The San Francisco Mercantile Library Association (est.
1852) was a civic group organized in San Francisco, California, to "stimulate a generous rivalry in mental culture, by rendering it the fashion to read and converse on literary topics.
Ewer aspired to "make our infant city as distinguished for literature and science as it already is for its commerce and wealth.
[2] In 1906 the association merged into the San Francisco Mechanics' Institute.
Later the same year an earthquake disaster ruined the combined collections.