Contains photographs and picture postcards with images of San Francisco street scenes depicting buildings, people, and events. Each listing represents a file containing from one to more than fifty images. Some files may include a small number of non-photographic reproductions and prints; these are found in files with a date range beginning with 1830.

Includes views of entire blocks and intersections that are identified, as well as images that focus on particular structures, businesses or homes. Named and numbered streets are followed by a section devoted to general views of San Francisco that contains some of the well known panoramas of the city. Images included in the San Francisco Streets files complement those found under "districts," types of locations or establishments, and named buildings or structures in the San Francisco Subjects Photography Collection.