[An exceptional group of 10 stereoview albumen photos of after-effects from the catastrophic 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the devastation afterwards, and relief efforts]. Masonic Hall in the distance, 21; Lick Baths, 24; McCormick Building, looking up Market Street, 26; Looking down Folsom Street, 29; Near corner of Battery and Front, 35; General scene of devastation, 38; Emporium from Jessie Street side, 44; Refugees in line for relief, 55; Ruins, manufacturing district, 64; Ruins, Hopkins Institute, Nob Hill, 82.

San Francisco & [Los Angeles, CA]: Clinton Johnson, 1906. Ten albumen mounted stereoview photos, sized 6.4 x 3.25 in. mounted on 7 x 3.5 in. flat gray studio board, mimeographed typescript title labels mounted on all versos, most images w/ photographer’s imprint w/in the negative at lower fore-edge, all w/ rounded corners, very minor edgewear, still a NF grouping. This outstanding group of very scarce albumen Woodbury-type stereograph photos vividly capture the widespread damage from the April 18, 1906 earthquake, and subsequent fires which destroyed over 80% of the city of San Francisco, which at the time was the largest city on the West Coast. Nearly three-fourths of the population were left homeless, and makeshift refugee camps in Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, the Panhandle, and the beaches between Ingleside and North Beach operated for years after the disaster as the city rebuilt. Reconstruction, and commercial activities began almost immediately with a couple of these images showing the roadways largely cleared of debris, with piles of rubble and devastation spreading into the distance. Many of the images show gutted buildings, advertising signs faintly visible in the ruined brick facades, and immense piles of masonry and smoking ruins. One of the images capture groups of men hunkering down reading papers, smoking, and largely shell-shocked waiting in the refugee line for aid. The historic James Lick Baths are depicted in ruins ine one of the images, and were rebuilt following the disaster utilizing as much of the original structure as possible in order to remain in operation, and the facade was simplified from the original Richardson Romanesque Revival to Renaissance Revival, and would operate as one of five public baths from 1906 to 1920. The structure was later converted to the People’s Laundry in operation until 1973. Another of the stereoviews depicts the remnants of the McCormick Hotel before it would later be destroyed along with all of the surrounding ruins by the US Army Corps of Engineers. In fact, one sergeant of the battalion narrowly escaped death as the building collapsed while he was placing the charge in the basement. Johnson (1875-1948) appears in street directories in Los Angeles as photographer from 1896-1906, but appears on no census or business trade listings for the period, and also managed to eschew registering for the draft. His stereograph series for the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire appears to be relatively uncommon, and the only major institutional holdings are in the Bancroft library with 39 (BANC PIC 1905.02074-.02118--STER), however, nearly all of the images in this collection are not represented. In addition, these images correspond mostly closely in format to the Bancroft’s version which were issued with decorative printed boards, and captions rubber stamped below, while these do not bear the printed boards, and captions are mounted on versos.