Document written by Walter John Burns, recalling his time in San Francisco, beginning in 1874. He moved to Portland in 1877 as the local agent for Balfour Guthrie & Company, a British grain dealer.

Photograph of Jane (Conner) Failing, looking towards the right side of the frame. Her hair is pulled back, and a decorative neckline can be seen on her dress.

Photograph, taken from the side, showing a ship, the Lyman Stewart, stranded on rocks at the entrance to San Francisco Bay after a collision with the freighter Walter A. Luckenbach in October 1922. Alongside the Lyman Stewart are three boats. On the negative is the text “Ashore at Mile Rk. [two words, not legible] / Union Oil Tanker Lyman Stewart.” Image note: Light leaks. Possibly a copy negative.

Photograph, taken from a high vantage, showing a wide view of a city, possibly San Francisco prior to the 1906 earthquake. A road with streetcar tracks runs through the center. Very faintly visible in the background toward the right is the dome of what may be the old San Francisco City Hall building. This photograph may be related to image Nos. 373G0531, 373G0532, and 373G0535. Image note: Damaged negative.

Photograph showing a street, houses, and a hill in an unidentified city or town. The words “Geo. Holl Mission & 26th sells shoes on their merit” are painted on a wooden railing along the street. The photograph may have been taken in San Francisco prior to the 1906 earthquake. It may be related to image Nos. 373G0473, 373G0532, and 373G0535. Image note: Photograph shows discoloration due to deterioration. Negative damage at upper left.

Photograph showing houses in the hills around an unidentified city, possibly San Francisco prior to the 1906 earthquake. Also see image Nos. 373G0473, 373G0531, and 373G0535, which may be related. Image note: Photograph shows discoloration due to deterioration of the negative.

Photograph, taken from a high vantage, showing a wide view of a city, possibly San Francisco prior to the 1906 earthquake. A road is visible at the center of the image. This photograph may be related to image Nos. 373G0473, 373G0531, and 373G0532. Image note: Damaged negative.

A tintype portrait of three unidentified women standing in front of a painted backdrop of the Cliff House in San Francisco, California. One woman is seated while the two other women stand behind. All three women wear dresses with gigot sleeves and ornately decorated hats.

A loose page from a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Subjects depicted in the three photographs on the page include landscape photographs likely taken in Yosemite National Park and a distant view of an unidentified city. Image note: significant fading and discoloration on prints. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints from album, S-30, LW2-1B."

A loose page from a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. The four photographs on the page depict landscape scenes likely taken around Yosemite National Park. Image note: significant fading and discoloration on prints. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S31, LW2-2A."

A loose page from a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. The four photographs on the page depict unidentified people posing on rocks likely taken around Yosemite National Park. Image note: significant fading and discoloration on prints. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S31, LW2-2A."

An unidentified man and child sit on top of a large rock in Yosemite National Park. Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from the back of the print reads, "On trail to Vernal Falls, Yosemite." Caption from envelope reads, "Prints from Yosemite, S32, LW2-2B."

View of Half Dome from across Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park. Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S32, LW2-2B."

A waterfall likely taken near Yosemite National Park. Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S33, LW2-2C."

A waterfall likely taken near Yosemite National Park. Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S33, LW2-2C."

A waterfall likely taken near Yosemite National Park. Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S34, LW2-2D."

An unidentified man and child in front of a small lake. Likely taken at Yosemite National Park. Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S34, LW2-2D."

An unidentified man sitting on a large rock in the middle of a river. Caption from back of print reads, "At top of Vernal Falls, Yosemite." Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S35, LW2-2E."

Distant view of a Nevada Falls in Yosemite National Park. Caption from back of print reads, "Nevada Falls, Yosemite." Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S35, LW2-2E."

An unidentified child standing in front of a large tree with a fence around its base. Likely taken near Yosemite National Park. Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S36, LW2-2F."

Automobiles parked in front of a building. Likely taken near Yosemite National Park. Photograph is from a loose page of a scrapbook attributed to Lily E. White. Caption from envelope reads, "Prints of Yosemite, S36, LW2-2F."

A rock formation on a beach. Likely taken near Carmel, California. Image taken at the same location as LW2-60. Caption from negative sleeve reads, "Landscape - Shore, S-64, LW2-21."

Cliffs at an ocean. Likely taken near Carmel, California. Caption from negative sleeve reads, "Landscape - headland at coast, S-67, LW2-24."

Cliffs at an ocean. Likely taken near Carmel, California. Caption from negative sleeve reads, "Landscape - cliff, coast, S-68, LW2-25."

Rock formations on a coast. Likely taken near Carmel, California. Image taken in the same location as LW2-38 and LW2-61. Caption from negative sleeve reads, "Landscape - Coast, R-45, LW2-26."

Rock formations on a coast. Likely taken near Carmel, California. Caption from negative sleeve reads, "Landscape - Coast, LW2-27."

Rock formations on a coast. Likely taken near Carmel, California. Caption from negative sleeve reads, "Landscape - Coast, R-47, LW2-28."