BASF Celebrates 150th Anniversary on April 27
On the sunny afternoon of April 27, BASF celebrated its monumental 150th anniversary. Past BASF presidents and board members old and new, along with state and city officials, congregated for one of the first in-person events held on the patio at our new offices. Those in attendance included Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, CA State Bar Executive Director Leah Wilson, Presiding Judge Samuel K. Feng, SF City Attorney David Chiu, and Mayor London N. Breed.
Cantil-Sakauye acknowledged the tremendous impacts BASF has had on San Francisco and beyond. "There is nothing like this (BASF's) alchemy of brains and dedication to the vulnerable. To see this in action is inspiring, and BASF has been doing this for years," Cantil-Sakauye said. "You’ve always been a voice, you’ve been an advocate, you’ve been a leader, you’ve been visionaries. Thank you so much for the work you do. You changed California and you are an example of excellence." "You provide services to the disadvantaged and underserved, and you pioneer constructive change in society," said Wilson.
Mayor Breed presented a proclamation to Yolanda Jackson, BASF Executive Director and General Counsel, declaring it "The Bar Association of San Francisco Day" in the City. Thank you to all who have contributed to the immense impact BASF has had over the years.
Stay tuned for a full recap of the celebration in the summer issue of the San Francisco Attorney digital magazine including video of the speakers!
Guestbook
Messages from our members and leaders circle firms
Futterman Dupree Dodd Croley Maier
Futterman Dupree Dodd Croley Maier LLP congratulates BASF on the occasion of its 150th birthday. That is quite a milestone! We laud BASF for its leadership and innovation in the legal community and for its persistent efforts to promote equal justice for all.
Past Presidents Reflect
The Latest Essays and Videos from our Past Presidents

Joan Haratani, 2006
BASF, My Presidency, and the Number Four
When I became the first woman of color, and first Asian American woman, named president of the Bar Association of San Francisco in 2006, I experienced one of the proudest moments of my life, not just as a lawyer, but as a person. Read more.

Nanci Clarence, 2007
Everything is Possible in San Francisco
I decided to invite an all-female Chinese New Year Dragon to my induction as the Bar Association of San Francisco’s (BASF) president in 2007. After all, the dragon represents power, strength, good luck and blessings for the community. My plans quickly hit a bump when I learned that there was no such thing as an all-female dragon—perhaps because the dragon is also culturally associated with maleness. Read more.

Michael Traynor, 1973
The Emergence of BASF as a Public Interest Force
In the 1960s, even the largest firms were modest in size, lawyers rarely moved laterally, partners fostered associates’ careers expecting them to become partners, and BASF had traditional committees, a lawyer referral service, and social activities. With significant exceptions, most members were white men who did not prioritize public interest law reform. Read more.
Featured this Month
New additions to the timeline and other highlights from our publications.
1989
BASF co-founded the California Minority Counsel Program, partnering with Wells Fargo and Pacific Telesis, then housed CMCP during its first decade of growth. Read more on our interactive timeline (opens in a new tab.)
1985
Drucilla Ramey led BASF as Executive Director from 1985 to 2005. During her 17 year tenure, BASF rose to be a national leader in promoting diversity and inclusion in the judiciary and legal profession as well as in the provision of pro bono services. Read more on our interactive timeline (opens in a new tab.)
From the Archives

2022 article by Glenn Bugos
When it All Started
The early records of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF), like most paper in San Francisco, were destroyed in the great earthquake and fire of April 1906. BASF today holds 37 boxes of archives, though none from its first 34 years of 1872 to 1906. Read more.
Slideshow
Service to the Community - Snapshots from the Archives

2022
Celebrating 150 Years of Raising the Bar
A welcome message from 2022 President Mary McNamara, and Yolanda Jackson, Executive Director and General Counsel. Read more.
Join the celebration
Visit the History Archive
Throughout this year, we are adding historical documents and articles to the newly created history archive in our online documents library.
Share a Memory
We'd love to hear from you. If you have a story, article, or historical photo related to San Francisco legal history, we'd love to hear from you.