San Francisco Bay Area Architects and Architecture

This is a bibliographic research guide to finding information on Bay Area architects and architecture. Unless otherwise specified, materials are held in the UC Berkeley libraries. For further assistance consult our Architectural Research Guides, Finding Local Information, Vernacular Architecture, or consult the Environmental Design Library reference staff, 210 Wurster Hall.

Compiled by Elizabeth D. Byrne. Content reviewed: September 2005

Getting Started

Use these resources to learn about the process of investigating the history of a building or neighborhood. See also our web guide Finding Local Information.

Architecture everywhere, investigating the built environment of your community, Joseph A. Weber. Tucson, Ariz.: Zephyr Press, 2000.
EnvDesign NA705.W43 2000
"Basic Procedure: Buildings Constructed Before 1905," (Oakland) IN Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey manual. Oakland, Calif.: Oakland City Planning Dept., 1980. Flow chart showing steps to researching early Oakland buildings.
EnvDesign NA108.O2.O22 1980 Reference
"Conducting Architectural Research in the San Francisco Bay Area," by Waverly Lowell, Architectural Records in the San Francisco Bay Area, A Guide to Research, p. 1-21. Also indexes collections of architectural archives in the Bay Area.

EnvDesign NA2125 C22S2631 1988 Reference Desk
Doing community history, prepared by the San Francisco Community History Project. San Francisco: The Project, 1983.
EnvDesign F869 S3 S305 1983 Reference
Eureka, a guide for historical research in Alameda, Ca. [by Woody Minor]. [Alameda, Calif.: W. Minor, 1979]
EnvDesign NA735.A4.M56 1979 Reference
Getting to know your 20th-century neighborhood, by Greta Terrell. Washington, DC: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1996. Historic Preservation Information Booklet. Focuses on American neighborhoods developed from 1900-1950; identifies architectural styles and landscaping trends.
EnvDesign NA7208 T47 1996
The history of a house: how to trace it. Linda Ellsworth. Nashville, Tenn.: American Association for State and Local History, 1976. Technical leaflet (American Association for State and Local History); 89.
Env Design E159.E53 1976a
House histories: a guide to tracing the genealogy of your home. Sally Light. Spencertown, New York Golden Hill Press, 1989.
EnvDesign NA7205 .L43 1989
The house research guide, a step by step manual for owners, occupants and other old house lovers [prepared by Brownstown Biographies. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Brownstone Biographies, [1978?].
EnvDesign NA7205.B761 1978
Houses and homes, exploring their histories, Barbara J. Howe … [et al.]. Nashville, Tenn.: American Association for State and Local History, 1987.
EnvDesign E180 .H681 1987 Referenec
How old is this house? Hugh Howard for Home Renovation Associates. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1989.
EnvDesign NA7205 .H731 1989 Reference Desk
How to research your house, by Betty Marvin and Bill Sturm and Jeff Norman. Oakland Heritage Alliance and Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room. Excellent guide with emphasis on Oakland.
http://oaklandheritage.tumblr.com/post/67419394/action
How to research your San Francisco building http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000305001, San Francisco Public Library, History Center, Research Guides and Collections. Additiional guides hosted by SFPL: Jean Kortum's How to Research Your San Francisco Building (1993) http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000028001; William Kostura's Researching Historic Buildings (1997) http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000025201.
"If your walls could talk," Lyle York. San Francisco Chronicle, Home Section, 17 March 1993.
Doe News/Micro
Paper trails: a guide to public records in California, Stephen Levine and Barbara T. Newcombe. 2nd ed. Sacramento : California Newspaper Publishers Association, 1996.
EnvDesign CD3111 .N48 1996 Reference Desk
Places of worship, exploring their history, James P. Wind. Nashville, Tenn.: American Association for State and Local History, 1990. Nearby history series; v. 4.
EnvDesign, Moffitt BR515.W56 1990
"Preparing Research Forms," (Oakland) IN Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey Manual. Oakland, Calif.: Oakland City Planning Dept., 1980. Guide to researching Oakland buildings using their research forms, p. 51-90. Includes archival and public records sources, and bibliography.
EnvDesign NA108.O2.O22 1980 Reference
Public places, exploring their history, Gerald A. Danzer. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, published in cooperation with the American Association for State and Local History, 1997. American Association for State and Local History book series. Nearby history series.
EnvDesign E180.D36 1997
Research Resources Useful for Researching Historic Buildings. William Kostura, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center. 1997. Emphasis on San Francisco.
http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000025201
"Researching a Building's History," by Jones, IN Landmark yellow pages, National for Historic Preservation. [2nd ed.] Washington, D.C. Preservation Press, 1993.p. 11-14. DC: Preservation Press, 1993.
EnvDesign E159 M32 1993 Reference Desk
Researching a historic property, Eleanor O'Donnell. [Washington, D.C.?] : U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources Division, 1991. National Register bulletin; 39. http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb39/
Print ed.: EnvDesign E159.O36 1991
Researching Your Own Home. Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Outlines the steps in researching your house.
http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/aladdin_company_of_bay_city/researching_your_own_home/researching_your_own_home_index.html
San Francisco History by Subject , Museum of the City of San Francisco. Once in, there are sections for SF--Buildings; SF--Municipal Buildings; SF--Museums; SF--Streets; SF--Theaters, etc.
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/index0.2.html
San Francisco Museum & Historical Society Research links. Links and contacts for researching San Francisco subjects, including architecture.
http://www.sfhistory.org/index.php?pageid=44
Secretary of the Interior's standards and guidelines for architectural and engineering documentation: HABS/HAER standards. Washington, D.C.: Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record, Cultural Resources Program, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, 2003. Clearly lists criteria to assess when exploring and documenting the history of buildings. http://www.nps.gov/hdp/standards/
Print ed.: EnvDesign NA2712 .U55 1990
Selected reference material available in the BAHA archives. Berkeley: Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, [1986?] Includes a section at the end, "Researching Berkeley buildings in the BAHA Archives and elsewhere." http://www.berkeleyheritage.com/
Print ed.: EnvDesign NA735.B37.S44 1986 Reference Desk
"[Stylistic] glossary," IN: The Guide to architecture in San Francisco and northern California, by David Gebhard,[ et al.]. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City: G.M. Smith, 1985, pp. 553-583. Specifically San Francisco Bay Area architectural styles.
EnvDesign NA735 S35 G831 1985 Reference
"Tracing Your Home History," by Yepsen. IN Practical Homeowner, Vol. 3, Jan. 1988, p. 66-70.
EnvDesign TH4805 R642 Bound Periodicals
The visual dictionary of American domestic architecture, by Rachel Carley; illustrations by Ray Skibinski and Ed Lam. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1994.
EnvDesign NA7205 .C27 1994 Reference Desk

