San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection
Finding aid created by San Francisco History Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
2023
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
http://sfpl.org/sfhistory
Title: San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection
Dates: 1870-2000
Collection Number: SFP 162
Creator/Collector:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Extent: 129 linear feet. Approximately 155,000 photographic prints in 7,690 folders.
Online items available
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: 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.
Language of Material: English
The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours.
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.
[Identification of item]. San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection. Collection Number: SFP 162. San Francisco Public Library.
San Francisco History Center
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.
Biography/Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Neighborhoods -- California -- San Francisco -- History
Streets -- California -- San Francisco -- Photographs.
Architecture -- California -- San Francisco
Fairs -- California -- San Francisco.
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906.
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.)
Golden Gate International Exposition--(1939-1940 :--San Francisco, Calif.)
Strikes and lockouts -- California -- San Francisco
Historic ships -- California -- San Francisco Bay
Parades -- California -- San Francisco.
Protest movements -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area
Police -- California -- San Francisco.
Schools -- California -- San Francisco.
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Oakland and San Francisco, Calif.)
Golden Gate Bridge -- (San Francisco, Calif.)
Neighborhoods-California-San Francisco.
Photographic prints.
Aerial photographs
Documentary photography