Ernest Burden III recently opened a window into a pivotal chapter of San Francisco’s history through a collection of photographs inherited from his architect father.
The archive, which consists of approximately 4,000 images, necessitated months of sorting and understanding to truly grasp its significance.
Burden, initially unfamiliar with the government’s urban renewal initiatives that demolished the Fillmore District in the 1960s, described the process as a journey of discovery.
The Fillmore, once known as the ‘Harlem of the West,’ was home to a thriving and multicultural community before it was transformed into a site of devastation.
Recognizing the extensive loss documented in these photographs and feeling a duty to fulfill his father’s wish to share them, Burden took the first steps toward publicizing this visual history last year.
This Saturday marks a significant advance in that journey with the opening of the exhibition titled ‘We Were There: Views of San Francisco’s Urban Renewal.’
Hosted at the San Francisco Historical Society, this exhibition will run until December 21 and features 24 images taken by Erni Burden and Sheila Stover in 1960, alongside contextual information and insights into the Japanese American experience during the urban renewal period.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the 1964 documentary ‘Take This Hammer,’ featuring James Baldwin, which emphasizes the impact of redevelopment on predominantly Black neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Analisa Burden, Ernest Burden’s older sister, shared her surprise at seeing her childhood images presented in a gallery.
Dozens of stakeholders contributed to this exhibition, which is a follow-up to a special edition of ‘The Argonaut,’ the journal of the San Francisco Historical Society.
This edition focused on urban renewal and features contributions from notable community voices, including former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Reverend Dr. Amos Brown, reflecting the multifaceted nature of this topic.
Lana Constantini, the director of operations at the San Francisco Historical Society, emphasized the intention to include diverse perspectives on this nuanced subject.
The collaboration was sparked by a state grant opportunity that led Constantini to Burden’s story, followed by an invitation-only preview event to celebrate the exhibition’s launch.
The preview was met with an emotional response, with Burden expressing heartfelt sentiments about his father’s legacy and the driving force behind their work as architects.
Local artist Ron Henggeler attended the preview, commending the artistic qualities of the photographs.
He noted that the Burdens’ approach to capturing images reflected a deep understanding of photography and its lasting value.
Christine Hult-Lewis, a curator of pictorial collections at the University of California at Berkeley, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the artistry and emotional weight of the photographs.
She described the collection as an essential resource for understanding an often overshadowed period in the city’s history and its broader implications.
In addition to the exhibition, Saturday also marks the relaunch of the San Francisco Historical Society museum following a three-month renovation.
The fresh gallery space features new paint, flooring, and displays, including additions from the now-closed Wells Fargo museum, which will delight visitors.
Constantini shared the challenges of incorporating a replica stagecoach, an exhibit that attracted much attention during the preview event.
The museum’s location on Commercial Street, near the original waterline of San Francisco, further enhances its historical resonance, featuring brick walls salvaged from the first branch mint—a structure that remarkably saved over $13 million in precious metals during the Great Earthquake of 1906.
The museum’s permanent exhibition is aptly titled ‘City on the Edge,’ reflecting the city’s complex legacy.
Constantini reiterated that San Francisco has always existed on various edges—whether that be innovation, the continent’s limits, or cultural activism.
Yet, alongside embracing its history, the city must confront the bitter realities of its past.
Ernest Burden hopes that by sharing this visual narrative, the community can understand a critical gap in San Francisco’s history while also finding a path toward healing.
The exhibition ‘We Were There: Views of San Francisco’s Urban Renewal’ will take place at the San Francisco Historical Society, located at 608 Commercial St., and is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., from July 19 until December 21.
Admission to the exhibit is free.
image source from：missionlocal
