The Library has numerous tools to help you research a San Francisco business. As usual, it’s best to start by talking with a librarian, but here is a list of resources to get you started. The Magazines & Newspapers Center provides the following:
Newspaper Archives
Search the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Examiner for mentions of the business you are researching. It will help to put quotation marks around the business name, for example, “Hamano Sushi.” You can also try typing in the address of the business if you are unsure of the name.
Local publications like San Francisco Bay Guardian or SF Weekly (both available on microfilm and Internet Archive) may have mentioned the business in articles or there might be advertisements. Community newspapers such as El Bohemio and Sun-Reporter can also be searched on microfilm, or through the database, Ethnic Newswatch. Also, check San Francisco Community News Websites, a collection of archived websites from local and community newspapers located in the San Francisco Bay Area. (Find access to other community newspapers by searching Periodical Finder.)
You might find newspaper articles, restaurant reviews, shopping guides, or even classified ads mentioning the business.
Go to sfpl.org/enews and click on “Access eNews Collections.” Please have your library card number and PIN ready.
Magazine Archives
Local publications such as San Francisco magazine (available as bound volumes) may have mentioned the business in articles or there might be advertisements.
Some titles such as San Francisco magazine do not have an index. It would be helpful to do preliminary research and have some years in mind before requesting back issues (bound volumes).
Please call the Magazines & Newspapers Center at 415-557-4453 or visit to request access to the bound volumes collection and use the microfilm.
City Directories and Telephone Directories
The Magazines & Newspaper Center on the 5th floor at the Main Library has City Directories and Telephone Directories going back to the late 1800’s. Some of the City Directories are also searchable online via the Internet Archive.
The Telephone Directories include the Yellow Pages, which lists businesses under various categories. Noting the years of the business’s appearance can help establish its presence in San Francisco.
The Library of Congress has digitized scans of the San Francisco telephone directories (1901-1975): https://www.loc.gov/collections/united-states-telephone-directory-collection/?fa=location:california%7Clocation:san+francisco
Haines Criss-Cross Directories
These reverse directories allow you to look up an address or phone number to see which individual or business was listed. The Library has the years 1976 to 2021 in the Magazines & Newspapers Center on the 5th floor.
Historical business directories
For businesses in existence between 1869 and 1947, check digitized business directories on this page: https://sfpl.org/locations/main-library/magazines-newspapers-center/san-franciscocalifornia-business-directories
Reference Solutions (Data Axle)
Research U.S. Historical Businesses using Reference Solutions. Coverage includes the years 1997 to 2023 but may not include all businesses.
Please visit these other Centers' webpages for resources on doing business research:
Small Business Center: https://sfpl.org/locations/main-library/small-business-center
San Francisco History Center: https://sfpl.org/locations/main-library/sf-history-center