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Finding Books

Use library catalogs to search for books on your building, although there are few entire books devoted to one building. Search under subject or title keywords or corporate name [name of building, city] or [name of neighborhood, city]. If there are no books on your building, search for books on that building type, such as these selected examples:

Apartment Houses--Calif.--Berkeley
Architecture, Domestic--California
Architecture, Domestic--California--Oakland
Berkeley, Calif.--Historic Houses
Church Architecture--California
Dwellings--Calif.--Oakland
Office Buildings--California
Public Buildings--Calif.--San Francisco
San Francisco, Calif.--Office Buildings
Skyscrapers--California--San Francisco

See the section on Architectural Guidebooks and Architectural Styles for additional tips. You may also search under the architecture of a place, such as:

Architecture--California--Alameda County
Architecture--California--Oakland
Architecture--California--San Francisco Bay Area
Berkeley, Calif.--Buildings
Historic Buildings--Calif.--Oakland
San Francisco, Calif.--Buildings

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Architectural Guidebooks

Guidebooks often provide basic facts, such as the name of the architect and date of the building, or information about the neighborhood. Use these guides to look for information on buildings and neighborhoods in the Bay Area. This is a selected list. For additional titles, check the library catalogs under subject keywords such as these:

Architecture--California [name of city]--Guidebooks
Architecture, Domestic--California--Berkeley--Guidebooks
Berkeley (Calif.)--Description--Tours
Berkeley (Calif.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Guidebooks
Historic buildings--California--Berkeley--Guidebooks
Rincon Hill (San Francisco, Calif.)--Description
San Francisco (Calif.)--Description--Views

41 walking tours of Berkeley. Berkeley, Calif.: Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, 1986. BAHA produces an annual brochure to accompany their house and neighborhood tours. Check Library catalogs under corporate author Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association to find others.
EnvDesign NA735.B38 F67 1986 Reference Desk
An architectural guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay area. Susan Dinkelspiel Cerny; contributing authors and ... 1st ed. Layton, UT : Gibbs Smith, c2007. Online table of contents

EnvDesign NA735 .S35 .C47 2007
Architecture + design SF: a selective guide to the best-designed buildings, interiors, and public spaces in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Mitchell Schwarzer. San Francisco: Understanding Business Press, 1998.
EnvDesign NA735 .S35 .S38 1998 Reference Desk
Bay Area historic house museums. 11th ed. Hayward, CA : Bay Area Historic House Museums, 1996.
EnvDesign F868.S156 B391 1998 Reference
Benicia; history and historical tour guide [Gladys B. Wold]. [Benicia, Calif.: Benicia Chamber of Commerce, 1978].
EnvDesign F869.B18 W57 1978
Berkeley landmarks: an illustrated guide to Berkeley, California's architectural heritage. Rev. enl. Susan Dinkelspiel. Berkeley, CA : Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, 2001.
EnvDesign NA735.B38.C34 2001 Reference Desk
City by the Bay: San Francisco in art and literature, edited by Alexander Chappell. San Francisco: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art ; New York : Universe Pub., 2002.
EnvDesign F869.S343 C58 2002
Deco by the Bay: art deco architecture in the San Francisco Bay Area. Michael F. Crowe. New York: Viking Studio Books, 1995.
EnvDesign NA735 .S35 C76 1995 Reference
Discovering West Berkeley: a self-guided tour. Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. [Berkeley, CA : The Association, c1987].
EnvDesign F869.B5 D58 1987 Reference Desk
A field guide to America's historic neighborhoods and museum houses: the western states. Virginia and Lee McAlester. New York : Alfred A. Knopf : Distributed by Random House, 1998.
EnvDesign NA7223 .M33 1998 Reference
The guide to architecture in San Francisco and northern California. David Gebhard Rev.ed. Salt Lake City: G.M. Smith, 1985.
EnvDesign NA735.S35.G831 1985 Reference Desk
Historic San Francisco: a concise history and guide. Rand Richards. San Francisco: Heritage House Publishers, 1991.
EnvDesign F869 .S357 R53 1991 Reference
Kensington, past and present. Kensington Improvement Club; editors, Natalie Salsig, Marianne Loring, Katherine Trow. Emeryville, Calif.: Woodford Press, c2000.
EnvDesign F869.K37 K46 2000 Reference
National trust guide - San Francisco: America's guide for architecture and history travelers. Peter Booth Wiley. New York: John Wiley & Sons, c2000.
EnvDesign F869.S343 W551 2000 Reference Desk
San Francisco: a guide to recent architecture. Peter Lloyd. London: Ellipsis; Koln: Konemann, 1997.
EnvDesign tNA735. S35 .L56 1997 Reference Desk
San Francisco architecture: the illustrated guide to over 1000 of the best buildings, parks and public artworks in the Bay Area. Sally B. Woodbridge and John M. Woodbridge. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1992.
EnvDesign NA735 .S35 W64 1992 Reference Desk
Site & insight: exploring notable Bay Area landscape architecture, by Students of LA298, Department of Landscape Architecture, Helaine Kaplan Prentice, editor. Berkeley, Calif. : College of Environmental Design, University of California, [2002]
EnvDesign SB469.5.C2.S58 2002
The spirit of Oakland: an anthology. Abby Wasserman, editor; Carlsbad, CA: Heritage Media, 2000.
EnvDesign F869.O2 S75 2000 Reference
Through these doors: discovering Oakland at Preservation Park. Oakland Redevelopment Agency; by Helaine Kaplan Prentice; researched by Betty Marvin. Oakland, Calif.: Oakland Redevelopment Agency, 1996.
EnvDesign NA735.O23 P74 1996
Timeless walks in San Francisco: a historical walking guide to the city. Michelle Padams Brant. [Calif.] : M.P. Brant, [c1996].
EnvDesign F869.S36 A2 1996 Reference
The Victorian Alliance pocket guide to San Francisco's landmarks. San Francisco : Victorian Alliance, c1976.
EnvDesign NA735.S35V5
Victoria's legacy. Judith Lynch Waldhorn & Sally B. Woodbridge. San Francisco: 101 Productions; New York; dist. Scribner's 1978.
EnvDesign NA7238 S35 W34

