The San Francisco Public Library's main building, a Beaux-Arts structure with a colonnade and arched windows, stands across a street from hedged planting beds. Pedestrians and an early automobile pass in front. The building opened in 1917 as part of the Civic Center, a centerpiece of the city's rebuilding after the 1906 earthquake and fire.
Sepia real photo postcard; white border; black photo corners visible in scan; printed number 9 at lower right; front captioned "PUBLIC LIBRARY- SAN FRANCISCO" in the negative at lower edge.
No postmark, stamp, or address — back is blank except a pencil dealer annotation ("RmLJ" and "1.00") at upper left. Divided-back card with printed "POST CARD / CORRESPONDENCE / ADDRESS" and dashed "PLACE STAMP HERE" box; light soiling and corner wear.
Cite this card
Public Library, San Francisco, CA, circa 1917, postcard, c. 1917. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/public-library-san-francisco-ca-circa-1917. Accessed November 2, 2026.
