San Francisco Arts Festival Photographs and Records, 1948-1985, bulk 1967-1985
Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- San Francisco (Calif.). Art Commission.
- Abstract:
- The San Francisco Arts Festival Photographs and Records consist of photographic prints, slides, negatives, and a small amount of written and ephemeral records documenting the annual festival that was sponsored by the San Francisco Art Commission.
- Extent:
- 1 carton, 2 boxes, 1 shoebox (2.5 linear feet)
- Language:
- Collection materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], San Francisco Arts Festival Photographs and Records (SFP 30), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The San Francisco Arts Festival Records consists of photographic prints, slides, negatives, and a small amount of written and ephemeral records documenting the annual festival that was sponsored by the San Francisco Art Commission. The photographic material depicts participating visual and performing artists, festival attendees, exhibition artwork, the outdoor festival site at the Civic Center, and other subjects. The photographic prints document the festival for the years 1948, 1957, 1967-1979, and 1981-1985; negatives are from 1972-1978; and the set of slides is from 1984.
Most of the material was received unidentified and undated; dates by year have been added where they could be deduced from similar, dated material present in the collection. Subject matter and persons are also often unidentified; however, names of persons, dates, subject matter, and photographer are sometimes given on the backs of the photographic prints. Notable people depicted in the photographs include George Moscone, Kay Boyle, and Thad Brown attending the opening ceremonies during various years. Some images were used in the festival program brochures. Records include includes reports, newspaper clippings, brochures, a catalog, public relations materials, and press packets.
Photographic prints are 8" x 10," some of which correspond to negatives in Series 2. Negatives cover a wider range of subject matter than the prints and include negatives that are not printed. Most of the photographs and negatives are by Phillip Chan, with additional photos by Henry L. Cox (1957), Gerhard E. Gscheidle (1971), and C.S. Garrison and Michael Dixon (1972).
- Biographical / historical:
-
The San Francisco Arts Festival in California was the largest and oldest free outdoor public art event on the West Coast, founded in 1938 by San Francisco artists and then sponsored by the San Francisco Art Commission from 1946-1986. The SF Arts Festival exhibited local and contemporary Bay Area artists and craftsmen from San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano counties. Exhibiting predominantly visual arts, the annual show promoted artistic interest and advancement in its local and regional community by providing a venue for local and contemporary artists and craftsmen to sell, display, and develop sponsorship in a time in history when “official” art was only accepted in museums.
- Acquisition information:
- Donated by Debra Lehane in July 2001 for the San Francisco Art Commission.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is arranged in four series: Series 1: Photographs; Series 2: Slides; Series 3: Negatives; Series 4: Records. Each series is arranged chronologically.
- Physical location:
- Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
- Terms of access:
-
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], San Francisco Arts Festival Photographs and Records (SFP 30), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
- Location of this collection:
-
San Francisco Public Library100 Larkin StreetSan Francisco, CA 94102, US
- Contact:
- (415) 557-4567