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Architectural Style Books

Use these books to identify the style or architectural period and date of your house or building. Search the Library catalogs for books on architecture in that style, using subject keywords such as:

Architecture, Domestic--Shingle Style
Architecture--Mediterranean Region--Influence
Architecture, Mission--California
Architecture, Modern--19th Century--California, Northern
Architecture, Spanish Colonial--California
Architecture, Victorian--California--[name of city]
Art Deco Architecture--California Gothic Revival Architecture
Arts and Crafts Movement--California
Colonial revival (Architecture)--California--[name of city]
Greek Revival Architecture
Romanesque Revival Architecture

American Architecture Since 1780: A Guide to the Styles. Marcus Whiffen. Rev. ed. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1992.
EnvDesign NA705 W47 1992 Reference
American shelter, an illustrated encyclopedia of the American home, Lester Walker. Woodstock, N.Y : Overlook Press, 1981. Well-illustrated guide to styles and types of houses, with good coverage of California and the West.
EnvDesign NA7205.W34 Reference
America's favorite homes: mail-order catalogues as a guide to popular early 20th-century houses. Robert Schweitzer and Michael W.R. Davis. Detroit : Wayne State University Press, 1990.Series title: Great Lakes books.
EnvDesign NA7205 .S36 1990 Noncirculating
"Architectural Styles Guide" (for Oakland) IN Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey manual. Oakland, Calif.: Oakland City Planning Dept., 1980, p. 25-45. See also glossary of terms.
EnvDsgn NA108.O2.O22 1980 Reference
Architecture in San Francisco and Northern California. Rev. ed. by David Gebhard [et al.]. Salt Lake City : Peregrine Smith Books, 1985. Excellent glossary of terms and styles. Covers entire Bay Area.

EnvDesign NA735 .S35 G831 1985 Reference Desk
Architecture in the United States. Dell Upton. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
EnvDesign NA705 .U67 1998
Architecture in the United States: a survey of architectural styles since 1776. Ralph W. Hammett. New York: Wiley, c1976.
EnvDesign NA705.H331
Clues to American Architecture. Marilyn W. Klein, David P. Fogle; Rev. ed. Washington, DC : Starrhill Press, c1986.
EnvDesign NA705 K561 1985 Reference
Building an American identity: pattern book homes and communities, 1870-1900. Linda E. Smeins. Walnut Creek, CA : AltaMira Press, c1999.
EnvDesign NA7571.S54 1999
The California bungalow. Robert Winter; Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, 1980. California architecture and architects; no. 1.
EnvDesign NA7571.W56
Early tall buildings: a sentimental sketchbook collection, by Dickinson Weber. Concord [Calif.] : Sandscape Press, 1992. Downtown street views (c.1990) of early tall buildings from the bayside cities and tidewater towns of Northern California. Finding aid. http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf3c60030g
EnvDesign NA6232 .W4 1992 Reference
Field Guide to American Architecture. Carole Rifkind. NY: New American Library, 1980 (Series: A Plume book)
EnvDesign NA705 R53 1980b Reference
A field guide to American houses, Virginia & Lee McAlester. NY: Knopf, 1984. Excellent guide to identifying styles.
EnvDesign NA7205 .M35 1984 Reference
House Styles at a Glance, an illustrated guide. Maurie Van Buren. Atlanta, Ga. : Longstreet Press, 1991.
EnvDesign NA7110 V3 1991 Reference Desk
Houses by mail, a guide to houses from Sears, Roebuck and Company. Katherine Cole Stevenson, H. Ward Jandl. Washington, D.C. : Preservation Press, c1986.
EnvDesign TH4819.P7 S741 1986 Noncirculating
Houses from books, treatises, pattern books, and catalogs in American architecture, 1738-1950: a history and guide. Daniel D. Reiff. University Park, Pa. : Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000.
EnvDesign NA7205.R435 2000
Identifying American architecture, a pictorial guide to styles and terms, 1600-1945. John J.-G. Blumenson. 2d ed., rev. and enl. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History; New York : Norton, 1981.
EnvDesign NA705.B55 1981 Reference
Old House Dictionary: An Illustrated Guide to American Domestic Architecture 1600-1940. by Steven J. Phillips. Lakewood, Colo.: American Source Books, 1989.
EnvDesign NA7205 P48 1989 Reference
Rehab right, how to realize the full value of your old house, Helaine Kaplan Prentice and Blair Prentice, City of Oakland Planning Department. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press, 1987. Offers excellent advice on identifying and properly restoring styles of Bay Area houses.
EnvDesign TH4816.R4291 1987
Storybook style: America's whimsical homes of the twenties. Arrol Gellner; photographs by Douglas Keister. New York: Viking Studio, c2001.
EnvDesign NA7208 .G45 2001
What Style Is It? a guide to American architecture. John Poppeliers, et. al. Washington, D.C.: Preservation Press, Historic American Buildings Survey/National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1983.
EnvDesign NA705P6 1983 Reference Desk

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Biographical Sources

Use these resources to find information about architects who practiced in the Bay Area. It is helpful to know full name, dates, and in what cities he or she had offices. Directories, such as these, are a good place to start. Also, search for your architect in the library catalogs under personal name and subject to see if there is a book on him or her. For a general list of biographical sources on architects, see Biographical Resources on Architects.

AIA East Bay Chapter Membership Directory. 1973- . Chapter has existed since 1947.

EnvDesign NA55.S4A5 M4 latest edition Reference Desk
AIA Membership Directory. 1910-1981. Library lacks some volumes.

