1915
Arrangement
Filed alphabetically by child's birth name.
Beggo, Edward, James A. & Samuel C.
Berg, Hugo & Vivian Grace
Crandall, Eugene Gilbert & Warren W.
Detels, Albert H. & Edward H.
Fiest, Albert, Leroy & Louis H.
Findley, Bertha, Emma, Harry & Minnie
Fitzgerald, Gerald & Marion
Forbes, Florence [Susie?]
Frederick, Conrad, Emma & Robert
Garratt, Arthur, Elsie, Grace & Walter
Grange, Elizabeth & Walter
Hopwood, Nettie -- see Wood, Nettie
Houge, Elizabeth, Minna, Robert & William
Johnson, Frederick & Sarah
Keebler, Johnnie & Oliver
Kelly, Mary Ellen -- see Sanders, Elene
Kempf, George & Margaretta
Kern, Abbie, George & Stella
Larson, Mamie A. [Minnie?] & Susie A.
Liebenberg, Harry & Mary [Mamie]
Loeffler, Emma, George, Harry & Lulu -- see also Loeffler, Carrie
McDonald, John A. & Robert Lyle
Popp, Claus, Frederick, Henry & Lizzie
Potts, Jessie, Louisa & Minnie
Pregg, Harry & Minnie -- see Findley
Presley, Bruce, Lee & Nellie
Scarborough, Clarance, Edith & Robert
Schmidt, Adela, Gideon & Lionel
Shackleton, George, John, Jonathan & William
Smith, Joseph, Percy & Walter
Stevens, Lloyd, Rosie & Sadie
Stillman, Margaret & Raymond
Willett, Angelina & Della
Williston, Cecil & Florence
box 5, folder 17
Subseries 2.4
Baptisms [Volume 48]
1898-1946
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 47, folder 119-123
Subseries 2.5
Applications for children
1918-1921
box 49, folder 2-4
Subseries 2.6
Matron's and Supervisor's reports
1918-1922
Subseries 2.7
City, State, and County documents
1916-1943
Physical Description:
19 folders
box 49, folder 5
Report of the Coordination Committee to the Council of Social and Health Agencies and to the Community Chest,
1925
box 49, folder 6
Proof of publication: Notice of children admitted to SFPOA,
1919-1934
box 49, folder 7
Board of Charities and Corrections: Standards for childrens' institutions and per capita costs by institution,
1919
box 49, folder 8-10
State aid documents
1916-1929
Physical Description:
3 folders
box 49, folder 11-15
Reports and claims for State aid
1917-1929
Physical Description:
5 folders
box 49, folder 16
SFPO reports on payments from City & County of San Francisco,
1921-1934
box 49, folder 17-22
Court documents
1919-1934
Physical Description:
6 folders
box 49, folder 23
County maintenance documentation
1934-1943
Oral Histories Subseries 2.8
Mar. 29, 2001
box 49, folder 24-25
Cecil Malmin (resident 1924-1932) interview, includes audio recording and transcript. Jim Hum interview, includes audio recording
and transcript.
2001-2015
box 49, folder 26
John Wilkins interview, includes Audio recording and transcript. Joanne Meads, includes audio recording and transcript
2014-2015
Series 3
General Administrative Files
1851-1951
Arrangement
Arranged in three subseries: 3.1: Correspondence; 3.2: Business Documents; 3.3 Centennial 1951.
Subseries 3.1
Correspondence
1851-1951
box 50, folder 1
General correspondence
1851-1879
box 50, folder 2
General correspondence
1880-1899
box 50, folder 3
General correspondence
1900-1909
box 50, folder 4
General correspondence
1910-1916
box 50, folder 5
General correspondence
1917
box 50, folder 6-12
General correspondence
1918
Arrangement
Alphabetical by correspondent.
