See San Francisco Before the Tech Boom

3 minute read

Today, South of Market, a wedge-shaped neighborhood in northwest San Francisco, is home to tech giants such as Twitter and Airbnb, but for most of its existence it was a very different kind of place.

Once famous for its “factories, slums, laundries, machine shops, boiler works, and the abodes of the working class,” as writer Jack London noted in 1909, it changed dramatically in the 1960s when many businesses that called the district home moved out and a community of artists and gay men and women emerged in its place. In the late 1970s, in the face of then expanding dereliction and as part of efforts to remake the neighborhood, city authorities condemned many of the residential hotels that had become a hallmark of the area, displacing many residents and small businesses.

It was at this time that photographer Janet Delaney moved to the area, seeking cheap rent. Between 1978 and 1986 she captured a neighborhood at the cusp of change. One that was not salubrious — she was held up at knifepoint and had her camera stolen — but one where behind the rough edges, a small but strong community of families and businesses still thrived.

“In my first two years of college I spent a lot of time, like many people in the early 70s, thinking of formal issues, like structure, and how a photograph is constructed,” Delaney says, recalling the kind of aesthetically-driven photography she was making up until she moved to the area. ” [I was] responding to minimalism, and how photography addresses these concepts.”

Later, a six-month solo trip to conflict-riddled parts of Central America left a deep impression on Delaney, and saw her take a socially-conscious turn with her work. Upon returning, the often-tough lives of her neighbors seemed to take on a new significance and she felt the need to document them. Using a large 4×5 view tripod-mounted camera, she made portraits and architectural views and shot the interiors of local businesses, in an attempt to document life in the neighborhood.

Planting Boganvia, Yerba Buena GardensJanet Delaney

The images that emerged are as frank as they are beautiful and are a testament to a once gritty, even vibrant neighborhood. Indeed, they bear an uncanny resemblance to pre-war documentary photography. It is perhaps all down to the camera, Delaney says: a bulky contraption that takes up a large amount of space but yields finely detailed images. And for the photographer, the ever obvious camera itself became an important part of the documentation process.

“The camera gave a sense of honor to a neighborhood that nobody ever considered, a neighborhood the city felt it could demolish,” Delaney says.

By 1988, with rents getting ever higher, Delaney, now a mother, moved across the bay to Berkeley. “I wouldn’t have left if that rent hadn’t been so high,” she adds, feeling that she was pushed out of her old neighborhood by rising prices. And that process doesn’t seem to be slowing as the neighborhood, now known as SoMa, continues to gentrify.

“I’ve continued to photograph South of Market,” Delaney says. “There’s more of a bustle, there’s more going on. But it’s really expensive. People are moving into high rises. It’s a more elegant, beautiful, [but] slightly alienating environment.”

Janet Delaney: South of Market runs until July 19, 2015 at the De Young Museum in San Francisco

