San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Photograph Album, 1906

Summary

Creator:

Genthe, Arnold, 1869-1942

Abstract:

The San Francisco earthquake and fire photograph album contains 29 photographs taken by photographer Arnold Genthe showing the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco.

Extent:

29 photographs in 1 album.

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed by Terese Austin, March 2015 and finding aid created by Jakob Dopp, March 2020

Background

Scope and Content:

The San Francisco earthquake and fire photograph album contains 29 photographs taken by photographer Arnold Genthe showing the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. The album (24 x 32 cm) has pebbled black cloth covers. Images include scenes of billowing smoke over the city being watched by crowds of onlookers; survivors wandering among the ruins; tnets set up in Union Square and Portsmouth Square; the destruction in the city center, between Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, and Market Street; and wagons removing rubble.

Inside the front cover there is a laid in program for a "Port of Oakland Day Luncheon" held on October 27, 1949, a newspaper clipping regarding Benjamin F. Steacy, and a typed note on "Steacy's Restaurants" stationery stating "This album dedicated to the earthquake and fire San Francisco, April 18 1906. The following pictures were taken by a friend of my dads. Ben F. Steacy April 21 1948."

Biographical / Historical:

Arnold Genthe (1869-1942) was a German-born photographer who operated a studio in San Francisco at the time of the 1906 earthquake. He subsequently worked in Carmel-by-the-Sea and New York City.

Acquisition Information:

Purchased from Swann Galleries, May 1994. F-165 .

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

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Subjects:

Photographs shelf.
Earthquakes--California--San Francisco--1900-1910.
Fires--California--San Francisco--1900-1910.
Debris--California--San Francisco--1900-1910.
Disaster relief--California--San Francisco--1900-1910.
Emergency housing--California--San Francisco--1900-1910.
Ruins--California--San Francisco--1900-1910.
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906.
Tents--California--San Francisco--1900-1910.

Formats:

Gelatin silver prints.
Photograph albums.

Names:

Steacy, Benjamin Fletcher, 1894-1990.

Places:

Golden Gate Park (San Francisco, Calif.)
Russian Hill (San Francisco, Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
Telegraph Hill (San Francisco, Calif.)