CALIFORNIA S T A T E LIBRARY FOUNDATION Number 112 2015 CALIFORNIA S T A T E LIBRARY FOUNDATION Number 112 2015

EDITOR 2 ����������������������� Daguerreotype Portrait of a Dueling Editor: Words Can Kill� Gary F. Kurutz By Gary F. Kurutz EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Kathleen Correia & Marta Knight 8 ����������������������� “Polite Murder”: Mrs. Farnham’s Opinion on Duels� COPY EDITOR By JoAnn Levy M. Patricia Morris

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 12 ��������������������� Early Childhood: How Libraries Are Making a Difference � Kenneth B. Noack, Jr. By Suzanne Flint President George Basye Vice-President 14 �������������������� You Can Get There From Here: San Francisco’s Transit � Thomas E. Vinson Service to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition� Treasurer By Emiliano Echeverria and Mike Dolgushkin Donald J. Hagerty Secretary 27 ������������������� BTBL Hosts Regional Conference� Greg Lucas State Librarian of California By Sandra Swafford and Michael Marlin

29 ������������������� Foundation Notes JoAnn Levy Sue T. Noack Marilyn Snider Phillip L. Isenberg Foundation and Ina Coolbrith Circle Celebrate � Thomas W. Stallard Mead B. Kibbey Phyllis Smith Sandra Swafford California’s First Poet Laureate Jeff Volberg Autographed Portrait of Poet Charles Warren Stoddard Acquired

Gary F. Kurutz Marta Knight Donald J. Hagerty Presents Another Treasure Executive Director Foundation Administrator Astonishing “Split Fore-edge” Painting Volume � Shelley Ford Now Graces Our Shelves Bookkeeper 32 ������������������� Recent Contributors The California State Library Foundation Bulletin is published when we are able. © 2004-2015.

Opinions of the authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of their institutions, Front Cover: There never was much room between the United Railroads’ “inside tracks” the California State Library or the Foundation. on San Francisco’s Market Street, but one could take that in stride back in 1915 when The Bulletin is included as a membership benefit riding a streetcar to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. SFMTA, URR to Foundation members and those individuals Photographer John Mentz U04957. contributing $40.00 or more annually to Foundation Back Cover. Half-plate daguerreotype of Edward Gilbert, the dueling San Francisco Programs. Membership rates are: newspaper editor. Associate: $40-$99 Ilustrations / Photos: Pages 2-13, California History Section, California State Library; pages Contributor: $100-249 Sponsor: $250-$499 14-25, California History Section, San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency Archive, and the Patron: $500-$999 authors; page 27, Braille & Talking Book Library; and pages 28-30, California State Library. Institutional: $500 Design: Angela Tannehill, Tannehill Design Corporate: $750 Lifetime Member: $1,000 California State Library Foundation Pioneer: $5,000 1225 8th Street, Suite 345, Sacramento, CA 95814 Subscription to Libraries: $30/year tel: 916.447.6331 | web: www.cslfdn.org | email: [email protected]

bulletin 112 1 Half-plate daguerreotype of the dueling San Francisco newspaper editor, Edward Gilbert by daguerreotypist William Shew. As a result of invoking the “code duello,” Gilbert died on August 2, 1852, on a field northeast of Sacramento.

Daguerreotype Portrait of a Dueling Editor Words Can Kill By Gary F. Kurutz

2 California State Library Foundation William Shew ran this advertisement in the San Francisco Directory for the Years 1852–53. Coincidently, his establishment is listed near Editor Gilbert’s Alta California office.

ne of the many dealers who have times following the Gold Rush, it was all the relief train on horseback through the helped build the California State too common. When editorials appeared in streets of Sacramento as it headed east on Library’s historical photography the early press, those who disagreed with this seemingly heroic mission. collections recently brought in a half-plate the writer frequently resorted to confront- The launch of this rescue effort caught 1 1 (4 /4 x 5 /2 inches) daguerreotype of Edward ing the author in person. Sometimes these the attention of Gilbert, and he wrote a Gilbert, the famed and powerful editor of differences of opinion erupted into fisti- rather acerbic editorial for the Alta accusing the San Francisco Daily Alta California.1 I cuffs or worse, gunplay. In this particular the Democratic governor of manufacturing knew at once that we had to have this one- case, Editor Edward Gilbert accused Gover- political capital out of the “California Relief of-a kind image since Gilbert was killed in nor John Bigler, himself a former newspa- Train.” Denver, as the governor’s appointee, a duel with James W. Denver, a future Cali- per editor, of political grandstanding for the was also included in this diatribe. Gilbert fornia secretary of state and ex-officio state way he was handling the relief of California- did not oppose sending the relief train but librarian.2 Knowing the amazing story of bound travelers bogged down in Nevada’s used this as an excuse to attack Bigler. In the duel and seeing this spectacular “mir- Carson Valley.4 Memories of the Donner his editorial, dated June 26, 1852, Gilbert ror image” made by William Shew, one of Party no doubt still lingered. After receiving wrote: “Governor Bigler was silly enough California’s foremost daguerrean artists, I an appropriation from the state legislature, to make himself ridiculous by riding on immediately contacted the California State wagons, horses, and supplies were pur- horseback at the head of the procession, Library Foundation’s most generous donor chased and organized in Sacramento.5 The and it only needed the addition of an ear- Mead B. Kibbey who enthusiastically said governor placed six-foot, two-inch Denver, a splitting brass band to have made people “yes” to its purchase. 3 lawyer and Mexican War veteran, in charge believe it a parade of newly-arrived ground What led to this famous duel between an of the relief expedition over the Sierra. On and lofty tumblers, or a travelling caravan illustrious newspaper editor and a future the appointed day in late June, Bigler led of wild animals.” While on their mission state librarian? Dueling has long been rec- ognized as a barbarous way of settling dis- EDITOR’S NOTE putes, but during those rough and tumble Mr. Kurutz is the Foundation’s executive director and curator of special collections.

bulletin 112 3 (Left) James W. Denver, future secretary of state and de facto state librarian of California, was challenged by Editor Gilbert to a duel and won. He served as state librarian from 1853–1855 before being elected to Congress and then becoming governor of Kansas Territory. of mercy in the Nevada desert, the mem- and virtuous as it may have been, looks Gilbert, who was in Sacramento, bers of the relief train received a copy of much more like the effervescence and froth demanded that Denver “withdraw the Gilbert’s diatribe and were highly insulted. of political hangers-on than the genuine offensive and unjust charges and insinu- Denver and his colleagues wrote a rebuttal article!” Denver then countered with this ations” of having “an envious and mali- published in the July 24, 1852, issue of the retort: “If the editor of the Alta thinks him- cious heart.” The governor’s ally naturally Sacramento Democratic State Journal. In this self aggrieved by anything that I may have refused to back down, and the editor deliv- counterattack, the members wrote: “We said or done, it is for him to find me, and ered the fatal ultimatum: “It only remains can have but one opinion of this attack on when so found he may rest assured that for me to demand the satisfaction known to the Governor—that it could not have ema- he can have any ‘issue upon the matter’ he the code of honor.” Denver, feeling he had nated only from an envious and malicious may desire.” Despite the odious nature of no choice, accepted the challenge. Gilbert, heart.” Demonstrating mastery of invec- these verbal attacks, one cannot help being on the other hand, had something more tive, Gilbert, of course, replied with another impressed by the powerful eloquence of to prove. The previous year, he got into a barb: “Now, we can assure those toadies of that era especially in comparison to our scuffle with John Nugent, the editor of the his Excellency, their ‘indignation,’ supreme present Twitter era. city’s rival newspaper, the San Francisco

4 California State Library Foundation Daguerreotypist Shew placed the precious portrait

of the fallen Edward Gilbert in this beautiful and

durable “union” or thermoplastic case.

