CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: Book Arts & Special Collections and the San Francisco History Center, Part 1.

Rare Book Room, circa 1996

When we initially realized our Golden Jubilee was coming up, we began our celebration plans by digging into the archives.

Ephemera collection, Book Arts & Special Collections

City Librarian William Holman [n.d.] San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

We discovered that fifty years ago, on October 1, 1964, City Librarian William Holman, Mayor John Shelley, Chairman of the Day Nat Schmulowitz, UC Berkeley Professor James D. Hart, and President of the Friends of the Library Mrs. Carl W. Stern came together to formally dedicate the opening of the Rare Books & Special Collections Department at the San Francisco Public Library with a public event and program. 

Marjorie Stern, 17 April 1963, San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Just a few years prior to that, President Marjorie Stern, had founded the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. This is how a newsclipping from 1963 described her: 

She's a do-er. Two years ago, impatient with the coming-apart-at-the-seams image of the city's library, Mrs. Stern helped spark what she calls a 'citizens' group at its best.

With the help of Mary Louise Stong and Mig Mayer, Mrs. Stern started with several names and by late 1963 they had 475 Friends. 

Adolph Sutro [between 1830-1898] San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

The San Francisco Public Library owned a rare book collection as far back as the 19th century. It began with the purchase of the William G. Medlicott Library in 1881. Later that same year Mr. Adolph Sutro contributed $1000.00 for more purchases.

San Francisco's City Hall, 1906, San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

But twenty-seven years of collection development was destroyed in the fire and earthquake of 1906 — 150,000 books including the budding rare books collection were lost along with the entire Main Library and two large branches.

Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene. (Ashendene Press, 1923)

Geoffrey Chaucer, The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. (Kelmscott Press, 1896)

In 1920, William Randolph Young, a library trustee, and the husband of hand bookbinder Belle McMurtry, proposed rebuilding a collection of fine books and Californiana for the library. And by 1925, Young saw the rare books and manuscripts collection established. Early acquisitions included an Ashendene Spenser (hand bound by the famous London firm of Sangorski and Sutcliffe), a Kelmscott Chaucer, and a five volume copy of the Doves Press Bible.

Max Kuhl, from The Municipal Blue Book of San Francisco,1915

On October 5, 1926, this initial collection of 250 books was formally dedicated to the memory of Max Kuhl who had passed away the previous year. Max Kuhl had been the legal advisor to the Panama Pacific International Exposition (PPIE), a President of the Police Commission, and a member of the State Library Board. 

Ephemera collection, Book Arts & Special Collections

The SFPL bookplate that is pictured and can be found in most of the books from the Kuhl collection, was first used in October 1906. It was designed for the library by Albertine Randall Wheelan who was a noted stage designer and illustrator. It was later used to commemorate the rebuilding of the Main Library in 1917. It features a phoenix rising from the ashes and the latin motto which translates as “life without literature is death.” [Vita sine literis mors est.]

Indenture Made Between Joseph C. Palmer and John C. Fremont, 1856, San Francisco History Center

Relacion historica...venerable Padre Fry Junipero Serra, 1787, San Francisco History Center

The Max Kuhl collection included this unique and extraordinary Deed to Alcatraz from 1856…and a biography of Junipero Serra written in Spanish by Father Palou. It’s clear that San Francisco history was an important part of special collections from the very beginning.

Jules Guerin, Arch of the Rising Sun, circa 1913, San Francisco History Center

The collections were housed “directly east of the Main Reading Room” in the Old Main Library. The area was decorated with paintings by Jules Guerin depicting scenes of the Panama Pacific International Exhibition.

Albert Bender, 1938, San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

Albert Bender, a prominent San Franciscan, played a huge role in developing the Max Kuhl collection. He was known throughout the Bay Area as “Saint Albert of San Francisco” because of his philanthropy. This nickname was common knowledge in San Francisco. In fact once a letter addressed to “Saint Albert of San Francisco” was delivered, by mistake, to Archbishop Hanna (of the Roman Catholic Church.) The Archbishop promptly forwarded it to Bender with a note that read: “This must be for you.”

Edwin Grabhorn to Albert Bender on the sale of books for the Max Kuhl Memorial Collection, 17 July 1925,
Ephemera collection, Book Arts & Special Collections

Bender was treasurer of the Max Kuhl Collection Committee and was personally responsible for the acquisition of many of the items. He continued to add to the collection until his death in 1941. Pictured is a letter from Edwin Grabhorn to Albert Bender regarding the purchase of books for the Kuhl collection.

We often come across Max Kuhl bookplates as we are using our collections and they are a wonderful reminder of our beginnings.

End of Part 1.
See Part 2.