How Old Is It? Who Built It?
- Junior League of San Francisco Here Today files. Junior League Index (PDF). In the 1960s, The Junior League surveyed and researched thousands of historic buildings in San Francisco, many of them featured in the book, Here Today; San Francisco Architectural Heritage.
If a building was surveyed, the research file notes when it was built, and perhaps the original owner and architect.
Files are arranged alphabetically by street address. Please note that not all addresses have been surveyed.
- Spring Valley Water Company records. San Francisco Water Department. (1861-1930s) (Guide to microfilm). Water connections recorded alphabetically by street name. Find the date a water connection was first made for a structure and the name of the applicant or property owner.
Dates may reflect the beginning of construction, the date water was provided to an existing structure, or the beginning of occupancy.
- San Francisco Real Estate Circular. (1868-1942, incomplete set) (microfilm). Using the date from the Water Department, look for property sales, transfers of ownership, and the cost of the building or land.
- Edward's Abstract from Records. (1906-1977, incomplete set). Issued daily, this is a listing of documents recorded. Under "Miscellaneous Papers" are Building Contracts, which list the owner, contractor, architect and cost of construction for individual building.
- Sanborn Map Company fire insurance maps (1886-1991) (Guide to microfilm). (See also: Digital Sanborn Maps for California). Published to help assess fire risk for buildings, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps show the footprint for every building in the city.
These maps also indicate type of construction, use of structures, addresses, and, sometimes, the names of businesses. Ask for the index at the information desk. The San Francisco History Center has one set of Sanborn Maps in the room. All other volumes are available in microfilm only.
Who Lived In It?
- City Directories. (1850-1982) (microfilm). With the name of the possible owner or occupant of your property, you can check the city directories backward and forward from the water connection date to determine whether that person lived at that address, the length of occupancy of that person, as well as his or her occupation.
Microfiche, microfilm, and print editions are also available at the Herb Caen Magazines and Newspapers Center, located on floor 5. "Reverse directories," which list the owner or occupant by street address, appear in the directories beginning with the 1953 edition.
- San Francisco Blue Book. (1890 - 1931). Published annually, some editions list socialites by street address.
- San Francisco Block Book. (1868, 1890, 1894, 1901, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1910) (microfilm/print). Indicates lot sizes and the names of property owners.
- Index to the Great Register of Voters. (1866-1944, incomplete set) (Guide to microfilm/print). After verifying the Assembly District in which the house was sited, you may find the address, name, age, and, sometimes, the occupation and political affiliation of the building occupants.
- Real Property. Index to Deeds. (Grantee and Grantor Index) (Guide to microfilm).
- Real Property. Deeds. 48-hour notice required for access. Ask at information desk for holdings.
Are There Any Photographs Of It?
- Search for a building by going to the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection home page. Please note that viewing and ordering images is limited to Tuesday and Thursday from 1-5pm; and Saturday from 10-Noon and 1-5pm.
- Assessor's Office Negative Collection: Residences and Businesses. This collection was given to the San Francisco History Center by the Assessor's Office. It includes properties photographed by the Assessor's Office from the 1940s through the 1960s.
The finding aid is divided into three sections: alphabetically by street name (PDF), numerically by block number (PDF), and alphabetically by business name (PDF). Please note that viewing and ordering images is limited to Tuesday and Thursday from 1-5pm; and Saturday from 10-Noon and 1-5pm.
Are There Any Articles Written About My Building?
- Architect and Engineer. February 1906 (Volume 4, no. 1) – December 1923 (Volume 75, no. 3)(microfilm); November 1909 - June 1959 (print). Index available for 1905-1928, compiled by Gary Goss, 1982.
- California Architect and Building News. 1879 - 1899 (microfilm).
- Department Vertical Files. Check with the librarian to retrieve these files from closed stacks.
Other House History Guides
Other City Departments
- Assessor's Office. Go to the Office of the Assessor-Recorder, City Hall, Room 190 to find maps, ownership records and transfers of property from 1914 to the present. Use the Realty Index to locate block and lot numbers used by the Assessor-Recorder.
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