A Free Library in this City: The Illustrated History of the San Francisco Public Library"Whereas, We, the citizens of San Francisco ... do most heartily approve of the project about to be inaugurated for the establishment of A Free Library in this City, and do pledge to the same our hearty and united support". With these words, an idea was born in San Francisco, an idea that eventually - well over a century later - achieved its apotheosis in the building of the New Main Public Library. This state-of-the-art cultural institution now stands as a tribute to all those who had the vision to conceive the idea and the energy to nourish this - through eras of triumph and tragedy. With masterful insight, Peter Booth Wiley narrates the fascinating story of this idea, tracing the concept of the library back to the origins of writing and human history itself, through the ages of antiquity to the first American libraries and beyond ... to San Francisco. Embroidered into the thread of the main narrative are 25 specially commissioned essays from the Bay Area's leading literary figures, accompanied by original artwork by noted local illustrators. |
Contents
CONTENTS | 8 |
RECORDING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE | 23 |
The First San Francisco Public Library | 89 |
Copyright | |
3 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Alioto American Amy Tan architect became began Bibliothèque block board of supervisors bond issue bond measure Boston Boston Public Library branch libraries building built Burnham Burnham plan campaign Carnegie century children's Chinese City Hall city librarian city's Civic Center Clarke committee construction Courtesy San Francisco cultural Daniel Burnham Dowlin early earthquake École des Beaux-Arts Eureka Valley Europe floor Franciscans Francisco Public Library Friends Fulton Street funds George Holman institution James Duval Phelan John Kelham librarian library commission Library Foundation library service library system library's literary main library major Marjorie Stern Marshall Square Mayor million Mission Museum neighborhood Noe Valley Old Main opened Paris patrons Phelan printing Proposition 13 reading room Robert Rolph Roman San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Public Schmulowitz scholars SF History Room SFPL Special Collections staff Steve Coulter tion trustees urban William writing