1906 San Francisco Earthquake

The Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 ranks as an unparalleled disaster in the history of San Francisco. More than four and one-half square miles of San Francisco burned and crumbled into a windswept desert of desolation. Nearly 200,000 people out of San Francisco's population of 450,000 were left homeless by the disaster.
Gladys Hansen
San Francisco City Archivist Emeritus

Filters

  • Earnest Adams letter to Reed.

    San Francisco, CA - 23 April 1906

    Earnest H. Adams letter to employers Messrs. Reed & Barton... Here we are all paupers together, but we have our grit left.

  • Orsamus Cole letter to unknown.

    San Francisco, CA - 25 April 1906

    orsamus cole personal account of 1906 san francisco quake

  • To: unknown.

    San Francisco, CA -

    Donoldina Cameron account of SF quake in the The San Francisco News... The terrible earthquake shock that in one instant roused a sleeping city, spared not in its rude awakening the peacefully sleeping house at 920 Sacramento Street.

  • To: unknown.

    San Francisco, CA -

    Dr George Blumer relates his experience during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906

  • Eleanor Watkins letter to unknown.

    San Francisco, CA - 25 April 1906

    eleanor watkins personal account of the san francisco earthquake

  • Peter Bacigalupi letter to unknown.

    San Francisco, CA - 1 June 1906

    Peter Bacigalupi letter to the publication Edison Phonograph Monthly... On the morning of the 18th of April I was awakened from a sound slumber by a terrific trembling, which acted in the same manner as would a bucking broncho

  • Emma Burke letter to Overlook Magazine.

    San Francisco, CA - 2 June 1906

    Emma Burke account of 1906 SF quake to Overlook Magazine... No one can comprehend the calamity to San Francisco in its entirety.

  • To: The Sketch Magazine.

    London, ENG - 1 July 1906

    Enrico Caruso account of the SF 1906 earthquake to The Sketch Magazine... I was frightened, as many others were, but I did not lose my head.

  • To: Ana Maria De Jesus.

    San Francisco, CA - 19 September 1988

    DeWitt C. Baldwin as related to Ana Maria P. de Jesus... At about five fifteen, I had gotten as far as sitting up with my feet over the side of the bed when totally unexpectedly the house began to shake violently.