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Overview

This three-story convent building was erected in 1911-1912 for the Sisters of the Presentation Order. Designed in the Neo-Classical Style, the sisters left to use another facility at 2340 Turk Boulevard in 1970. The Jesuit University of San Francisco has owned the former convent since 1999. In 2016, it accommodated offices for the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Performing Arts and Social Justice Department, and spaces for the Sisters of the Presentation.

Building History

The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Order was founded in Cork, Ireland in 12/25/1775; the order first came to North America in Newfoundland in 1833. On 11/13/1854, five Irish nuns of the order landed in San Francisco, a city with a surging Irish working class population. Although three went back to Ireland within a year, two remained, Mother Mary Teresa Comerford (1821-1881) and Sister Mary Joseph Cassian, focusing on educating girls at the Presentation Convent on Powell Street. From 1857 to 1869, the sisters also operated a school for underprivileged African and Native American girls.

The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake destroyed the two Sisters of the Presentation convents that operated in San Francisco at the time. (See Nativity Catholic School, "History," accessed 03/28/2016.) The nuns displaced lived in various locations until a new convent could be erected in 1911-1912. The Sisters of the Presentation utilized the building for the next 58 years. In 1966, the City of San Francisco Planning Department granted a permit authorizing the use of the building for a convent and nursing home.

On 01/20/1975, Lincoln University moved into the former convent, and utilized the space until 1999, when the University of San Francisco moved in. City permits granting the USF occupancy were filed on 01/20/2000. 281 Masonic Avenue has been included in two Master Plans done by the USF in 2004 and 2012.

Buidling Notes

The building occupied a 28,700 square-foot parcel of land in 2016, according to the San Francisco Planning Department. The land had a value of $255,080.00 in that year, the improvement, $26,505.00.

Alteration

The building at 281 Masonic Avenue has had many small alterations since 1988, the most significant occurring in 2000 after the USF took over use of the building: Building permits for alterations were filed on 10/04/1988 to repair damaged steps, 07/06/1990 and 06/07/1993 for reroofing, on 05/10,11 and 16/2004 for interior remodeling (structural and non-structural) and ADA ramp installations, 11/09/2000 for fire alarm installation, 12/29/2000 for a fire sprinkler system, 04/11/2001 for a new USF exterior sign on the portico frieze, 07/06/2007 for removal and repair of wood siding, and 09/12/2012 to reroof again.