Herald. After exchanging insults in their Nevertheless, the two agreed to meet on skilled with handguns but could barely hold respective newspapers, Nugent, in 1851, the “field of honor” early on the morning of a rifle. The night before, both parties arrived decided to settle the matter by invoking August 2, at Oak Grove located several miles at the roadside inn of Oak Grove House the code duello. Gilbert accepted. However, northeast of Sacramento on the old Auburn along with friends and supporters. The sec- once they faced each other with weapons Road. Gilbert designated future San Fran- onds asked J. E. Culver, the inn’s owner, to drawn, according to one account, Gilbert cisco mayor H. F. Teschemaker as his sec- wake everyone early in the morning. When backed down and publicly retracted his dis- ond and Denver selected Vincent F. Geiger. the two principals encountered each other, it agreeable statement. Some considered this A Dr. Wake Brylay served as the surgeon. marked only the second time they had ever to be a humiliating sign of cowardice and Since Gilbert was the challenger, Denver met. Gilbert wore a green suit and Denver the embittered and headstrong editor now selected the weapons and he chose Wesson a large cloak which he tossed aside. Facing had to follow through with his challenge to rifles at forty paces. Denver definitely had each other at forty paces, the two exchanged Denver. Another account states that Gilbert the advantage as he was an expert rifleman shots and both missed their mark. One scoffed at bloodless duels, and because of who reportedly could “take any Button off account states that Denver deliberately fired this, was seduced into challenging Denver. the coat of a person.” Gilbert was reportedly wide and that Gilbert’s shot whizzed dan-

bulletin 112 5 “Gilbert was seduced into the duel through convictions, and a temperament

which forbade his shrinking from responsibilities.” — EDWARDC. KEMBLE

gerously near his opponent’s head. At that sition program that ultimately resulted in covered the delicate copper plate with a point, Denver laid down his rifle and walked making it one of the largest government sheet of glass. This, in turn, was further off to his carriage. However, the attending supported libraries in the Western U.S. protected by an elegant oval gilt mat with surgeon went over to Denver and informed Denver also suggested that the Library the name “Wm. Shew” etched in one cor- him that his adversary had not left, was still be separated from the secretary of state’s ner and the words “San Francisco” in the holding his rifle, and demanded satisfac- office, but this did not occur until 1861. other. The daguerreotypist then placed tion. Denver returned and remarked: “Now In 1855, California voters elected Denver the image into a beautiful but durable I must defend myself.” Both rifles cracked to the U.S. Congress. Two years later, Pres- thermoplastic case. Also known as a and Gilbert fell to the ground mortally ident James Buchanan appointed him as “union case” and formed in dies, thermo- wounded. He died four minutes later. Hav- commissioner of Indian Affairs and later plastic came into vogue in the mid-1850s ing defended himself and his honor, the as governor of Kansas Territory, which and is characterized by smooth surfaces future ex-officio state librarian went back to included the present state of Colorado. and brass hinges. his carriage, stopped at the inn for break- The place name of Denver, Colorado, hon- The memory of the fallen editor was fast, and returned to Sacramento. Denver ors the memory of our early state librarian. very much kept alive in the San Francisco was not arrested as public opinion strongly During the Civil War, he became a briga- press throughout the 1850s. In 1855, D. favored him, especially for his efforts to end dier general in the Union Army. Active in Appleton & Company published the mon- the matter peacefully. Gilbert’s associates Washington, D. C. politics, Denver’s name umental Annals of San Francisco which returned his body to San Francisco where was put forth as a potential presidential included a eulogistic biography of Gilbert the city turned out en masse to grieve his candidate in 1884. However, memories of illustrated with an engraved portrait. The passing. Following a mourning custom, that fateful day near Oak Grove still lin- engraving is either copied from the paint- San Francisco newspapers printed their gered. Opponents successfully derailed ing or from Shew’s daguerreotype. Earlier, column rules upside down. his campaign by wrongly blaming him for Gilbert co-founded the Alta with Edward Denver then went on to a notewor- provoking the duel with Gilbert. C. Kemble on January 4, 1849. In a show thy career. Late in 1852, he was elected As a fitting memorial to Gilbert, the of grief and deep respect, Kemble kept to the California State Senate represent- aforementioned William Shew of San Gilbert’s name on the Alta’s masthead ing the Trinity County area. Governor Francisco created the beautiful quarter- until he sold the paper in 1855. Kemble, Bigler mindful of Denver’s loyalty, then plate daguerreotype that inspired this our first historian of the California press, appointed him secretary of state in Febru- article. Along with Robert Vance, Shew is wrote an extensive article published in the ary 1853. As stated above, part of his duties recognized as one of California’s foremost December 25, 1858, Sacramento Union, included serving as ex-officio state librar- pioneer cameramen. The silvery mirror entitled “A History of California News- ian. In this capacity, he recognized that image on sensitized metal was actually papers, 1846–1858.” In this epic work of the State Library was inadequately funded. made from a lost and undated painting by thirty-five columns of tiny type, Kemble To help this pioneer governmental library an unknown artist. Nonetheless, Shew’s opined: “Gilbert was seduced into the duel build its collections, he recommended an daguerreotype has an exquisite richness through convictions, and a temperament immediate appropriation of $10,000. Fol- and depth of field not found in later forms which forbade his shrinking from respon- lowing this, he succeeded in obtaining of nineteenth century photography. The sibilities.” More than a century later in legislative approval to allocate certain fees nattily attired Gilbert seemingly comes recognition of Gilbert’s pioneering work, for licenses and land patents for support of to life. Because a daguerreotype’s surface the dueling editor was inducted into the the Library. Because of his persuasive abili- can easily be damaged, Shew, following California Newspaper Hall of Fame on ties, the Library began an aggressive acqui- standard procedure for his craft, first December 1, 1995. 

6 California State Library Foundation ENDNOTES

Edward Gilbert (1819–1852) was born in cerning the duel as well as his noteworthy ride.” Furthermore, it does not employ a Albany, New York, and came to California career. See also George C. Barns, Denver, negative, and consequently, each example in 1847 as a member of Jonathan Drake The Man, Wilmington, Ohio, 1949. is unique. To protect these delicate images, Stevenson’s New York Volunteers during daguerreotypists placed them into protec- the Mexican War. With gold fever engulf- tive cases constructed out of leather and ing California, he co-founded with Edward Daguerreotypist William Shew (1820– wood and then thermoplastic. C. Kemble California’s most influential 1903) sailed from Boston to San Francisco, nineteenth century newspaper, the San arriving on March 4, 1851. Shew estab- Francisco Alta California. The first issue lished his photography business in the Governor John Bigler (1805–1871) was rolled off the press on January 4, 1849. city shortly thereafter, operating primar- born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was Seeing opportunities in California, he ily out of a wagon. Given the city’s many admitted to the bar and edited the Centre participated in the 1849 Constitutional fires, this was a prudent choice. Gilbert’s County Democrat and then moved to Illi- Convention in Monterey, representing Alta California carried news of Shew’s nois where he continued to practice law. San Francisco. With California’s admis- efforts to record with his daguerrean cam- Bigler also founded Brown County’s first sion to the Union in 1850, Gilbert became era city buildings and homes. Sometime newspaper. Like so many, he rushed to one of the state’s first two congressmen. in October 1851, Shew moved his wagon California in 1849. Following statehood in He served for one term and returned to to a vacant lot opposite the Alta California’s 1850, Bigler represented the Sacramento resume publishing the Alta California. office on Washington Street on the upper area in the State Assembly and served as Copies of his articles leading up to the side of Portsmouth Plaza. Because of their speaker. Successful in politics, he became duel are found in the Gilbert California close proximity, Shew more than likely California’s first two-term governor having Biographical Information File, California would have met Gilbert. Shew also made a won elections on September 3, 1851 and History Section, California State Library. daguerreotype of his rolling photographic September 7, 1853. During his adminis- saloon alongside the newspaper’s office, tration Sacramento became the state capi- on the north side of Portsmouth Square. tal. In his honor, the legislature named James W. Denver (1817–1892), a native of The daguerreotype process employed a majestic lake for him but it was sub- Virginia, lived variously in Ohio and Mis- by Shew was invented in 1839 by Louis sequently renamed Lake Tahoe. His bid souri. He then graduated from the Univer- Daguerre, and is considered the first prac- to win a third gubernatorial term failed. sity of Cincinnati law school in 1844 and tical form of photography. The Library of Bigler became the U.S. minister to Chile was admitted to the bar. Thereafter, the new Congress has created the following excel- and served as a delegate in Democratic lawyer practiced law in Missouri and also lent explanation: “A plate of copper, lightly National Conventions. He died in Sacra- pursued acting. Like so many young men, coated with silver. After cleaning and pol- mento and is buried in the City Cemetery. he volunteered for service in the Mexican ishing the plate, exposure to iodine vapors Other accounts appearing in the news- War and was commissioned a captain serv- created a light-sensitive surface that looked papers accused both Bigler and Denver of ing under General Winfield Scott. In 1850, like a mirror. The plate, held in a lightproof gross mismanagement in the distribution Denver migrated to California, initially holder, was then transferred to the camera of supplies to the distressed overlanders. making a living as a trader before becom- and exposed to light. The plate was devel- Before becoming governor, Bigler repre- ing involved in state politics. The California oped over hot mercury until an image sented Sacramento in the legislature and Biographical Information File also con- appeared. To fix the image, the plate was perhaps this accounts for his desire to per- tains a thick folder devoted to Denver that immersed in a solution of sodium thiosul- sonally launch the relief expedition from includes copies of newspaper articles con- fate or salt and then toned with gold chlo- the gateway city to the Sierra.

bulletin 112 7 “Polite Murder”

Mrs. Farnham’s Opinion on Duels By JoAnn Levy

8 California State Library Foundation eaders of the September 21, 1859, edition of the Santa Cruz News most likely were not surprised to see that their famous neighbor had taken to lecturing them in its pages. Mrs. Eliza Farn- ham, erstwhile Sing Sing prison matron, had recently returned from reformist activi- ties in the East. While there, she had deliv- ered a controversial address at the eighth annual National Women’s Rights Conven- tion, and now, residing once again in Santa Cruz, had resumed public remonstrance locally. In July, she had lectured at the Santa Cruz Courthouse on “The Present State of the Religious World,” concluding that the- ology was the “product of an undeveloped, low, gross condition, which while it was well enough suited to the period of its promulgation, is unfit for our time and aims.” Outraged churchmen attacked the Santa Cruz News for publishing the address. Long-time resident Georgiana Kirby sympathized with its young editor: “such a storm as poured on his head . . . . He suffers terribly from . . . . this violent, coarse tirade.” Mrs. Farnham took her show on the road. In Watsonville, she delivered a lecture on the spiritual superiority of women over men. A gentleman in the audience feared his friend found her eloquence so persuasive he might “pop the question.” While in Watsonville, Mrs. Farnham declined an invitation to speak on the “integrity of party politics,” for the reason that she “didn’t see any.”