box 50, folder 13-21
General correspondence
1919
box 50, folder 22-25
General correspondence
1920
box 50, folder 26-29
General correspondence
1921
box 50, folder 30-39
General correspondence
1922-1931
box 50, folder 40-43
General correspondence
1932-1935
box 50, folder 44
Letter from Eva Daniels
1938
box 50, folder 45
Letters from former residents
1950-1951
Subseries 3.2
Business documents
1916-1934
Physical Description: Box 50 (12 folders)
box 50, folder 46
Form for report for Children's Institutions
1916-1927
box 50, folder 47
Menu planning information from the State Board of Charities and Corrections
1917
box 50, folder 48
Eligibility for lamp purchase agreement from State Purchasing Department
1918
box 50, folder 49
Statement on corporal punishment from State Board of Charities and Corrections
1918
box 50, folder 50
"Milk for Children" from State Board of Health
1918
box 50, folder 52
Some suggestions re: obtaining County aid
1919
box 50, folder 51
Instructions and table showing rates for months and days (re: State aid)
1919
box 50, folder 53
Monthly Census Bulletin from the State Board of Charities and Corrections
1919
box 50, folder 54
Rules relating to State aid from State Board of Examiners
ca. 1919
box 50, folder 55
Visit reports from State Board of Control
1920-1922
box 50, folder 56
New rulings from the State Dept. of Finance, Bureau of Children's Aid
1922
box 50, folder 57
Children's Council
1930-1934
Subseries 3.3
Centennial 1951
Physical Description: Box 47 (18 folders)
box 47, folder 124
City-County Record
(reprint)
1951
box 47, folder 125
A compilation of earlier reports of history
1950
box 47, folder 128
Notes and timeline from historical records
1851-1951, 1951?
box 47, folder 129
Press release and invitation to Edgewood Christmas play,
1950
box 47, folder 130
Edgewood Centennial Program scripts (KCBS)
1951
box 47, folder 131
Centennial press correspondence and Home Tour information
1950-1951
box 47, folder 132
Centennial guests and gifts
1951
box 47, folder 134
Centennial press packet
1951
box 47, folder 135
Centennial program draft and mock-up
1951
box 47, folder 136
Master copies [mimeograph] of background information
1951
box 47, folder 137
Salute to Edgewood script (KNBC)
1951
box 47, folder 138
Press release: Mrs. Bartlett's remarks to Council of Executives of Child Care Institutions
ca. 1951
box 47, folder 139
Press release: Auxiliary increase
1951
box 47, folder 140
Centennial invitation
1951
box 47, folder 141
Fortnight
January 22, 1951
Series 4
Finances
1851-1959
Arrangement
Subdivided by physical type into Files and Record Books. Files are arranged chronologically within each box; Record Books
are arranged chronologically by volume.
Record books
1851-1951
Physical Description: Various volume numbers (36 volumes)
box 5, folder 1
Account Book (bound with admissions) [Volume 1]
1851-1856
box 51, folder 2
Cash [Volume 4]
1852-1853
box 51, folder 4
Account Book [Volume 6]
1853-1854
box 51, folder 5
Cash [Volume 7]
1853-1854
box 51, folder 6
Treasurer's Book [Volume 8]
1854-1858
box 51, folder 7
Donations [Volume 9]
1854
box 51, folder 8
Record of Bequests [Volume 29]
1885-1976
box 51, folder 9
Donations [Volume 13]
1863-1871
box 7, folder 1
Treasurer's Book [Volume 11]
1861-1869
box 7, folder 3
Treasurer's Book [Volume 17]
1869-1878
box 7, folder 4
Treasurer's Book [Volume 20]
1878-1888
flat-box 67
Treasurer's Book [Volume 34]
1888-1894
box 17
Treasurer's Book [Volume 38]
1894-1899
box 7, folder 11
Cash [volume 51]
1899-1904
box 7, folder 12
Ledger [Volume 52]
1899-1917
box 7, folder 13
Record [Volume 53]
1902-1928
box 8, folder 1
Cash [Volume 55]
1904-1910
box 8, folder 2
Cash [Volume 68]
1910-1917
box 8, folder 3
Building Fund Book [Volume 69]
