History Books
4th of July Parade, c. 1930s
The City of Brisbane has published several history books. Each book is available to read online. If you would like a print copy, please call the City Manager’s Office at (415) 508-2110.
- A Spirit of Independence (a book of the early history of Brisbane, pre-incorporation)
- Born of Fire: In Praise of Brisbane Volunteers
- Brisbane: The First 25 Years (1961-1986)
- Brisbane: The Second 25 Years & 50th Anniversary (1986-2011)
In 2009, Arcadia Publishing released “Brisbane” as part of their Images of America series. The book was co-authored by Dolores Gomez and Christy Thilmany, long-time Brisbane librarians. Along with Brisbane historian Dorothy Radoff, they began assembling photographs for the Brisbane Library Historical Collection in the 1970s. The images from that collection make up the bulk of this work, along with photographs and memorabilia from other collections in the area. You can check out a copy at the Brisbane Library or purchase a copy at online book retailers.