California Photograph Collection, 1880-1980

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Summary

Creators:
San Francisco Public Library Moulin, Gabriel Associated Press
Abstract:
Extent:
48,440 photographic prints
Language:
Preferred citation:

California Photograph Collection. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Background

Scope and content:

The artificial collection contains over 48,440 photographic prints of California (excluding San Francisco) places, activities and cultural resources collected by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library compiled from selections from the San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Photo Morgue gifts of donors, and purchases. The collection spans more than 100 years of California from the early 1880s to 1980s. The images provide comprehensive information about many activities and events important to California and its 20th century growth. The photographs document communities and towns, some now gone; businesses and stores; industries: manufacturing, logging, mining, farming, ranching, wine making; natural surroundings: beaches, forests, rivers, lakes, national/state parks; disasters: fires, floods, earthquakes, landslides; infrastructures: dams, bridges, freeways; water and power; cultural events: theater, celebrations, parades, fairs and expositions, Olympics, contests, conventions; activism: protests, strikes, riots; buildings: residences, hotels, nightclubs, resorts; institutions: government, jails and prisons, hospitals, churches, cemeteries, schools and colleges, libraries, California Missions; military displays and recreation: World War II activities, team sports, camping, and fishing; and means of transportation: railroads, streetcars, airplanes, automobiles, ships and boats. Significant events in California history include construction of Hetch Hetchy, Salinas Lettuce Strike, Port Chicago blast, Watts Riots, and Free Speech Movement at U.C. Berkeley. Identified photographers, photography studios, and publishers including San Francisco News-Call Bulletin staff photographers, Gabriel Moulin/Moulin Studios, Fred English Photographs, George Knight, Bob Handsaker, Burton Frasher Sr./Frasher’s Photo, Office of War Information photographer Peter O’Crotty, Vester Dick Photography, Bedford Studio of Photography, Pacific and Atlantic Photos, Acme Newspictures, Associated Press, Wide World, International News Photos, United Press International, United States Army, United States Navy, Redwood Empire Association, and Aero Photographers. There are also photographs made by or for the companies they depict. These include Columbia Steel Company, Shell Oil, and Bethlehem Steel. Each listing represents a file containing from one to more than fifty photographs. Photography styles include aerials, professional commissioned photography, vernacular and news photos. Many photographs have identifying information on the verso such as description, date, provenance or photographer information, and/or a caption for the corresponding San Francisco News-Call Bulletin newspaper article. A small percentage of photographs are unmarked with no identification of photographer.

Biographical / historical:

Collected by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Acquisition information:
Collected from various sources, including the San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Photo Morgue, donations and purchases.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during Photo Desk hours. Cartons 1-37 are stored offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit. Oversize flat boxes 1-16 are stored onsite.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

California Photograph Collection. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

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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