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A guide to the Birkholm family photographs, circa 1903-1913
P95-033 (SAFR 24261)  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication and Use Rights
  • Processing Note
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Historical or Biographical Note
  • Collection Scope and Content
  • Collection Arrangement
  • Related Materials

  • Title: Birkholm family photographs
    Date: circa 1903-1913
    Identifier/Call Number: P95-033 (SAFR 24261)
    Creator: Birkholm, Frederik S., Captain
    Physical Description: 19 items.
    Repository: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
    Building E, Fort Mason
    San Francisco, CA 94123
    Abstract: The Birkholm family photographs, circa 1903-1913, (SAFR 24261, P95-033) are comprised mainly of copy negatives and contact sheets from photographs of Captain Frederik Birkholm's family and crew members aboard GEORGE E. BILLINGS (built 1903; schooner, 5m) and H.K. HALL (built 1902; schooner, 5m). The collection has been processed to the Collection level and is open for use.
    Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
    Language(s): In English.

    Access

    This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

    Publication and Use Rights

    Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

    Processing Note

    See the collection file for photocopied pages from the original loaned album containing additional photographs.
    Description Notes: Dates refer to when the original photograph was taken. All of the items in this collection are copies that were made much later than when the original photograph was taken.
    The descriptions in this collection guide were compiled using the best available sources of information. Such sources include the creator's annotations or descriptions, collection accession files, primary and secondary source material and subject matter experts. While every effort was made to provide accurate information, in the event that you find any errors in this guide please contact the reference staff in order for us to evaulate and make corrections to this guide.
    Please cite the title and collection number in any correspondence with our staff.

    Preferred Citation

    [Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], P95-033 (SAFR 24261), Birkholm family photographs, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

    Acquisition Information

    SAFR-00963
    The photograph album appears to have been borrowed from Carl Birkholm, son of Captain Frederik Birkholm by Harold Huycke and then loaned to Chief Curator Karl Kortum at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Copy negatives were made from some of the photographs in 1991. The Park accessioned the copies in 1995.

    Historical or Biographical Note

    Captain Frederik S. Birkholm (1868-1954) was the master of WINSLOW (built 1899; schooner, 4m) and GEORGE E. BILLINGS (built 1903; schooner, 5m). He may have also captained the schooners F.S. REDFIELD and LOTTIE CARSON. In 1913, Birkholm returned to Denmark where he eventually became involved in the banking industry. He had three sons, Winslow (1904-1978), Sidney (1911-1992), and Carl (1914-1998), as well as a daughter.
    Source: Correspondence located in the Harold D. Huycke collection (SAFR 22224, HDC 1600, Series 1.1, File Unit 7).

    Collection Scope and Content

    The Birkholm family photographs, circa 1903-1913, (SAFR 24261, P95-033) are comprised mainly of copy negatives and contact sheets from photographs of Captain Frederik Birkholm's family and crew members aboard GEORGE E. BILLINGS (built 1903; schooner, 5m) and H.K. HALL (built 1902; schooner, 5m). The collection has been processed to the Collection level and is open for use.
    Contains photographs of Captain Frederik Birkholm, his wife, his sons (Winslow and Sidney), and crew members aboard GEORGE E. BILLINGS (built 1903; schooner, 5m) and H.K. HALL (built 1902; schooner, 5m), circa 1903-1913. There are 15 unique photographic images in 19 physical forms (15 black-and-white contact negatives, 4 x 5 in., and 4 black-and-white contact sheets, 8 x 10 in.). The contact sheets have multiple images on them: Items 01-04 are on one sheet; Items 05-07 are on one sheet; Items 08-11 are on one sheet; and Items 12-15 are on one sheet. People are shown at work and at leisure on board the vessels. There are also photographs of WILLIAM H. MACY (built 1883; ship, 3m) in drydock.

    Photograph Inventory

    • Item 01. Four men holystoning the poop deck of H.K. HALL (built 1902; schooner, 5m). Two children are also in view. The older boy seated on the deck is possibly Winslow Birkholm.
    • Item 02. Man and boy taking a sight on the deck of a vessel. Possibly Captain Birkholm and his son Winslow.
    • Item 03. Winslow and Sidney Birkholm with a man identified as Madsen on the deck of a vessel, 1912. Madsen is holding an accordion. Winslow appears to be blowing into an instrument. Two dolls are in front of Sidney.
    • Item 04. GEORGE E. BILLINGS (built 1903; schooner, 5m) stern view detail (home port San Francisco, California).
    • Item 05. Sitting room aboard GEORGE E. BILLINGS.
    • Item 06. Sitting room aboard GEORGE E. BILLINGS. There is a painting of GEORGE E. BILLINGS hanging on the wall. It is the same painting photographed in Item 15.
    • Item 07. Mrs. Birkholm, Frederik, Winslow, and Sidney ashore apparently on Christmas Day in Newcastle, Australia, 1912.
    • Item 08. Unidentified man and dog on the deck of a schooner. A load of lumber is suspended in the air above the deck in the background.
    • Item 09. Crew members aboard H.K HALL with a Christmas tree. The man seated in the left foreground is holding an accordion. A rocking horse is on the right. A child, possibly Winslow Birkholm, and the person next to him are wearing costumes. "Xmas tree out at sea" is handwritten at the top of the image.
    • Item 10. Four men with instruments, two men dancing, and one child seated next to a lifering aboard GEORGE E. BILLINGS while en route east from Australia to California. "Lots of fun on board in Billings last voyage from Australia to Calif." is handwritten at the top of the image.
    • Item 11. Mrs. Birkholm, Frederik, Winslow, and Sidney aboard H.K. HALL.
    • Item 12. Stanley [last name unknown] and Winslow Birkholm on board a vessel. Winslow is pulling the wagon that Stanley is seated in.
    • Item 13. WILLIAM H. MACY (built 1883; ship, 3m) in drydock, starboard bow view.
    • Item 14. WILLIAM H. MACY in drydock, port quarter view, apparently at the Moore & Scott shipyard in San Francisco, California. Printed at the top of the image: "No. 216 - "Wm. H. Macy' repaired by Moore & Scott S.F. Cal., 6/7-09."
    • Item 15. Painting of GEORGE E. BILLINGS underway. The handwritten inscription next to the image appears to be in Dutch.

    Collection Arrangement

    No arrangement due to the small size of the collection.

    Related Materials

    Related manuscript collections: Harold D. Huycke collection, 1868-2007. SFMNHP, (SAFR 22224, HDC 1600). Consists of the papers of maritime historian Harold Huycke as well as papers and records he collected from other individuals and organizations involved in maritime history. See Series 1.1, File Unit 7, for material related to the Birkholm family, including correspondence; photocopies of photos and certificates; notes; original Record of Naturalization [1879]; and licenses.
    George E. Billings (schooner, 5m) account books, 1899-1945, SFMNHP, (SAFR 92, HDC 0604). Account books kept by Captain Frederik Birkholm. Earlier years chronicle expenses shipboard GEORGE E. BILLINGS, and also include the schooners WINSLOW, LOTTIE CARSON, and F.S. REDFIELD.
    • This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Schooners
    Seafaring life
    Voyages and travels
    Pacific Ocean
    Black-and-white negatives
    Contact sheets