EnvDesign NA11 A614 noncirculating
Continued by ProFile NA53.P76
AIA California Council. Architectural handbook (Directory). San Francisco: CCAIA. 1977-1978.
EnvDesign NA730.C2.A73 Reference
AIA San Francisco Chapter Directory. 1986/87-. Chapter has existed since 1881. Their archives are housed in the Environmental Design Archives.
EnvDesign NA55 S4A6D4 latest edition Reference Desk
AIA San Francisco Chapter. Centennial Directory. History and officers of the chapter from beginning to 1982.
EnvDesign NA55 S4 A6C4 1982 noncirculating
Avery Obituary Index. Covers 1890-1979. Also included in online Avery Index UC Only.
EnvDesign fNA40 A8 1980 Reference
Use Avery Index UC Only for 1980-present
Biographical Dictionary of American Architects, Deceased. By Henry Withey & Elsie Rathburn Withey. Los Angeles, New Age Pub. Co. [c1956]. Valuable for its listing of local and regional architects. Bibliographic references in each entry are often incomplete.
EnvDesign NA40 W57 Reference Desk
Biography and Genealogy Master Index UCB Only Indexes current, readily available reference sources and important retrospective works that cover nationally known individuals, both living and deceased.
Biography index. N.Y., H.W. Wilson, 1946-present. Citations for biographical material on nationally-known people appear in more than 3,000 periodicals, 2,500 current books (annually) of individual and collective biography, and incidental biographical material in otherwise non-biographical books.
Doe Reference, at CT28.B5 Biographies
Contemporary architects. Editor, Muriel Emanuel. 3rd ed. New York : St. James Press, 1994. Biographical information, plus list of works and bibliography for architects with national reputation.
EnvDesign NA680.C625 Latest Reference Desk
Current Biography. HW Wilson Co. Contains biographies and obituaries of nationally known people from all of the print volumes of Current Biography Yearbook from 1940 to the present. Searchable by name, profession, title, place of origin, gender, race/ethnicity, titles of works, date of birth, date of death, and keyword.
Doe Reference, at CT100.C8 Biographies
Davis' Commercial Encyclopedia of the Pacific Southwest: California …, by Ellis A. Davis. Berkeley: Davis. Chapter on Bay Area architects and engineers. 1911, 1914, 1915.
Bancroft Library fF786 D2 noncirculating
Index to the Biographies in 19th Century California County Histories, by J. Carlyle Parker. Detroit: Gale, 1979.
Doe Reference F860 P28 1979
Index to architects' license certificates: records of the California State Board of Examiners (from the California State Archives files) 1901(?)-1928(?). [Sacramento, Calif. : The Board, 199-?].
EnvDesign NA124.C2 I53 1998 Reference Desk
List of architects holding certificates to practice in the State of California, Northern District. Sacramento: California State Board of Architectural Examiners, California State Printing Office, 1918.
EnvDesign NA124.C2.C354 1918a Reference
Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects. Adolf K. Placzek, editor in chief. New York: Free Press; London: Collier Macmillan, 1982. 4 vols. Index in vol. 4. Only nationally-known architects.
EnvDesign NA40 M25 1982 Reference Desk
Official directory of the State Association of California Architects. Pocket ed. Los Angeles: Cornell T. Malone. Vol. 2:4 (Jan 1930). "A ready reference work of architects certified to practice architecture in the state of California."

Bancroft pNA54.C2.O5 noncirculating; may be used only in The Bancroft Library.
Pacific Coast Architecture Database (Alan Michelson, Head of the Architecture and Urban Planning Library, University of Washington, Seattle). Includes a range of information on the buildings and designers of California, Oregon and Washington. Professionals in other fields related to architecture have also been included, such as landscape architects, interior designer, developers, and building contractors. Building records are tied to those of their creators (when known) and include historical and geographical information and images. Bibliographical information, such as magazine citations, book citations and web sites, has also been linked for creators and structures.
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/architect/
ProFile: the Official Directory of the AIA. 1978-present. Continues AIA Membership Directories. Searchable database of 28,500 firms and individuals on the web at: http://architectfinder.aia.org/
EnvDesign NA53 P76 - latest edition Reference Desk
Roster, Licensed Architects. California State Board of Architectural Examiners, 1940-present. Architects (not firms) currently licensed to practice in California can be identified in the California Architects Board. Earlier vols have title Report, California State Board of Architectural Examiners. http://www.cab.ca.gov/consumers/license_verification.shtml

Print eds.: EnvDesign NA124 C2A2 1940-present Reference, latest edition Reference Desk;
EnvDesign NA124.C2.A3, 1901/03-1933/35, Reference

NOTE: If there is no book devoted entirely to your architect, check the library catalogs for collective biographies of California architects under these subject headings:

Architects--California--Biography
Architects--California--Bibliography
Architects--California--Dictionaries
Architects--California--Directories
Architects--California--Berkeley
California--Biography--Dictionaries

If you are searching for the name of an architectural firm, search library catalogs under corporate author, or corporate name, e.g., Maybeck and White, or Anshen and Allen. See also Newspapers and Periodical Indexes for articles on your architect. Checking City Directories in the city in which the architect practiced may also provide helpful information.

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Periodical Indexes

Detailed information on Bay Area architecture not available in books is often available in periodicals or journals. Periodical titles owned by the UCB Libraries are listed in the library catalogs, but for an index to the contents of the periodicals, you must use a periodical index. Although some periodical indexes or databases are now available online, many of those for historical information are only available in print. These print periodical indexes in the Environmental Design Library are located near the Reference Desk and are arranged in call number order.

Use the subject headings/keywords identified from your book search to locate articles. If you know the name of the architect or architectural firm, look directly under that name. Search online indexes using "subject word" or "title (keyword) word," or search "corporate name" when you are searching for a firm name or name of an institutional building, such as a church. For a more complete list of indexes see our web page Architecture Periodical Indexes or History of Architecture Periodical Indexes. The major periodical indexes for locating information on the history of Bay Area architecture are listed below.

Architect and Engineer. Index. Vol. 1-95, 1905-1928. Partial subject index of SF based publication. Includes listings by city and building, and name of architect. Journals have same call number and are shelved in bound periodicals.

EnvDesign NA1 A64 Index ; Architect and Engineer Index PDF (6MB)
Art Full Text / Art Index Retrospective UC Only NY: H.G. Wilson, 1929-present. Good coverage of architecture and architects in a variety of journals. Full text (with images) for approximately 20% of the journals from 1997 to present.
Print Index: EnvDesign N18.A72 Index, 1929-1995
Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals. UC Only Columbia University, Avery Library. Mountain View: RLG. Covers articles published 1930 to present, and some journals back to the 1860's. Includes Obituary file. Early coverage of West Coast is very thin.

Print Index: EnvDesign ffNA8 C64 Index, 1890-1995
Burnham Index to architectural literature, Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, The Art Institute of Chicago. New York: Garland Pub., 1989. Although emphasis is on the midwest, indexes some early articles on California architecture.
EnvDesign fNA705.A12.B87 1989 Index, vol. 1-10
California Architect and Building News, a partial index to the California Architect and Building News, April 1, 1879-June 20, 1900. Vol. 1 - history of architectural publishing on the West Coast, alphabetical list by architect includes article title and issue, Vol. 2 - continues architects' list, Vol. 3 - (Appendix II) includes history, architect/city cross-index, and lists articles under city name.