EDITOR’S NOTE JoAnn Levy is a Foundation board member and the author of the highly acclaimed books They Saw the Elephant: Women in the Cali- fornia Gold Rush; Daughter of Joy: A Novel of Gold Rush California, and Unsettling the West: Eliza Farnham and Georgiana Bruce Kirby in Frontier California. She has given numerous talks on women in the Gold Rush This illustration from Munsey’s Magazine (August 1905) shows an artist’s conception of the aftermath of and has appeared on several nationally broad- the infamous Broderick-Terry Duel at Lake Merced, San Francisco. The mortally wounded Senator Broderick is being attended to by a physician. A friend of the senator’s is shown drawing his pistol on Judge Terry. cast television programs. Mrs. Levy has gener- The caption from Munsey’s reads: “That is murder, by God” — “The last notable American duel.” ously donated her papers to the State Library.

bulletin 112 9 Following a lecture in San Francisco to the Society of Spiritualists, and a visit to San Leandro, Mrs. Farnham returned to Santa Cruz and her castigating pen. She had doubtless read the September 14 Daily Alta California’s detailed report of the duel at Lake Merced, just south of San Fran- cisco. Former Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court David Terry had challenged and fatally shot U.S. Senator David Broder- ick in a culmination of political disagree- ments over slavery and abolition. One can only imagine the zeal with Judge David S. which Mrs. Farnham took up her pen. Terry, a supporter Here was indeed fertile ground, bloodied of slavery, mortally wounded Senator by the so-called code of honor, upon which Broderick in the duel. to condemn the barbarous practice in gen- With the outbreak of the Civil War, the eral, and the “semi-barbarians,” Southerners former California in particular, who engaged in it. The brave Supreme Court Justice joined the editor of the Santa Cruz News published her Confederacy. This tiny no-holds-barred opinion on September 21. carte-de-visite style portrait was made In her opening salvo Mrs. Farnham by William Shew, the observed that “amongst the people who same photographer who created the can see no better remedy for personal wrong daguerreotype than polite murder, I have no quarrel with portrait of Edward Gilbert featured in the the duel. It is the cheapest, most expeditious accompanying article. and decent method of dispatching worthless and troublesome men on that journey which they cannot take too soon for their country’s good—of whose career it might indeed be said that nothing in their lives so much became them as their leaving it.” But she admired Senator Broderick and his anti-slavery campaign. How was she to exempt him from this broad brush? Quite neatly, as it happened: It requires much physical courage to enable a person unflinchingly to expose himself to the danger incurred in fighting Half-plate a duel, yet those who fight generally do so ambrotype of Senator David A. because they have too little moral cour- Broderick. age—which makes one dare to do right in spite of derision and scorn. It has been said of Mr. Broderick that he possessed After being shot by Judge Terry, Broderick survived both, in an eminent degree, and that if his opinion as to what his duty required for three more days and reportedly said: “They have of him had been different, he would have exhibited as much fearlessness in refus- killed me because I was opposed to slavery.” ing to fight, as he did boldness in going

10 California State Library Foundation to the field in obedience to the opinions he ments and to the Santa Cruz News for print- entertained. He was a man who, when he ing them. Mrs. Kirby reported that its editor believed himself right, dared to act in defi- “meets with so little encouragement here that ance of an overwhelming majority against he thinks of moving to the Pajaro where as yet him; and he fell, a victim, not to the cow- there is no paper. They offer to raise $500 by ardly fear of public scorn, as many other subscription if he will go there.” duellists have fallen before him, but a vic- Neither the editor nor Mrs. Farnham tim rather to his low conceptions of what bowed to opinions differing from their Author and reformer Eliza Farnham wrote he was in honor required to do under the own. She wrote three more articles on the several articles circumstances in which he was placed. subject of duels, and the intrepid editor for the Santa Cruz We lament the loss the country sustains published them. She followed these with News on the dueling barbarians from in his death the more deeply because of a series on the history of African slavery, the slave states. our regret that, with all his nobleness, and then was off to San Francisco again, JoAnn Levy Papers, California History he possessed not also that true nobility of to lecture to more appreciative audiences. Section, California soul which would have deterred him from Her enthusiastic reception in the City, State Library. exposing to needless danger the life which described in the San Francisco National, was his only to improve, not to destroy. was reprinted in the Santa Cruz News by briefly returning to Santa Cruz to address That said, she resumed aim on the less its admiring editor: “At times, when the its citizens on the consequences of the noble practitioners, the “barbarians” of talented lecturer got off something good in South’s fateful embrace of its “peculiar the slave states of the South. “The duel her own peculiarly dry way, (and that was institution”: war. belongs with them,” she wrote. quite frequently) the audience would go off The intrepid Mrs. Farnham soon Therefore it is quite harmonious, con- into hysterics of laughter, while Mrs. Farn- departed for the East, and was lecturing sistent and reasonable that men in such ham showed no visible symptoms of hilarity, in Philadelphia when news of Gettysburg countries should kill each other, upon due although the really witty remarks had but just reached her. As she wrote Mrs. Kirby, far provocation, and according to certain laws fluttered from her lips. Her style is so singular away in peaceful Santa Cruz, she “deter- of barbarian courtesy. The positive waste we hardly know how to describe it. The fact mined to come down and do what I could.” of their proceeding will be limited to the of the matter is that all those who desire to At Gettysburg, Mrs. Farnham developed loss of a few misplaced good men whose hear something rich and sparkling gotten off a cough that forced a return to New York. life-misfortune it was to have been found in good style should take the trouble to visit There she took up her pen to write a roman in bad company. But, as all systems must the lecture hall when Mrs. Farnham speaks.” a clef of her 1849 journey to California, her have their victims, it were scarcely reason- Following this success, Mrs. Farnham fifth book. In December of 1864, deliver- able to demand that slavery should work returned to Santa Cruz and engaged her ing the manuscript for publication, she without them, or that slavery-civilization, pen in writing her “great work,” a two-vol- was felled, fatally, by tuberculosis. She was admirable as it is claimed to be, should ume treatise on women’s superiority, titled forty-nine years old. not occasionally lick up its dainty mor- “Woman and Her Era,” and occasionally The New York Times praised her phi- sel in a real gentleman . . . a gentleman presented lectures at the Santa Cruz court- lanthropy, prison reform, devotion to is needful now and then to vindicate its house. “No one need be deterred from attend- the “amelioration of the condition of the refinement. Unhappily it has sometimes ing under the impression that the discourse will female sex,” and her “vigorous and forc- to go abroad for these, and it takes its own be of a nature so profound as to give them the ible” writing. peculiar prerogative, the duel, wherewith headache,” invited the Santa Cruz News. In California, she would be remem- to bring them down. Otherwise, if the duel Presumably to the relief of their local bered as a tireless and disputatious lec- would stay in the slave States, where it is critics, both Mrs. Farnham, praised by San turer, and as the author of “California, at home and properly belongs, few rea- Francisco’s Alta California as the town’s In-Doors and Out,” the state’s first history sonable persons I think would feel called “greatest nobility,” and the faithful Santa written by a woman. upon to meddle with it. . . . Cruz News, soon departed the community. In Santa Cruz, to readers of the eleven- Mrs. Farnham’s opinions on the dueling The beleaguered paper ceased publication month wonder that had been the Santa barbarians of the slave states did not endear in July 1860. Mrs. Farnham left for Stock- Cruz News, she would be remembered for her to Southerners relocated to Santa Cruz. ton to become matron at the State Insane all that . . . and, one hopes, as the inimi- They objected both to her judgmental argu- Asylum. In 1861 she resumed lecturing, table foe of duels. 

