A guide to the Stephen Canright collection of San Francisco Bay ferry photographs, circa 1910-1990
Processed by: L. Bianchi, 2012.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
2015
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 Stephen Canright collection of San Francisco Bay ferry photographs
P91-073
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service2015, National Park Service
Title: Stephen Canright collection of San Francisco Bay ferry photographs
Date: circa 1910-1990
Date (bulk): circa 1935-1958
Identifier/Call Number: P91-073 (SAFR 23210)
Creator:
Emmons, Mush
Canright, Stephen
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Public Library
Canright, Stephen
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Public Library
Physical Description:
20 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Stephen Canright collection of San Francisco Bay ferry photographs, circa 1910-1990, bulk circa 1935-1958, (SAFR 23210,
P91-073) is comprised of photographs of ferries in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. The collection has been processed
to the Series 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.
Items 01-03 may not be reproduced without permission of the San Francisco Chronicle. Items 04-14 must credit the San Francisco
Public Library. Additional restrictions may apply.
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.
SAFR-00409 was processed in 2012 as P91-073, SAFR 23210. The collection was titled "San Francisco Chronicle photographs of
San Francisco Bay ferries." In September 2014, SAFR-00410 was accrued to the collection and it was renamed the "Stephen Canright
collection of San Francisco Bay ferry photographs."
Each photographic image has been assigned an Item number; there are often multiple physical forms of each image (e.g. a negative
and a print) which has been noted in the description.
Description Notes:
Dates refer to when the original photograph was taken. Many of the photographic prints and negatives in this collection are
copies that were made much later than when the original photograph was taken.
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], P91-073 (SAFR 23210), Stephen Canright collection of San Francisco Bay ferry photographs, San Francisco Maritime
National Historical Park
SAFR-00409
SAFR-00410
The collection was donated by Stephen Canright, Curator of Exhibits at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park,
in 1991. He purchased the photographs from the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Public Library, and possibly Mush
Emmons. Mr. Canright may have used the photographs for a Park exhibit or for research purposes.
Historical or Biographical Note
This collection does not include a historical or biographical note.
The Stephen Canright collection of San Francisco Bay ferry photographs, circa 1910-1990, bulk circa 1935-1958, (SAFR 23210,
P91-073) is comprised of photographs of ferries in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. The collection has been processed
to the Series level and is open for use.
Contains photographs of ferries underway, ferry passengers, and ferry crew members, circa 1910-1990, bulk circa 1935-1958.
There are 15 unique photographic images in 20 physical forms (8 copy negatives and 12 black-and-white photographic prints).
Some vessels have been identified as CHARLES VAN DAMME (built 1916; paddle ferry), PIEDMONT (built 1883; ferry), SAN LEANDRO
(built 1923; ferry), and the 1970's-built SAN FRANCISCO (ferry). Two of the photographed crew members are identified as Edwin
"Eddie" Barret and Captain Arthur Jensen. The ferry passengers are depicted doing various activities, including playing cards,
sleeping, reading, knitting, and eating.
Arranged into two series based on the source of the photographs: Series 1: San Francisco Chronicle photographs; Series 2:
San Francisco Public Library and Mush Emmons photographs. The photographs in Series 1 were purchased by the donor from the
San Francisco Chronicle. The photographs in Series 2 were purchased from the San Francisco Public Library with the exception
of one photograph (Item 15) that the donor may have purchased directly from photographer Mush Emmons.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ferries
Paddle steamers
Passenger ships
San Francisco Bay (Calif.)
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
Black-and-white prints
Black-and-white negatives
Series 1. San Francisco Chronicle photographs, circa 1935-1958
Extent:
3 photographs (5 physical forms: 2 copy negatives and 3 black-and-white photographic prints)
Scope and Content Note
Items 01-03. Consists of photographs by the San Francisco Bay Chronicle of passengers and crew members aboard ferries in the
San Francisco Bay Area, California.
- Item 01: Group of passengers gathered on board PIEDMONT (built 1883; ferry) near the pilothouse, circa 1938-1941. The occasion is not stated, but some people appear to be singing. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.; (1) black-and-white copy negative, 4 x 5 in.
- Item 02: Passengers and crew members on board SAN LEANDRO (built 1923; ferry) while at an unidentified ferry slip, circa 1935-1958. View as seen from the apron ramp. A uniformed man is walking down the ramp. The photo was taken either in the early morning or in the evening.
- Item 03: Edwin "Eddie" Barret handling a line on board an unidentified ferry, circa 1935-1958. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.; (1) black-and-white copy negative, 4 x 5 in.
Purchased by the donor from the San Francisco Chronicle.
The print for Item 01 is from SAFR-00409 and the copy negative for Item 01 is from SAFR-00410. It is not clear if the copy
negative was made by SAFR staff from the San Francisco Chronicle photographic print and placed in SAFR-00410 in error, or
whether the donor purchased the copy negative from the San Francisco Public Library.
Arrangement
No arrangement due to the small size of the Series.
Purchased by the donor from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Series 2. San Francisco Public Library and Mush Emmons photographs, circa 1910-1990 (bulk circa 1935-1958)
Extent:
12 photographs (15 physical forms: 6 copy negatives and 9 black-and-white photographic prints)
Scope and Content Note
Items 04-15. Consists of photographs from the San Francisco Public Library's Historical Photograph Collection and from photographer
Mush Emmons of ferries underway, ferry commuter activities, and ferry crew members in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
- Item 04: CHARLES VAN DAMME (built 1916; paddle ferry) underway, circa 1930-1950. Two automobiles are visible on deck. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.
- Item 05: Captain Arthur Jensen at the helm of CHARLES VAN DAMME (built 1916; paddle ferry), 1943-1956. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.
- Item 06: Ferry underway, with the San Francisco waterfront in the distance, circa 1930-1958. The vessel is apparently en route to the Ferry Building. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.
- Item 07: Paddle ferry apparently under construction, circa 1920-1930. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.
- Item 08: Crowd of passengers celebrating aboard a ferry, circa 1940-1958. The occasion is unknown. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.; (1) black-and-white copy negative, 4 x 5 in.
- Item 09: Ferry passengers playing a card game, circa 1940-1958. Eight men are in view, all standing. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.; (1) black-and-white safety negative, 4 x 5 in.
- Item 10: Ferry passengers reading and knitting aboard a ferry, circa 1935-1958. Four women and one man are in view, all seated. Yerba Buena Island and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge are visible through the window. (1) black-and-white copy negative, 8 x 10 in.
- Item 11: Four men on the deck of a ferry, circa 1935-1958. The photo was taken either in the early morning or in the evening. The city of San Francisco is in the far distance. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.; (1) black-and-white copy negative, 8 x 10 in.
- Item 12: Man sleeping aboard a ferry, circa 1920-1958. (1) black-and-white copy negative, 4 x 5 in.
- Item 13: Passengers eating aboard a ferry, circa 1935-1958. Captioned, "Of course eating together was always fun. It was informal, food was good and hot and never cost very much." (1) black-and-white copy negative, 4 x 5 in.
- Item 14: Automobiles on a long pier, circa 1910-1920. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.
- Item 15: SAN FRANCISCO (ferry) underway, port quarter view, 1975-1990. The vessel is dressed. Operated by the Golden Gate Ferry Company. Photographed by Mush Emmons. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 7 x 10 in.
Purchased by the donor from the San Francisco Public Library and possibly from photographer Mush Emmons.
Arrangement
No arrangement due to the small size of the Series.
Purchased by the donor from the San Francisco Public Library and possibly from photographer Mush Emmons.