Bunyan (Matthew C.) Photograph Album of the Construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, 1935-1936

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
Matthew C. Bunyan Photograph Album of the Construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
Dates:
1935-1936
Creators:
Bunyan, Matthew Chalmers, 1906 - 1978
Abstract:
The bound volume contains 52 gelatin silver photographic prints taken by Matthew C. Bunyan which document the construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in California, 1935 – 1936.
Extent:
1 album; album 15.5 cm x 15.5 cm, prints 8cm x 14 cm (52 gelatin silver photographic prints)
Language:
Collection materials are in English .
Preferred citation:

Matthew C. Bunyan Photograph Album of the Construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SFP 120), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The bound volume contains 52 gelatin silver photographic prints taken by Matthew C. Bunyan which document the construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in California, 1935 – 1936. This unusual album has been hand-constructed out of blueprint paper with both typed and hand-written captions. The photographs are mounted on recto only, with the blue print visible on the verso of each page. Many of the photographs are of locations or vantage points that would only be accessible to engineers or construction workers of the Bay Bridge. Each photograph is dated and accompanied by a detailed caption, often describing the engineering aspects illustrated. There are also several group photographs of engineers and inspectors posing on the Bay Bridge shortly before opening, including the photographer Bunyan's family. All photographs are of the Bay Bridge construction with the exception of 6 photographs documenting small house architecture in Berkeley and Richmond, California in 1936. There are two captions where the accompanying photographs have been removed.

Biographical / historical:

Matthew Chalmers Bunyan was born on May 20, 1906 in Charlton, New York. The Bunyan family relocated to Santa Rosa, California in the 1920s. Bunyan attended Santa Rosa Junior College and then transferred to University of California at Berkeley (UCB). He graduated in 1930 with a BS in Civil Engineering. Bunyan married his UCB classmate Esther B. Norton in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 11, 1931 and the couple had two children. Bunyan was employed by the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Authority from 1933 to December 1936. He served as Junior Bridge Engineer and Assistant Bridge Engineer. Bunyan went on to work for Standard Oil Company of California and Arabian American Oil Company. Bunyan died on March 11, 1978 in Tucson, Arizona.

Acquisition information:
Gift 2013-88
Physical location:
The collection is stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Christina Moretta
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-03-11 19:50:13 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.

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. The Library holds copyright to the photograph album.

Preferred citation:

Matthew C. Bunyan Photograph Album of the Construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SFP 120), 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
Website