bulletin 112 11 Early How Libraries Are � Making a Difference Childhood By Suzanne Flint

n a first-ever event, First 5 Cali- Approximately 425 people were in atten- fornia and the California State dance, representing a broad array of early Library joined forces to host a childhood stakeholders. In addition to the screening of the forthcoming PBS docu- two agency partners — the California State mentary The Raising of America: Early Child- Library and First 5 California — three cor- hood and the Future of Our Nation.1 This porate sponsors (Discount School Supply, screening was held as a special evening Kaplan Early Learning, and Lakeshore reception during the First 5 California’s Learning) and two organizational spon- 2015 Child Health, Education and Care sors (For Our Babies and the Brazelton Summit in Sacramento on Wednesday eve- Touchpoints Center) helped to make this ning, February 11, 2015. event not only possible but significant. The hour-long screening showcased the The event also afforded the opportunity science of human development alongside to showcase the State Library’s own Early the stories of families and communities Learning with Families (ELF) statewide ini- struggling to provide the rich and respon- tiative (http://elf2.library.ca.gov), which is sive environments all children need to intended to further the evolution of library thrive — although often hindered by social services to young children ages 0-5, their conditions and inequities that impede families, and caregivers. The initiative is their every effort. Larry Adelman, execu- based on the knowledge that the first five tive producer of the film and The Raising years of life are critical in the formative of America Series said, “Why, if we know so development of children and families, and EDITOR’S NOTE much about what our babies and young that libraries can and should be one of the Suzanne Flint is a child development special- children need to thrive, do we do so little? community pillars that support and nur- ist with a Masters in Health Education. She How can we as a community, a state, and ture optimal early childhood development. has extensive experience working with chil- as a nation, do better? That’s the debate As part of the ELF initiative, The Raising dren and families in a variety of settings. She The Raising of America hopes to stimulate.” of America film has been used as a spring- developed a number of nationally recognized A panel discussion followed the film board to help library staff reframe their programs, including a health library at Pack- screening with California State Senator understanding of child development and ard Children’s Hospital at Stanford and the Holly J. Mitchell; Larry Adelman; Dr. Joshua the context in which families live today. At California chapter of the pediatric early liter- D. Sparrow, director of the Brazelton Touch- the screening, I had the opportunity to fur- acy program Reach Out and Read. Currently, points Center; and myself as child develop- ther explain the ELF initiative and its goal she works for the California State Library on ment specialist from the California State of recognizing parents and caregivers as a statewide initiative, Early Learning with Library and principal architect for its Early essential and welcomed partners in library Families (ELF) 2.0, that assists libraries in Learning with Families statewide library ini- services for young children. We are work- providing developmentally appropriate ser- tiative. Kim Belshé, executive director of ing to support libraries in shifting their vices for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, their First 5 LA, moderated the panel. An engag- thinking from asking children and their parents and caregivers. ing and thoughtful conversation ensued. parents to join our system of service to

12 California State Library Foundation finding ways in which libraries can join with families to support them. Libraries have also gone on to host public screenings of the film much like this February 11th event serving as community conveners where important issues can be discussed and local solutions can be explored. Several communities are now pur- suing ongoing community dia- logues about how they can better ensure a strong start in life for all their children based on such a film screening in their local library. For more information about the film and about hosting your own community screening, go to www. raisingofamerica.org. This was a special Night at the California State Library event that continues the 165-year tradition of successfully connecting Cali- fornians to our collective history through special events and pro- grams. The Night at the California State other crucial programs. Since its creation, Library is a program sponsored by the Cali- First 5 California has brought these critical fornia State Library Foundation. services to millions of parents, caregivers, and children ages 0 to 5. In February 2015, n 1998 voters passed Proposition 10, First 5 California hosted their first Child Iadding a 50-cent tax to each pack of Health, Education, and Care Summit in cigarettes sold, to create First 5 Califor- conjunction with seven other state agen- nia, also known as the California Children cies representing education and health and Families Commission. First 5 Califor- and human services. The Summit’s goal nia is dedicated to improving the lives of was to build and strengthen powerful part- California’s young children and their fam- nerships to support the optimal health and ilies through a comprehensive system of well-being of California’s children ages 0 education, health services, childcare, and to 5 and their families. 

bulletin 112 13 You Can San Francisco’s � Transit Service to Get There the Panama-Pacific from Here International Exposition By Emiliano Echeverria and Mike Dolgushkin

he previous issue of the Bulletin featured an outstanding overview of San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition (P.P.I.E.) by his- torian John Allen. To continue celebrating the hundredth anniversary of this fabled fair, we present here the story of how the San Francisco Municipal Railway and the privately owned United Railroads tackled the problem of providing streetcar service to the P.P.I.E., located in an area that was hitherto sparsely served by rail transit.

THE ORIGINS OF THE PANAMA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION: AN IDEA IS BORN In 1869, the world was awash in grand civil engineering projects. The two principal

EDITOR’S NOTE Mike Dolgushkin is curator of manuscripts in the California History Section of the State Library. He is a frequent contributor to the Bulletin and an expert on the history of San Francisco. Emiliano Echeverria is likewise a San Francisco history expert, particularly on the city’s street railways. He is also a veteran Bay Area radio broadcaster, and a renowned authority on Cuban and Puerto Rican Music.

14 California State Library Foundation In 1909 San Francisco held the first Portola Festival, ostensibly to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the discovery of San Francisco Bay by Don Gaspar de Portola but also to celebrate the almost complete rebuilding of downtown San Francisco following the 1906 disaster. In 1913, after the city received congressional approval to host the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, a second Portola Festival was held as a sort of dry run for the big event two years later. Here a parade float on Market Street passes long-gone Marshall Square, located where Grove and Hyde streets now intersect. In the background can be seen the old Hall of Records, the first constructed and last surviving part of the pre-fire City Hall.California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento, California.

bulletin 112 15 projects at hand were the Transcontinen- tal Railroad in the United States and the Suez Canal in Egypt. After its completion the builders of the Suez Canal turned their attention to the idea of another canal cross- ing the Isthmus of Panama, then a part of Colombia. By 1879, this team, led by Fer- dinand de Lesseps, began to prepare for site construction. Unfortunately the rain forest and mountains of Panama proved a radical departure from the deserts of Suez, and the project failed within a few years. Following the war with Spain in 1898, the United States, having found itself with new overseas possessions, revived interest in a Panama canal. By 1901, negotiations were under way with the government of Colom- bia for land purchase and concessions for

An example of how the Panama-Pacific International Exposition site had been previously served by public such a canal. On January 22, 1903, the transportation is provided in this view of Presidio and Ferries Railroad steam dummy #3 pulling one of the Hay–Herrán Treaty was signed by United company’s passenger cars, which were lettered “A” through “E.” This service to the Harbor View resort began in 1877 under the auspices of the Sutter Street Railroad Company, which ran it from the end of its States Secretary of State John M. Hay and Polk Street horsecar line. In 1882 this line was sold to the new Presidio and Ferries Railroad, which cut it Colombian Chargé d’affaires Dr. Tomás back to the end of its Union Street cable line and ten years later truncated it further to a nine-block shuttle Herrán, which would have granted the service along Baker Street. The last steam dummy operation in San Francisco, the Harbor View line was put out of service by the April 18, 1906 earthquake. Dummy #3 is currently part of the collection at the Fort United States a lease renewable in perpetu- Humboldt State Historic Park in Eureka, California. Its whereabouts between 1906 and its appearance ity from Colombia. The treaty was ratified at Fort Humboldt is unknown, but the engine likely served one or more of the many Northern California logging railroads. California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento, California. by the United States Senate on March 14,

16 California State Library Foundation Here we see the United Railroads’ attempt to upgrade its Fillmore Hill line to handle the expected throngs visiting the P.P.I.E. These “dinkies,” built by San Francisco’s own John Hammond & Company in 1895, negotiated the Fillmore Hill using a counterbalance system. The descending car, under overhead electric power, hooked onto an unpowered cable which helped pull the ascending car, also attached to this cable, up the hill. Prior to 1915 single cars were used, but the URR came up with the idea of hooking two of them together using multiple unit control, i.e. the two cars were connected electrically and the motorman in the lead car operated both of them. While not completely successful in handling the fair crowds, this arrangement continued until the Fillmore Hill line closed in 1941. By that time this line was the last to use this type of car, which had been common all over the city back in the 1890s. SFMTA, URR Photographer John Mentz, U04930

