Rolph, James, 1869-1934

Rolph served as mayor of San Francisco (1912-1930) and governor of Calif. (1931-1934).

Rolph served as mayor of San Francisco (1911-1930) and governor of Calif. (1931-1934).

James Rolph, Jr. was San Francisco's 30th mayor, from 1912 to 1931. Born in 1869 in San Francisco, he attended Mission District schools, graduating from Trinity College in 1888. Rolph became a successful shipbuilder and banker. He married Annie Reid with whom he had three children. A charming and energetic man, he was known as "Sunny Jim". Rolph oversaw the reconstruction of City Hall and the construction of many San Francisco buildings and tunnels and the Hetch Hetchy water system. He was also Vice President of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915. In 1931, he left City Hall to take office as Governor of California. Rolph died in 1934.

Biographical/Historical note

James Rolph, Jr. was San Francisco's 30th mayor, from 1912 to 1931, the longest term served by a San Francisco mayor. Born in 1869 in San Francisco, he attended Mission District schools, graduating from Trinity College in 1888. Rolph became a successful shipbuilder and banker. He married Annie Reid, with whom he had three children. A charming and energetic man, he was known as "Sunny Jim."

Rolph oversaw the reconstruction of City Hall and the construction of many San Francisco buildings and tunnels and the Hetch Hetchy water system. He was also Vice President of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915.

A member of the Republican Party, Rolph lost his party's nomination for Governor in 1918 but carried the Democratic ticket. He couldn't accept the minority party's nomination. In 1931, he left City Hall to take office as Governor of California. Rolph died in 1934.

Biographical Information

James Rolph, Jr., known as "Sunny Jim", served as mayor of San Francisco from 1912 to 1931, resigning only to become governor of California for one term before his death in 1934. Born on August 23, 1869, in a home on Minna Street "South of the Slot," Rolph was the oldest of seven children. His father was from London and his mother from Edinburgh; they met on board ship coming to America and married when they reached San Francisco. Rolph attended public primary schools in San Francisco and graduated from Trinity School in 1888. The family lived near the intersection of 21st and Guerrero Streets in the Mission district during this time; an older neighbor, Matt I. Sullivan, befriended the young man and became his life-long advisor. Rolph started working while a still a student, selling newspapers and performing various odd jobs. After graduation he was employed by De Witt, Kittle & Co. for 12 years, where he learned the shipping business. Rolph's mother died when he was 20, and he helped raise his brothers and sisters (William, George, Ronald, Mildred, Elizabeth Jane, and Thomas) prior to marrying Miss Annie Marshall Reid, the daughter of a Mission district businessman, on June 26, 1900. Daughter Annette was born in 1901, followed by a son, James, in 1904, and daughter Georgina in 1905. Their home at 25th and San Jose served as the family headquarters until Rolph's death, although he also famously spent many nights in his office at City Hall.

In 1900, Rolph formed a shipping company, Hind & Rolph, with a former classmate from Trinity, George Hind, also a life-long friend, and in 1903 helped found the Mission Bank. His other, subsequent companies included Rolph Shipbuilding Company and Rolph Navigation and Coal. He served as president of the Shipowners Association of the Pacific Coast for three terms, president of the Merchant's Exchange for three years, and a trustee of the Chamber of Commerce. Following the 1906 earthquake and fire, Rolph was instrumental in establishing the Mission Relief Agency of the Red Cross. His barn at 25th and Guerrero Streets became the headquarters for distributing food and supplies unloaded at the Southern Pacific station on nearby Valencia Street. He used his personal funds to feed thousands of displaced citizens there for a number of months.

Rolph was first urged to run for mayor in 1909 but declined. In 1911, he was persuaded to enter the race by Matt I. Sullivan and Gavin McNab, head of the Democratic Party in San Francisco. An advocate of the union shop, which he employed in his own businesses, Rolph drew a great deal of support away from incumbent P.H. McCarthy, the Union Labor party candidate. In the September 26 primary Rolph received 47,417 votes to McCarthy's 27,048. Campaigning on a platform of clean government in the aftermath of the graft trials in San Francisco, his personal and professional reputation already well established throughout the community, Rolph promised not only an honest administration but to be "mayor of all the people." He took office at the age of 42 on January 8, 1912, for the first of his five terms.

