Sutro Library (San Francisco)
WHAT'S NEW:
In honor of our 100th year of serving the people of California, we invite you to color our collections! Look at our anniversary coloring book online or download a PDF file.
The California State Library is mandated to protect and preserve California's rich history and is ideally suited to house this collection of historical and political importance. See our California Women's March Collection.
Have no fear, Sutro is here! Join us on Wednesday, September 13th at 11am for a free genealogical talk addressing the Family History Library microfilm phase out and learn how to navigate Family Search and other free online sources. See our flyer for more information!
The Sutro Library (our San Francisco branch) holds the original collection of Adolph Sutro (1830–1898), California businessman and San Francisco mayor. The library has a large collection of publications and items dating from the 13th to the 21st centuries. It also has one of the largest genealogy collections in the U.S.
Some of the outstanding and rare items in the collection are:
William Shakespeare's First, Second, Third and Fourth folios (1623–1685);
Letters and papers of British explorer and naturalist Joseph Banks (1800s);
The Mexican Collection: materials on Mexican culture, religion and politics (1540–1889);
Belgian mapmaker Pieter van den Keere's World Map (1611).
Adolph Sutro's heirs donated his collection to the California State Library in 1913 with the requirement that the collection stay within the city of San Francisco. After operating in various locations in the city for almost 100 years, the Sutro Library moved to a permanent home at San Francisco State University in 2012.
Click on the titles below for more information.
Volunteering is a wonderful way to use current skills, develop new skills, and meet interesting people, while at the same time helping your community. Projects can be as short or long in duration according to your availability; some can even be done virtually. Learn more about the CSL Volunteer Program.
Donations of materials relating to family history and genealogy are especially welcome. We would also consider materials relating to American and world culture and history.
Your assistance in helping the State Library preserve a record of history for future research and educational use would be greatly appreciated. Contemporary as well as historical materials are added to the collection. Please contact the Sutro Library with any questions. The curator of Special Collections can help you determine if the Sutro Library is an appropriate repository for your collection.
Two online publications from the Society of American Archivists offer donation guidance:
- Guide to Donating Your Personal or Family Papers to a Repository
- Guide to Donating Your Organization's Records to a Repository
The California State Library Foundation has established a Sutro Library – Genealogy fund for those who wish to make a contribution. Monetary gifts to this fund or for the State Library in general, should be sent to:
Please specify that your donation is to be used for the Sutro Library – Genealogy fund. For information about the Foundation, visit its web site. The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, public charity governed by an independent Board of Directors. Donations of materials or funds may be tax-deductible.
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132-4030
Tel: 415-469-6100
Email: sutro@library.ca.gov
Days & Hours
M-F 10-4, excluding
State holidays.
Phone
415-469-6100
Email sutro@library.ca.gov
Do you have a reference question? Use our Ask A Librarian service,
which directs your inquiry to a California State Library staff member.