1903, but rejected by the Senate of Colom- and early twentieth centuries; notable bia. The United States thereupon threw its examples include the World’s Columbian support to Panamanian rebels, who suc- Exposition in Chicago in 1893, and the cessfully broke away from Columbia. Con- 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. struction of the canal thus began in 1904. Louis. San Franciscans were confident that San Francisco in 1904 was the domi- they could do the same, since the city had nant metropolis on the west coast of North put on a successful exposition in the winter America in terms of population and influ- of 1894 on short notice. ence, and was the focal point of trade for the entire West Coast. Since the Gold Rush, AN INTERRUPTION IN PLANS business leaders in San Francisco had In the spring of 1906, San Francisco was dreamed of a canal linking the Atlantic and flourishing as its leading businessmen, Bion Joseph Arnold (1861-1942) was a consulting Pacific Oceans, and now that such a canal along with the middle and working classes, engineer and transportation expert who played a was under construction oceanic shipping went about their usual affairs. Talk of the large part in electrifying rail systems in Chicago, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and New York, and also was on the cusp of a new era. The canal fair came and went, but with no great helped design the last named city’s Interborough was expected to take eight to ten years to urgency since digging of the canal had Rapid Transit subway system. His 1913 report on San Francisco’s transportation systems, aside complete, and the city began to plan for an barely begun. But on the morning of April from providing for service to the P.P.I.E., served appropriate celebration when it opened. 18th nature momentarily threw a monkey as the blueprint for the Municipal Railway’s development for years to come. One suggestion of Thus by the end of 1904, businessmen in wrench into the idea of a fair. The earth- Arnold’s would have had unforeseen results had it their wood-paneled clubs began to bandy quake and fire of 1906 wiped out San Fran- been implemented: converting United Railroads’ single-end Powell Street cable cars to double-end around the idea of a fair, but not yet in a for- cisco’s entire commercial district, totaling operation as the company had done on its Castro mal manner since the canal’s opening was about four-fifths of the developed city, and and Sacramento-Clay lines. URR did not have the still many years away. The idea of holding hundreds of businesses were destroyed. As money to implement this plan, but had it come to pass that great San Francisco tourist mecca, a world’s fair or international exposition the ashes began to cool, San Franciscans the Powell and Market turntable, would not exist to commemorate an event or achievement went about the task of recovery and recon- today. California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento, California., original glass was quite in vogue in the late nineteenth struction. Thousands of homeless were plate in authors’ collection.

bulletin 112 17 This view looks west at the Van Ness Avenue temporarily housed, streets were cleared, provided their publicity networks to the (eastern) entrance to the P.P.I.E., with the pre- bridge Golden Gate visible in the distance. streetcars gradually returned to service, and celebration. A grand parade was held up United Railroads tracks occupy Polk Street in the government began to function again. All Market Street, and the new downtown (the foreground, which shortly turn left into the brand of this took months, and in addition there real star of the show) displayed a renewed new terminal loop serving the 19 line (successor to the previously mentioned Sutter Street Railroad were bitter strikes, graft trials, and an out- elegance, which would endure for decades. horsecar) as well as the temporary 32, 33, and break of bubonic plague to contend with. The Portola Festival was a success but 34 lines. A block further away on Van Ness are Municipal Railway tracks serving that outfit’s an important deadline was approaching: F and H lines plus the temporary J line. The H A CELEBRATION, AND A NEW START the congressional vote to authorize a host came in from the left and turned at the rails seen branching off to the right of the fair entrance, By the beginning of 1909, San Francisco’s city for an exposition to commemorate the eventually arriving at a terminal in Fort Mason. new downtown was well on its way to com- opening of the Panama Canal. In 1910, A Muni car assigned to either the J or F can be seen at the right heading south on Van Ness from pletion. A few vacant lots remained but the San Francisco business community North Point Street. These cars continued down were built upon steadily over the next few pulled out all the stops and generated a Van Ness to Chestnut Street (out of the picture a block to the left) where they turned right and years. By this time, the city’s movers and gigantic public relations campaign urging proceeded to the fair’s entrance at Scott Street. shakers began discussing ways to show the everyone to write their congressional rep- Authors’ collection world that the newly restored metropolis resentative in support of a local fair. San could hold a celebration. Thus was born Francisco won the honor of hosting this the Portola Festival of 1909. This event fair over chief competitor New Orleans. As brought business leaders together specifi- a result of the Congressional victory, the cally to promote a large civic celebration. Exposition Company was formalized and Brochures and post cards were printed, planning began in earnest to acquire land, many of them in San Francisco. Rail- build structures, and all of the other tasks road lines arranged special services and needed to open the fair by the scheduled

18 California State Library Foundation date of February 1915. In the meantime, a In late 1862, horsecar service began Due to what the United Railroads perceived as restrictive franchise terms, its service to the second Portola Festival was held in 1913, in San Francisco with the opening of the P.P.I.E. involved minimal cost to the company this one a dress rehearsal for the Panama- Omnibus Railroad. Within a decade a half and used two basic corridors, Fillmore and Polk Pacific International Exposition. Again, dozen different companies followed suit Streets, as seen on the dash signs of these 7 and 8 line cars in a posed shot at Market and Brady all-out publicity ensured success and the and the downtown area became criss- Streets. But these particular cars did not actually “City That Knows How” was on its way to crossed with horsecar lines. Several of go to the fair; one had to transfer to other lines. The 8 went straight out Market to Castro and a glamor it had not seen in decades. these lines extended some distance out of terminated at 18th Street. The 7 branched off the downtown area, bringing many work- Market at Haight and continued on to Golden Gate Park. This is reminiscent of the 19th century THE TRANSPORTATION SITUATION IN SAN ers within reliable commuting distance to period during which San Francisco’s streetcars FRANCISCO LEADING UP TO THE FAIR their jobs. In 1867, the Market Street Rail- were lettered with whichever popular destinations could be reached by transferring to other vehicles, San Francisco’s transportation network road was converted from steam to horse however difficult that might be.SFMTA, URR developed from a patchwork of companies operation. Photographer John Mentz U04957. and routes. The first rail line, operated as In 1873, Andrew Hallidie and William a broad gauge steam train, ran up Market Eppelsheimer designed and built the first and Valencia Streets to 16th and Valencia cable car line: The Clay Street Hill Rail- and opened in mid-July 1860. Although road. Although this new transit propulsion a success in proving that San Francisco method was initially slow to catch on (it needed rail transit, this line did not pay took almost four years for the next line to be expenses and probably would have gone built), its development helped the city grow out of business had it not been purchased into areas of hitherto difficult access, open- by interests connected with the Central ing development in Nob Hill, the Western Pacific in the mid 1860s. Addition, Pacific Heights, Cow Hollow,

bulletin 112 19 20 California State Library Foundation The Municipal Railway was able to directly serve the fair’s main gate at Scott and Chestnut using high-capacity cars. Here are some families looking forward to a fun day after being packed into a streetcar that arrived by way of Van Ness Avenue. The exact line this one was assigned to, as well as its number, cannot quite be seen, but these Jewett Car Company “Type B” cars arrived just in time for P.P.I.E. use and remained in service well into the 1950s (both authors of this article remember riding them). SFMTA, Municipal Railway of San Francisco W 2438.

bulletin 112 21 Many visitors to San Francisco during 1915 arrived in the city at the iconic Ferry Building, and Russian Hill, and the Mission. By 1888, the proceeded on to the Panama-Pacific Exposition from there. This photo shows Municipal Railway Pacific Improvement Company, a subsid- and United Railroads cars parked on the Ferry Loop the end of their runs, including two cars assigned to temporary exposition service lines. The streetcar at right directly facing the camera iary of the Southern Pacific, had acquired, belongs to the URR, is displaying a sign for the 34 line, and will soon journey out Market, Sutter, in addition to the old Market Street Rail- and Polk Streets to the P.P.I.E. The car off the loop toward the upper left is a Muni “Type A” on the J line, and after running a short distance up the Embarcadero will negotiate Jackson, Columbus, road, four other horsecar railways. North Point, Van Ness, and Chestnut before ending up at the fair’s Scott Street entrance. One of By 1890, almost a third of San Fran- the many tour buses providing service to the exposition is also visible. Authors’ collection. cisco’s area was served by transit. Three years later the Southern Pacific interests Since the United Railroads elected not to extend its that had acquired some of San Francisco’s street railways arranged a consolidation of lines to the fair site, the Municipal Railway carried out companies that created the Market Street Railway, the largest transit operation west its plans and ultimately benefitted from them. of St Louis, which at its inception acquired

