Father John Mc Gloin, S.J. (1912-1988) Late Professor of History at the University of San Francisco. From the Preface,"...the building of this book...long experience in teaching local history at the University of San Francisco....for twenty-five years..." The book gives a good overview of the History of the City. From the Spanish settlements of Presidio and Mission Fr. Mc Gloin takes the reader on a journey from the small town of Yerba Buena to a world class City. Events in the life of the City, from the Gold Rush of 1849, Fire and Earthquake of 1906, ending at the 1978 murder of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Lives of famous San Franciscans are given a good overview.This book is well written easy to read, yet has scholarship in the footnotes and bibliography. Fr. McGloin wrote books related to San Francisco. Eloquent Indian: The Life of James Bouchard, California Jesuit (1949) California's First Archbishop: The Life Joseph S. Alemany, O.P.(1966) Jesuits By The Golden Gate: The Society Of Jesus In San Francisco, 1849-1969 (1972)