Before the fires: Arnold Genthe's Chinatown

Chinatown, San Francisco, between 1896 and 1906. Chinatown, San Francisco, between 1896 and 1906. Photo: Arnold Genthe/Library Of Congress Photo: Arnold Genthe/Library Of Congress Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Before the fires: Arnold Genthe's Chinatown 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

There are very few photographs of San Francisco's Chinatown before the earthquake and fires of 1906. This makes the work of Arnold Genthe, a German-born American photographer, all the more special.

Genthe began photographing life in Chinatown in 1896 and continued his work there until 1911 when he moved to New York City.

In the East Genthe worked mainly as a portrait photographer who made images of famous actors, writers and dancers of the day, but his work in Chinatown remains a historically important legacy.

After his death in 1942, Gethne's work was obtained by the Library of Congress. The entire collection can be viewed here.

Get a rare glimpse of Chinatown before the fires in the slideshow above.