22 California State Library Foundation buying some of the other small street rail- 1903 and 1905, funds were set aside for the way properties in San Francisco and had construction and operation of a municipal their eyes on the Market Street Railway. railway using the expired franchised route Due to radical changes in the Southern of the Geary Street Park & Ocean cable car Pacific hierarchy, the interests connected line. The 1906 earthquake and fire delayed to the Southern Pacific who had until this those plans, but by 1909 the city was ready time owned the stocks of the Market Street to float a bond issue, which passed. Two Railway decided, under the leadership of years later surveys and engineering studies company president Henry Huntington were under way. and financier Isaias W. Hellman, to sell The election of James “Sunny Jim” Rolph the railway to the House of Brown Broth- as mayor set the stage for the building and ers, who became locally known as “The expansion of the San Francisco Municipal Baltimore Syndicate.” Railway (Muni). The Municipal Railway opened on December 28, 1912, with two THE UNITED RAILROADS lines along Geary Street. Public transporta- In 1902, under the direction of The Balti- tion in San Francisco began a transition to more Syndicate, almost all of San Francis- a more comprehensive system than before. co’s street railways were consolidated into With the acquisition of the operating prop- the United Railroads (URR) of San Fran- erties of the Presidio & Ferries Railway in cisco. Thus began one of the most eventful December 1913, the stage was set for the periods of San Francisco’s transit history. planning, construction, and operation of The URR continued to convert older new lines to serve the P.P.I.E. technology to electric traction, a process accelerated by the 1906 earthquake and THE ARNOLD REPORT AND PLANS TO fire. But three railways, The Geary Street PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE EXPOSITION Park & Ocean, the Presidio & Ferries, and In 1912, the year that the Municipal Railway the California Street Cable Railroad, were was being constructed, the City and County never merged into the Market Street Rail- of San Francisco engaged the consulting way or the URR, and all these lines were services of Bion J. Arnold of Chicago, a separately absorbed into the Municipal recognized authority on mass transit. Over Railway after 1912. the next few months, Arnold inspected all Following the fire, all but a small piece of of the street railways in both physical and the Market Street Cable Railway system was legal terms, and in the process made exten- converted to electric streetcars. Older cars sive surveys of traffic patterns and direc- were either modernized or replaced, and few tions, and trends of service. Arnold’s plan new extensions were built. In addition, in would shape the growth of the Municipal the cable operations of three prior compa- 1907 URR was involved in one of the most Railway for the next thirty years.1 nies, none of them alike in terms of tech- violent strikes in U. S. history. With the rapid This report was released in March 1913. nology or cars. Add to this a thirty-year-old conversions from older modes to streetcars His findings on the physical plant of the network of horsecar lines from seven dif- and all the complications from the fire and United Railroads indicated a system whose ferent railways, with three steam lines strikes, this operation was not fully back on frugal operating and maintenance practices thrown in for good measure, and one can its feet until 1910. And in the midst of all had caught up with it. Most of the car fleet picture an unnecessarily complex opera- this activity many San Franciscans became was of obsolete design. Much of the track- tion. The Market Street Railway aggres- unhappy with the city’s transit service and age was in poor or fair condition. None of sively replaced all but one horsecar line, the manner in which United Railroads (and the carhouses or maintenance shops met one steam line, and four cable lines with its predecessor) dealt with the public it was modern standards, or had adequate fire electric streetcars by 1902. chartered to serve. In fact, the new 1900 City safety protection. The URR was portrayed Beginning in May 1901, the Baltimore Charter contained provisions for acquiring as a well-entrenched institution in San Fran- banking house of Brown Brothers began public utilities, including transit systems. In cisco both legally and culturally. Its faults

bulletin 112 23 This 1915 map from one of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition’s official guides shows San had much to do with the age of its facili- Francisco looking southeast, with the fair site along the north edge of the city east of Fort Point. All ties. The company cooperated with Arnold’s of the streetcar lines are shown, although none are specifically identified. By using the descriptions in the text of this article, one can take the lines closest to the fair and follow them to their points of inspections and in many cases followed his origin (the Fillmore Hill line, connecting with the 22 Fillmore line, began at Broadway and ran north advice, especially when it came to upgrad- to Chestnut). Two slight inaccuracies are present: United Railroads’ Polk Street service terminated at a loop in the block directly opposite the fair’s Van Ness entrance (labeled “24”), and Muni’s H line ing equipment, but noted that some of his entered Fort Mason at Bay Street rather than North Point. Authors’ collection. recommendations would extend the Muni into what had been its exclusive territory. Arnold saw that there were three basic options under which to proceed: 1. A unified system, 2. Two paralleling systems competing with each other 3. Two systems working in conjunction with each other. When the URR received the Arnold Report, those in charge of its operation indicated that they would build no new

24 California State Library Foundation route trackage to the site of the fair. The Mission via Mission, Ninth, Larkin, Post, grade, steeper than any San Francisco cable company was embittered with the city for and Polk to terminal. car line) high ridership was the exception opening up Muni lines not only in new 34 Sutter & Exposition: From the Ferry rather than the rule. territory but also its own. In addition, they Building via Market, Sutter, and Polk to could not accept the terms of the 1900 terminal. THE MUNICIPAL RAILWAY STEPS UP City Charter’s parameters for obtaining 35 Haight & Exposition: From Carl and Muni was already operating its E line to franchises, nor were they happy about Stanyan via Carl, Clayton, Masonic, Oak the Fair’s vicinity but it ran no closer to the shorter length of the new franchise (Return via Page), Fillmore to Broadway, downtown than the Ferry Building. The conditions. Two lines of the URR already connect with the Fillmore Hill line to the permanent lines built by Muni that served served the site of the fair: the Polk and fair. This line did not attract the ridership the fair were as follows: Larkin line and the Fillmore Hill line, anticipated and operated only occasionally D Geary & Van Ness: From the Ferry neither of which could adequately handle after the first few weeks. Building via Geary, Van Ness, Union, the projected crowds. This meant that In addition, the URR’s 23 Fillmore & Steiner, Greenwich, Scott, and Chestnut at Muni had to fill the void if the fair was to Valencia line’s terminal was moved from the main gate at the fair. be a success. Sacramento and Divisadero to Broadway F Stockton Street: From Market and Based on the engineering plans of and Fillmore, connecting with the Fillmore Stockton via Stockton, Columbus, North San Francisco City Engineer Michael M. Hill line to the fair. Point, Van Ness, and Chestnut to the main O’Shaughnessy, Arnold’s plan included gate at Scott Street. routing that Muni would use to serve the THE FILLMORE HILL LINE H Potrero & Van Ness: Potrero & 25th via P.P.I.E. as part of a comprehensive plan In the case of the Fillmore Hill line, the Potrero, Division, 11th Street, then crossing for permanent lines throughout the city. URR had a unique problem in terms of Market at an oblique angle to Van Ness to While the Arnold Report was useful in the capacity and developed an equally unique Bay, then into and through Fort Mason planning and operation of the lines to the way to solve it, since the company could to the loop on Laguna and Beach in the fair, they were destined to last long after neither afford nor would have been willing P.P.I.E.’s Zone concession area. it closed its gates and the lights went out. to build Bion Arnold’s recommended tun- In addition to the permanent lines Since the United Railroads elected not to nel through the hill. This counterbalance planned for construction in any event, the extend its lines to the fair site, the Munici- line, which had operated since the summer Municipal Railway initially developed three pal Railway carried out its plans and ulti- of 1895, used the smallest streetcars in San lines to temporarily serve the fair utilizing mately benefitted from them. Francisco: the twenty-year-old Hammond trackage destined for permanent lines: By mid-1913, the respective street rail- California-type dinkies (about the size of a G Stockton, Union & Exposition: Accord- way systems were developing their strate- Powell Street Cable Car). For the P.P.I.E., ing to surviving operating records, this line gies for serving the fair. Each, depending the United Railroads set aside fourteen din- would have served the fair by combining on its situation, mapped out distinctive kies for rebuilding, which came out of the the outer end of the E line with the inner plans to achieve its goals. shops looking quite different. Their open end of the F line, and was to run from end sections were now semi-enclosed with Stockton and Market via Stockton, Colum- THE UNITED RAILROADS RESPONDS solid sides up to the belt-rail. In addition bus, Union, Steiner, Greenwich, and Scott. Since the URR had only one high capac- they were equipped with air brakes and, However, although the G line ran briefly in ity line operating anywhere near the Fair, most importantly, multiple-unit controls. 1914, service was discontinued before the namely the 19 Polk & Larkin line, a new Thus the fourteen cars comprised seven fair’s opening. loop and terminal was built on property diminutive two-car train sets. It is some- I 33rd Avenue & Exposition: This line leased at Polk and Francisco (the current what ironic that URR used this system on combined the C and D lines, connecting site of Galileo High School). In addition, its smallest vehicles, and it was the only the Richmond District and Western Addi- several temporary new lines opened utiliz- instance of multiple-unit control systems tion with the fair. It ran from 33rd and Cali- ing existing trackage: used on streetcars in San Francisco until fornia Streets to the fair via California, 2nd 32 SP Depot & Exposition: From the the 1970s arrival of the Boeing Light Rail Avenue, Geary, Van Ness, Union, Steiner, Southern Pacific Depot at Third and Vehicles. Despite these features, a runaway Greenwich, Scott, and Chestnut. The I line Townsend via Townsend, Fourth, Ellis, accident occurred on the Fillmore Hill line operated daily for the first three days of the Hyde, O’Farrell, and Polk to terminal. on June 7, 1915, and because of this (along fair, but thereafter only ran on Sundays, 33 Mission & Exposition: From 29th and with general anxiety over the extreme holidays, and occasional Saturdays.

