Wilfred Smith and the Great San Francisco Earthquake

About the Book

This story follows Wilfred Smith during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the days that followed. It is a true story based on the letter he wrote to his family, describing what he saw, where he went, and how people helped each other afterward. His words give us a clear look at what life was like during this important moment in history.

As the former secretary to General Funston, Wilfred had a unique perspective during the earthquake and experienced and commented on so many different aspects of this historical event. His letter and life history are on file at UC Berkeley's Bancroft Library. Links to photocopies of his letter and personal history are available at the bottom of this page if you would like to read Wilfred's original words.

Free Classroom Audio

Play the free classroom audio while students follow along in the book. The audio includes page-turn cues.

Free 20-Minute Classroom Lesson

Read the Original Documents

Warning: The original letter is not suitable for young readers.

It is included here for teachers to evaluate the validity of the book as a historical account of Californian and American history. In addition to the parts of Wilfred's letter included in the book, the original letter also includes some of the deaths and hardships Wilfred saw as he moved around San Francisco after the earthquake.

These are copies of the documents on file at the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley.