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Finding aid to the Celestino Tagimacruz Alfafara Papers
SFH 557
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Title: Celestino Tagimacruz Alfafara Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 557
Date (inclusive): 1914-2018
Creator:
Alfafara, Celestino Tagimacruz
Physical Description:
1 carton, 2 pamphlet boxes, 1 shoe box, 2 flat boxes.
(4 Cubic 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: Celestino T. Alfafara (1897-1990) is
possibly best known for the Alfafara v. Fross case arguing against the denial of his right
to own property in California because of his Filipino heritage. The case went to the
California Supreme Court where he won the case and the right for Filipinos to own property
in California. The collection is significant for its photographs depicting Filipino culture
in California and San Francisco.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English
with some materials in Tagalog.
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.
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.
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.
[Identification of item], Celestino Tagimacruz Alfafara Papers (SFH 557), San Francisco
History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Donated by Lisa Suguitan Melnick February 14, 2019.
During processing, the collection was foldered and housed in acid-free folders and boxes.
Some photographs remain in scrapbooks and may need to be removed at a later date for
preservation. Some photobooks have been photocopied to retain original order.
Celestino T. Alfafara (1897-1990) was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United
States in 1929. He is possibly best known for his challenge to the California Alien Land Law
in the Alfafara v. Fross case. Mr. Alfafara had entered a contract to purchase a $65 parcel
of land in San Mateo County but was denied the purchase based on the argument his Filipino
heritage combined with the Alien Land Act prohibited him from owning property in California.
The case went to the California Supreme Court where he won the right for Filipino's to own
property in California.
In his personal life Mr. Alfafara was married to Juanita Cayton and they had two children.
He was an active member of the Caballeros de Dimas-Alang Organization, a Filipino Community
group modeled on the Masons, and both he and Juanita were active in Filipino heritage
organizations.
The collection includes photographs, scrapbooks, postcards, certificates of honor and
graduation, papers on the Philippines War Relief, year books and Alfafara family genealogy.
The historical photographs depict Filipino life in California and the Philippines throughout
the 20th century. Photos include images of the Caballeros de Dimas-Alang, family trips to
the Philippines and Hawaii, and family snapshots of the Alfafara family.
The collection is arranged in 2 series: Series 1: Records, Series 2: Graphic Materials.
Series 2 is further arranged by Subseries 2.1: Negatives, Subseries 2.2: Prints, Subseries
2.3: Postcards, Subseries 2.4: Scrapbooks / Photo albums.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Caballeros de Dimas-Alang
Filipino Americans -- California -- San Francisco
Filipino Americans
Filipino Fraternal Organizations
Filipino American families.
Filipino American families -- California -- San Francisco