The SFHA provides research gifts up to $500 for organizations, schools or individuals for events, activities, programs, equipment, supplies or tasks that develop knowledge and interest in San Francisco history.

SFHA board members present a check 

NO DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

Every year, three research gifts are available for San Francisco history-related projects. These might include oral histories, dramatic performances, video or photographic essays about neighborhood history, neighborhood ethnic histories, etc.

process:

Proposals for projects will be accepted year round. Student groups must be supervised by a teacher or other qualified adult, and must submit a written proposal outlining:

• the project to be done
• method or process to be used to complete proposed project
• number of students involved and their role in the project
• detailed budget
• proposed result (play, video, book, etc.)
• dissemination process (photo display at local venue, video viewing by parents and other students, neighborhood history map given to local residents, etc.)

application:

Application forms are available here.

If you have any questions about the SFHA Research Gift Program please contact the Committee Chair Vicky Walker.

Research Gifts Awarded

In 2009, SFHA provided a research gift to Lincoln High School teachers Valerie Ziegler and Shamira Gratch. They had created a unit on the Beat generation in San Francisco. The SFHA research gift provided funds for a field trip to North Beach.

The teachers sent SFHA a two-sided thank-you note (shown here) signed by the students.

Some of the notes from the students:

"The fieldtrip was a fun and exciting experience. Thank you all so much for helping us learn more about San Francisco history."

"Thank you for providing us an opportunity to learn more about the Beat generation. It¹s people like you who help our generation grow into greater individuals."

"I loved the museum. It was so cool. I learned so much about the beat generation."

"We all had tons of fun and learned much about the beats and what they were all about."

"I learned a lot more than I expected."

completed projects 

Archbishop Riordan High School Project  

Presidio School Project & Sunnyside History Day Project

winners of the SFHA research gift

2010
“Transcription of Interview with George Whitney”
Woody LaBounty, Western Neighborhoods Project

2009
“The Beatniks: A Study of San Francisco in the 1950s”
Valerie Ziegler and Shamira Gratch, Abraham Lincoln High School

“Oral History Project”
Bianca Hill and Kristi Coale, Star of the Sea Elementary School

2007
“Mural Art Project”
Andrew Mughannam, Mission Dolores Elementary School

2006
“San Francisco: 100 Years of Pivotal History”
Audrey Perada-Magnusen, Archbishop Riordan High School

“Class of 2006”
Jane Muramoto Yung, Presidio Middle School

“Sunnyside History Project, Sunnyside Neighborhood Association”
Jennifer Heggie, Sunnyside Elementary School

2005
“San Francisco Histories Book Making Project”
Oliver Glover, Lakeshore Elementary School

“Waves and Layers II,” photography class
Jack Alter, Lincoln High School

2004
“Sunset District interviews with photographs”
Jack Alter, Lincoln High School

“Discovery Box and Historical San Francisco Travel Brochure”
Lakeshore Elementary School

“Dramatic Performance about Mission Dolores”
George Moscone Elementary School