2008.9.1

This black and white photograph features a woman wearing a white shirtwaist (with a black band or ribbon at the neck--white lace edging above that and fastened with an oval shaped pin), a dark (probably black) skirt, her hair is swept up off of her neck and piled on top of her head. In her hands she holds a large straw hat. The woman is married; her wedding ring can be seen clearly on her left hand as she holds the hat in front of her. She is inside a tent, tent pole is quite visible. Behind her, perhaps across the street, is a large building that looks as though it is a home. It also does not show damage from either the Earthquake or the Fire. To the woman's right is a piece of funiture (sideboard??) on which is a white linen or cotton towel. On top of the towel is a small stack of plates with a few bowls on top containing smaller dishes, a closed jar, a pitcher and several cloth napkins and perhaps a newspaper are also on the the towel. There's a chest of drawers or a closed sewing machine on the proper left side of the image. A cloth is on the top and another cloth flutters down the front. In the background, between the woman and the chest of drawers/sewing machine(?) is a heap of soft goods--obvious is a comforter on top, then a pieced quilt, and a basketry something...hat? basket?chair? Laid beneath her feet is a large carpet or rug; no grass or raw earth is visible in the photograph, only the carpeting.

After the Earthquake and Fire of 1906, many San Franciscans found themselves "camping out" in parks or at the presidio, in tents, sourround by what of their worldy goods they could save or salvage. This woman has pulled herself together and looks quite respectable in spite of her make-shift living conditions.

Used: souvenir