In 2026 the San Francisco investigative journalism magazine Mother Jones celebrates 50 years of publication. In the Main Library Periodicals Reading Room, view iconic photographs both recent and historical from the magazine's pages and engage with a curated selection of issues from the past five decades.
Since its founding in 1976, Mother Jones has operated on the premise that investigative reporting can expose injustice, build empathy needed for reform and bring accountability.
The magazine’s photography has served as an uncompromising mirror to the world, visual storytelling that evolved from the black-and-white traditions of humanist documentary into an expansive, multiplatform chronicle of our time.
In this exhibit, we see a small fraction of the arresting photography, magazine covers, and stories that have graced Mother Jones over that 50-year journey. They capture some of the people and issues that riveted the country during that time, and highlight the investigations and artwork that influenced the nation’s politics and culture.
By exploring Mother Jones’ evolution through the years, one will notice how it has deftly moved from being a bi-monthly print magazine into a 7-day-a-week news outlet serving millions of audience members across online, radio, video, newsletters and podcasts.
To learn more, you can read recent issues of Mother Jones available in the SFPL collections (including the current issue on display in the Main Library Periodical Reading Room) or visit the Mother Jones Website.
Panel: Mother Jones—50 Years of Fearless Journalism, Thursday, November 12
Case One
Case Two