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San Francisco California Usa Collection

In 1939, Dorothea Lange captured the essence of San Francisco, California through her lens

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: J.J. Gleason, Dana Studios, San Francisco, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service

J.J. Gleason, Dana Studios, San Francisco, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
J.J. Gleason, Dana Studios, San Francisco, 1910.

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Arthur Brown, Coliseum Architect, Chicago, 1912. Creator: Bain News Service

Arthur Brown, Coliseum Architect, Chicago, 1912. Creator: Bain News Service
Arthur Brown, Coliseum Architect, Chicago, 1912.

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Interior Court, Palace Hotel, San Francisco, Printed 1878-1883. Creator: Carleton Emmons Watkins

Interior Court, Palace Hotel, San Francisco, Printed 1878-1883. Creator: Carleton Emmons Watkins
Interior Court, Palace Hotel, San Francisco, Printed 1878-1883

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: REO Mountaineer, New York to San Francisco and back, between 1900 and 1905. Creator: Unknown

REO Mountaineer, New York to San Francisco and back, between 1900 and 1905. Creator: Unknown
REO Mountaineer, New York to San Francisco and back, between 1900 and 1905. "Huber's Hotel, Cafe" on awning

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Looking up Market St. from near ferry, San Francisco, Cal. c1906. Creator: Unknown

Looking up Market St. from near ferry, San Francisco, Cal. c1906. Creator: Unknown
Looking up Market St. from near ferry, San Francisco, Cal. c1906

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Ferry Building, San Francisco, Cal. c1906. Creator: Unknown

Ferry Building, San Francisco, Cal. c1906. Creator: Unknown
Ferry Building, San Francisco, Cal. c1906

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Market Street toward ferry, San Francisco, Calif. (1906?). Creator: Unknown

Market Street toward ferry, San Francisco, Calif. (1906?). Creator: Unknown
Market Street toward ferry, San Francisco, Calif. (1906?)

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Grand Manifestation in Honour of the Successes of the Allies in the Crimea, given at South Park

Grand Manifestation in Honour of the Successes of the Allies in the Crimea, given at South Park, San Creator: Unknown
Grand Manifestation in Honour of the Successes of the Allies in the Crimea, given at South Park, San Francisco, 1856. Crimean War....a spacious pavilion had been prepared for the banquet

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Chinatown, in San Francisco or New York City, between 1911 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Chinatown, in San Francisco or New York City, between 1911 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Chinatown, in San Francisco or New York City, between 1911 and 1942. Signs: barber shop; Kwong Loy Yuen; Som Mun Co.; Dancing; Oriental

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Bernhardt, Sarah, in carriage in San Francisco after the earthquake and fire of 1906, 1906 Apr

Bernhardt, Sarah, in carriage in San Francisco after the earthquake and fire of 1906, 1906 Apr. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Bernhardt, Sarah, in carriage in San Francisco after the earthquake and fire of 1906, 1906 Apr

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. with dog, portrait photograph, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. with dog, portrait photograph, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. with dog, portrait photograph, between 1927 and 1937

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. standing outdoors, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. standing outdoors, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. standing outdoors, between 1927 and 1937

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. standing outdoors, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. standing outdoors, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. standing outdoors, between 1927 and 1937

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. portrait photograph, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. portrait photograph, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Alanson, Bertram, Mrs. portrait photograph, between 1927 and 1937

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Alanson, Bertram, Mr. with dog, seated on steps, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

Alanson, Bertram, Mr. with dog, seated on steps, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Alanson, Bertram, Mr. with dog, seated on steps, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Alanson, Bertram, Mr. and Mrs. with dog, outdoors, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Alanson, Bertram, Mr. and Mrs. with dog, outdoors, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Alanson, Bertram, Mr. and Mrs. with dog, outdoors, between 1927 and 1937

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Alanson, Bertram, Mr. and Mrs. standing outdoors, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Alanson, Bertram, Mr. and Mrs. standing outdoors, between 1927 and 1937. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Alanson, Bertram, Mr. and Mrs. standing outdoors, between 1927 and 1937

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Full-length studio portrait of unidentified man, c1870-c1879. Creator: C. A. Marston

Full-length studio portrait of unidentified man, c1870-c1879. Creator: C. A. Marston
Full-length studio portrait of unidentified man, c1870-c1879

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Mission Dolores, San Francisco, 1913. Creator: Arthur Davies

Mission Dolores, San Francisco, 1913. Creator: Arthur Davies
Mission Dolores, San Francisco, 1913

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Del Monte, California views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

Del Monte, California views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Del Monte, California views, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Del Monte, California or San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe

