French Hospital
Geary Boulevard, between 5th and 6th Avenues
San Francisco, CA

Our History

The discovery of gold at the race-mill at Coloma, CA, generated great interest in France. This was the magnet that attracted some 20,000 French settlers to the San Francisco Bay Area between 1849 and 1851.
Among the newly arrivals, many Frenchmen suffered from the hardships of the long journey and were unable to work. Others returned from the Placer mines in a state of physical exhaustion, without funds or friends and unable to speak English. This distressful situation moved some of the more fortunate French residents of the city to provide assistance to their compatriotes.
Under the leadership of journalist Étienne Derbec, they organized a Relief Society to "provide for the needs of the sick and furnish assistance to Frenchmen and any other citizens of other nationalities without resources..." From its inception in 1851 to 1895, French Hospital had three different homes in the city. In 1895 a 170-bed facility was opened on Geary Boulevard.It was hailed as the most modern facility on the "Pacific Coast" and was equipped with the finest technology available. Leading physicians from throughout the city fought for the honor of becoming members of the medical staff.

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Meet the Team

BOARD MEMBERS:
Marc Libarle, President.                                                Patrick Patterson, Director
Andre Armand, Vice-President                                   Robert Pechoultres, Director
Marcel Kapulica, Treasurer                                          Georges Vieux, Director
Jean-Pierre Bernard Director                                      Paul Tour Sarkissian, Director
​David Bourdet Director