bulletin 112 25 J Columbus: This line combined the after a reprieve for World War II service inner end of the E line and outer portion during which some schedules operated ENDNOTES 1 Bion J. Arnold’s 1913 Report on the Improve- of the F to provide a direct route from the by streetcar and some by bus, was fully ment and Development of the Transportation Ferry Building to the fair. It started at the motorized in 1946 after the city bought Facilities of San Francisco has long been part Ferry Building’s northern terminal and the Market Street Railway and merged it of the Sutro Library collection in San Fran- reached the PPIE via Embarcadero, Jack- into the Municipal Railway. cisco, and a copy has recently been donated son (returning via Washington), Colum- The increase in capacity and routing to the California History Section of the Cal- bus, North Point, Van Ness, and Chestnut that the P.P.I.E. necessitated and the Muni ifornia State Library in Sacramento. to the fair at Scott. The J line opened Feb- provided transformed the area of the fair ruary 10, 1915, was discontinued June 1, and its environs. Previously the old Har- REFERENCES Arnold, Bion J., Report on the Improvement 1916, and the letter designation later given bor View area, named after the old popu- and Development of the Transportation Facilities to the current J Church line. lar resort there, had, aside from the resort of San Francisco Submitted to the Mayor and itself, become something of an industrial Board of Supervisors, City and County of San THE AFTERMATH AND LASTING EFFECTS ghetto. Many buildings in the area were Francisco, San Francisco, 1913. Upon the closing of the P.P.I.E. on Decem- forty to fifty years old by then and showed Electric Railway Journal, various issues, 1915. ber 4 1915, the Muni found itself operating the effects of weather, wear, and tear. Sur- Municipal Railway of San Francisco, General four more lines than it had at the begin- viving images documenting the area just Bulletins to Platform Personnel, December 1912 ning of 1914: the C Geary–California, the before the fair show a decaying area. East – December 1916. D Geary & Union, the F Stockton, and the of Harbor View the site of the fair had been Municipal Railway of San Francisco, Operat- H Potrero–Van Ness. All were intended as wetlands all the way to the North Beach gas ing Revenue Logs FY 1914-15. permanent operations, and indeed lasted and power plants at Laguna Street. To the over three decades in streetcar service. south, Cow Hollow was better served than O’Shaughnessy, Michael M., Report on the Extension of the Municipal Railway to Provide Unlike the E line, which received a new ever by streetcars, and these services finally Transportation for the Panama Pacific Exposi- fleet of cars in 1922, the D, F, and H lines integrated this area and the site of the fair, tion, City and County of San Francisco, 1913. used the same equipment throughout their now called the Marina, with the rest of the Smallwood, Charles A., The White Front Cars operating histories. The URR, which had city as never before. Previously, both areas of San Francisco, Interurban Press, Glendale, not built any new lines to the exposition were isolated geographically from the rest of Ca, 1978. grounds, quickly abandoned its tempo- the city but for the Fillmore Hill and E lines. Todd, Frank Morton, The Story of the Exposi- rary lines that had been opened for the fair The Muni streetcar services that served tion, Being the Official History of the Interna- using trackage that was already in place the P.P.I.E., Cow Hollow, and the Marina tional Celebration Held in San Francisco in 1915 and occupied by long established lines. were converted to trolley or motor coaches to Commemorate the Discovery of the Pacific Thanks in part to the service provided by between 1947 and 1951 and continued Ocean and the Construction of the Panama the Municipal Railway, the Marina District as such with little modification for many Canal, GP Putnam & Sons, New York, 1921. was built up in the years following World years. Subsequent years have seen several Various issues, San Francisco Chronicle, San War I, and United Railroads’ successor, the route restructurings, but transit connect- Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Call, San Market Street Railway of 1921, extended ing one of San Francisco’s most prosperous Francisco Bulletin, 1909-1915. the Fillmore Hill line from Chestnut to areas with the rest of the city continues to The authors would like to thank the San Fran- Marina Boulevard in 1925. This operation serve Van Ness, Chestnut, Union, Colum- cisco Municipal Transportation Agency Archive was abandoned in 1941. The 19 Polk line, bus, Polk, and Fillmore Streets.  for granting use of three of their images.

26 California State Library Foundation Braille & Talking Book Library Hosts Regional Conference

he National Library Service for Meetings were held at the newly-renovated the Blind and Physically Handi- Stanley Mosk Library and Courts building capped (NLS) Network of Librar- in Room 500, the stately original California ies Serving the Blind divides the U.S. into Supreme Court chambers, from May 12–14, four regions — West, South, Midlands, and 2015. This is a summary of the events: North — and assigns a consultant to each • Following a warm welcome by California region. This spring the California Braille State Librarian Greg Lucas, the attend- and Talking Book Library hosted the West- ees were addressed by John Armato of ern Regional Conference in Sacramento. the marketing firm Fleishman-Hillard. He encouraged the audience to think creatively as they discussed problems and worked on potential solutions. • Pam Davenport, NLS consultant for the Western Region and her colleagues from NLS headquarters in D.C. and NLS multistate distribution centers in Cincinnati and Salt Lake City presented updates from throughout the network. For example, NLS will soon be storing patron and machine inventory meta- data in the “cloud” making it easier for network libraries to communicate such information between each other and NLS headquarters. In addition, NLS has contracted with a company to produce a new software program for network recording studios. The original digital recording program (LCM) is no longer being supported and has been replaced by the new program (Hindenburg), and many network libraries have already begun to use the new software success- fully. BTBL is planning to purchase it later this year. And, in exciting news for readers, through donations from com-

EDITOR’S NOTE BTBL Volunteer and Foundation board mem-

California BTBL Director Mike Marlin and Danielle Miller, Regional Librarian/Director of the Washington ber Sandra Swafford and BTBL Director Mike Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) enjoying the regional conference in Sacramento. Marlin contributed to this report.

bulletin 112 27 mercial audiobook publishers, NLS has lence, or strong language. Such ratings group was led on a tour of the Braille and increased its annual talking book output are very important because some patrons Talking Book Library facilities. Immedi- from 2,000 to 3,000 per year. will probably choose to avoid any unrated ately afterwards, visitors were invited to • Other sessions included brainstorming books and thereby miss many titles they the California History Section where Gary strategies for successful outreach to pro- might otherwise enjoy. Kurutz presented one of his delightful and spective patrons and other stakehold- • Following the Western Region’s busi- informative talks showing treasured items ers, as well as analysis of position and ness meeting the conference concluded from the California History Room’s vault.. staffing levels reflected in the American with an examination of the 2011 Stan- That afternoon the group walked or bused Library Association 2011 standards. dards and Guidelines of Service for the to the California State Railroad Museum • Tammy Albee from the National Fed- Library of Congress Network of Libraries for a docent-led tour, which surely ban- eration of the Blind provided an update for the Blind and Physically Handicapped ished any skepticism about how interest- about new publications featured on eliciting constructive criticism, feed- ing a museum for railroads could be. NFB-NEWSLINE®, the telephonic “text back, and suggestions to forward to the All BTBL staff pitched in to host this to speech” reader program containing members of the 2016 Standards Com- conference with help from the California more than 300 national newspapers and mittee which will convene later this year. State Library Foundation staff and other magazines and sponsored by the Cali- In addition to the conference sessions, California State Library staff. Planning fornia State Library for all of California. attendees from thirteen western states began almost two years ago at the last • A session was devoted to the exploration plus D.C., Illinois, and Ohio, were treated Western Regional Conference in Salem, of how to handle the category of “unrated” to local culture and history. Prior to the Oregon. Some staff “minded the store” books, a label given to the 1,000 addi- opening of the conference. several visitors while others had direct input with plan- tional commercial audio titles mentioned went on an informative docent-led tour ning, logistics, website design, transporta- above. The content of these books has not of the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts tion, and funds management. Attendees been rated by NLS catalogers for sex, vio- Building. The following day the entire appreciated their efforts. 

28 California State Library Foundation Foundation Notes

FOUNDATION AND INA COOLBRITH CIRCLE CELEBRATE CALIFORNIA’S FIRST POET LAUREATE

n Saturday afternoon April 25, 2015, Othe Foundation celebrated with the Ina Coolbrith Circle the centennial of Ina Coolbrith being named as California’s first poet laureate. An enthusiastic group of modern poets and devotees of California lit- erature gathered in the State Library’s meet- ing room on the fifth floor of the Library and Courts Building to sing her praises. The highlight of the afternoon was a superb presentation by historian Aleta George pro- filing this fascinating and dynamic woman. Earlier this year, Shifting Plates Press pub- lished her new book Ina Coolbrith: The Bittersweet Song of California’s First Poet Laureate. George generously presented the Library’s California History Section with a signed copy of the Special Centennial Edi- tion. As brought out by her lively talk, Cool- brith lived during a golden era when she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Samuel (Left) The California Library Association presented this certificate making Ina Coolbrith an inductee in the Clemens, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stod- California Library Hall of Fame at its 2014 annual meeting. dard, and Joaquin Miller. Not only was she Members of the Ina Coolbrith Circle gathered in Room 500 a poet but she also became Oakland’s first of the Library and Courts Building to celebrate the centennial female librarian and mentored such tower- of Coolbrith’s being named as California’s first poet laureate. ing cultural giants as Jack London, Isadora Historian and Coolbrith biographer Aleta George gave an informative illustrated talk on the poet and librarian. Duncan, and Mary Austin. Following her talk, George presented on behalf of the Circle an award and certifi- cate inducting Coolbrith into the Califor- The Ina Coolbrith Circle, founded by the Circle have donated to the Library their nia Library Hall of Fame by the California the poet/librarian herself, began in 1919 beautiful publications. To date, the Califor- Library Association. As Foundation exec- with literary meetings at her San Fran- nia History Section makes available 325 utive director I was honored to receive cisco home. She said, “I want the Circle to titles given by their members. Two mem- the award on behalf of the Foundation live and be ever widening . . . to perpetu- bers in particular, Claire Baker and Stan and State Library. The California Library ally keep the history of literature of Cali- Morner have generously hand delivered Association bestowed this recognition fornia alive.” Today, over 200 members of the precious titles from the San Francisco posthumously to our poet laureate at its the Circle continue her legacy of promot- Bay Area. annual meeting in 2014. This handsome ing the poetry and literature of the Golden Foundation Administrator Marta Knight glass plaque will be placed in the perma- State. Members gather once a month at the made this special event possible by han- nent collection of the California History San Ramon Public Library. Because of this dling all the logistics ranging from secur- Section—a most fitting home for this poet momentous centennial anniversary, their ing the caterers to making sure the meeting and librarian who so beautifully captured officers chose the State Library for this cel- room would be properly arranged to handle the grandeur of our state. ebration. Over the decades, members of such a memorable event. 