Rolph's initial years as mayor were a whirlwind of activity, culminating in the astonishing Panama Pacific International Exposition in 1915. The fair brought world-wide attention to the rebirth of the city, which had been virtually destroyed less than 10 years earlier. Rolph's first re-election campaign occurred during the midst of the fair, and there was never any doubt that he would prevail over his major opponent, former mayor Eugene Schmitz. Although his second term was equally eventful, Rolph was also diligently pursuing his private interests. With the impending involvement of the U.S. in World War I, Rolph focused on shipbuilding. Already a millionaire prior to becoming mayor, his wealth significantly increased as he provided ships and tugs for ocean towing. These were built both in San Francisco and in Oakland at the Moore & Scott yards owned by Rolph's sister Mildred's husband, Joseph P. Moore . He formed the Rolph Shipbuilding Company, and in 1917 bought the Bendixsen shipyards in Humboldt, California.

In February 1918 he went to Washington, D.C. to meet with the US Shipping Board for the necessary approval to build wooden ships for the French government. That year Rolph also announced his candidacy for governor of California, seeking the nomination of both the Republican and Democratic parties, which was permitted at that time. Rolph won the Democratic nomination but not the Republican, and ultimately his candidacy was challenged since by law he could not be the candidate of another party unless he had also won the nomination of his own. At the same time, the U.S. Shipping Board retracted their authorization to build ships for the French government and would not permit him to sell the ships to any other countries, for diplomatic reasons. Rolph returned to Washington to protest this decision, which he viewed as politically motivated, but his appeal was unsuccessful. When World War I ended in November 1918, Rolph was left with no opportunity to recoup the significant investments he had made in this venture, and he was faced with growing debt. Despite his personal difficulties, Rolph went to New York to welcome the troops home, followed by a big parade in San Francisco in the spring of 1919, and was quite involved with efforts to find employment and housing for the returning San Franciscans. In the fall of that year, Rolph again faced Eugene Schmitz in his re-election and won.

During the 1920s, Rolph became less involved in city affairs, and focused on his ceremonial role. With his charisma and dapper appearance, including a boutonniere and his handmade boots, as well as his exceptional memory and genuine affection for people, Rolph was the consummate host throughout his years in office. Requiring little sleep, he maintained a punishing schedule of public appearancescutting ribbons, laying cornerstones, and inaugurating streetcar lines, often garbed in the appropriate costumes. He belonged to a multitude of organizations, among them the Masons, Elks, Odd Fellows, and Improved Order of Redmen. He was a member of the exclusive Pacific Union and Bohemian Clubs, as well as the Olympic, Commonwealth and Press Clubs. He also joined the NAACP in the 1920s and was an honorary member of several labor unions, and was a lifelong Republican.

Rolph was known for his personal generosity, approachability and friendliness, offering rides to people on his way to City Hall and sharing lunch with the workers on the docks. He attended the Church of St. John the Evangelist at 15th Street and Julian, although he also supported many other religious groups as well. For relaxation, he spent vacations and any free time at his ranch off Skyline Boulevard down the peninsula, where he enjoyed swimming, riding horses and hunting deer, as well as entertaining. During the 1920s, his health began to suffer from the effects of his rich diet and perpetual activity, although the full effects were not apparent until he became governor following a campaign where he visited all of the 58 counties in California personally.

Rolph's success as mayor of San Francisco did not carry over when he moved to the Capitol and was confronted with the enormous challenges that accompanied the Depression years. His personal popularity suffered when he refused to pardon Tom Mooney in 1931, and the final blow was his infamous approval of the 1933 mob lynching of the two men held responsible for the kidnap and murder of the son of a well-known San Jose businessman. At the beginning of 1934 Rolph suffered a stroke as he began his campaign for the next term; he was kept at Saint Francis Hospital in San Francisco for a month, but did not recover and soon afterward announced that he would not continue his campaign. He went to recuperate at the Riverside Ranch in Santa Clara, owned by his friend, Walter Linforth, and died there on June 2, 1934. The people of San Francisco turned out in the rain by the thousands to pay tribute to Mayor Rolph in City Hall for the last time. He is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma.