Early Lake Merced Campus Buildings, circa 1950–1955 (Updated two months ago)

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View of San Francisco State College’s developing Lake Merced (19th Avenue) campus in the early–mid 1950s. Several temporary wooden huts—used for student organizations, faculty space, and other campus functions—stand in front of newly constructed permanent classroom buildings. The sparse landscaping and dirt pathways reflect the rapid expansion period following the College’s move from the Haight & Buchanan campus.

Tags: sf state buildings and architecture

Added to SFSU Over the Years on July 31, 2026.

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Information

  • Identifier: TP-ATA-0465
  • Context: <p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">The old San Francisco State College campus at Haight &amp; Buchanan Street operated from the early 20th century through 1952. As enrollment rapidly grew in the 1930s, the campus became overcrowded and a search for a larger location began. Classes officially moved to to the 19th Avenue location in 1953</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;"><strong>Credits:</strong>&nbsp;Some descriptions were developed with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI.</span></p>
  • Geographic Coverage: San Francisco, CA
  • Temporal Coverage: 1950's
  • Type: Still Image
  • Format: 9x5 Print
  • Source: San Francisco State University Archives
  • Rights: Public

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