Portrait created as part of the San Francisco Legendary Mayors series.

The Mission district native and long serving and influential former San Francisco Mayor (and subsequent California Governor) James ‘Sunny Jim' Rolph Jr., also known as ‘Mission Jim', grew up at 21st and Guerrero, later acquiring an elegant mansion at the corner of San Jose and 25th street. After the 1906 earthquake and fire Rolph delivered water and supplies with his horse and wagon to people all over the city, and converted the stable behind his home on Guerrero into the headquarters for the Mission Relief Association of the Red Cross. He served as Mayor from 1912 through 1931, hosting the world acclaimed 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition that coincided with the completion of the Panama Canal, and overseeing the completion of a new City Hall. He also saw the commencement of other major civic projects such as the Hetch Hetchy water system, the Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco Airport, to name a few. His happy and sociable disposition and big smile led to his nickname ‘Sunny Jim' (his theme song was a popular tune of the day called ‘Smiles'). He was renowned for his natty dress sense, always turned out impeccably, typically in a black suit, derby and with a fresh flower in his lapel (reminiscent of a more recent Da Mayor…)

In this portrait Jeremy has combined many elements that relate to the life and times of Rolph. You will see headlines of the day, Rolph's Mission Relief center, a panorama of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition and the rebuilt City Hall.