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Negatives

 Series

Content Description

From the Collection:

Comprises film and glass negatives; and original photographic prints created by Arnold Genthe between 1895 and 1925. Most of the photographic prints are signed by Genthe. Also contains copy prints, presumably created from the negatives in this collection.

Collection contains a sub-series of original portraits of artists, authors, dancers, actors, and other prominent San Franciscans who were contemporaries of Genthe, including Jack London. Another sub-series contains 16 original and many copy prints of photographs of the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire.

Bulk of collection is in the Chinatown sub-series which contains a few original prints and many copy prints of San Francisco's Chinatown. Known as Tangrenbu, this 10 block area was inhabited by most of San Francisco's Chinese American population. Photographs depict Chinese American children and families; tradespeople; and street scenes showing details of Chinatown's architecture, store fronts, and inhabitants. Many of the titles Genthe chose for his images contain language and descriptions considered offensive. Please see John Kuo Wei Tchen's introduction in Genthe's Photographs of San Francisco's Chinatown for a contemporary analysis of Genthe's photographs of Chinatown.

Dates

  • 1895 - 1925

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 2.67 Linear feet (2 legal document boxes; 1 half legal document box; 1 oversize flat box)

Language of Materials

English

General

Most negatives measure 5 x 7", some include a 4 x 5" duplicate negative.

Repository Details

Part of the California Historical Society Repository

Contact:
678 Mission Street
San Francisco CA 94105