Del Monte, California or San Francisco views, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Del Monte, California or San Francisco views, 1927

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Alanson, Bertram, Mr. residence, between 1927 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Alanson, Bertram, Mr. residence, between 1927 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Alanson, Bertram, Mr. residence, between 1927 and 1942

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Alanson, Bertram, Mr. residence, between 1927 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Alanson, Bertram, Mr. residence, between 1927 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Alanson, Bertram, Mr. residence, between 1927 and 1942

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1937 Oct. Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1937 Oct. Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1937 Oct

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1937 Oct. Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1937 Oct. Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1937 Oct

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1937 Oct. Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1937 Oct. Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1937 Oct

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco views, 1937 Oct. Creator: Arnold Genthe

San Francisco views, 1937 Oct. Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco views, 1937 Oct

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco view from residence of Mr. Bertram Alanson, between 1927 and 1942

San Francisco view from residence of Mr. Bertram Alanson, between 1927 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
San Francisco view from residence of Mr. Bertram Alanson, between 1927 and 1942

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: News of the surrender of Canton... San Francisco, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange

News of the surrender of Canton... San Francisco, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange
News of the surrender of Canton to the Japanese. San Francisco, California. Chinatown

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Lilac Street, Mission District, San Francisco, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange

Lilac Street, Mission District, San Francisco, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Lilac Street, Mission District. Rent fifteen dollars a month for three rooms. San Francisco, California

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Mission District, San Francisco, California, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange

Mission District, San Francisco, California, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Mission District. San Francisco, California

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Slums of San Francisco, California, 1935. Creator: Dorothea Lange

Slums of San Francisco, California, 1935. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Slums of San Francisco, California

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: Card Alley, North Bean [i.e. Beach] District (Italians), San Francisco, California, 1936

Card Alley, North Bean [i.e. Beach] District (Italians), San Francisco, California, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Card Alley. North Bean [i.e. Beach] District (Italians). San Francisco, California

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco - General View, 1850. Creator: Unknown

San Francisco - General View, 1850. Creator: Unknown
San Francisco - General View, 1850. Engraving from a Daguerreotype, showing...the Bay of San Francisco [which is] is of difficult navigation, on account of the winds, and fogs and adverse currents

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: News of the surrender of Canton... San Francisco, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange

News of the surrender of Canton... San Francisco, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange
News of the surrender of Canton to the Japanese. San Francisco, California. Chinatown

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: News of the surrender of Canton... San Francisco, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange

News of the surrender of Canton... San Francisco, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange
News of the surrender of Canton to the Japanese. San Francisco, California. Chinatown

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: San Francisco, from the south-west, 1850. Creator: Unknown

San Francisco, from the south-west, 1850. Creator: Unknown
San Francisco, from the south-west, 1850. Growth of the town of San Francisco, USA, during the Gold Rush: We have taken a room here...for which we pay fifty dollars a month (£10)

Background imageSan Francisco California Usa Collection: In front of city hall, San Francisco, California, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange

In front of city hall, San Francisco, California, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
In front of city hall, San Francisco, California. The Worker's Alliance, Works Progress Administration (WPA) organize simultaneous demonstrations in the large cities of the nation cut in




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In 1939, Dorothea Lange captured the essence of San Francisco, California through her lens. From preaching salvation to showcasing the city's architecture, her photographs tell a captivating story. One image takes us to the heart of San Francisco where the Salvation Army spreads its message of hope and redemption. A "soldier" passionately preaches salvation while passersby pause to listen or continue on their way. In another snapshot, a girls' Sunday school class sings hymns between sermons, their voices echoing through the streets as they uplift spirits. Lange also captures moments that reflect everyday life in this vibrant city. We see men pausing for a moment to watch before continuing with their day, intrigued by the spectacle unfolding before them. The return of the army is witnessed through a lobby scene, where people observe with curiosity and perhaps find solace in their presence. The architectural beauty of San Francisco is not overlooked either. Lange documents modern buildings and homes being constructed during this time period - a testament to progress and growth within the city. She focuses specifically on Potrero district's architecture, highlighting its unique charm and character. Lastly, we are transported high above ground level as we gaze upon San Francisco from Oakland Bay Bridge's first street ramp. The sprawling cityscape stretches out before us like an artist's canvas; it is April - springtime in full bloom. Through Dorothea Lange's lens, we witness both intimate moments and grand vistas that define San Francisco in 1939: faith intertwined with daily life; architectural marvels rising against blue skies; bustling streets filled with curious spectators; all encapsulating a dynamic city brimming with history and promise.