A new film, now in pre-production, will recall the life of Juana Briones, often remembered as the "Founding Mother of San Francisco." Briones lived at a time when women didn't have rights and were often viewed as second-class citizens.
Yet during her lifetime Briones raised children as a single mother, owned property, practiced herbal medicine, and was a midwife.
She also excelled at business even though she could not read or write.Briones (1802-1889) was a woman of color, which made her accomplishments even more impressive, given the era in which she lived.
Her ties to the city were strong. She had a farm near what's now the Presidio in San Francisco and owned a home in what is now known as North Beach.