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A guide to the Arthur J. Thompson photographs, 1939-1973
P95-012 (SAFR 22584)
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Table of contents
Title: Arthur J. Thompson photographs
Date: 1939-1973
Date (bulk): 1958-1963
Identifier/Call Number: P95-012 (SAFR 22584)
Creator:
Thompson, Arthur J.
Physical Description:
4600 items.
Some items available online.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Arthur J. Thompson photographs, 1939-1973, bulk 1958-1963, (SAFR 22584, P95-012) consists of 4,600 photographs (5.25 linear
feet) of domestic and foreign vessels, military and merchant, primarily in the San Francisco Bay, but also including other
locations, and Thompson's detailed field notes and index of his photographic material. The collection is processed at the
file unit level with some items listed.
Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Language(s):
In English.
This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.
Nitrate negatives are restricted from use. Digital use-copies can be provided.
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.
Note on Processing
This collection is the combination of two different accruals, both from Mrs. Lawson. The first collection (SAFR-00875) was
accessioned as the Arthur Thompson and Thomas E. Mohler Photographs, and the second (SAFR-01098) was accessioned as the Arthur
Thompson Photographs. Using Thompson's index cards associated with the material, through identifying corresponding prints
and negatives, and from the information received from Mrs. Lawson, it appears as though the work is primarily that of Thompson,
and not Mohler, who is said to have occasionally taken photographs with Thompson. For that reason, the acquisitions have been
processed together and the collection has been named the Arthur J. Thompson photographs. It has been noted which items are
from the Thompson/Mohler acquisition. There is no certain way of identifying which photographs Mohler may have taken, except
for the few items noted in Arthur's field notes or the slide with "TOM" written on the back.
Not all of the slides, negatives or prints have associated images in the other formats; therefore, slides, negatives, and
prints need to be consulted to view all of the images.
Note on Description
Subseries and File Unit names are those given to the material by Thompson, where noted. Thompson had labeled negative boxes
and created hand-written tabs to separate his different categories of slides. These original categories were retained in naming
file units, and in some cases subseries.
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], P95-012 (SAFR 22584), Arthur J. Thompson photographs, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SAFR-00875
SAFR-01098
The Arthur Thompson Photograph Collection is the combination of two acquisitions, both gifts of Martha R. Lawson and Richard
J. Lawson. Mrs. Lawson was a friend of Thomas E. Mohler Jr.'s late widow. Mrs. Lawson inherited the late Mrs. Mohler's house,
and in this house the Lawsons found Arthur Thompson's photographs.
SAFR-00875 was accessioned on March 15, 1995. It contained color slides, black-and-white negatives and photographic prints.
SAFR-01098 was accessioned on September 6, 1996. It contained slides; photographs; articles, documents, newspaper clippings
and posters; 4 vessel plans; and two reference books. The non-photographic material was either culled or transferred to the
library.
Historical or Biographical Note
Arthur J. Thompson was a WWII veteran and marine photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area mainly during the 1950s-1970s.
He primarily took photographs of merchant vessels in the San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate Bridge and several piers in
San Francisco.
Thompson worked for PG & E, possibly in the Department of Engineering and Drafting. He was enlisted in the U.S. Navy during
WWII, and stationed somewhere near Italy. Thompson organized his practice of photographing vessels under the name "Art's Marine
Photography," located at 425 Second Ave., in the Richmond District of San Francisco. It is not known if this was a commercial
business. Thompson was the Secretary-Treasurer of the Mainline Railroad Camera Club in San Francisco. Arthur J. Thompson died
in 1979 or 1980, at approximately 76 years old.
Thomas E. Mohler and Arthur J. Thompson were friends who attended Poly Technical High School in San Francisco during the early
1930s. The school was near Kezar stadium and they both took mechanical drawing classes in the evening at Galileo High School.