1911-1917
box 51, folder 10
Articles Donated
1916-1923
box 13
Cash [Volume 73]
1918-1921
box 8, folder 6
Ledger [Volume 74]
1918-1924
box 8, folder 7
Journal [Volume 75]
1918-1932
box 11
Cash [Volume 76]
1921-1925
box 14
Chart of Accounts [Volume 77]
1924-1931
box 51, folder 11
Donations [Volume 78]
1924-1930
box 51, folder 12
Things to Remember [Volume 79]
1924
box 10
Cash [Volume 81]
1926-1929
box 9
Cash for Maintenance of Children [Volume 81]
1928-1948
box 11
Cash [Volume 82]
1929-1932
box 15
Receipts and Disbursements [Volume 84]
1930-1946
box 8, folder 8
Journal [Volume 85]
1933-1951
flat-box 68
Journal [Volume 86]
1933-1935
box 51, folder 13
Donations [Volume 87]
1936-1937
box 51, folder 14
Contributions from Bowen Bros. Grocers
ca. 1860
box 51, folder 15-18
Legacies, gifts & investments
1879-1915
Physical Description:
4 folders
box 51, folder 20-22
Investments
1931-1944
Physical Description:
3 folders
box 51, folder 23
Committee on the Modification of the Federal Legacy Tax
ca. 1900
box 51, folder 24
Metropolis Trust & Savings bank
1908
box 51, folder 25
List of legacies left to SFPOA
1852-1903
box 51, folder 26
Notes on investments and legacies
1870-1898
box 51, folder 27
Cancelled cheques drawn on investments
1877-1896
box 51, folder 28
Relating to Christmas donations
1881
box 51, folder 29
In regard to the purchase of bonds
1900-1903
box 51, folder 30
Summary of Building Fund account
1918
box 51, folder 31
Estates of Glazier, Leiding, Riordan, Scott, Stanford, Van Reed, Wiley
undated
box 51, folder 32
Cash donations for new orphanage, gifts for new orphanage
1924
box 51, folder 33
Legacies received
1937-1959
box 51, folder 34
Donations as given to the Board of Managers
1939-1943
box 51, folder 35
Newspaper clippings regarding legacies
undated
box 52, folder 1
Probate business
1859-1878
box 52, folder 2
Correspondence and information on legacies
1870-1910
box 52, folder 3
Search of records of City & County of San Francisco showing bequests
1885-1894
box 52, folder 4
Investments for the Building Fund
1898-1917
box 52, folder 5
Lease Agreement with State Normal School
1906
box 52, folder 6
Notes re: Swain estate
1908
box 52, folder 7
Copy of Court Proceedings in the Matter of the Sale to the State of California of two 50-vara lots in Waller and Hermann Streets
1911
box 52, folder 8
List of securities of the SFPOA Society [Building Fund]
1918
box 52, folder 9
Building Fund deposit and credit slips
1924-1929
box 52, folder 11
Investment securities of the Oroville-Wyandotte Irrigation District
1932
box 53, folder 1-3
Monthly population reports
1919-1933
Physical Description:
3 folders
box 53, folder 4-5
Population & payroll
1934-1944
Physical Description:
2 folders
box 53, folder 6-29
Treasurer's reports
1918-1949
Physical Description:
24 folders
box 53, folder 30-33
Auditor's reports
1917-1948
Physical Description:
4 folders
box 51, folder 36-37
Requisitions
1918-1926
Physical Description:
2 folders
box 51, folder 38
Cancelled cheques for taxes
1877-1896
box 51, folder 39-43
Tax bills
1898-1946
Physical Description:
5 folders
box 51, folder 44
Documents relating to purchase of Ford Model T
1920
box 51, folder 45-47
Insurance
1922-1930
Physical Description:
3 folders
box 54, folder 1-4
Insurance
1931-1939
Physical Description:
4 folders
box 54, folder 5-10
Balance sheets
1947-1952
Physical Description:
6 folders
box 54, folder 11-15
Balance sheets
1953-1958
Physical Description:
5 folders
box 54, folder 16-20
Bank statements
1949-1958
Physical Description:
5 folders
Series 5
Property and Maintenance
1855-1946
Physical Description: 4 boxes, 15 folders
Arrangement
Arranged in three subseries: 5.1: Haight Street Building; 5.2: Vicente Campus; and 5.3: Camp Swain.
