Sutro Library (San Francisco)
Current Exhibit
Caricature in politics and culture: Our new exhibit focuses on caricature and satire in society. From Hogarth to Gillray to Punch magazine to France’s Dampier, illustrated satire captures, reflects, and relates ideas, provoking a critical eye towards politics and culture. It is also one of the ways in which society can convey their pleasure in, or ridicule of, the powerful. Exhibit runs June 2024 through the end of August 2024.
Bay Area Genealogy Calendar
Featured Event: “My China Roots: An SFPL Resource for Chinese Genealogy” presented by the San Francisco Public Library on Wednesday, August 21st at 1:00 pm. See Calendar for more details.
The Sutro Library (the State Library’s 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 as well as one of the largest genealogy collections in the U.S.
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 for nearly a century, the Sutro Library moved to a permanent home at San Francisco State University in 2012.
What’s New
Missed our latest virtual event? Watch the recording of the presentation about Polynesian genealogy on our YouTube channel!
New online resource! Search the holdings for the Sutro Library’s telephone directories on microfiche covering the 1970s – 2000s through our new database!
Ghoulies, ghosties and long-leggedy beasties! Download and make our spooky coloring book part of your Halloween festivities (PDF).
In honor of our 100th year of serving the people of California, we invite you to color our collections! Download our anniversary coloring book (PDF).
Featured Video
Contact Us
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132-4030
Days & Hours
Tuesday – Thursday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Some materials require advance notice to view. Make an appointment
Do you have a reference question? Use our Ask A Librarian service, which directs your inquiry to a California State Library staff member.