Virgil Williams, the first director and first teacher at the School, like many of the 19th century artists who came to Northern California, were attracted by the light, the mountains, seascapes and the fortunes that were made during the gold and silver rushes and with the building of the transcontinental railroad—money that would finance a San Francisco culture and underwrite the beginnings of the San Francisco Art Institute then known as the San Francisco Art Association and the California School of Design.

With permission, SFAA is re-posting the emails Jeff Gunderson Librarian/Archivist Anne Bremer Memorial Library has been sending out since March 2020. Please enjoy this magnificent archive.