An Abandoned Cabinet Unearths a Trove of Unseen Kodachrome Slides Documenting 1960s San Francisco — Colossal



History
Photography

#James A. Martin
#San Francisco
#street photography

There’s a Vivian Maier-esque story out of San Francisco that’s drawing consideration to a newly found physique of labor from a largely unknown photographer.

Again in 2020, David Gallagher, who runs the historic archive referred to as SF Memory, acquired a hefty cupboard that was discovered deserted in San Francisco’s Mission District. Inside had been 920 Kodachrome slides capturing life within the California metropolis all through the Sixties, with no figuring out particulars concerning the photographer.

The pictures doc a interval of main infrastructural growth within the space, together with the development of the Bay Space Speedy Transit (BART) system and the subway beneath Market Avenue, along with quieter moments. There are kids at play, an officer exhibiting off a chunky, white rabbit, and households swimming in Fleishhacker Pool earlier than the general public saltwater advanced closed in 1971. Collectively, the gathering creates a definite photographic tapestry of life within the metropolis throughout a time of large change and development.

Earlier this month, Gallagher spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle concerning the findings and their mysterious origin, and really rapidly, an area named Ted Martin recognized the pictures as these of his late father, James A. Martin. Ted shared that the cupboard was purged from the household’s possessions following James’ loss of life in 2019 together with two others identical to. That pair, which presumably holds extra pictures, remains to be lacking—Gallagher has been feverishly looking for the remaining cupboards and plastering indicators all through the town asking about their whereabouts.

In accordance with his son, James was a instructor and technophile who “cherished San Francisco. He lived right here his complete life, all 90 years. He was a giant sports activities fan: Giants, Warriors, 49ers. He labored exhausting. He did his day job after which did evening faculty and different issues for extra cash.” These odd gigs included images for weddings and different native happenings. He developed the pictures in his dwelling darkish room, and apparently, saved the slides within the aforementioned metallic circumstances the place they remained hidden.

Now, there’s rising curiosity in James’ pictures and in finding the remainder of the gathering. Whereas the search continues, Gallagher has been sharing among the slides on SF Memory, which is certainly value a glance. (by way of PetaPixel)

#James A. Martin
#San Francisco
#street photography

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