Myles Little is an Associate Photo Editor for TIME

LIFE in a Great City: San Francisco

At the scene of the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1938.
At the scene of the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1938.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
At the scene of the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939.
At the scene of the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, 1939.Horace Bristol—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Ferry near the the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, 1941.
Ferry near the the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, 1941.Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Fong-Fong bakery and ice cream parlor, 1941.
Fong-Fong bakery and ice cream parlor, 1941.Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Diego Rivera working on pencil sketches for huge mural depicting Pan-American unity, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, 1941.
Diego Rivera working on pencil sketches for huge mural depicting Pan-American unity, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, 1941.Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Shipyard ironworkers, San Francisco, 1942.
Shipyard ironworkers, San Francisco, 1942.Hansel Mieth and Otto Hagel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
San Francisco 1942
Streets of San Francisco, 1942.Hansel Mieth and Otto Hagel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
San Francisco, 1942.
San Francisco, 1942.Hansel Mieth and Otto Hagel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A civilian observer and plane-spotter, San Francisco, 1942.
A civilian observer and plane-spotter, San Francisco, 1942.Hansel Mieth—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Cemetery of Mission Dolores, San Francisco, 1942.
Cemetery of Mission Dolores, San Francisco, 1942.Hansel Mieth—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Newspapers welcome Madame Chiang Kai-Shek to San Francisco, 1943.
Newspapers welcome Madame Chiang Kai-Shek to San Francisco, 1943.Hansel Mieth—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
American troops, San Francisco, 1945.
Troops Embarking from San FranciscoPeter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Author Gertrude Atherton and her dog outside of her home in San Francisco, 1946.
Author Gertrude Atherton and her dog outside of her home in San Francisco, 1946.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Cable car turnaround, San Francisco, 1947.
Cable car turnaround, San Francisco, 1947.Charles E. Steinheimer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
View of San Francisco, 1947.
View of San Francisco, 1947.Andreas Feininger—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
San Francisco, 1947.
San Francisco, 1947.Charles E. Steinheimer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Drive-in theater, San Francisco, 1948.
Drive-in theater, San Francisco, 1948.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, 1951.
Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, 1951.Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
South San Francisco, 1951.
South San Francisco, 1951.Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Dancing the mambo at San Francisco's Macumba Club, 1954.
Dancing the mambo at San Francisco's Macumba Club, 1954.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Pacific Heights, 1955.
Pacific Heights, 1955.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The Tin Angel, a waterfront nightclub, San Francisco, 1955.
The Tin Angel, a waterfront nightclub, San Francisco, 1955.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
View of the Golden Gate Bridge toward the hills of Marin County, 1955.
View of the Golden Gate Bridge toward the hills of Marin County, 1955.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
San Francisco 1956
San Francisco 1956Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Getting one's hair done in San Francisco, 1956.
Getting one's hair done in San Francisco, 1956.Leonard McCombe—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Lawrence Ferlinghetti at City Lights, 1957.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti at City Lights, 1957.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Kenneth Rexroth at a poetry reading, 1957.
Kenneth Rexroth at a poetry reading, 1957.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Housing construction in San Francisco, 1958.
Housing construction in San Francisco, 1958.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Looking at Alcatraz, 1958.
Looking at Alcatraz, 1958.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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San Francisco Giants-ball TeamGeorge Silk—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Opening of the boating season on San Francisco Bay, 1958.
Opening of the boating season on San Francisco Bay, 1958.Nat Farbman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Opening Day at Candlestick Park, 1960.
Opening Day at Candlestick Park, 1960.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, 1962.
Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, 1962.Walker Evans—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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'Beatles' at press conference in San Francisco airport.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Brand new BART, 1967.
Brand new BART, 1967.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Vietnam War protestors, San Francisco, 1967.
Vietnam War protestors, San Francisco, 1967.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
San Francisco, 1969.
San Francisco, 1969.Lee Balterman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Above San Francisco, 1969.
Above San Francisco, 1969.Lee Balterman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Black Panthers protest, San Francisco, 1970.
Black Panthers protest, San Francisco, 1970.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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Author Richard Brautigan with his daughter, San Francisco, 1970.Vernon Merritt III—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Dianne Feinstein, San Francisco mayoral race, 1971.
Dianne Feinstein, San Francisco mayoral race, 1971.Michael Rougier—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Anti-war march, San Francisco, 1972.
Anti-war march, San Francisco, 1972.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Skip Wheeler and his wife groom their horses after Veteran’s Day Parade, Folsom at 2nd StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Longtime neighbors, Langton at Folsom StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Chinese Jumprope in front of Bessie Carmichael School, Folsom Street, 1980Image courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Boy lifting weights, Langton StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Jill Scott and Perry Lancaster in their studio, 71 Langton StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Pat serving coffee at the Gordon Café in the Budget Hotel, 7th at Mission StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Johnny Ryan, Blacksmith, Klockar’s Blacksmith and Metal, 443 Folsom StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Office workers on lunch break near the site of the new convention center, 4th at Minna StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
David, Father Leo Joseph’s roommate, 60 Langton StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Saturday afternoon, Howard between 3rd and 4th StreetsImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
10th at Folsom StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Russ Street ApartmentsImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
View of the Financial District from south of Market StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
2nd at Market StreetImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Langton between Folsom and Harrison StreetsImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney
Vanessa and Lalett Fernandez with their son, Langton Street ResidentsImage courtesy of the artist. © 2014 Janet Delaney

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