Selvin (David F.) Photograph Collection, 1861-1991, bulk 1960-1980

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
David F. Selvin photograph collection
Dates:
1861-1991, bulk 1960-1980
Creators:
Selvin, David F.
Abstract:
Comprises photographs gathered by Selvin in his role as editor of Northern Califonia Labor, a labor newspaper he founded in 1951. The photographs were also used in several books and articles Selvin published related to labor history.
Extent:
5.5 Cubic Feet (10 boxes and 1 oversize box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], David F. Selvin Photograph Collection, larc.pho.0019, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of photographs gathered by Selvin in his role as editor of Northern Califonia Labor, a labor newspaper he founded in 1951. Other photographs were used in several books and articles Selvin authored related to labor history, in particular, his 1996 book, A Terrible Anger: The 1934 Waterfront and General Strikes in San Francisco.

Many of the photographs in this collection are reprints from various repositories including the National Archives, the Library of Congress, Wayne State University, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and the California Historical Society.

Biographical / historical:

David Selvin (1913-2007) was a noted labor journalist, historian, author and activist. Selvin was working on a M.A. in Labor Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, when the 1934 Waterfront and General Strike shut down the docks in San Francisco. He later wrote about this period in his book, A Terrible Anger: The 1934 Waterfront and General Strikes in San Francisco. In 1951, after writing about labor issues for various San Francisco-based newspapers, Selvin took a job at the San Francisco Labor Council as editor ofNorthern California Labor, a position he held for nearly 30 years. Selvin authored several books about labor history and labor leaders, includingSky Full of Storm: A Brief History of California Labor, A Place in the Sun: History of Californian Labor,The Other San Francisco, and The Thundering Voice of John L. Lewis. Selvin was also involved in the formation of both the Labor Studies program and the Labor Archives and Research Center at San Francisco State University.

Acquisition information:
Photographs were donated with the David Selvin papers in 1985, accession number 1985/002.
Processing information:

Processed by Labor Archives and Research Center staff; revised by Frances Wratten Kaplan in 2016.

Arrangement:

Arranged in five series: Series 1, Unions, is arranged alphabetically by union name. Series 2, General Subjects, is arranged alphabetically by subject. Series 3, Individuals and Groups, is arranged alphabetically by individual's last name. Series 4, Published Works, and Series 5, Miscellany, are arranged as received.

Physical location:
Collection available on site.
Material specific details:
The bulk of the materials comprise black and white prints of various sizes. Also includes negatives, contact sheets, and half-tone prints as well as correspondence pertaining to Selvin's aquisition of some of the photographs.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Frances Wratten Kaplan
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2018-05-18 21:21:00 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Labor Archives and Research Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Labor Archives and Research Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], David F. Selvin Photograph Collection, larc.pho.0019, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.

Location of this collection:
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722, US
Contact:
(415) 405-5549
specialcollections@sfsu.edu
Website