Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
A guide to the Michael Dobrin photograph collection, 1938-1998
P02-007 (SAFR 23354)
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Michael Dobrin photograph collection
Date: 1938-1998
Date (bulk): 1989
Identifier/Call Number: P02-007 (SAFR 23354)
Creator:
Dobrin, Michael
Physical Description:
36 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Michael Dobrin photograph collection, 1938-1998, bulk 1989 (SAFR 23354, P02-007) is comprised mainly of photographic prints
and negatives of San Francisco Bird Boats, 1938-1989. 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.
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.
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], P02-007 (SAFR 23354), Michael Dobrin photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SAFR-01681
In September 2001, Michael Dobrin donated 5 photographic prints and 30 photographic negatives of San Francisco Bird Boats,
and one magazine to the SFMNHP. They were formally accessioned in 2002.
Historical or Biographical Note
History of Bird Boats:
The Bird Class was a San Francisco Bay type One Design Class boat, developed in the early 1920s to handle local wind and water
conditions. One Design Class boats are all the same model or design. This allows the boats to be on an even playing field
and there is no handicap in the race; the first boat to cross the finish line wins. This also puts more focus on the skills
of the competitors in the races since all the boats are the same.
In 1919, the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association formed the "S" Class Syndicate, "a committee of representatives of all six
Bay Area Yacht Clubs, to renew interest in yachting, racing, and inter-club competition. The Syndicate came back with historical
questions: How about designing an affordable, swift, racing cruiser that can charge through the blustery, choppy conditions
of the San Francisco Bay with the confidence of a freighter? A boat that can fly across the foam topped waves like, say, a
bird?" (Norton).
"Members of the Pacific Inter-club Yachting Association (P.I.Y.A.), local shipwright J. Herbert Madden Sr., P.I.Y.A. Representative
Clifford A. Smith, and Sausalito Naval Architect Fred Brewer drew up a rough sketch of the proposed sloop for members of the
San Francisco Yacht Club. The drawing was then sent to well-known boat designer John Alden for review and drafting. The San
Francisco contingent accepted his suggestion for increased ballast but declined other modifications. John Alden design Number
157 was drafted up by associate Sam Crocker on September 1, 1921 and became the basis for the Bird Class, which still exists
today" (Hook).
The first bird boat was built by Madden & Lewis in Sausalito in 1921 for Leon De Fremery, and was named OSPREY (which is a
large fish-eating hawk). There are rumors that boat has an exciting history: it was reported in some local newspapers that
in 1929 she was stolen from the moorings off of Sausalito by an escaped convict and her remains were found on the sand at
Dillon's Beach near the entrance to Tomales Bay (Hook). However, other people say that OSPREY just drifted off her moorings
and was never stolen (Kays).
24 Bird boats were built from 1921-1947 and many of these boats are still racing on the San Francisco Bay today (Registry).
As of 2007, Birds can still be seen participating in the San Francisco Yacht Racing Association, the Wooden Boat Racing Association,
and the SF Master Mariner Annual Regatta (Pierre Josephs, http://www.birdboat.com/). Terry Norton nicely sums up the current
state of Bird Boats by writing the following:
". . .today's sailors stand symbolically side by side the members of the 'S' Class Syndicate of 75 years ago to prove that
the Bird Boat is a gol dern fine boat, in a gol dern fine sport. No gimmicks, no reef points, no broaching, no storm sails,
no ding of the microwave--just pure sailing. Like grandpa's day. Where are the Bird Boats today? While Dad's Model T sits
in storage, waiting for the next parade, and Grandfather's golf clubs, framed on green velvet years ago, hang over the fireplace?
Why, they're out on San Francisco Bay every weekend, tacking across the westerly 'breezes' of the Bay, proving that the Bird
Association's motto, 'Nothing sails like a Bird' needs amending. After seventy-five years of soaring, nothing sails like an
old Bird."
Written by Amy Croft, August 2012.
- Hook, Jane (1996). The Bird Boats. Retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://www.birdboat.com/Hook.htm.
- Josephs, Pierre (n.d.). Home page for the website Birdboat.com. Retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://www.birdboat.com/.
- Kays, Gunnar. Letter to the Editor. Latitude 38: November 1997. Retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://www.latitude38.com/letters/199711.htm.
- Norton, Terry (circa 1996). 75 Years Of Soaring: The Story of the San Francisco Bird Boats. Retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://www.birdboat.com/Terry%20Norton.htm.
- Tooker, Richard H. (circa 1983). Front matter for the Walter A. Scott photographs finding aid, P83-019.
- Registry of Bird Boats. Retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://www.birdboat.com/Registry.pdf.
The Michael Dobrin photograph collection, 1938-1998, bulk 1989 (SAFR 23354, P02-007) is comprised mainly of photographic prints
and negatives of San Francisco Bird Boats, 1938-1989. The collection has been processed to the item level and is open for
use.
The collection primarily contains photographic prints and negatives of San Francisco Bird Boats, including CUCKOO, LOON, POLLY,
PUFFIN and TEAL, 1938-1989. There are several photographs of Jack Ehrhorn standing next to POLLY during her reconstruction
in late 1989. There is also an issue of WoodenBoat magazine (no. 114, September/October 1998), which contains an article on
San Francisco Bird Boats and features several photographs from Michael Dobrin that can also be found in this collection. Most
of the photographers in this collection are unidentified. There is the possibility that Michael Dobrin took some of the photographs
for items 06-35, but this could not be confirmed.
Arranged in chronological order.
Jack Ehrhorn collection of Stone Boat Yard photographs, circa 1885-2005 (SAFR 23147, P05-081), which contains photographs
of CUCKOO and POLLY.
Researchers should note that there are other books and collections (including CLASSIFIED photographs) with materials related
to San Francisco Bird Boats in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. They can search the Park's web catalog
for more information.
- This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bird Class (Sailboats)
Yachting--California--San Francisco Bay
Yacht building
Yachts--Design and construction
Ehrhorn, Jack Wilbur
Alcyon (built 1927; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 7)
Cuckoo (built 1929; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 16)
Curlew (built 1922; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 2)
Grey Goose (built 1929; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 10)
Kittiwake (built 1929; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 9)
Linnet (built 1932; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 20)
Loon (built 1929; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 13)
Mavis (built 1924; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 4)
Oriole (built 1929; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 11)
Petrel (built 1928; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 8)
Polly (built 1929; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 19)
Puffin (built 1928; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 12)
Robin (built 1929; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 18)
Skylark (built 1927; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 6)
Teal (built 1929; sloop: yacht: Bird Class, No. 24)
San Francisco Bay (Calif.)
Black-and-white negatives
Black-and-white prints
Gelatin silver prints
Color prints (photographs)
Volumes (documents by form)