Access
Publication and Use Rights
Processing Note
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Historical or Biographical Note
Collection Scope and Content
Collection Arrangement
Related Materials
Title: George M. Verge photograph collection
Date: 1907-1959
Date (bulk): 1907-1921,
Date (bulk): 1940-1945
Identifier/Call Number: P78-314 (SAFR 24836)
Creator:
Brummett, Jim
Verge, George M.
Richards, Turner
Aero-Marine Photos
Eyerman, J. R
Physical Description:
273 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The George M. Verge photograph collection, 1907-1959, bulk 1907-1921 and 1940-1945, (SAFR 24836, P78-314) is comprised of
photographs of U.S. Revenue Cutter Service sailors at sea and ashore on the Pacific Coast as well as photographs of shipbuilding
activities during World War II at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Tacoma, Washington. The collection
has been processed to the File Unit 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], P78-314 (SAFR 24836), George M. Verge photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Acquisition Information
SAFR-00001
GOGA-00789
Gift from Larry R. Schultz of Owen Mortgage Company.
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
George M. Verge (1892-1971) (also known as "P. K. Kelly" or "Kelly") served on US Army Transport and Revenue Service ships
and worked in ship yards during and after the first and second world wars.
Born on June 28, 1892, in Great Falls, Montana, he left as a teenager for Seattle, Washington. He served aboard United States
government vessels, including BURNSIDE (built 1882; transport: U.S. Army) and MANNING (built 1898; cutter: U.S. Revenue Service)
where he spent time sailing in Alaska. During World War I he was employed at Skinner & Eddy Corporation shipyard in Seattle
as a plate hanger. He also worked as a merchant sailor, longshoreman, and rum runner. Around 1940, he became Rigging Superintendent
at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation (later known as Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma Division) in Tacoma, Washington.
He became General Superintendent of the 2nd Shift (night operations) in 1942, and in 1944 he was promoted to General Superintendent
of Steel Construction. Sometime after World War II he worked as a construction superintendent at Everett Pacific Shipbuilding
& Dry Dock Company before he was offered a position at the Todd Shipyards facility at Alameda, California, where he
stayed until his retirement in January 1959.
George married Lulu Delia Lanning (1897-1985) in 1936. He died in Alameda, California, on October 11, 1971.
Source: Correspondence and clippings located in the George M. Verge scrapbook (SAFR 24149, HDC 1687) and correspondence from
William S. Croft located in the collection file for the George M. Verge photograph collection (P78-314, SAFR 24836).
Collection Scope and Content
The George M. Verge photograph collection, 1907-1959, bulk 1907-1921 and 1940-1945, (SAFR 24836, P78-314) is comprised of
photographs of U.S. Revenue Cutter Service sailors at sea and ashore on the Pacific Coast as well as photographs of shipbuilding
activities during World War II at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Tacoma, Washington. The collection
has been processed to the File Unit level and is open for use.
Contains photographs during George M. Verge's employment in the United States Revenue Cutter Service and as a superintendent
at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Tacoma, Washington, 1907-1959, bulk 1907-1921, 1940-1945.
Consists of 1 photograph album complied by George M. Verge containing photographic prints and postcards primarily from his
sailing career aboard vessels such as BURNSIDE (built 1882; transport: U.S. Army) and MANNING (built 1898; cutter: U.S. Revenue
Service). Includes photographs of crew members on board vessels and on shore leave, ship mascots, training camps, Alaska scenes
where Verge travelled, and other U.S. government and merchant vessels. Later photographs continue after his employment Revenue
Cutter Service, likely during his time as a longshoreman, primarily showing him at leisure with his friends.
The collection also consists of photographs of shipbuilding activities and employees at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation
shipyard (later referred to as Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation) in Tacoma, Washington, where Verge was an employee during
World War II. Includes photographs of vessels, primarily cargo ships, on the shipbuilding ways and at the outfitting piers
as well as photographs of rigging operations during construction.
Additional photographs show Liberty ship hulls under construction and outfitting at the California Shipbuilding Corporation
(Calship) shipyard at Terminal Island, California.
Collection Arrangement
Arranged into 2 Series by time period: Series 1. U.S. Revenue Cutter Service photographs; Series 2. World War II shipbuilding
photographs.
Related Materials
George M. Verge scrapbook, 1937-1959, bulk 1942-1945. SFMNHP, (SAFR 24149, HDC 1687). Consists of 1 scrapbook of newspaper
clippings about shipbuilding at Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation in Tacoma, WA and other facilities in Washington State.
- This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cargo ships
Government vessels--United States
Shipbuilding
Shipyards
Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation
Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation
United States. Revenue-Cutter Service
Tacoma (Wash.)
Seattle (Wash.)
Alaska
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Gelatin silver prints
Photograph albums
Photographic postcards
Black-and-white negatives