California Photograph Collection
Finding aid created by San Francisco History Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
2020
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
http://sfpl.org/sfhistory
Title: California Photograph Collection
Dates: 1880-1980
Collection Number: SFP 131
Creator/Collector:
San Francisco Public Library
Extent: 48,440 photographic prints
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: 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.
Language of Material: English
The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours
in advance.
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.
California Photograph Collection. San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
Collected from various sources, including the San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Photo Morgue, donations and purchases.
Biography/Administrative History
Collected by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Municipal buildings--California--Photographs.
Missions--California--Photographs.
Strikes and lockouts -- California.
Agricultural laborers -- California.
Riots -- California.
World War, 1939-1945.
Dams--Photographs.
Los Angeles (Calif.)—Photographs
Hetch Hetchy Valley (Calif.)
Free Speech Movement (Berkeley, Calif.)
Port Chicago (Calif.) -- Explosion, 1944.
Photographic prints
Photographic prints -- 1920-1930.
Photographic prints - 1930-1940
Photographic prints --1940-1950
Photographic prints, 1950-1960
Photojournalism
Aerial photographs
Snapshots