Presidio Trust Library

The Presidio Trust Library houses two primary collections. The general collection contains public documents created by the Presidio Trust and its contractors, as well as books, videos, and documents on the Presidio’s rich history, its buildings, and environmental resources. A second collection contains environmental cleanup program materials, including the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) documents transferred by the U.S. Army to the Presidio Trust in August 1999, as well as reports created since that time. The Presidio Trust Library is located on 34 Graham Street (on the Main Post). Hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reach librarian Barbara Janis by phone at (415) 561-5343 or by email at bjanis@presidiotrust.gov.

Presidio Trust Public Documents

Administrative materials, board meeting minutes, project plans, environmental review documents, and more are available in the Public Documents section of the website.

National Park Service Archive and Record Center

The National Park Service Archive and Record Center, at the Presidio’s Cavalry Stables, houses the archives collections of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The facility is open to the public by appointment. The Center is located at 667 McDowell Avenue near Crissy Field. For hours of operation, contact the Archive at (415) 561-4807.

Other Resources

Military/Hospital Records
To obtain a copy of military records for Army personnel, copies of transcripts/degrees awarded from Letterman Hospital, or patient information, visit Military Personnel Records for the required procedures and forms. You may also write them at: Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Boulevard, Saint Louis , MO, 63132.

California Historical Society
This collection includes photographs and historical documents about the Presidio.

Society of California Pioneers
The Panama Pacific International Exhibition was held on part of the Presidio. This collection has significant holdings from this time period.

U.C. Berkeley Bancroft Library
This collection documents in its broadest sense the history of human activity in North America west of the Rocky Mountains from its earliest days to the present, with greatest emphasis on California and Mexico from the period of European exploration and settlement onward.

U.C. Berkeley Digital Library
Presently there are over 18,000 images relating to California history on the Digital Library SunSITE.

National Archives
Using the Archival Research Catalog (ARC), locate newsreel footage of Presidio troops as well as military reports. ARC is an online database that contains images in the historical archives of the National Archives and Records Administration. Digital copies are available online for some of the textual records.

San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library
This collection contains more than 250,000 photographs of San Francisco and California scenes ranging in date from 1850 to the present, and more than 650 historical Presidio photos.

California Military Museum and Library
The museum is the official military museum and historical research center of the State of California. The museum houses more than 30,000 artifacts as well a substantial library and archives.