bulletin 112 29 Foundation Notes

NEW ACQUISITIONS SPOTLIGHT

he Foundation, through gifts and funds donated by the membership, continues to Tenhance the collections of the State Library with additions of rare books, photograph albums, manuscripts, maps, and choice ephemera.

AUTOGRAPHED PORTRAIT OF POET CHARLES WARREN STODDARD ACQUIRED One of Ina Coolbrith’s dear friends was Charles Warren Stoddard (1843–1909). At the California Antiquarian Book Fair, the Foundation obtained a striking framed and auto- graphed photograph of the California author and poet. The bust-length carte-de-visite 3 1 photograph (3 /4 x 2 /2 inches) was signed and dated by him, “Sept – ’71.” Stoddard, along with Samuel Clemens, Bret Harte, Robert L. Stevenson, and Coolbrith, was part of that initial group of Bohemian writers that gave California literature national and even inter- national recognition. Coming to California in 1861, Stoddard contributed poetry under the nom-de-plume of “Pip Pepperpod” to the Golden Era and later to the Overland Monthly, California’s most noteworthy literary periodical. So tight was their bond that Coolbrith, Harte and Stoddard were known as the “Overland Trinity.” Faced with health issues, Stod- dard traveled to Hawaii and Tahiti which resulted in his well-received book, South-Sea Idyls California poet Charles Warren Stoddard posed for this portrait in 1871. (1873). Converting to Catholicism, Stoddard later taught at the University of Notre Dame and Catholic University of America. Fittingly, Ina Coolbrith edited a posthumous collec- tion of his Poems, published in 1917.

DONALD J. HAGERTY PRESENTS ANOTHER TREASURE Foundation board secretary and a most generous donor, Donald J. Hagerty added another delightful treasure to his growing Maynard Dixon Collection at the Library. Dixon, of course, is the noted California and Western artist whose career is well documented in the Library’s collection thanks to Hagerty. At the March Foundation board meeting, Hagerty delivered an absolutely charming 1931 Christmas-time photograph of the artist holding a juniper tree with his son, Daniel, holding a long-handled axe. They are both standing in the snow of near Taos, New Mexico. Dorothea Lange, the celebrated photographer and wife of Dixon, took the black and white photograph of what became the Dixon family tree, decorated with handmade ornaments. The Dixon’s sent this particular yuletide print mounted on stiff paper with the following words written by six-year-old Daniel, “Merry Christmas to the Coppas Both.” The Coppas were famous restaurateurs in San Francisco and had opened a new venue on Spring Street in the city in the early 1930s. Dixon also illustrated several menus for the Coppas. Hagerty used this precious holiday card for one of the illustrations in his highly acclaimed The Life of Maynard Dixon (2010).

Daniel Dixon, the son of famed artist Maynard Dixon, inscribed this charming Christmas card to the Coppa’s of San Francisco. Dixon’s wife, Dorothea Lange took the photograph while standing in the snow of Taos, New Mexico.

30 California State Library Foundation Hidden behind the volume’s marbled edges is this splendid scene of a ruined abbey in Scotland by artist Don Noble.

ASTONISHING “SPLIT FORE-EDGE” PAINTING The astonishing “split-double” fore edge painting by Don Noble may be viewed simply by opening the book. VOLUME NOW GRACES OUR SHELVES In giving tours of the Library’s treasures, visitors always gasp with astonishment when I show a book embellished with fore- edge painting. Simply put, such a work is created when an artist paints a water color on the fanned out fore-edge of a book. The fore-edge is the outer part of book oppo- site the spine. Once the painting is dry, the edges are gilded or marbled, and when the volume is closed, there is no trace of the painting. Dating back to the thirteen century, the art of fore-edge painting was popular in England in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is still prac- ticed to this day. Fortunately, the Library has several fine examples, as does its San ing. As demonstrated by this example, beautiful clamshell box to house this pre- Francisco branch, the Sutro Library. it is not unusual for an artist to decorate cious example of the book arts. The tables were turned, however, when an older book with this magical art form. Over the years, Noble has received many I held a “split-double” fore-edge painting The English artist created this double fore- commissions. In 1985, the Library acquired of the picturesque ruins of Melrose Abbey edge sometime in the 1970s or 1980s. The a limited edition of Clyde Arbuckle’s His- and Jedburgh Abbey in Scotland by noted book that he painted is The Dramatic and tory of San Jose published by Smith & fore-edge painter Don Noble. In all my Poetical Works of Joanna Baille published in McKay with a Noble painting. Beautifully years of handling rare books and showing London in 1851. Consisting of 856 pages, bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, England’s off fore-edge paintings, I had never seen its thickness provided the necessary space most prestigious bookbinders, he amaz- a “split-double.” Rather than fanning the for the artist. The fore-edge had already ingly created different fore-edge paintings book’s fore-edge, the volume is opened been marbled. Thus, when closed, the for each subscriber. The Library’s copy is in the middle and when resting on a flat two images are hidden. Dan Flanagan of a city scape of historical San Jose showing surface, both sides carry a separate paint- the Library’s Preservation Office created a its landmark light tower. 

bulletin 112 31 Recent Contributors

ASSOCIATE CALIFORNIA HISTORY Mr. Kevin Akin, Riverside Donna Bayles, Biggs Jane and Tom Apostol, Pasadena Mr. Robert R. Bothamley, Rancho Palos Verdes EBSCO, Birmingham, AL Bluewater Media, West Hollywood Erik and Anne Fay, Sacramento CA State Capitol Museum Volunteer Association, Sacramento Ms. Eileen Heaser, Sacramento Cengage Learning, Mason, OH Ms. Judith Maben, Sacramento Clear Sky Films, Los Angeles Ms. Sandy Schuckett, Los Angeles Michael Dawson, Los Angeles Cy Silver, Berkeley Michael Dolgushkin, Carmichael Glenn Gieszler, Dundas, MN Frederik Green, PhD, San Francisco CONTRIBUTOR Half Yard Productions, Bethesda, MD Nick Aretakis, Manteca Ina Coolbrith Circle, San Francisco Mr. John Crichton, San Francisco Louise Krasniewicz, Bryn Mawr, PA Be Davison Herrera, Corvallis, OR Carolyn Martin, Sacramento Mr. Leland E. Leisz, Piedmont Vincent Moses, Riverside Mr. Richard K. Moore, Huntington Beach Mr. Gary Noy, Loomis United Way, California Capital Region, Sacramento Mr. Russell H. Pearce III, Orinda Hunter Petray, Centerton, AR SPONSOR Mr. Richard L. Press, Sacramento Mr. Roy Dean Hardy, Sacramento Mr. Robert D. Tatam, Sacramento Robert Ward / RW&A, Venice WildBear TV, Frenchs Forest, Australia PATRON Mr. Brian Witherell, Sacramento Zephyr Used and Rare Books, Vancouver, WA Zazzle.com, Redwood City Oregon California Trails Association BRAILLE & TALKING BOOK LIBRARY Mr. Donald E. Buck, Sunnyvale Beth Beck, Modesto CA-NV Chapter OCTA, Los Altos Hills Mary Brierly, Stockton Ms. Joyce Everett, Camino Gail Burson, Santa Rosa Hugh & Carol March, Los Altos Hills Mr. Carson B. Haines, Oakland Margaret Luck, Chicago Park SUTRO LIBRARY Ms. Betty Riess, Santa Rosa Mr. Warren Heckrotte, Oakland Ms. Paula S. Rothaug, Auburn In Honor of Jan Sakovich Marilyn Sherrard, Clio Martha E. Whittaker, Concord John & Myrna Vertrees, Rio Oso Nancy S. Young, Citrus Heights

32 California State Library Foundation