photographs of san francisco's south of market area before silicon valley

images san francisco’s south of market before silicon valley by janet delaney
‘view of the financial district from south of market street‘
photography by janet delaney

in 1978, photographer janet delaney moved to san francisco’s south of market district, a neighborhood that represented the epitome of the american dream: blue-collar workers, small business owners and families with children. even before apple and google, the area was subjected to intense gentrification, highly affecting the local working class and low-income residents, often displacing them from their homes. in ‘south of market’, delaney uses a large format camera to document the economic effects of urban renewal, providing eerie visuals in a testament to the ghosts of a vanished community.

‘as I continue to photograph in san francisco and in urban areas around the world,’ explains delaney in her book. ‘I see that who plays and who pays remains, as it always was, the central issue,’ she adds. the photographs provide a look behind the lives of twelve of delaney’s neighbors during the time, portraying a vivid story of san francisco’s rapid development before silicon valley was established as america’s tech-hub for innovation, creativity and even more so now, the wealthy.

‘longtime neighbors, langton at folsom street’

‘langton between folsom and harrison streets’

‘second street at market street’

‘office workers on lunch break near the site of the new convention center, fourth street at minna street’

‘flag makers, natoma at 3rd street’

‘saturday afternoon, howard between 3rd and 4th streets’

‘mercantile building, mission and 3rd streets’

‘mary gardner’s kitchen after the five-alarm fire, folsom at hallam street’

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[h/t] the new yorker