Subseries 5.1
Haight Street building
1855-[1918]
box 49, folder 29-31
Deeds, Surveyors Map (Milo Hoodley), Water
1853-1925
box 55, folder 0
Construction & repair estimates & agreements
1855-1913
box 55, folder 2
Bills for building [Sansome] wing
1859-1860
box 55, folder 3
Bills for digging well
1859-1860
box 55, folder 4
Facilities improvements
1880-1896
box 55, folder 5
Cancelled cheques for repairs
1882-1896
box 55, folder 6
Laundry building
1896-1910
box 55, folder 7
Grading & paving Laguna Street (corr. w/ attorney Haight)
1904
box 55, folder 9
Lease agreement with State Normal School
1905
box 55, folder 10
Resolution regarding: lease to State Normal School
1906
box 55, folder 11
Corr. re: State Normal School
1906-1907
box 55, folder 12
Corr. re: sale of Jones Street lot
1907-1908
box 55, folder 13
Notes re: Boys' Savings Account
1911-1914
box 55, folder 14
Architectural report on orphanage building
1913
box 55, folder 15
"Mayor" and "Councilmen" position descriptions
ca. 1918
box 52, folder 14
Specifications for buttresses
ca. 1860
box 52, folder 15
Bills & vouchers for alterations and additions to SFPOA building (Clevland & Swain)
1882-1883
box 52, folder 16
Contract and plans for boiler
1913
Subseries 5.2
Vicente Campus
1922-1930
box 49, folder 35
Map Showing the Closing of Portions of 29th and 30th Avenue and Wawona Street
box 55, folder 16
Trocadero Valley property offer
1922
box 55, folder 17
Crocker Amazon property offer,
1922
box 55, folder 18
Assessed and estimated values of lots considered for purchase
ca. 1922
box 55, folder 19
Sunset district (San Francisco) maps and notes
ca. 1922
box 55, folder 20
Corr. re: property near Laguna Honda tunnel station
1922
box 55, folder 21
Detailed cost of the SFPOA
1922-1926
box 55, folder 22
Building Zone Ordinance (San Francisco)
ca. 1922
box 55, folder 23
Parkside Realty Co.
1922-1923
box 55, folder 24
Bliss & Faville
1923-1930
box 49, folder 33-34
Bliss and Faville. Administrative building. Original Drawings
box 55, folder 25
Spring Valley Water Co.
1923-1924
box 55, folder 26
Pacific Gas & Electric
1924
box 55, folder 27
West Coast Fire Extinguisher Co.
1924
box 55, folder 29
General Sales Corp.
1924-1926
box 55, folder 30
C.A. Ericsson estimate for tree planting
ca. 1924
box 55, folder 31
Criticisms and responses re: building plans
ca. 1924
box 55, folder 32
William McCann notes re: furnishings
1924-1925
box 55, folder 33
A. Quandt & Sons
1924-1930
box 55, folder 34
American Laundry Machinery Co.
1924-1925
box 55, folder 35
Standard Fence Co.
1924-1925
box 55, folder 36
Construction estimates, bills and correspondence
1924-1928
box 55, folder 37
List of the contents of the box placed in the tablet stone... [time capsule]
1924
box 55, folder 39
Building Fund statements of account
1925
box 55, folder 40-45
Receipts for goods & services
1923-1938
Physical Description:
6 folders
box 55, folder 47
City & County of San Francisco
1924
box 55, folder 49
Cement work and invoices
1925
box 55, folder 50
Gladding, McBean & Co.
1924
box 55, folder 51
Job descriptions: Matron, Superintendent, Clerk
1928
box 55, folder 52
American Trust Roos Fund (used for campus improvement)
1929-1937
box 55, folder 53
Significance of cottage names
1930
box 52, folder 18
Agreement to purchase Parkside property
1922
box 52, folder 20
General specifications of work to be done in the erection and completion of eight buildings (Bliss & Faville, architects)
1923
box 52, folder 23
Specifications for painting work
1924
box 52, folder 24
Specifications for well
1924
box 52, folder 25
Lindgren & Swinerton contracts
1924
box 52, folder 26
Payroll for construction labor
1924
box 52, folder 27-31
Lindgren & Swinerton receipts & invoices
1924
Physical Description:
5 folders
box 52, folder 32
MacRorie-McLaren Co.
