The first Langley San Francisco city directory!
San Francisco Directory Year and Business Guide for 1858: Henry G. Langley Compiler.
$3,400
In stock
Description
The rare first Langley directory for the city of San Francisco compiled by Henry G. Langley, with numerous business advertisements throughout. It provides a remarkable window onto the city’s early history.
Following advertisements and prefatory remarks, the Directory begins with a ‘historical’ review of events and statistics from the past year, covering demographics, city finances, crime, property values, among other topics. Afterwards, a ‘general review’ covers the current state of several topics, such as government affairs, schools, churches, fraternal organizations, and the like.
Finally, the bulk of the book is taken up by directory listings of over seventeen thousand individuals and nearly seven thousand firms. Tables of Streets, Public Buildings, etc. provide the latest information as the city was expanding rapidly from its humble origins a decade prior. The Appendix contains the organization of the various branches of the municipal government, and the laws regulating the same, together with a description of the different associations, and a great variety of valuable information on various subjects, exhibiting at a glance the progress and present condition of the city.
Click here to view a digitized example of the 1858 directory.
Context is everything
In 1858, San Francisco was rapidly transforming, a decade after the onset of the California Gold Rush. The city’s population had exploded, welcoming tens of thousands of residents from across the globe, making it a melting pot of diverse ethnicities and cultures. The Gold Rush not only brought miners but also transformed San Francisco into a significant port and commercial hub, with ships from worldwide docking at its harbor. Businesses blossomed to cater to miners and settlers, and banking, commerce, and trade sectors saw exponential growth.
However, this rapid growth came with challenges. The city grappled with lawlessness, and groups like the Committee of Vigilance had previously taken controversial measures to establish order. Infrastructure was still catching up to the city’s needs, with many wooden structures prone to frequent fires. Discrimination, especially against non-white populations such as the Chinese, was prevalent, leading to the emergence of distinct communities like Chinatown. Amidst all this, the press, with newspapers like the “Daily Alta California,” played an essential role in informing and shaping the city’s dynamic society, and Langley’s directories provided a foundation for the city’s commercial network.
Cartographer(s):
Henry G. Langley was a prominent figure in 19th-century San Francisco, best known for his role in publishing city directories. Starting in the 1850s, his “Langley’s San Francisco Directory” became an essential resource, chronicling the city’s evolution.
These directories, which are precursors to today’s phone books, listed information about residents, their professions, addresses, and also showcased ads from local businesses. They also contained comprehensive details about the city’s streets, government entities, churches, schools, and more.
With San Francisco undergoing rapid growth due to the California Gold Rush, Langley’s directories offer an invaluable snapshot of its transformation into a major American city. As the city expanded, so did the scope of Langley’s work, with directories eventually encompassing not just San Francisco’s core, but also its surrounding areas. With the advent of the telephone and subsequent telephone directories, the significance of city directories like Langley’s dwindled. Nevertheless, his contributions remain an integral part of San Francisco’s historical fabric. Many of these directories have since been digitized, offering a window into the city’s storied past for anyone with an interest.
Valentine & Co.Condition Description
First Edition. Original boards. 8vo. viii-xxi advertisements; 391 pp. Table of Contents; Index to advertisements. Rebound gilt-lettered spine over printed boards. (pp. 201-202 and 235-236 missing but replaced with copies).
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