Descriptive Summary
USU_P0346
San Francisco Earthquake Snapshots
1906
Taylor, John Lorin,
1933
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Photograph Collection
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-3000
Phone: 435 797-2663
Fax: 435 797-2880
Email: scweb@usu.edu
1 Box
0.25 linear ft.
25 black and white prints of the San Francisco
earthquake and fire, taken between April 18 and April 20, 1906 by John Lorin Taylor.
Included in the collection are snapshots of buildings (including the Emporium, James
Flood, Examiner, Call, Merchant's Exchange, Hibernia Bank, City Hall, and the
Central Bank) consumed in the disaster. Also included are scenes of people wandering
through the ruined streets, watching from a ferry boat as the city burns, and
looting.
Material in English.
Processed in 2003
donated to Special Collections by Melvin Cannon, of Logan, Utah, in August of
2003
Restrictions
No restrictions on use except: not available through interlibrary loan.
Copyright
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright
clearances.
Permission to publish material from the San Francisco Earthquake Snapshots must
be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections
Department Head.
Initial Citation: P0346; San Francisco Earthquake
Snapshots; Photograph Collections; Utah State University Special Collections and
Archives, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University.
Following Citations: P0346, USUSC.
Biographical Note
In all likelihood these images were taken by John Lorin Taylor (a grandson of LDS
Church President John Taylor). Taylor was born in 1882 or 1883 in Ogden, Utah, to
Richard and Sarah Farr Taylor. He may have been serving as a Mormon missionary in
San Francisco at the time of the earthquake, or possibly just travelling through the
area. He married Genevieve Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the 9th of December,
1908. Taylor was a prominent businessman in the grain industry, serving as the
president of the Inland Grain Company of Ogden for several years and helping to
create the Ogden grain exchange. Around 1925, Taylor moved to Los Angeles,
California, with his wife and five children to pursue work in the brokerage
business. He died there on November 24, 1933, of perionitis, at the age of 51.
Photograph Collection P0346 consists of 25 black and white prints of the San
Francisco earthquake and fire, taken between April 18 and April 20, 1906 by John
Lorin Taylor. Included in the collection are snapshots of buildings (including the
Emporium, James Flood, Examiner, Call, Merchant's Exchange, Hibernia Bank, City
Hall, and the Central Bank) consumed in the disaster. Also included are poignant
scenes of people wandering through the ruined streets, views from a ferry boat of
the city burning, and looting.
Historical Note
On the morning of April 18, 1906, the people of San Francisco awoke just after 5:00
am to one of the worst natural disasters in American history. Estimated to be about
an 8.5 on the Richter Scale, the San Francisco earthquake devastated the city and
eventually contributed to an estimated 3,000 deaths. The earthquake created a rift
in the ground along the San Andreas fault for nearly 270 miles along the California
coast, causing the west side of the fault to slide northwards. Tremors from the
earthquake's epicenter, just off the coast of San Francisco, were felt from Oregon
to Southern California and as far inland as Nevada. Several buildings such as the
Palace Hotel, reputed to be earthquake and fire proof, were destroyed in the
aftermaths of the quake by raging fires that burned for several days. Women, unaware
of the damage done to their chimneys by the quake, started breakfast in the morning.
The ruined chimneys caused the massive "ham and egg" fires that swept through
residential neighborhoods. Gas and water mains were ruptured leaving no defense
against the engulfing flames. More people were killed by the massive fires than from
the actual earthquake. An estimated 225,000 people (out of 400,000 living in San
Francisco) were left homeless by the devastation. The massive exodus to the ferry
became a problem as people scrambled to get out of the burning city. Others took up
residence outside of the Ferry Building or in parks and public squares. Looting
became such a problem that Mayor E. E. Schmitz issued an order for police officers
to shoot any looters or others breaking the law. All told the earthquake and fire
caused an estimated $350,000,000 to $500,000,000 in damages.
These photographs were donated to Special Collections by Melvin Cannon, of Logan,
Utah, in August of 2003. Melvin Cannon served as a chemistry professor at Utah State
University for 31 years, spending 13 of those years as head of the Chemistry
Department. This collection probably came to him through his mother Letticia Taylor
Cannon who was the sister of John Lorin Taylor. The photographs are in good
condition.
