Tony Platt discusses his latest work, The Scandal of Cal: Land Grabs, White Supremacy, and Miseducation.
Do not miss this thought-provoking evening with acclaimed author Tony Platt as he unveils the hidden truths behind the renowned University of California, Berkeley, affectionately known as 'Cal.' Celebrated for its innovation and progressive ideals, Berkeley's lesser-known history is marred by plunder, warfare, and white supremacy. In his gripping work, 'The Scandal of Cal,' Platt delves deep into the university's past, shedding light on its unsettling practices such as grave desecration, hoarding of Indigenous remains, and involvement in racist eugenics. Unveiling connections to the military-industrial complex and its role in the Manhattan Project's violent legacy, Platt's book exposes a dark chapter of Cal's involvement in US history. Join us for this enlightening event, where we'll explore the urgent need for a genuine reckoning with the past, a vital endeavor for alumni, students, faculty, and anyone invested in the impact of higher education. Platt will be in conversation with educator and author Milton Reynolds.
Learn about the efforts of the Bay Area Hip Hop Archives (BAHHA). We kick off with an all vinyl DJ set by the curator of the Bay Area Hip Hop Archives -- Jahi.
Leading the archiving effort is Jahi, an artist, curator and the founder of Microphone Mechanics. BAHHA's mission is to preserve, protect and highlight the Bay Area artists, activists, educators and culture-keepers who have made a 20 year or more significant contribution to the community and world via Hip Hop culture.
Alec Scott shares tales of the institutions and symbols that have made the city distinctive. Hear stories about a gold miner's sourdough starter, the world’s first blue jeans and the oldest rainbow flag as well as music history and pioneering innovations in social services. Just released, Oldest San Francisco is a love letter to his adopted city.
Award-winning feature writer and author Scott has contributed to Smithsonian magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco and other publications. His first novel, Until It Shimmers,was published in 2022.
A monthly social club based in San Francisco for mail artists, letter writers and people who love the USPS. If this sounds like you, then you've come to the right place! The San Francisco Correspondence Co-op is a place for like-minded folks to meet other artists in a casual setting, make some mail art and share ideas. Sponsored by Book Arts & Special Collections.
Two-time Pulitzer finalist, John King, explores the story of American urban design through San Francisco's iconic Ferry Building.
Built in 1898 during the Gilded Age, the Ferry Building served as San Francisco's gateway to the world, initially as the endpoint of the transcontinental railway. Its iconic clocktower symbolized the city in early films and postcards. However, the rise of automobiles and freeways in the 20th century disconnected the city from this beloved landmark and its waterfront. In Portal, architectural critic John King chronicles the Ferry Building's history, highlighting the individuals who fought to preserve its character, including architect Arthur Page Brown, columnist Herb Caen, poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Senator Dianne Feinstein.
With Antonio Cavedoni & Chris Wilson of LoveFrom Serif.
LoveFrom Serif is a brand new interpretation of the Baskerville genre, a custom typeface that supports a new identity designed by Peter Saville and the LoveFrom team. From a study of Baskerville's surviving punches, printed books and contemporary writing master's manuals, this talk gives an overview of the Baskerville letterforms, their historic significance and the design of a brand new interpretation that supports a new identity. LoveFrom Serif greatly extends the dynamic range of the original Baskerville letterforms, providing the studio not just with an identity but with a voice, and a tool to use in selected projects with clients as well as self-initiated work.
Collection Highlight: Art Deco Designs from Walter Karl Titze
Walter Karl Titze was born in 1889 in Brainerd, Minnesota. He worked as a scenic artist in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was a contributor and later assistant editor of the arts and crafts journal Keramic before the Great War. He gave a lecture on interior decoration at the Paul Elder Gallery in San Francisco in 1924, and settled in California in 1936. Along with designs for tableware, he published a spiral bound book of 20 leaves of plates, Birds in Design in San Francisco, in about 1939-1940. His studio was at 1366 Mission Street, San Francisco.
Birds in Design is a collection of silk screen illustrations of stylized birds, in an Art Deco style, presumably meant for wallpaper design. At that time, he lived at 1474 Sacramento Street in San Francisco, and the US federal census taker described him as a 'China decorating artist.' Titze died August 11, 1944 in Veterans Administration Hospital, West Hollywood. San Francisco History Center holds Birds in Design (missing one print) as well as two original gouache designs and a hand-colored Christmas card designed by Titze.
On Exhibit at the San Francisco History Center Exhibit Space
San Francisco History Center Exhibit Space, 6th Floor, Main Library
and James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, 3rd Floor, Main Library
This exhibition features portraits taken by Jeannie O‘Connor at four Centers for AIDS services in San Francisco, Oakland and Richmond from 1989-1995. As a guest artist for Sharon Siskin's Positive Art classes, once a year, Jeannie set up a make-shift studio and brought in a view camera with Polaroid film. A long shutter release proved to be the best approach, allowing each sitter to control the timing of the shutter. Polaroid prints were passed around and enjoyed, leading to a festive communal experience for the participants and families.
Treasures from the Punk Archive coming soon to DigitalSF
V. Vale at Aito's Berkeley, 1978.
San Francisco
History Center,
Book Arts &
Special Collections 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 415-557-4400sfpl.org/bookarts