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Historical past
Pictures
#James A. Martin
#San Francisco
#avenue pictures
All photos courtesy of David Gallagher, shared with permission
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 often known as SF Reminiscence, 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 in regards to 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 Road, along with quieter moments. There are kids at play, an officer displaying 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 progress.
Earlier this month, Gallagher spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle in regards to the findings and their mysterious origin, and really rapidly, an area named Ted Martin recognized the photographs as these of his late father, James A. Martin. Ted shared that the cupboard was purged from the household’s possessions following James’ dying in 2019 together with two others identical to. That pair, which presumably holds extra photographs, 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 keeping with his son, James was a instructor and technophile who “cherished San Francisco. He lived right here his whole life, all 90 years. He was a giant sports activities fan: Giants, Warriors, 49ers. He labored arduous. He did his day job after which did evening college and different issues for extra cash.” These odd gigs included pictures for weddings and different native happenings. He developed the photographs in his dwelling darkish room, and apparently, saved the slides within the aforementioned steel instances the place they remained hidden.
Now, there’s rising curiosity in James’ photographs and in finding the remainder of the gathering. Whereas the search continues, Gallagher has been sharing a number of the slides on SF Reminiscence, which is certainly value a glance. (by way of PetaPixel)
#James A. Martin
#San Francisco
#avenue pictures
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