PBA Galleries

Two albums compiling copy photographs of family photographs, letters, historical San Francisco photographs and history of the family of Captain Millen Griffith of San Francisco. The albums consist of photographically reproduced letters from various members of the Griffith family and Millen Griffith’s wife, Jane Lord’s family who originated in New York. Many of the letters and photographs have interesting annotations in a fine hand alongside their margins, by an unidentified member of the family. There are approximately 58 mounted 5 x7 black and white copy photographs of San Francisco street scenes made by photographer T.E. Hecht of 430 35th Avenue, San Francisco, of which a small portion are original, of the period just prior to the earthquake. The balance of the pages are family letters and photographs produced photographically directly on the album pages. One volume consists of 190 leaves, the second with 173 leaves, the letters on the rectos and the photos mounted on both sides of the pages. 9¾x9½, full leather.

Captain Millen Griffith (1828-1896) started the first tugboat operation in San Francisco Bay in 1849 as the Shipowners & Merchants Tug Co. with John D. Spreckels as partner, which were known as the Red Star Tugs. The company pioneered the use of tugs in the whaling and salmon canning industry in Alaska. Griffith became successful, raising a large family and residing in a significant house on Rincon Hill. These albums record a window of history into the life of an early San Francisco family with communications between the members and illustrated with photos of their city surroundings .