Access
Publication and Use Rights
Processing Note
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Historical or Biographical Note
Collection Scope and Content
Collection Arrangement
Related Materials
Title: Chitose (built 1898; cruiser: Imperial Japanese Navy) photograph album
Date: 1897-1899
Identifier/Call Number: P01-026 (SAFR 23365)
Creator:
Unknown
Physical Description:
34 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Chitose (built 1898; cruiser: Imperial Japanese Navy) photograph album, 1897-1899, (SAFR 23365, P01-026) consists of photographs
showing the construction and launching of CHITOSE at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, 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.
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
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], P01-026 (SAFR 23365), Chitose (built 1898; cruiser: Imperial Japanese Navy) photograph album, San Francisco Maritime
National Historical Park
Acquisition Information
SAFR-01569
SAFR-01569 is a transfer from the J. Porter Shaw Library (formerly library call number b V805.5.J3C5) to the Historic Documents
Department in November 2000. It was formally accessioned in 2001. The San Francisco Maritime Museum stamp on the inside cover
indicates that the album was acquired by the museum between 1950-1977.
Although the exact provenance of the CHITOSE photograph album is unidentified, shipbuilding companies were known to assemble
photograph albums documenting the vessels they built. These albums were presented to persons involved with the vessel's construction
or launching, such as the vessel's sponsor. However, the album in this collection may have been compiled by the Imperial Japanese
Navy or the Japanese government rather than the shipbuilder, the Union Iron Works of San Francisco, California. Due to the
album's Japanese fabric covers and the Japanese style accordion binding (orihon), the album was likely Japanese made. The
fabric illustrations depict cards from Uta-garuta, a Japanese card game. The deck is composed of cards based on the Ogura
Hyakunin Isshu, a classical Japanese anthology of one hundred Japanese poems by one hundred poets. The photograph album may
have been presented to someone as a gift for their involvement in the CHITOSE's development.
Historical or Biographical Note
CHITOSE (built 1898; cruiser: Imperial Japanese Navy) was a Japanese naval vessel built by Union Iron Works in San Francisco,
California. The keel was laid May 3, 1897, and she was launched January 22, 1898. At the launching, May Budd, niece of James
Budd, Governor of California, christened the vessel and Gladys Sullivan, niece of James D. Phelan, Mayor of San Francisco,
triggered the signal to release the vessel down the ways. Captain S. Sakuri and Lieutenant Y. Wadagaki of the Imperial Japanese
Navy served as inspectors during the construction. The vessel's first official trial run was conducted in the Santa Barbara
Channel, California, in January 1899. In March, CHITOSE was delivered to the Japanese government. Captain K. Sakuri served
as the vessel's first captain. In 1931, CHITOSE was sunk during use as target practice.
Sources:
Associated Press. "Japan's Navy Claims Another American Built Ship." Los Angeles Herald, Jan. 23, 1898.
Chesneau, Roger, Eugaene M. Kolebsnik, and N.J.M. Campbell. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860-1905. New York:
Mayflower Books, 1979.
Collection Scope and Content
The Chitose (built 1898; cruiser: Imperial Japanese Navy) photograph album, 1897-1899, (SAFR 23365, P01-026) consists of photographs
showing the construction and launching of CHITOSE at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California. The collection has been
processed to the Item level and is open for use.
One photograph album containing photographs of CHITOSE (built 1898; cruiser: Imperial Japanese Navy), 1897-1899. The album
(7.75 x 6 x 1.5 in.) contains 34 black-and-white albumen photographic prints mounted on 32 pages. The fabric covers feature
color illustrations depicting Japanese people and writing on playing cards from Uta-garuta, a Japanese card game. The album
photographs show CHITOSE during construction, launching, and outfitting at Union Iron Works. Three photographs of the vessel's
interior show the captain's dining saloon, officer's ward room, and crew's quarters.
The album also contains portraits of Union Iron Works employees (George W. Dickie, Robert Forsyth, Fred A. Gardner, James
O'Brien Gunn, Henry T. Scott, and Irving M. Scott); Imperial Japanese Navy personnel (Chief Engineer T. Hirabe, Commander
I. Mori, Captain K. Sakuri, Captain S. Sakuri, and Lieutenant Y. Wadagaki); and May Budd and Gladys Sullivan, the young women
chosen to assist with the vessel's launching.
Collection Arrangement
Each photograph in the album has been assigned an Item number. The Items are arranged in the order in which they were found
by the processing archivist. The album was originally accordion-hinged; however, the binding is broken. The covers and most
of the pages are now loose. As a result, it is not certain if the pages are in their original order. Item numbers were written
in pencil next to the photographs in March 2013.
Related Materials
Related SFMNHP photograph collection:
John T. Scott photograph collection, 1856-1923. SFMNHP, (SAFR 23362, P79-072a). Comprised of a photograph album and loose
photographic prints primarily relating to the Union Iron Works of San Francisco, California. The photographs show various
vessels and pieces of machinery built by the company. Includes views of CHITOSE under construction and machinery built for
the vessel on album pages 100-105 (Series 1.1, File Units 105-110, Items 388-405).
Related SFMNHP manuscript collection:
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Shipbuilding Division, S.F., records, circa 1856-1973. SFMNHP, (SAFR 17494, HDC 0345). Comprised
of vessel plans, order books, cost books, specifications, and other business-related documents of the Bethlehem Steel, Shipbuilding
Division, San Francisco (formerly Union Iron Works and Risdon Iron Works). Contains ship plans for CHITOSE.
Researchers should note that there are other collections with materials related to CHITOSE and Union Iron Works 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
Launch of Japanese man-of-war "Chitosa" [i.e., "Chitose"], 1898. Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded
Sound Division, LC 1085 (paper pos). Film published by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. showing the launching of CHITOSE at Union Iron
Works, San Francisco on January 22, 1898. Also available digitally through the Library of Congress website.
- This material is located at Library of Congress
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ships--Launching
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding--California--San Francisco
Shipyards
Shipyards--California--History
Warships
Chitose (built 1898; cruiser: Imperial Japanese Navy)
Union Iron Works Co.
Japan. Kaigun
San Francisco (Calif.)
Albumen prints
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Photograph albums