Online Index: Vol. 1, Vol.2 plus Appendix II
Print Index: EnvDesign NA735 S35S6591 1975, vol. 1-3, Index
Online Journal: Vol. 3 - 10:6
Print Journal: EnvDesign fNA1.C27 Rare and EnvDesign MICROFILM 3354 NA
California History Magazine, California Historical Society.
Online index: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/publications/index_page.html
Journal: Main Stack F856.C28, vl. 1, 1922-present
Edwards transcript of records. Alameda County. San Francisco: Edwards Publishing Co., 1884-?. Good source for researching deeds. Helpful in dating of buildings. SF Public Library has partial set also.
Bancroft F868.A3 E4, Jan 1884-1911 (incomplete)
Heritage news. Foundation for San Francisco's Architectural Heritage. San Francisco, CA: The Foundation [1973-present]. Indexed partially in the National Trust Library Index. (From the Univ. Md. Library Research Port, select Database by Name, and type in "National Trust"). Works best to search using city and building or architect name in "all fields."

Online Journal (2000-present): http://www.sfheritage.org/newsletter/
Print Journal: EnvDesign NA7238.S35.H4 Bound Periodicals (some in Folio Bound Periodicals)
Print Cumulative Index: 15(1987)-26(1998) EnvDesign fNA7238.S35.H4 Bound Periodicals
Index to historic preservation periodicals. National Trust for Historic Preservation Library of the University of Maryland, College Park; editor, Hye Yun Choe. Boston, Mass.: G.K. Hall, 1988. Indexes several local preservation group newsletters. Continued online in the National Trust for Historic Preservation Library catalog.
EnvDesign Z1251.A2 U51 1988 Index
Newspapers and Periodical Indexes for California, prepared by Bancroft Library. Links to sources.
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/newsindexes.html
Oakland Heritage Alliance news. Oakland, Calif. : The Alliance. Indexed partially to 1993 in National Trust Library Index.

Print Journal: EnvDesign F869.O2.O19 Bound Periodicals v.1:1(spring 1981)-present
Readers' Guide Retrospective, UCB Only NY: H.G. Wilson, 1890-1982. Excellent coverage in a wide variety of popular and general interest journals.

Online 1890-1982 http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/jumpstart.jhtml?prod=RGR UCB Only

Print Index: Doe Reference AJ3.R4 Periodical Indexes, 1900-present
Sunset magazine, a century of Western living, 1898-1998. Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Libraries, 1998.
http://sunset-magazine.stanford.edu/
Print Journal: EnvDesign Z1251.P2 S85 1998 Reference

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Newspapers

Newspapers are an often overlooked source of information on local architecture. Most public libraries have collections of newspapers from their own cities, either in subject clipping files or on microfilm. Many Bay Area newspapers have been collected and selectively indexed at the Bancroft Library on campus.

America's Newspapers UC Only Provides selected full text news articles from regional, national, and international sources. Selectively indexes SF Chronicle & Examiner, East Bay Express, Oakland Tribune, and others. Full text articles on microfiche 1976-present and on CD-ROM in Newpaper/Microform Room.
Berkeleyan. UCB official campus newletter. Good information on campus buildings.
Online: http://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/ 1994-present
Print ed.: Bancroft UC Archives 308s .D2, UC Archives f308dn.rpm
Berkeley newspapers have been selectively clipped and filed at the Berkeley Public Library (510) 981-6100.
California Digital Newspaper Collection 1849-1911. Offers over 200,000 pages of California newspapers spanning the years 1849-1911: the Alta California, 1849-1891; the San Francisco Call, 1893-1910; the Amador Ledger, 1900-1911; the Imperial Valley Press, 1901-1911; the Sacramento Record-Union, 1859-1890; and the Los Angeles Herald, 1905-1907. Additional years are forthcoming, as are other early California newspapers: the Californian; the California Star; the California Star and Californian; the Sacramento Transcript; the Placer Times; and the Pacific Rural Press.

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/
California News Index. Claremont, Calif. : Center for California Public Affairs, 1970. Indexes 13 California newspapers and magazines from 1970-75.
News/Micro AJ3 C16 Hig-Use Newsp Indexes
The Daily Californian and its forerunners from 1929-1992 are indexed in a card file arranged by subject near the thesis catalog in the UCB Doe Library. Good source for campus architecture. Recent articles searchable on their web site.
Searchable archives 1995-present http://www.dailycal.org/
Daily Pacific Builder is available in partial sets on microfilm, and at the San Francisco Public Library.
Microfilm: News/Micro 1912-1951
Historical Newspapers Online UC Only contains four major historical resources:including The Historical Index to the New York Times, 1851-September 1922. Only nationally-known California architects and buildings covered.
Lexis-Nexis Academic UCB Only Online index of national and regional newspaper, journals etc. Covers several Bay Area newspapers, usually back to 1980s.
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times Index, 1972-present News/Micro AJ21.L65.N4
Full text 1985-present via America's Newspapers UCB Only
Microfilm: News/Micro 1906-present
The New York Times has good coverage of major Bay Area buildings and architects.

Full text 1980s-present via Lexis-Nexis Academic UCB Only
Index 1851-1912: News/Micro AJ21 N39
1851-Sept. 1922 via Historical Newspapers Online UC Only
Newspapers and Periodical Indexes for California, prepared by Bancroft Library. Links to information on several important historical Bay Area newspapers.
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/newsindexes.html
The Oakland Tribune is selectively clipped and available at the Oakland History Room of the Oakland Public Library.
News/Micro NEWSFILM-1, 1875-present
San Francisco Bay Guardian.
Banc, IGS, California State Library have partial sets, 1966-present
Searchable archives Nov.1996-present http://www.sfbg.com/
San Francisco Chronicle has been indexed from 1970-75 in California News Index (AJ3 C16 NEWS/MICRO), and from 1976-present (AJ21 S4 N4 NEWS/MICRO). Indexing before 1976 has been selectively done by the San Francisco History Center of the San Francisco Public Library, Civic Center (415/557-4567). Bancroft Library has an incomplete backfile on microfilm.

Searchable archives 1995-present http://www.sfgate.com/search/

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Archives & Organizations

After you have exhausted printed/published resources, be sure to check appropriate archives or organizations, such as historical societies, to review unique materials in these special resources. Call ahead for hours and possibly an appointment.

