Marin County Free Library

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) was a world's fair held in San Francisco between February 20 and December 4, 1915.

Institution: Marin County Free Library

The Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railroad ran from 1896 until 1929 between downtown Mill Valley to near the summit of Mt. Tamalpais, with a second line descending the West side of Mt. Tamalpais to Muir Woods beginning in 1907. The photographs and ephemera in this collection include depictions of the Tavern on Mt. Tamalpais, gravity cars, and the Inn at Muir Woods.

Institution: Marin County Free Library

Photographs and ephemera document the railroads that operated in Marin, c.1875-1941. Includes the history of the narrow gauge North Pacific Coast Railroad through Marin from Sausalito to Tomales.

Institution: Marin County Free Library

Photographs document the camping trip of a group of friends at Camp Taylor, West Marin County, 1889. Included are views of the paper mills, dams, and railroad trestles. Also shown is a part of the North Pacific Coast Railroad route, including the White's Hill trestle and the San Anselmo train station.

Institution: Marin County Free Library

Miscellaneous images documenting the history of San Quentin Prison and the life of Dr. Leo Stanley (1886-1976), prison doctor at San Quentin from 1913-1951.

Institution: Marin County Free Library

Family album of San Quentin guard, Richard M. Smith, and his wife, the San Quentin matron, Genevieve Smith. Depicts living conditions and activities of San Quentin inmates as well as prison grounds and buildings. During this period there were two wardens at San Quentin: John E. Hoyle (1907-1913), and James A. Johnston (1913-1925). Both men were reform wardens who tried to make prison life more humane. Warden Johnston initiated many industrial and educational training opportunities for the inmates. The photographs reflect this reformist climate, showing inmates engaged in sporting events as well as playing in a prison band and acting …

Institution: Marin County Free Library

Beginning in 1913, an annual track and field meet known as the Little Olympics was held at San Quentin Prison on a holiday such as Thanksgiving Day or Admission Day, under the auspices of the San Francisco Olympic Club. This was a day when prison rules were suspended and prisoners were allowed to participate in athletic and stage events, cheered on by their fellow inmates. The meet was the brainchild of reformist warden, James A. Johnston, who was a member of the Olympic Club. After Olympic Club sponsorship ended, athletic events and field meets inspired by the Little Olympics continued …

Institution: Marin County Free Library

Dr. Henry Orton Howitt practiced medicine in San Rafael, beginning in 1893. Both his home and office were located at 311 Lincoln Avenue (later, 1111 Lincoln Ave.). He was a founder of the old Cottage Hospital in San Rafael and the doctor for the Mt. Tamalpais Military Academy. He and his wife, Alice, had three children: Edith, Beatrice and Henry. Read more about the Howitt family in Beatrice Howitt’s oral history. Among the Howitt’s friends were fellow San Rafael residents and socialites, Truxtun and Marie Oge Beale. Several photographs show the Beale’s Beaux Arts mansion, designed by Arthur Brown of …

Institution: Marin County Free Library

Images of early San Rafael from San Rafael Illustrated & Described, showing its Advantages for Homes, published by W.W. Elliott & Co., in 1884. They represent original lithographs made from the sketches of Mr. Chris Jorgensen, a teacher at the San Francisco Art School. San Rafael Illustrated & Described is a promotional piece, meant to attract new residents and investors to Marin’s most populous town. The lithographs portray San Rafael in a still bucolic setting, and highlight homes, businesses, churches, train routes, ferries, etc. Articles include: A Suburban Arcadia; A Lovely Village; Magnolia Valley; The New Railroads.

Institution: Marin County Free Library

Images of Santa Venetia (San Rafael) from two promotional brochures published by Mabry McMahan to promote his failed Santa Venetia development plan. Both were produced in late 1914, around the time of McMahan’s “Grand Opening” celebration. McMahan was responsible for filling in Santa Venetia marshland and creating a series of canals, the canvas on which he hoped to create a luxury subdivision modeled after the Italian city of Venice.

Institution: Marin County Free Library