California Historical Landmarks in San Francisco
California Historical Landmark 791
Original Site of Bancroft Library
1538 Valencia Street
Mission District
Built 1881
Demolished 1954
 "California Historical Landmark #791: Original Site of Bancroft Library")
The Plaque is on the grounds of St. Luke's Hospital
29 January 2012
 "California Historical Landmark #791: Original Site of Bancroft Library")
29 January 2012
 "California Historical Landmark #791: Original Site of Bancroft Library")
Vintage Photograph Taken Between 1881 and 1905
Courtesy San Francisco Public Library
(Click Photos to Zoom)
Here from 1881-1906 stood the library of Hubert Howe Bancroft who in 1860 began to collect the wealth of material which was to subsequently result in the writing of his monumental history of western North America. In 1905, the library was purchased by the University of California and removed the following year to its Berkeley campus.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 791
Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with The Friends of the Bancroft Library, the California Historical Society and St. Luke's Hospital. November 24, 1964.
After the removal of the collection in 1906, the building had become a sasparilla plant. From 1920 until it was demolished in 1954, it was used by St. Luke's Hospital as a clinic.
[From Oakland Tribune, 27 November 1964]