1924-1925
Subseries 5.3
Camp Swain
1913-1946
box 49, folder 27-28
Contra Costa Property, Deeds etc.
box 52, folder 17
Contract for construction of Camp Swain (Bliss & Faville)
1913
box 55, folder 54
Notes re: purchase of property at Rancho El Rio [Camp Swain]
1914-1921
box 55, folder 55
Directions for reaching Camp Swain
undated
box 55, folder 57
The story of the swimming pool
1936
box 55, folder 59-69
Records re: Camp Swain, including hiring staff, travel, food, raods, health
1929-1946
Physical Description:
11 folders
Series 6
Publications about and by Edgewood
1875-1972
box 4, folder 28
Rules and Regulations
1875
box 4, folder 29
Rules and Regulations
1880
box 4, folder 30
Rules and Regulations
1905
box 4, folder 31
Some Reminisces of the San Francisco Protestant Orphan Asylum
1900
box 4, folder 32
The Story of the San Francisco Protestant Orphanage
1924
box 4, folder 33
The Tower of Strength in the City's Building
1941
box 4, folder 34
Etchings from
The Tower of Strength in the City's Building
1941
"Edgewood Centennial 1851-1951"
1950-1951
Scope and Contents
Contains newspaper clippings and magazine articles.
1950-1951
Scope and Contents
Scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, notes, images of grounds, and reproductions of event posters.
Series 7
Photographs
Circa 1851-1959
Physical Description: 6 boxes of prints, two albums, misc. oversize items in box, 1 box of negatives (Boxes 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63; Volumes
88-89)
Publication Rights
Copyright for some photographs is held by Gabriel Moulin or other studios and photographers
Scope and Contents
Images of children, staff, buildings, activities and events, late 1800's to 1990's.
At least two photos from San Francisco Nursery for Homeless Children are included.
Arrangement
Subdivided by physical type into Files and Albums. Files are arranged roughly chronologically within each box.
box 57
Adults (parents?)
pre-1900
Scope and Contents
7 cartes de visite, incl. J. H. Sperling, Caroline Frey, Reinhold Frey, Eddie Bruce's mother.
box 57
Portraits of young ladies
undated [early 1900's]
General
Bound volume
Scope and Contents
Signed Marjorie, Elizabeth Dacher, Harriet Walsh, Betty Barioll, Mad Benedict, Kathryn, Barbara, Mary, Adeline E. Howard,
Eleanor P. Sell, Miriam Beaver, Amy Long, Amy Requa.
box 57
Children
Pre-1924
Scope and Contents
Includes cabinet cards (group of six unidentified children, baby portrait) and photographs (group of children and car in front
of Haight St. building, classroom of young children, boys in military uniforms ca. Spanish American War, boys in Sloyd class,
girls in sewing class, girls and boys exercising). Includes some copy prints.
box 57
Panorama of children in Petaluma after the Great San Francisco Earthquake
1906
box 57
Children
1922-1929
Scope and Contents
Incl. indoor shots of boys and girls playing, outdoor shots of children playing, 1922 panorama of Business League Picnic and
Kiddies Outing. Includes some copy prints.
box 57
Children
circa 1924-1959
Scope and Contents
Identified persons incl. Charles Boser, Miss Marden, Mrs. Wayne.
box 57
Camp Swain
1927
Scope and Contents
Pages and photographs separated, but identified persons incl. Mr. C. W. Mark.
box 57
Children
1930-1939
Scope and Contents
Incl. 1937 portrait of Cottage 3 (all children and adults identified).
box 60
Camp Swain
1936
Scope and Contents
Scrapbook. Incl. track results from 4th of July races. Identified persons: Eddie Burch (?), Gerald Topper, Marlon Newton,
Howard Keenan, Doug Lariolette, Billie Metcalf, Arthur Vaughan, Esther Glunt, Lillian Glunt, Dorothy McGhee, Keitha Bailard,
Dolores LaRose, Elinor Lewohl, Lucile Burchell, Mary Hansen.
box 57
Camp Swain
1943
Scope and Contents
Photo of dedication stone, buildings and identified persons: Mrs. Howard Naffziger, Mr. Kuser, Mrs. Leroy Briggs, Mrs. Clarence
Oddie, Mrs. Rulofson.
box 57
Children
1940-1949
Scope and Contents
Identified persons include: Mrs. Roth, Mr. Runyan, Mrs. Towne, Bill Kuser, Alex Sherriff, Melvin Philbrick. Scenes are of
Camp Swain, Searsville Lake and SFPOA/Edgewood. VERY POOR CONDITION.
box 57
Christmas
1940s-1950s
Scope and Contents
Images from U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Union Label (A.F. of L.) parties.
box 57
Children
1950-1959
Scope and Contents
Includes images of District Attorney Pat Brown, Byron Owen, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Levy, Melvin Philbrick, Parkside School Room 5
(1955), Jerry Wills.
box 57
Haight Street buildings
ca. 1854-1900
Physical Location: Glass plates are located in the Photo Room.