Alameda Architectural Preservation Society, P.O. Box 1677, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 523-AVPS.
http://www.alameda-preservation.org/
American Institute of Architects, East Bay Chapter, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1401. (510) 464-3600.
http://www.aiaeb.org/
American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter, 130 Sutter Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104. (415) 362-7397. Much of their archives are in the Environmental Design Archives.
http://www.aiasf.org/
Art Deco Society of California, 100 Bush, #511, San Francisco, CA 94104. (415) 982-3326.
http://www.artdecosociety.org/
The Arts & Crafts Society, 1194 Bandera Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. (734) 358-6882.
http://arts-crafts.com/
Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley (east wing, Main/Doe Library). A noncirculating special research collection of books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, plans, and other materials, the Bancroft Library also houses the University Archives. Most holdings are listed in the library catalogs.
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, 2318 Durant, Berkeley CA 94701. (510) 841-2242. Offers tours, newsletters, lectures and brochures. Maintains a small library. Call in advance.
http://www.berkeleyheritage.com/
Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley History Room, 2090 Kittredge, Berkeley CA 94704. (510) 981-6100. Clipping files from Berkeley newspapers, as well as photos, brochures, city directories, manuscripts, etc. on local history.
http://berkeleypubliclibrary.org/
Berkeley Historical Society, P.O. Box 1190, 1931 Center St., Berkeley CA 94701. (510) 848-0181.
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/histsoc/
California Cultural Directory, California Historical Society and SF State University directory of over 1000 cultural and historical organizations in California.
http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/programs/ccd.html
California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS). Information system run by the Office of Historic Preservation, the SHPO, State Historic Preservation Officer, and the State Historical Resources Commissioner.
http://www.ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=1068
California Historical Society Library, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94105. (415) 357-1848.
http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
California Historical Society North Baker Research Library has historic photograph collection.
http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/northbaker_research.html
California History Room of the California State Library, 900 "N" Street, Room 200, Sacramento, CA 9581, P.O. Box 942837 Sacramento CA 94237-0001. (916) 654-0176.
http://www.library.ca.gov/
California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) is the main state agency responsible for historic preservation in California. Under federal law each state must have a SHPO, who is responsible for nominating resources to the National Register. (916) 653-6624.
http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/
California Preservation Foundation, 5 Third St., Ste 424, San Francisco, CA 94103. (415) 495-0349. Good links, publications, information.
http://www.californiapreservation.org/
California State Archives. 1020 "O" Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. (916) 653-3476. Major collection on California, including 20,000 maps and architectural drawings, 250,000 photographs.
http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/archives.htm
California State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Office of Historic Preservation, Dept of Parks & Recreation, PO Box 942896, Sacramento, CA 94296-000. (916) 653-6624.
http://www.ohp.parks.ca.gov/
California State Historical Landmarks. Sacramento: State of California, Dept. of Natural Resources, Division of Beaches and Parks.
EnvDesign F862.C27 Latest edition, 1996 Reference
http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=21381
California State Historical Landmarks: Alameda County: http://ceres.ca.gov/geo_area/counties/Alameda/landmarks.html
California State Historical Landmarks: San Francisco: http://ceres.ca.gov/geo_area/counties/San_Francisco/landmarks.html
Directory of historical organizations in the United States and Canada. Nashville, Tenn.: AASLH Press, American Association for State and Local History.
EnvDesign E172 A562 2002 Reference
Environmental Design Archives, UCB College of Environmental Design. 280 Wurster Hall, Campus, (510) 642-5124. The Archives is a research collection of drawings, blueprints, photographs, personal and business records of many important Bay Area architects and landscape architects. The collection is available by appointment only and non-UCB users are charged a fee.
http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/cedarchives/
Friends of Terra Cotta, P.O. Box 421393, San Francisco CA, 94142. Also in New York.
http://www.preserve.org/fotc/fotc.htm
Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service. Good information, publications, resosurces on historic preservation.
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/
National Historic Landmarks. Nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior Today, fewer than 2,500 historic places bear this national distinction. Searchable database with information by state.
http://www.nps.gov/history/nhl/REGIONS.htm
National Register of Historic Places. Brief descriptions of all properties included in the National Register through 1991. Arranged by state, county, city and name of building. Publications and links.
http://www.nps.gov/history/places.htm
National Trust for Historic Preservation, Western Regional Office, 8 California Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94111. (415) 956-0610. Excellent links, advice, publications, programs.
http://www.nthp.org/help/statewide_org.asp?st=CA
National Trust for Historic Preservation Library. Go to VICTORWeb - choose Other Databases. Search by keyword Oakland, San Francisco, etc. Dates up to 1993. Indexes several local preservation group newsletters.
http://www.lib.umd.edu/NTL/
Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 3330. (510) 238-6879. Hours: M-F 1-5pm, variable. Call in advance. Ongoing survey of Oakland buildings that so far includes 8,000 buildings in Western and Central Oakland, and scattered parts of remainder of city. Excellent records on Oakland buildings, especially downtown and Adams Point. Check library catalogs for their reports and manual.
Oakland Heritage Alliance, P.O. Box 12425, Oakland, CA 94604 1418 Lakeside Dr., Oakland 94612. (510) 763-9218. Website has excellent list of links, guide to researching your Oakland house, and related organizations.
http://www.oaklandheritage.org
Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, 2nd floor, 125 14th St., Oakland CA. (510) 238-3222. Special collection of primary research materials focusing on Oakland and the East Bay, including city block books, 1877-1925, Sanborn map books, newspaper clippings, and a large photograph collection.
http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/Seasonal/Sections/oakhr.html
Old House Web. Commercial site with information on researching and storing old houses.
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/
The Regional Oral History Office, Bancroft Library, UCB, has transcribed oral histories of several Bay Area architects. Transcripts of interviews with Bay Area designers are available in the Environmental Design Library and can be located in the catalogs under name of architect.
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/ROHO/
San Francisco Architectural Heritage, 2007 Franklin, San Francisco CA. (415) 441-3000. Offers tours, lectures, and occasional publications. Call for appointment. Good links to related organizations.
http://www.sfheritage.org/
San Francisco Museum & Historical Society, P.O. Box 420569, San Francisco CA 94142. (415) 775-1111. Good website with information on the history of San Francisco.
http://www.sfhistory.org/
San Francisco Public Library - San Francisco History Center, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco CA 94102. (415) 557-4567. Superb archives on San Francisco history, with good information and photos on buildings and architects. Web site has guides to researching SF buildings.
http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=0200002501
Society of California Pioneers Library, 300 4th Street, San Francisco CA 94107. (415) 957-1849. California history up to 1920s and extensive photo collection. Call ahead for hours and availability.
http://www.californiapioneers.org/library.html
Victorian Alliance, 824 Grove Street, San Francisco CA 94115. (415) 824-2666. The Victorian Alliance is a non-profit organization committed to the preservation and restoration of Victorian and other structures. Tours, meetings, support.
http://www.victorianalliance.org

