A guide to the Sylvia M. Ortman motion picture film and postcard collection, 1966-1972
Processed by: L. Bianchi, July 2014.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
2014
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 Sylvia M. Ortman motion picture film and postcard collection
P10-004
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service2014, National Park Service
Title: Sylvia M. Ortman motion picture film and postcard collection
Date: 1966-1972
Identifier/Call Number: P10-004 (SAFR 23855)
Creator:
Ortman, Sylvia M.
Physical Description:
15 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Sylvia M. Ortman motion picture film and postcard collection, 1966-1972, (SAFR 23855, P10-004) is comprised of a Matson
Lines motion picture film titled "South Seas Cruise Adventure" and a postcard of the Pacific Far East Line steamship MARIPOSA
(built 1953; passenger vessel). 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.
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.
Fourteen copies of the same postcard (Item 2) were kept in the collection to illustrate the mass marketing of souvenir items
related to passenger cruises.
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], P10-004 (SAFR 23855), Sylvia M. Ortman motion picture film and postcard collection, San Francisco Maritime National
Historical Park
SAFR-02105
Sylvia Ortman offered the film and postcard to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in 1998 along with 95 artifacts
and other assorted ephemera. The collection was accepted and formally accessioned in 2010. The items were collected by Sylvia
and Kenneth Ortman. Mrs. Ortman was one of the last Pacific Far East Line, Inc. employees on the payroll when the company
went out of business in the late 1970's. She saved some of the items that the company was discarding at the time of their
closure.
Historical or Biographical Note
MARIPOSA (built 1953; passenger vessel) was built by Bethlehem Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, as PINE TREE MARINER. In
1955, the Oceanic Steamship Company (a subsidiary of Matson Navigation Company) purchased the vessel and converted her to
a passenger vessel. She was christened MARIPOSA in 1956. In 1970, Matson sold the vessel to the Pacific Far East Line, Inc.
Source: Stindt, Fred A. Matson's Century of Ships. Kelseyville, CA: F.A. Stindt, 1991, c1982.
The Sylvia M. Ortman motion picture film and postcard collection, 1966-1972, (SAFR 23855, P10-004) is comprised of a Matson
Lines motion picture film titled "South Seas Cruise Adventure" and a postcard of the Pacific Far East Line steamship MARIPOSA
(built 1953; passenger vessel). The collection has been processed to the Collection level and is open for use.
Contains a motion picture film and postcard related to passenger ocean travel, 1966-1972. There is 1 color film reel and 14
identical color offset lithographic postcards.
Item 1: (1) reel of a Super 8mm color film titled "South Seas Cruise Adventure." Produced for Matson Navigation Company by
Travel-8, Inc., probably 1966-1970. The film begins with a Matson vessel underway in San Francisco Bay, California, near the
Golden Gate Bridge. Includes views on board Matson steamships, likely MARIPOSA (built 1953; passenger vessel) and/or MONTEREY
(built 1952; passenger vessel), of passenger activities such as swimming, shuffleboard, and dancing as well as a crossing
the line ceremony with King Neptune. Also includes local scenery and natives in Bora Bora, Tahiti, Rarotonga, New Zealand,
Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, and Hawaii. Running time is approximately 26 minutes. Approximately 400 feet. Information
on the film header: Recut / M-801 / South Seas Cruise Adventure / Travel 8 / No.1. The film does not have a soundtrack. The
film color is faded. The top of the film's original box is torn and a piece of the top edge is missing. The tear has been
taped.
Item 2: (14) color offset lithographic postcards, 3.5 x 5.5 in., of MARIPOSA (built 1953; passenger vessel) underway, 1970-1972.
The image on all fourteen postcards is identical. View slightly off the port bow. The Pacific Far East Line bear logo is on
the vessel's stack. The text on the verso of the postcard reads: "SS MARIPOSA - SS MONTEREY / Designed especially for cruising,
these twin luxury liners are two of the most beautifully appointed ships afloat. Accommodations for 336 passengers, exclusively
first class. Frequent sailings from California to the South Seas - New Zealand - Australia and Hawaii. Also to Alaska, and
special cruises to other destinations. American flag cruising at its finest - Pacific Far East Line. / Length 563 feet - Speed
20 knots - Gross Tonnage 18, 497 (Br.) - Displacement 20,600." Thirteen of the postcards have "Stock No. S-140 - Litho in
U.S.A" printed on the dividing line on the verso and one has "Stock No. S-145 - Litho in U.S.A" printed on the dividing line
and "SC13096"
printed in the lower left corner on the verso.
No arrangement due to the small size of the collection.
Related manuscript collections:
Sylvia M. Ortman papers, 1972-1975. SFMNHP, (SAFR 22677, HDC1608). Comprises ephemera collected during a trip to Alaska aboard
MONTEREY (built 1952; passenger vessel) in 1975, and a telephone directory for the Pacific Far East Line, Inc., where Mrs.
Ortman was employed in the finance and payroll department during the 1970's.
Researchers should note that there are several objects donated by Sylvia M. Ortman related to Pacific Far East Line, Inc.
(PFEL) as well as other books and collections with materials related to PFEL, Matson Navigation Company, and passenger ships
in general in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. See catalog nos. SAFR 22622 to 22651 in the Park's web
catalog (http://go.usa.gov/vD3z) for more information.
- This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Passenger ships
Ocean travel
Mariposa (Ship)
Matson Navigation Company
Pacific Far East Line, Inc.
Oceania
Australia
San Francisco Bay (Calif.)
Motion pictures (visual work)
Picture postcards