Scope and Contents
Images of old orphanage building in Haight between Laguna and Buchanan. Drawing of building as it was in 1854, photos & drawing
of building after addition of Sansome wing in 1863. Includes 3 glass plates of Haight Street building and expansion.
box 57
Edgewood buildings
1923-1951
Scope and Contents
Includes images of construction (1923-1924), dedication plaques and completed buildings (1924-1951).
box 57
Edgewood Campus
1930s
Scope and Contents
Images of Edgewood campus taken by Gabriel Moulin.
box 57
San Francisco Nursery for Homeless Children
ca. 1910?
Scope and Contents
Two images. Newspaper clipping mounted on cardboard -- photo of group of children. Photograph mounted -- image of building
at 14th Ave. and Lake St.
box 58
Desk shots
undated
Scope and Contents
Staged images of the SFPOA registers, fountain pen and roll-top desk.
box 58
Staff, Board members and volunteers
undated
Scope and Contents
Identified: Mrs. Cunningham (?), Mrs. Dean Witter, Mrs. Roth, Mr. Atholl McBean, Melvin Philbrick, Miss Nellie Stow, Mrs.
Waldo Coleman, Mrs. Henry Wright.
box 58
Staff, Board members and volunteers (unidentified)
undated
Scope and Contents
Cabinet cards and photographs of adults.
box 58
Auxiliary
1948
Scope and Contents
Includes photos of Mrs. Alan McLenegan, Mrs. John Bosche, Mrs. Edmund MacDonald, Mrs. Lawrence Bowes, Mrs. Philip Boone, Mrs.
Granger F. Kenly, Mrs. Thayer Hopkins.
box 58
Poster
ca. 1947-1949
Scope and Contents
Includes images of a cowgirl actress visiting with groups of Edgewood girls, a cowboy actor visiting with Edgewood children,
Camp Meeker and a roller skating party panorama.
Custodial History
Someone created an historical display of photographs of Edgewood events. Images were mounted on several posters and were identified
with a number written on a bright orange sticker. The key to these images is not available. The posters have been disassembled,
but the photos remain grouped and identified as much as possible. Some of these photos may not be Edgewood-related.
box 58
Christmas 1 poster
undated
Scope and Contents
Images of Marine Corps Christmas parties, Optimist basketball team, talent shows.
box 58
Christmas 2 poster
ca. 1946-1948
Scope and Contents
Marine Corps parties (incl. Gen A Creesy), talent shows, all day picnic with Marin Town & Country Club, and San Francisco
Lumberman's Club party at the Palace Hotel.
box 58
Christmas 3 poster
ca. 1946-1948
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Halloween, drawing, science classes, birthday party, boys visit to HMNZS Royalist, opening the Blum's store
at the Fairmont Hotel with Mrs. Fred Levy, and in kitchen with cook.
box 60, volume 88
Album
ca. 1951
Scope and Contents
Boys' outing(s) to the beach.
box 60, volume 89
Album
ca. 1951
Scope and Contents
Recreation at Edgewood and around SF. VERY POOR CONDITION -- photos not correctly developed.
box 62, folder 1-66
1980s-1990s
General
Includes images of children, staff, events and grounds.
box 61
Photographs
Pre 1900-circa 1942
box 61
Children, Vicente Campus
circa 1910-1930
box 61
Model. Community Chest. Podesta and Baldocchi (Doll furniture and dolls)
circa 1933
box 61
Portraits. Ashburner, Mrs. William
circa 1890-1900
box 61
Portraits. Peterson, Charles (Admission 1876)
box 61
Portraits. Thurston, Sarah and Emma
1876
Series 8
Artifacts
Circa 1851-Circa 1933
box 64
Community Chest Doll Furniture and Dolls
Circa 1933
Physical Description: Contains: 2 red tables, 2 benches (orange and gray), 1 tennis net, 4 black metal chairs, 1 round black metal table, 2 small
round gold tables, 1 metal black stove, 1 red goal post, 1 gold San Francisco Protestant Orphanage flag, 1 red Pacific Hebrew
Orphanage flag, 2 porcelain dolls with hair and crepe paper clothes, 3 medium porcelain dolls with crepe paper clothes, 1
miniature doll with blond painted hair, 1 dog, 4 vegetables/fruits, 9 black and red porcelain football players with movable
arms and legs, 10 blue and gold porcelain football players with movable arms and legs, 5 porcelain dolls with crepe paper
clothes moveable arms and legs.