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Public Records

Public records are important resources in researching buildings and places. Local government agencies often maintain useful records, such as: Building and water or utility permits will help you determine dates a place was built or altered, provide plans and/or drawings, and indicate ownership and designer. Deeds and tax assessment records also help identify who lived in or owned a place. Plat maps and city block books show land boundaries and street layouts. Older records may be sent to local historical societies or public library special collections. Most state libraries also maintain archival collections of records, and federal agencies also have materials related to historic buildings and places. Refer to the section on Archives for a list of local collections, or search the Online Archive of California. The following sources offer advice on locating and using public records.

"Archives in California," by Waverly B. Lowell and Teena Stern, eds. San Francisco, CA: California Historical Society, [1996] IN California History; v. 75, no. 1, 1996.
Main Stack F856.C28
The California handbook. [Claremont] Center for California Public Affairs. California information guide series. Esp. chapters on Architecture and Gardens.
EnvDesign F859. T7 Latest edition Reference Desk
City and County of San Francisco Index of Records. Database with information on public records by department, document or keyword. Document keyword "historical" reveals department by department whether or not historical files are available. Website for each department included. Mostly current material and information.
http://mission.sfgov.org/sunindex/
"Conducting Architectural Research in the San Francisco Bay Area," by Waverly Lowell IN Architectural Records in the San Francisco Bay Area, a Guide to Research. N.Y.: Garland, 1988, p. 1-17. Comprehensive listing and advice on locating and using public records and archival collections for architectural research.
EnvDsgn NA2125.C22.S2631 1988 Reference Desk
Cultural inheritance, L.A., a directory of less-visible archives and collections in the Los Angeles region. Los Angeles, CA: Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities, 1999.
Bancroft CD3118.L6.C85 1999
Directory of archival and manuscript repositories in California. Society of California Archivists, 1991.
EnvDsgn CD3111.A72 Reference Desk
Directory of California historical organizations, agencies and museums. Cupertino, CA: California Council for the Promotion of History, California History Center, 1991.
Bancroft F858.D597 1991 Reference
Every structure tells a story: how to research the history of a property in Santa Cruz County, with research techniques …. Santa Cruz, Calif.: Santa Cruz County Historical Trust, 1990.
Bancroft pfF868.S3.E841 1990
Guide to historic research in San Francisco: as an archaeological aid for Project SF-480 Terminal Separation Rebuild, by Nancy Olmsted. San Francisco, Calif.: The Dept., [1991]
EnvDsgn F869.S355.O44 1991 Reference Desk
How to Research Your House, by Betty Marvin and William Sturm. Emphasis on East Bay and Oakland. Lists many collections and types of public records and helpful hints.
http://oaklandheritage.tumblr.com/search/how+to+research+your+house
How to Research Your San Francisco Building. San Francisco Public Library San Francisco History Center. Offers excellent approach to research and lists important collections, including public records, available in SFPL.
http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000020201
The investigative reporter's handbook: a guide to documents, databases and techniques. Brant Houston, Len Bruzzese, 4th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002. See especially the section on "Who owns the land?" p. 474-78. Sponsored by Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc., who also have a helpful website.
http://www.ire.org/
EnvDsgn PN4781.I578 2002 Reference
Library Research Using Primary Sources. Outstanding guide to the process of using original and archival sources in your research.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/instruct/guides/primarysources.html
Local history and genealogy resources of the California State Library, edited by Gary E. Strong. Rev. ed. Sacramento, Calif.: California State Library Foundation, 1991.
Bancroft F860.L68 1991 Reference
NETROnline Real Estate and Public Records Research. Search by county, then department. Few records prior to 1960s, but you can use street address to locate owners; see real estate tax records, and other public records.
http://www.netronline.com/
Paper trails: a guide to public records in California, by Stephen Levine and Barbara T. Newcombe. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Center for Investigative Reporting; Sacramento: California Newspaper Publishers Association, 1996.
EnvDsgn CD3111.N48 1996 Reference Desk
Research for action: a guidebook to public records investigation for community activists. Don Villarejo. Davis, Calif.: California Institute for Rural Studies, 1980.
Bioscience HN65.V55
Searching in California a reference guide to public and private records, by Patricia Sanders. Costa Mesa, CA : ISC Publications, 1982.
Main Stack & Bancroft F860.S36 1982

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City Directories

City Directories are good sources for identifying individuals who lived or owned a structure, or businesses which operated at a particular address, in a particular year or years. Many city directories were produced annually and offer cross listings so you can search either by address or name. Most state and public libraries, as well as local historical societies, collect city directories for their region. See the Archives section for a listing of Bay Area organizations with collections of city directories, or check the library catalogs under subject word [name of city]--Directories for additional resources in the UC Libraries. Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco Public Libraries maintain special collections, as does the UCB Bancroft Library. Below is a very select list of examples of early city directories and collections.

A.W. Morgan & Co.'s San Francisco 1852 City Directory. Digitized version of this early directory. Part of the US GenWeb project.
http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/1852/52menu.htm
City Directories of the United States of America, California. A listing of California city directories organized by city with an incomplete list of which repositories have them. Be sure to check the library catalogs for copies in UCB campus libraries.
http://www.uscitydirectories.com/ca.htm
California State Library, California History Room, Sacramento, maintains a collection of city directories from all over California.
http://www.library.ca.gov/html/genealogy.cfm#E
Polk's Oakland city directory, including Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville and Piedmont. Oakland, Calif, R. L. Polk & Co. Polk produced directories of many California cities for many years. Bancroft has a nice collection.
Bancroft xF868.A3.A1, 1883-1967
Polk's San Francisco city directory. San Francisco. Set incomplete and most volumes in storage. Request microfiche in advance.

Bancroft Microfiche 740:66-71, 740:75-81 and 740:84-91 (1858-1861)
Bancroft Microfilm 602:19-46 (1861-1869, 1871-1901)
Bancroft print xF869.S3.A1 (1902-76).

