The Presidio Army Museum Featured Collections Index

The research performed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area revealed a remarkable collection accumulated by staff at the Presidio Army Museum.

 

The Edna P. Johnston Collection features objects owned by Maria Josefa Castro, a member of the Peralta and de Castro families. Both of these families came to Northern California with the de Anza Expedition in 1776 and helped establish the Presidio of San Francisco in addition to several missions throughout California.

 

The Major Richard M. Deasy Collection illustrates the colorful story of a woman, Isabel Josephine (Murphy) Deasy, who was made "Honorary Colonel" of a volunteer regiment that was encamped at the Presidio of San Francisco during the Spanish American War in 1898.

 

The Walter Ross Collection details the military career of Captain Joseph N. Ross, who served in the Spanish American and Philippine American wars with the 1^st California Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He also served during the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire with the 1^st Battalion, Coast Artillery, California National Guard.

 

TheJ. Edward Green Collection showcases the collecting areas of a member of the Presidio Army Museum's staff and highlights historic buildings and scenes from the Presidio of San Francisco and Fort Mason at the turn of the 20^th-century.

 

The Viola Grilnberger Connelly Collection includes exceptional photographs of the 1896 Victorian Cliff House, the U.S. Army presence after the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire including refugee encampments at the Presidio of San Francisco, and the use of San Francisco piers by the Army Transport Service (ATS) at the turn of the 20^th-century.

 

The Veronica Tedeschi Collection tells the story of two 1906 Earthquake and Fire Refugee Cottages, nicknamed the "Goldie Shacks," that were rescued from demolition in 1983. The cottages were brought to the Presidio of San Francisco where they became permanent museum installations located behind the Presidio Army Museum (Building 2).

 

The Bradley Shelley Collection follows Raymond D. Shelley's time at the Presidio of San Francisco and Fort Winfield Scott with the 38^th Company, Coast Artillery Corps in the early 20^th-century.

 

The James Antick Collection combines the stories of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition with the tradition of the Army-Navy Football Game. The photograph shows the donor's father, a player for the Army Mules who served at the Presidio of San Francisco, suited up for an Exposition game circa 1915.

 

The Olive Gilbert Collection tells the story of Olive's husband, Sergeant Harold S. Gilbert, as a young recruit stationed on Fort McDowell, Angel Island in 1917 and features connections to General John J. Pershing and Francisco "Pancho" Villa.

 

The Francisco G. Montealegre Collection includes World War I memorabilia collected by Montealegre as a child and reflects his time growing up in San Francisco, the heir to a wealthy Costa Rican coffee importer. The collection also features artifacts from his career in the 1^st Battalion, 6^th Coast Artillery stationed at Fort Point after World War II.

 

The Mildred Lewis Collection spans the entire life of Mildred Lewis, a former "Hello Girl" who served with the U.S. Army as a telephone operator during World War I. While living in San Francisco after the war, she helped to found the Women's Overseas Service League (WOSL).

 

The Lorin H. Tryon, Jr. Collection delves into the pioneer wool-manufacturing Tryon family, and offers a look at the life of an officer serving with the 316^th Supply Train, 91^st Infantry Division during World War I. A lifelong resident of San Francisco, Captain Lorin H. Tryon began and ended his career at the Presidio of San Francisco.

 

The Bernice Farington Collection details the military career of a native Californian, Irwin E. Farington, from his time with the 1^st Army Artillery Park during World War I, to his decisive role in the Folsom Prison Riot of 1927 with the California National Guard, and finally into World War II during his time with the 6^th U.S. Army at the Presidio of San Francisco.

 

The Arthur Traxler Collection features a personal account of life while stationed at Crissy Field as a member of the 91^st Observation Squadron in U.S. Army Air Corps in the late 1920s and early 1930s, as seen through holiday programs which belonged to Lee I. Traxler.

 

The Colonel James H. Short and General George H. Pappas Collections elucidate the life of cadets at the West Point Preparatory School hosted by Fort Winfield Scott throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

 

The Janet C. (Fleishhacker) Bates Collection highlights the story of two prominent San Franciscan Jewish families with Gold Rush roots: the Choynskis and the Fleishhackers. Janet married into a dynamic family whose name can be found on several public buildings and she participated in home-front activities in San Francisco during World War II

 

The Ephraim Dyer, Jr. Collection details the military career of Ephraim Dyer, Jr., a Coast Artillery officer during World War II and the descendant of California pioneer sugar-manufacturers. Dyer was stationed at Fort Barry with the 65^th Coast Artillery.

 

The General Ralph E. Haines, Jr. Collection is a remarkably complete collection of personal artifacts owned and used by Brigadier General Ralph E. Haines, Sr., who commanded the San Francisco Harbor Defenses from Fort Winfield Scott during World War II. The collection offers a comprehensive view of an illustrious 20^th-century Coast Artillery officer.

 

The Virginia P. Hosley Collection follows the 42 year military career of General Charles G. Morton from his time as a West Point cadet to his roles as Commanding Generals in various parts of the United States.