Topical
The description listed next to each image is transcribed directly from the
information written on the back of each photograph. Note that the date on the back
of the photographs incorrectly date the earthquake as March.
Environmental Conditions
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire,
Calif., 1906--Photographs
San Francisco
(Calif.)--Photographs
Photographs
1
1
Item 1
View from Market Street toward the Emporium after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
View from Market Street toward the Emporium after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 2
View of the train tracks showing the results of shockwaves after the San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, California
View of the train tracks showing the results of shockwaves after the San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 18
1
1
Item 3
View of San Francisco fire from the ferry boat, San Francisco, California
View of San Francisco fire from the ferry boat, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 18
1
1
Item 4
View of the Hall in ruins from Market Street after the San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, California, April 16, 1906
View of the Hall in ruins from Market Street after the San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 16
1
1
Item 5
Crowd being driven back by soldiers on Market Street after the San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, California
Crowd being driven back by soldiers on Market Street after the San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 18
1
1
Item 6
Pine Street looking South from Kearney after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
Pine Street looking South from Kearney after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 7
View of the San Francisco water front in flames from the ferry, San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Fancisco, California
View of the San Francisco water front in flames from the ferry, San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Fancisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 18
1
1
Item 8
View towards Golden Gate Park on Larkin Street, opposite the Hall after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
View towards Golden Gate Park on Larkin Street, opposite the Hall after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 9
Result of the shock on New Key Boat after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
Result of the shock on New Key Boat after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 10
Skeleton of the Examiner building, the Call from Market and 3rd Street after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
Skeleton of the Examiner building, the Call from Market and 3rd Street after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 11
View looking north on Kearney Street from Pine Street after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire
View looking north on Kearney Street from Pine Street after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 12
View looking up Market Street from Ferry after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
View looking up Market Street from Ferry after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 13
Refugees camped in front of the Ferry Building after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
Refugees camped in front of the Ferry Building after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 14
Result of the earthquake on the City Hall dome after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
Result of the earthquake on the City Hall dome after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 15
View looking East from Market and Elis Streets with Firemen at work during the fire after the San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, California
View looking East from Market and Elis Streets with Firemen at work during the fire after the San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 18
1
1
Item 16
View of ruins from O'Farrell and Larkin Streets after the San Francisco Fire and Earthquake, San Francisco, California
View of ruins from O'Farrell and Larkin Streets after the San Francisco Fire and Earthquake, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 17
Crowd watching fire of Grand Rapids Furniture during the San Francisco Fire, San Francisco, California
Crowd watching fire of Grand Rapids Furniture during the San Francisco Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 18
1
1
Item 18
Image showing John Lorin Taylor on the extreme left and the ruins of a Church after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco California
Image showing John Lorin Taylor on the extreme left and the ruins of a Church after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco California [Click to Access]
1906 April 19
1
1
Item 19
Looters at work near the remains of the Merchant's Exchange Building after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
Looters at work near the remains of the Merchant's Exchange Building after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 20
View of Hibernia Bank after the San Francisco Fire and Earthhquake, San Francisco Earthquake and Fire
View of Hibernia Bank after the San Francisco Fire and Earthhquake, San Francisco Earthquake and Fire [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 21
View looking toward Ferry showing City Hall in the way after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire
View looking toward Ferry showing City Hall in the way after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 22
Result of the shock on the Central Bank in Oakland California after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Oakland, California
Result of the shock on the Central Bank in Oakland California after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Oakland, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 19
1
1
Item 23
View looking south on Kearny and Pine toward the Call building after the San Francisco Fire and Earthquake, San Francisco, California
View looking south on Kearny and Pine toward the Call building after the San Francisco Fire and Earthquake, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 24
View on Van Ness Avenue and Sutter Street showing destuction on all sides after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
View on Van Ness Avenue and Sutter Street showing destuction on all sides after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20
1
1
Item 25
View from Market Street looking East during fire, showing the Emporium and James Flood buildings, San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California
View from Market Street looking East during fire, showing the Emporium and James Flood buildings, San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 18
1
1
Item 26
Photograph of Market looking west, Emporium and other building ruined, San Francisco, California
Photograph of Market looking west, Emporium and other building ruined, San Francisco, California [Click to Access]
1906 April 20