John Gerrard Graham Photograph Collection, 1936-1994

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Summary

Creators:
Graham, John Gerrard
Abstract:
The John Gerrard Graham Photograph Collection includes over 7,700 photographs and 4,730 negatives from the collection of San Francisco transit historian John Gerrard Graham (1917–1995). The collection consists of two groups of images: original photographs and negatives photographed by Graham from approximately 1936 to 1994 and official company and agency photographs (some being copy images of operations of early San Francisco street railways). The strength of the collection is in its documentation of San Francisco street railways from the late 1930s through the late 1950s including operations of the Market Street Railway, Municipal Railway of San Francisco and the California Street Cable Railroad Company.
Extent:
15 cartons and 1 oversize box (approximately 7,700 photographic prints and 4,730 negatives) (16 Cubic Feet)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

John Gerrard Graham Photograph Collection (SFP 38), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The John Gerrard Graham Photograph Collection includes over 7,700 photographs and 4,730 negatives from the collection of San Francisco transit historian John Gerrard Graham (1917–1995). The collection consists of two groups of images: original photographs and negatives photographed by Graham from approximately 1936 to 1994 and official company and agency photographs (some being copy images of operations of early San Francisco street railways). The strength of the collection is in its documentation of San Francisco street railways from the late 1930s through the late 1950s including operations of the Market Street Railway, Municipal Railway of San Francisco and the California Street Cable Railroad Company. Given Graham's access to all shops and yards, Graham photographed his interests in both operational and mechanical aspects of the railway operation. Graham's collection also includes documentation of cars and buses being repaired from accidents or prepared for scrap. He also photographed a number of crews (both on the cars and in the shop). The collection includes several photographs of him on duty.

The bulk of the collection consists of primarily 2 ¼" x 3 ¼" and 2 ¼" x 4 ¼" negatives with some 4 x 5" and 5 x 7" copy negatives. Sixty percent of the prints do have corresponding negatives. There are approximately 2,000 negatives for which there are no prints and 3,000 prints for which there are no negatives.

Biographical / historical:

John Gerrard Graham was born on November 14, 1917 in San Francisco to John Gerrard Graham and Kittie Gerrard Fowler Graham. Graham was a graduate of Lick-Wilmerding High School (1935) where he studied machine shop and mechanical design. Upon graduation he went to work for the Enterprise Engine and Foundry Company as an apprentice machinist.

Pursuing a lifelong fascination with the street railways of San Francisco, in 1942 Graham went to work part-time for the Market Street Railway in addition to his machine shop job. A few years later, Graham began work as a conductor and within a year became a motorman. His knowledge and interest in mechanical matters persisted and he started to make repairs on cars at the end of the line. Graham then became employed as a "shop man" in the Turk and Fillmore Car House. After the consolidation of the Market Street Railway into the Municipal Railway of San Francisco in 1944, the Fillmore barn closed on July 31, 1948. Graham was assigned to the Funston Yard, which served as the "bone yard" where retired Market Street Railway cars were prepared for scrapping. After the closing of Funston Yard in 1949, Graham transferred to the Muni's new electric trolley coach shop at Potrero Car House, where he worked until his retirement. Graham was fatally injured on December 9, 1995 when crossing Fourth and Townsend Streets to board a Muni bus at CalTrain Station.

Acquisition information:
Gift. 2002-37
Processing information:

During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes.

Arrangement:

Arranged in two groups: 1. Photographs by John Gerrard Graham, 1936-1994. 2. Official Photographs, 1903-1960.

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 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.

Preferred citation:

John Gerrard Graham Photograph Collection (SFP 38), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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