box 64
Vinyl Records, Victory Records "Camp Fone"
Physical Description: Eight records bound together in one brown case. Several records have broken edges.
box 65
Wood Engraving Plates, Vicente Campus
Circa 1925
Back of Administration (5 X 7)
Front of Administration (5 X 7)
One of the Cottages (5 X 7)
Administration Front Steps (3.5 X 5)
Cottage Common Room? (3.5 X 5)
One of the Cottages (3.5 X 5)
View from Vicente Street (3.5 X 5)
Campus from Vicente Street (Pine, Administration, Lane) (3.5 X 5)
box 65
Embossing Seal
Circa 1851-Circa 1900
box 65
Original Key to Haight Street Building
Circa 1870-Circa 1890
San Francisco Nursery for Homeless Children Record Group 2
1895-1932
Physical Description: 1 box, 2 vols., 1 folder
Arrangement
Organized into four series: Series 1: Annual Reports; Series 2: Admission and Discharge Records; Series 3: Adoption Papers;
and Series 4: Ephemera. Some photos of the San Francisco Nursery for Homeless Children may be found interfiled with the Edgewood
photographs in Subgroup 1, Series 7.
Biographical / Historical
The San Francisco Nursery for Homeless Children (SFNHC) was founded in 1892 as "a non-sectarian home for children whose parents,
either by neglect, ill-fortune, or unfitness, could not give them proper care and protection" and the institution continued
until at least 1932. Both boys and girls were admitted. SFNHC was originally incorporated as the San Francisco Female Hospital
in 1878 and also incorporated a Foundling Home that was founded in 1887. SFNHC's stated purpose in 1900 was to be a home for
children under the age of 12. In 1932 the ages of children allowed was "4 years 3 months to 16 years." The first location
of SFNHC was at First St. and Bryant. They moved to Second St. and Harrison for a time, and then to 14th St. and Mission.
In 1904, SFNHC moved from its home on Mission St. to a new builcling near 14th Ave. and Lake St. This new building was practically
destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, and the children lived in tents for two weeks before being sent to an affiliated home in
Sacramento. SFNHC rebuilt the building at 14th Ave and Lake St. By 1911, SFNHC had begun a successful series of annual pencil
sales as a fundraiser. Records in this collection include a letter from Al Jolson. The children were treated to movies, gardening,
open air shop classes, piano lessons, sewing lessons, folk dancing lessons, various circuses, the beach, the Chutes and the
Pan-Pacific International Exposition. In 1915, the SFNHC children attended a Christmas play put on by Bruce Porter and the
SFPOA children at the Haight St. orphanage. The SFNHC children attended public school (primarily Sutro Elementary). In 1921,
the SFNHC children began going to the "country" for the summer. By 1932 SFNHC had purchased the Love Creek summer camp in
Ben Lomond, California. When possible, parents were expected to pay something toward room and board, but State and County
Aid was sometimes available as well. SFNHC was a member of the San Francisco Community Chest.
General
No Subnote Content
box 66, folder 1-19
Annual reports Series 1
1900-1932
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
29th Annual Report,
1918-1919
Report,
July 1919 - February 1922
Admission and discharge records Series 2
1887-1929
Physical Description: 2 vols.
box 67
[Volume 31]
1887-1893
Physical Description: Flat box.
box 8, folder 4
[Volume 70]
1914-1917 and 1920-1929
box 66, folder 20
Adoption papers Series 3
1895-1901
Physical Description: 1 folder
Ephemera Series 4
1910-1932
Physical Description: Document box 3, Folders 21-22 Legal box 1, Folder 1 (3 folders)
box 66, folder 21
Published admission notice
1910
box 49, folder 1
Publicity for pencil sale
1919-1922
box 66, folder 22
Promotional brochure
1932
