Many members of our city’s literary community were saddened to learn of the passing of Robert D. Haines Jr. earlier this year.
A long-time member of the Book Club of California, Robert was the son of Robert D. Haines, founder of The Argonaut Book Shop.
As the establishment’s name suggests, it was meant to be a destination for those fascinated by fabled quests. In this case not in pursuit of the Golden Fleece, but rather, for those of us collecting classic literature about our transformational Gold Rush.
The shop first opened its doors in 1941 and thrived on Kearny Street in San Francisco’s financial district before moving to its current site on 786 Sutter Street in 1969.
The Argonaut was a founding member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and is a member of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. It is regarded as the premiere specialist in California history, while dealing with Pacific voyages, precious literature, and illustrated books. Rare maps, prints, photographs, manuscripts and ephemera also comprise its offerings.
Today the shop remains in the family, with daughter Angela Haines at the helm.
After reading Aldo Magagnino’s account in The American Magazine of his own journey as a soldier and scholar in “Meeting the General,” I embarked on a search for Robert Louis Stevenson – his particular passion – at Argonaut.
To my delight, I discovered a 23-volume set of his work published by Scribner’s in 1903.
Angela Haines also directed me to a prominent shrine dedicated to author.
The RLS Memorial was erected here in 1897, nearly three years after his death, to honor his memory, legacy, and the brief period he lived in the city.
It was originally designed by landscaper Bruce Porter and architect Willis Polk. Engraved on the monument is an excerpt from Stevenson’s travel memoir, Across the Plains, which reads:
“To be honest, to be kind – to earn a little, to spend a little less – to make upon the whole a family happier for his presence – to renounce when that shall be necessary, and not be embittered – to keep a few friends but these without capitulation – above all on the same grim condition to keep friends with himself – here is a task for all that a man has of fortitude and delicacy.”
During his time in San Francisco, between December 1879 and March 1890, Stevenson lived near Portsmouth Plaza. His time in San Francisco was not particularly fruitful or pleasant.
Subsequently, he once again became critically ill and was eventually nursed back to health by his fiancée , Fanny Van de Grift. Upon his recovery, the two soon married and departed to Napa before sailing to the South Seas.
Along with The Argonaut Book Shop, the monument is a must for literary visitors and pilgrims.