A guide to the Robert S. Boyns photographs, 1883-1911
Processed by: L. Bianchi, 2013.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
2013
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-561-7030
Fax: 415-556-3540
SAFR_Historic_Documents@nps.gov
URL: http://www.nps.gov/safr
A Guide to the Robert S. Boyns photographs
P78-318a
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service2013, National Park Service
Title: Robert S. Boyns photographs
Date: 1883-1911
Identifier/Call Number: P78-318a (SAFR 23375)
Creator:
Boyns, Robert S.
Physical Description:
5 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Robert S. Boyns photographs, 1883-1911, (SAFR 23375, P78-318a) are comprised of images photographed by Robert S. Boyns
showing a group of sail and steam vessels, FAIRFIELD (built 1855; scow schooner), and a lateen rigged small boat on San Francisco
Bay, California. The collection has been processed to the Item level and is open for use.
Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Language(s):
In English.
This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.
Glass lantern slides may require special handling by the reference staff.
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.
Each photographic image has been assigned an Item number; in one instance, there are three forms of one image (1 black-and-white
lantern slide, 1 black-and-white preservation contact negative, and 1 black-and-white copy print) which has been noted in
the physical description field.
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.
[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item
Number], P78-318a (SAFR 23375), Robert S. Boyns photographs, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SAFR-00001
GOGA-00789
These photographs were a gift from an unknown source on an unknown date. They were formally accessioned on May 17, 1978.
SAFR-00001 is a blanket accession that was transferred from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) to the San Francisco
Maritime National Historical Park in September 1988. GGNRA had previously acquired the collection from the San Francisco Maritime
Museum when it became a unit of the National Park Service in 1977.
GOGA-00789 was transferred from the J. Porter Shaw Library to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in February
1985.
Historical or Biographical Note
Robert S. Boyns (1867-1935) was an employee of the Young Men's Christian Association and Prudential Life Insurance Company
in the San Francisco Bay Area of California circa 1880s-1910.
Robert Smith Boyns was likely born in 1867 in Cornwall, England. He immigrated to the United States circa 1883-1884 and he
settled in Northern California. San Francisco and Sacramento area newspapers from 1888-1900 occasionally advertise lectures
by Robert S. Boyns at various Young Men's Christian Association locations where he served as secretary. He evidently changed
professions and became an employee of Prudential Life Insurance Company in 1902 (Prudential's New Pacific Coast Division,
453). He married Grace Miller in 1909 and around 1911 they moved to Seattle, Washington. While in Seattle, Robert continued
to work for Prudential and served as president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1921. He died in 1935 in Seattle.
- "Breaking Ground for the New Building of the Young Men's Christian Association." San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA), March 11, 1893.
- Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Accessed May 21, 2013 from www.ancestry.com.
- Great Registers, 1866-1898. Microfilm, 185 rolls. California State Library, Sacramento, California. Accessed May 21, 2013 from www.ancestry.com.
- Inkersley, Arthur. "What San Francisco has to start with." Overland Monthly and the Out West Magazine vol. XLVII, no. 6 (June-July 1906): 486.
- "Marriage Licenses Issued." Sausalito News (Sausalito, CA), November 20, 1909.
- "Prudential's New Pacific Coast Division." The Standard 64, no. 18 (May 1, 1909): 453.
- Seattle City Directory, 1921. Seattle, WA: L R. L. Polk & Co., 1921.
The Robert S. Boyns photographs, 1883-1911, (SAFR 23375, P78-318a) are comprised of images photographed by Robert S. Boyns
showing a group of sail and steam vessels, FAIRFIELD (built 1855; scow schooner), and a lateen rigged small boat on San Francisco
Bay, California. The collection has been processed to the Item level and is open for use.
Contains photographs of San Francisco Bay sailing scenes as photographed by Robert S. Boyns, 1883-1911. There are 3 unique
photographic images in 5 physical forms (3 glass lantern slides, 1 preservation contact negative, and 1 photographic print).
One photograph shows a group of sailing and steam vessels underway on New Year's morning. In the second photograph, FAIRFIELD
(built 1855; scow schooner) is underway. A boat rigged with a lateen sail is underway in the third photograph.
No arrangement due to the small size of the collection.
The SFMNHP Classified photograph collection contains additional lantern slides photographed by Robert S. Boyns depicting scow
schooners in the San Francisco Bay Area and ELECTRA (built 1868; bark, 3m) on the San Francisco waterfront. See A12.14513,
A12.15177, B11.14172, and B11.14173.
- This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Scow schooners
Small craft
Fairfield (built 1855; scow schooner)
San Francisco Bay (Calif.)
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
Lantern slides
Black-and-white negatives
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Glass storage
Item No. 1. Sailing and steam vessels on San Francisco Bay, California, as seen from a distance, 1883-1911
Creator/Collector:
Boyns, Robert S.
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white lantern slide, 3.25 x 4 in. Tape has deteriorated; glass cover has separated from the glass plate containing
the image. The cover is broken; the top edge is missing and the lower right corner has broken off.
Scope and Content Note
Photographed on New Year's morning, year not specified.
Caption: New Year's Morning on San Francisco Bay.
Glass storage
Item No. 2. Fairfield (built 1855; scow schooner) underway, starboard quarter view, on San Francisco Bay, California, 1883-1911
Creator/Collector:
Boyns, Robert S.
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white lantern slide, 3.25 x 4 in. Tape has deteriorated; glass cover has separated from the glass plate containing
the image.
Scope and Content Note
A dinghy is tied up behind the vessel. Another scow schooner is partially visible in the background.
Related Material
Classified photographs B07.21810 and B07.14515 appear to be copy negatives made from P78-318a, Item 2.
Glass storage; Shared collection box
Item No. 3. Boat rigged with a lateen sail underway, starboard quarter view, on San Francisco Bay, California, 1883-1911
Creator/Collector:
Boyns, Robert S.
Extent:
1 photograph (3 physical forms).
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white lantern slide, 3.25 x 4 in.; 1 black-and-white preservation contact negative, 4 x 5 in.; 1 black-and-white
copy print, 8 x 10 in.
Scope and Content Note
Two men are aboard. A two-masted schooner is underway in the background.