Historic Photos of San Francisco [Hardcover]

Rebecca Schall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2006 | Series: Historic Photos

From the 1906 earthquake to famous sights like the cable cars, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge, Historic Photos of San Francisco is a photographic history collected from the area's top archives. With around 200 photographs, many of which have never been published, this beautiful coffee table book highlights the historical growth from the mid 1800s to the late 1900s of ?the City by the Bay? in stunning black and white photography. The book captures scenes of the people, places, and events important to the history of this unique city, accompanied by insightful captions and historical analysis. Spanning two centuries and two hundred photographs, this book is a must-have for any long-time resident or history lover of San Francisco!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 206 pages
• Publisher: Turner (December 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596523077
• ISBN-13: 978-1596523074
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #513,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a native of San Francisco, California, where I grew up in the city's Richmond district with my parents and older brother. I have always had an intense passion for history. Growing up in San Francisco exposed me to its rich history and culture. Additionally, as a child, I traveled extensively around Europe with my family, which contributed to my passion for history from an early age as well. I have undergraduate degrees in both history and psychology from Occidental College, and a Master's degrees in history from San Francisco State University.

I am the author of five books: Historic Photos of San Francisco, Historic Photos of Paris, Historic Photos of The Presidio, Historic Photos of San Francisco in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and Remembering Paris. Through stunning black and white photography and accompanying in-depth informative text, these books provide photographic narrative portraits of the cities and retrospective views of ordinary citizens enjoying their daily lives in the extraordinary cities of San Francisco and Paris, amidst historic events that took place in each respective place throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, including the celebrations, protests, riots, wars, cultural milestones, and other major national and international events.

After completing my first book, Historic Photos of San Francisco, I spent a year in Paris, where I lived in the Latin Quarter on the Left Bank. My year abroad was one of the most incredible and formative experiences of my life. During my year in Paris, I continued to study history and French at the Sorbonne, taught English, and delivered historical talks and lectures at several universities and venues around Paris. I also did research for my second book, Historic Photos of Paris, a detailed portrait of Paris through old historic photos, and extensive text. Most of the photos I used for the book came from an archive in the 6th arrondissement called the Roger-Viollet Agency, where I discovered absolutely amazing rare photos.

I am currently living in The San Francisco Bay Area, where I teach history and continue historical research and writing and participate in various historical associations to preserve local history and educate the public. To learn more about my background, publications, and speaking events, please visit my website - www.rebeccaschall.com .

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A photographic memoir of a resilient city, April 16, 2007

By 

Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Historic Photos of San Francisco (Hardcover)

With two parents that were professors on the topic, I grew up in a household where history was always at the top of the agenda. To complement that, I have always been a fan of photography, doing my own share of it when I get the opportunity. So the book "Historic Photos of San Francisco" came like a perfect blend for me, even more so because San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world.

As the title implies, the book offers a photographic history of the city, going from 1860, through the turn of the century (including the earthquake of 1906 and the post-earthquake period), all the way through to the 1960s and the "Summer of Love". The photos not only capture key moments and memories in the city's life: they also help the reader understand the resilient nature of San Fran.

"Historic Photos of San Francisco" makes for more than just a nice coffee table book: it's an invaluable testimonial and historic reference for the generations to come.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical San Francisco Seen Through a Representative Parade of Images, September 22, 2007

By 

Ed Uyeshima (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Historic Photos of San Francisco (Hardcover)

With this handsome coffee table book, author Rebecca Schall offers a thoughtful pictorial history into San Francisco that offers a treasure trove of historical photos accompanied by her observant text. She has obviously researched her project with a keen eye as she culled what must have been quite an archive of photos from various collections in the San Francisco Public Library.

The result is a vivid parade of images that traces the city's growth from the days after the Gold Rush through the 1906 earthquake and up to 1967. Her thumbnail-style text is a bit on the cursory side to get a full picture of the various changes that transformed the city, but you get enough insights to appreciate the various factors that have shaped the city's unique character. It makes a suitable companion piece to Bill Yenne's San Francisco Then & Now, which shows how many of the locations featured in Schall's book look now.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Down memory lane in the Bay Area., October 21, 2007

By 

Gerald Schall (san francisco, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Historic Photos of San Francisco (Hardcover)

This is a spectacularly beautiful book of archival photos of old San Francisco with interesting and stimulating text. It will be of particular interest to locals and to all people who love San Francsico (and that is just about everyone). Residents will find it fun to visit the sites of long-gone attractions and to check out the buildings and vistas that are still there.

Well done!