ABSTRACT
From a small port village in 1848, San Francisco grew into a bustling city of over fifty thousand in less than a decade. Drawn by the gold rush birth of opportunities, domestic and foreign migrants poured in from all parts of America and the world. The individual soon discovered that he or she was part of a polyglot society in which consciousness of kind burgeoned, a society in which it was impossible to provide comprehensive aid and comfort to meet the needs of all. As a result, many people of common background, interests, and desires drew together to satisfy common needs.
