San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection, 1870-2000

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Summary

Creators:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Abstract:
Extent:
129 linear feet. Approximately 155,000 photographic prints in 7,690 folders.
Language:
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

The artificial collection contains over 155,000 photographic prints of 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 a century of San Francisco from the early 1870s to 2000s. The images provide comprehensive information about many activities and events important to San Francisco and its 20th century growth. The photographs document neighborhoods; streetscapes; significant landmarks (Coit Tower, monuments); cultural events: theater, celebrations, parades, fairs and expositions (including the Panama Pacific International Exposition, Golden Gate International Exposition); city infrastructure: bridges, streets, parks; activism: protests and strikes; buildings: commercial, schools, residences, hotels, nightclubs; means of transportation: railroads, streetcars, buses, airplanes, ships and boats; businesses; associations and the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. Identified photographers, photography studios, and publishers include San Francisco News-Call Bulletin staff photographers, Gabriel Moulin/Moulin Studios, Pacific & 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 including Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company and the Golden Gate International Exposition. Copyists include Photography styles include aerials, professional commissioned photography, news photos and vernacular photography (snapshots). 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. Each listing in the subject guide represents a file containing from one to more than fifty photographs.

Biographical / historical:

The collection was collected and assembled by the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. The creation of the collection and the selection process focused on significant 19th and 20th century San Francisco subjects in San Francisco history. The collection includes photo subjects extracted from the San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Photo Morgue, multiple accessions and donations acquired.

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

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.

Terms of access:

Dependent upon date of photograph and photographer, some photographs are in the Public Domain. 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:

San Francisco Subjects 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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