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Images

In addition to the books and resources elsewhere in this guide, use these sources, some print and some Internet, for locating pictorial material on your architect or building. See also the section on Archives and Special Resources.

American Memory gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.
http://rs6.loc.gov/amhome.html
Architecture and Design Collection, University Art Museum, UC Santa Barbara, mostly southern California, but some Bay Area designers' collections are included.
http://www.uam.ucsb.edu/collections/adc/index.html
Architecture Visual Resources Center: SPIRO image database of UCB, Dept. of Architecture.
http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/spiro/
California Heritage Collection. An online archive of more than 30,000 images illustrating California's history and culture, from the collections of the Bancroft Library. Part of the Online Archive of California, a compilation of finding aids, or guides, to archival collections at more than 30 institutions.
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/calheritage.html
California Historical Society, Photographic Collections. 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, California 94105. 415-357-1848. Contains over half a million images, its strength residing in nineteenth and early twentieth century materials. Among the collections are daguerreotypes, albumen prints, stereo views and photographic albums.
http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/photography_coll.html
Cities/Buildings Image Archive, University of Washington. Searchable database of thumbnail photos of important buildings.
http://www.washington.edu/ark2/
Environmental Design Archives, UC Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, 2223 Fulton, Berkeley, CA, 94720-1810. Archives of Bay Area and Northern California architects and landscape architects. Available by appointment only. Non-UC users are charged a fee. Check their list of collections and finding aids on their website.
http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/cedarchives
Historic American Buildings Survey HABS/HAER. Searchable index of historic buildings, including measured and interpretive drawings, large-format black and white and color photographs, written historical and descriptive data, and original field notes. You can purchase copies of plans and photos.
http://www.nps.gov/history/hdp/
Historic American Buildings Survey: California. Measured drawings in the custody of the Prints and Photographs Division.1934?
Library has: [1-4] ([1934]) and NA730.C2.H54 1980 v. 1-4 Noncirculating
EnvDesign NA730.C2.H49 Reference
EnvDesign Microfiche 5221-5271 (through 1979); Microfiche 24977 (1990)
HAER Checklist: 1969-1985. By state and county, a list of Historic American Engineering Record, including factories, bridges, and other "non-building" structures.
EnvDesign E159 H1361 1985 Reference
Image and Sound Databases, UCB Library online image resources.
Image Sources for the Built Environment, UCB Environmental Design Library guide to print and electronic sources.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/research_images.html
National Register of Historic Places. Brief descriptions of all properties included in the National Register through 1991. Arranged by state, county, city and name of building.
EnvDesign E159 U556 1966-91 Reference
http://www.nps.gov/history/places.htm
National Register of Historic Places: California. Includes nominating documents and frequently photos and plans of all buildings in the Register as of 1982.
EnvDesign Microfiche 10274
Oakland History Room, Oakland Public Library, 124 14th St., Oakland, CA 94612. (510) 238-3222. Maintains a collection of photographs and postcards on the history of Oakland.
http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/Seasonal/Sections/oakhr.html
Online Archive of California. A digital information resource that facilitates and provides access to materials such as manuscripts, photographs, and works of art held in libraries, museums, archives, and other institutions across California.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/
San Francisco History Center Historical Photograph Collection - San Francisco Public Library. 100 Larkin Street (at Grove) San Francisco, CA 94102-4733. (415) 557-4567. Online database of the San Francisco Public Library's special collection. Copies of these images may be ordered, and many of them are available for use with proper permission. The online images are only a portion of the total holdings of the San Francisco Public Library.
http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=0200000301
The San Francisco News-Call Bulletin newspaper photograph archive, ca.1915-1965. San Francisco Call Bulletin Finding aid available through the Online Archive of California. Choose UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library.
Bancroft BANC MSS C-R 89 Microfilm
Online finding aid: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf338n99v6

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Maps

Maps are a good source for tracing the developmenet and dating of a neighborhood. Plat maps show a variety of details, including actual lot boundaries, special uses, building materials and building footprints. The most common are fire insurance maps. The Earth Sciences & Map Library and Bancroft Library have an extraordinary collection. Check library catalogs under location and format maps for additional resources.

David Rumsey Map Collection. This collection provides zoomable high resolution images of rare 18th and 19th century North and South America cartographic materials. Historic maps of the World, Europe, Asia and Africa are also represented. Over 6,000 maps are available for online viewing.
http://www.davidrumsey.com/
The Illustrated directory, a magazine of American cities, comprising views of business blocks, with reference to owners, occupants, professions and trades, public buildings and private residences. San Francisco, 1894.

Bancroft xfF869.S3.A12.1894 noncirculating; BANC FILM 2355
Image Sources for the Built Environment, Environmental Design Library, list of visual resources on the Web.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/research_images.html
San Francisco Maps, courtesy of San Francisco Genealogy. Guide and links to historic, street and other maps.

http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfmaps.htm

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are large-scale plans containing data used originally to estimate the potential risk for urban structures, and include an outline of each building, the size, shape and construction materials, heights, and function of structures, and location of windows and doors. The maps also give street names, street and sidewalk widths, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers. They are an excellent source on the history, growth, and development of American cities, towns, and neighborhoods. Description of Sanborn maps http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/sanborn.html.

Digital Sanborn Maps UCB Only Provides maps of cities and towns of California from the 1880s to 1950s.
http://sanborn.umi.com/
Fire insurance maps from the Sanborn Map Company Archives, late 19th century to 1990. California / a microfilm. Bethesda, Md.: University Publications of America, 1995. Research collections in urban history and urban studies.
Online index: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/film77648.html
Map Room MICROFILM.77648; guide shelved as MICROFILM.77648.guide
Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance Company industrial site maps: 1894-1954 [microform]. Alexandria, VA : Chadwyck-Healey, 1991.
Map Room MICROFICHE.24610; guide
Sanborn fire insurance maps: California, 1884-1950 and 1950-1970 [microform]. Teaneck, N.J. : Chadwyck-Healey, 1985, 1990.
Online index to microform set: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/sanborn_index.html
Map Room MICROFILM 31073
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, San Francisco, California, 1899/1900, courtesy of San Francisco Genealogy. The black and white maps presented here are from six volumes that covered San Francisco in 1899 and 1900. To locate a specific location, consult the various indexes to locate the correct Map Sheet. Then select the appropriate link.

http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sanborn/sanborn.htm

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Environmental Design Library @ UC Berkeley