Guides and Helpful Hints
Professional Building Researchers Guides
- Research Resources Useful for Researching Historic Buildings
- William Kostura, 1997.
- How to Research Your San Francisco Building
- Jean Kortum, Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board, 1992.
Book Guides
- Architectural Records in the San Francisco Bay Area: A Guide to Research
- Waverly Lowell
- The Guide to Architecture in San Francisco and Northern California
- David Gebhard
- House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home
- Sally Light
- Victoria’s Legacy
- Judith Lynch Waldhorn and Sally B. Woodbridge
Where Else to Visit
- Office of the Assessor-Recorder - (City Hall, Room 190, 415-554-5596).
- Find ownership records and transfers of property from 1914 to the present. Locate block and lot numbers through the San Francisco Property Information Map.
- Public Utilities Commission / Water Department - (525 Golden Gate Avenue, 415-551-3000).
- Obtain copies of the original water applications.
- San Francisco Planning Department - (1650 Mission Street, Suite 400, 415-558-6378).
- Access the 1976 Department of City Planning Architectural Survey and San Francisco Property Information Map.
- San Francisco Department of Building Inspection. Support Services, Records Management Section - (1660 Mission Street, 4th Floor, 415-558-6080).
- Obtain building permit applications (1906 to present) and inquire about plans/blueprints through the Records Management Section. Before visiting, please follow the Records Management Section instructions of submitting a Records Request Form in order to view or obtain copies of building records.
- California Historical Society, North Baker Research Library - (678 Mission Street, 415-357-1848).
- Photographs and documents on California and San Francisco history, including some 1920s Sanborn maps; and Edwards Abstract, 1896-1977.
- University of California, Berkeley
- Bancroft Library - (510-642-6481). Photographs and documents on California and San Francisco history, including some 1920-30s Sanborn maps.
- Environmental Design Archives - (510-642-5124). Access some San Francisco building plans and additional information on prominent architects.
- San Francisco Architectural Heritage - (2007 Franklin Street, 415-441-3000).
- Files of information on San Francisco buildings and architects.
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