Donaldina Cameron House

1. 1881

   The Presbyterian Occidental Board mission home for Chinese women and girls, founded in 1873, moved to this corner in 1881. It sheltered women and girls rescued from bondage in Chinatown — at times as many as fifty — until they could be repatriated, emigrate or marry. The walls of the 1881 building survive under the Joice Street sidewalk.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
2. 1907

   Possibly designed by architect Benjamin Gree McDougall.

   Architecture, Planning & Preservation Professionals: A Collection of Biographies, adopted 2021
3. 1907

   The Donaldina Cameron House was built in 1907, of bricks salvaged from the 1906 earthquake and fire.

   San Francisco City Planning Commission minutes, San Francisco Public Library (Internet Archive)
4. 1908

   Assessor’s “built” date.

5. 1908

   The Donaldina Cameron House, designed by architect Julia Morgan; San Francisco Landmark #44.

   Architecture, Planning & Preservation Professionals: A Collection of Biographies, adopted 2021
6. June 7, 1942

   Officially dedicated as Donaldina Cameron House.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
7. 1971

   Designated San Francisco Landmark No. 44, Donaldina Cameron House.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
8. July 1, 1971

   The City Planning Commission approved designating the Donaldina Cameron House as a City Landmark, on the grounds of its historical association with humanitarian work in Chinatown under the Presbyterian Church.

   San Francisco City Planning Commission minutes, San Francisco Public Library (Internet Archive)
9. August 26, 1971

   The Board of Supervisors had approved, on second reading, designating the Donaldina Cameron House as a city landmark.

   San Francisco City Planning Commission minutes, San Francisco Public Library (Internet Archive)
10. Oct 1981

    Permit 8108684 $$$ $20,000

    Additions alterations or repairs.

11. Oct 1993

    Permit 9318367 $$$ $115,000

    Minor demolition misc. steel work, new partitions, new doors etc.

12. Jan 2000

    Permit 2000011365 $$$ $40,000

    Demolition of all non-structural walls at the 4th level inc.

13. May 2000

    Permit 9922793 $$$ $750,000

    Seismic retro fit of existing brick building new elevator new office s on 4th floor patch roof electrical and.

14. Mar 2007

    Permit 200703015260 $$$ $8,000

    Replace column in kind due to auto accident. ref 9922793.

15. Dec 2009

    Issued Permit 200912012324 $$$ $16,000

    New deck beam and column repair/retrofit- 1 hour colun wrapped in concrete required.

16. Nov 2011

    Issued Permit 201111088503 $$$ $1

    This is for a public assembly permit only. no construction work to be done. (occupant load).

17. Jun 2014

    Permit 201406279847 $$$ $16,000

    To obtain final inspection for work approved under permit application 200912012324. all work is complete.

18. Jun 2014

    Permit 201406279853 $$$ $1

    To obtain final inspection for work approved under permit application 201001154837. all work is complete.

19. Jun 2014

    Issued Permit 201406279854 $$$ $1

    To obtain final inspection for work approved under permit application 201111088503. all work is complete.

20. Nov 2016

    Permit 201611021747 $$$ $100,000

    Repair all existing wood windows to remain; replace glazing with insulated glass, clean & re-surface existing roof membrane, new flashing, make water tight, repair damaged roof cornice trim, new flashing.

DBI holds 26 permits for this parcel, most of them tenant improvements on individual floors. The timeline shows the 24 largest by stated cost, plus the earliest on file; the DBI query in the sources below returns all 26. 1 of them are nominal $1 street-space or sidewalk permits. 13 expired or cancelled permits are not shown. The assessor's roll gives 1908; this address is recorded as built 1907. The Julia Morgan entry dates a building at 920 Sacramento Street to 1908 and credits her.