Thomas E. Mohler Jr. (October 18, 1914 - November 1, 1984) was the son of Thomas Mohler and Mary (Marshal) Mohler. He had
one sister, Harriet, born in 1906. He graduated from Poly Technical High School in the spring of 1933. The following December,
a general contractor's license was issued to Thomas Mohler at 626 36th Ave, in the Richmond District of San Francisco. He
focused on residential construction and retired early. On December 18, 1964, he married Emma M. DeCoux in San Mateo County.
His last known residence was in the Richmond District.
Sources:
Martha R. Lawson, donor: Mrs. Lawson was a friend of Thomas Mohler's widow. Mrs. Lawson inherited the Mohler home at 626 36th
Ave upon Mrs. Mohler's death. Material from both accruals was found in the residence. Mrs. Lawson provided information regarding
Thompson's photography as well as the relationship between Thompson and Mohler at the time of accrual as well as in a phone
interview with San Francisco Maritime archives staff in 1996.
"1930 United States Federal Census: Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 203; Page: 2A; Enumeration
District: 252; Image: 1029.0." Ancestry.com. Accessed October 3, 2011, from http://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1930usfedcen&h=92413073&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=6061
"Polytechnic High School Class of Spring 1933". San Francisco Genealogy. Accessed on October 3, 2011, from http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/schools/polysp33g.htm
"Contractor's License Detail - License # 27974." Department of Consumer Affairs, Contractor State License Board. Accessed
on October 3, 2011, from https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=27974
The Arthur J. Thompson photographs, 1939-1973, bulk 1958-1963, (SAFR 22584, P95-012) consists of 4,600 photographs (5.25 linear
feet) of domestic and foreign vessels, military and merchant, primarily in the San Francisco Bay, but also including other
locations, and Thompson's detailed field notes and index of his photographic material. The collection is processed at the
file unit level with some items listed.
The collection contains black-and-white negatives and prints, color negatives and prints, and color slides. The images document
marine traffic seen in the San Francisco Bay Area during this time period. Thompson's notes and indexes reflect his process
of documenting these vessels. According to the donor Mrs. Lawson, Thompson took most of the photographs. Thompson and Mohler
seemed to have favored 4-5 particular locations for photographing vessels (mostly freighters): the Golden Gate Bridge, the
Municipal Pier, and other piers around San Francisco. The photographs were predominantly taken of vessels in the San Francisco
Bay. Other locations of photographs include: Boston, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; Erie, Pennsylvania; the Great Lakes
Region; Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts; Mystic, Connecticut; New York, New York; Portland, Oregon; Richmond, California;
Rocky Point, Palos Verdes, California; San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; Scituate, Massachusetts; Stewart's Point,
California; Stockton,
California; and a Willamette River dock, in Oregon.
Arranged into the following six series:
- Series 1: Reference Notes, circa 1959-1963
- Series 2: Merchant Vessels, 1947-1965 (bulk 1954-1963)
- Series 3: Government Vessels, 1952-1965 (bulk 1957-1963)
- Series 4: Miscellaneous Vessels, 1948 July-1973 May (bulk 1954-1963)
- Series 5: Prints and Negatives, 1939-1963 (bulk 1958-1963)
- Series 6: Other Photographers, circa 1950s-1960s (bulk 1956-1963)
Arthur J. Thompson marine architectural drawings, 1936-1942 (HDC1103, SAFR 17304)
- This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Coastwise shipping--Pacific Coast (U.S.)
Shipping--Pacific Coast (North America)--History--Pictorial works
Merchant ships--United States--History--20th century
San Francisco Bay (Calif.)--Harbor
Ships--California--San Francisco--Pictorial works
Photograph collections--California--San Francisco
Marine photography
Photography of ships
Government vessels--United States
ompson, Arthur J.
Mohler, Thomas E. (1914-1984)
cific Coast (Calif.)
San Francisco Bay (Calif.)
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
Black-and-white negatives
Black-and-white prints
Color negatives
Color prints (photographs)
Color slides
Cellulous nitrate film