Guide to the Charles T. Lewis California Shipbuilding Corporation (CalShip) Collection

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California State University, Northridge
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Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives
Title: Charles T. Lewis California Shipbuilding Corporation (CalShip) Collection
Creator: Lewis, Charles T., 1901-1989
Identifier/Call Number: URB.CTL
Extent: 1.48 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1941-1976
Abstract: During World War II, Lewis worked as the chief electrician and supervisor for the Marine Electrical Department at California Shipbuilding Company on Terminal Island, Long Beach. Lewis supervised work on ships for the US Army Transport Service and War Shipping Administration Transport vessels. Lewis's personal collection documents the history of Naval construction of the Liberty Ship fleet during World War II.
Language of Material: English

Biographical Information:

Charles T. Lewis was born March 7, 1901 in Galena, Kansas to Thornton and Charlotte (Carpenter) Lewis. After graduating from high school, Lewis joined the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1918 to 1920. He was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba until leaving the service as a corporal.
During World War II, Lewis worked as the chief electrician and supervisor for the Marine Electrical Department at California Shipbuilding Company on Terminal Island, Long Beach. Lewis supervised work on ships for the US Army Transport Service and War Shipping Administration Transport vessels. Prior to his civilian position for the military he was working with the crew that built Boulder Dam. After the shipyards closed its Naval construction activities, Lewis continued working on military contracts for the Naval Ordinance Test Station at China Lake, California and then at the Atomic Energy Testing Facility in Nevada. Lewis died on November 28, 1989.

Scope and Contents

The Charles T. Lewis California Shipbuilding Corporation (Calship) Collection documents the history of Naval construction of the Liberty Ship fleet during World War II contains correspondence files, publications such as the CALSHIP Log, invitations to and general information regarding new ship launchings, electrical unit manuals and drawings, and several photographs.

Related Material

Conditions Governing Access:

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Deana Brown, 07/2006.

Preferred Citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials   guide.

Processing Information:

Robert G. Marshall

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Documents

Box 1, Folder 1

The Bo's'n's Whistle, 1942 April 23

Box 1, Folder 2

CALSHIP: Charles T. Lewis' Official Pass to Yards, circa 1942

Box 1, Folder 3

CALSHIP Log, 1941 November 15

Box 1, Folder 4

CALSHIP Log - Sea Trial Special Edition, 1942 February 12

Box 1, Folder 5

CALSHIP Log, 1942 May 1

Box 1, Folder 6

CALSHIP - Terminal Island: newspaper article "Remember when...?", 1976 January 25

Box 1, Folder 7

Marine Electrical Department: booklet "Electrical Information: Wire and Cable Sizes - Bulkhead, Deck and Box Fittings for Navy Standard Cable and Equipment," Puget Sound Navy Yard, 1943 July 6

Box 1, Folder 8

Marine Electrical Department: gift for Charles T. Lewis - list of personnel, 1942 October 6

Box 1, Folder 9

Marine Electricians: claim for damages, 1942 May 8

Box 1, Folder 10

Marine Electricians: correspondence file, 1941

Box 1, Folder 11

Marine Electricians: correspondence file, 1942

Box 1, Folder 12

Marine Electricians: correspondence file,

Box 1, Folder 13

Marine Electricians: drawing "type A Westinghouse Starter",

Box 1, Folder 14

Marine Electrician's Dance: invitation, 1942 May 7

Box 1, Folder 15

Official Sea Trials - S.S. Benjamin Franklin: general instructions, 1942 Mar 19

Box 1, Folder 16

Official Sea Trials - S.S. Robert Morris: general instructions, 1942 April 20

Box 1, Folder 17

Official Sea Trials - S.S. Thomas Paine: general instructions,

Box 1, Folder 18

Ship Construction: progress record, 1942 August 28 - September 5

Box 1, Folder 19

Ship Launching - S.S. Abiel Foster: invitation, 1942 March 22

Box 1, Folder 20

Ship Launching - S.S. Abraham Clark: invitation, 1942 April 2

Box 1, Folder 21

Ship Launching - S.S. Albert Gallatin: invitation, 1942 February 12

Box 1, Folder 22

Ship Launching - S.S. Benjamin Goodhue, 1942 March 31

Box 1, Folder 23

Ship Launching - S.S. Daniel Boone: invitation, 1942 January 14

Box 1, Folder 24

Ship Launching - S.S. Elbridge Gerry: invitation, 1942 February 28

Box 1, Folder 25

Ship Launching - S.S. Henry Knox: invitation, 1942 March 6

Box 1, Folder 26

Ship Launching - S.S. John C. Freemont: invitation, 1941 September 27

Box 1, Folder 27

Ship Launching - S.S. John Paul Jones: invitation, 1941 December 3

Box 1, Folder 28

Ship Launching - S.S. Nathan Hale: invitation, 1942 February 4

Box 1, Folder 29

Ship Launching - S.S. Oliver Hazard Perry: invitation, 1942 February 18

Box 1, Folder 30

Ship Launching - S.S. Paul Revere: invitation, 1941 December 21

Box 1, Folder 31

Ship Launching - S.S. Robert Morris: invitation, 1942 January 28

Box 1, Folder 32

Ship Launching - S.S. Rufus King: invitation, 1942 March 11

Box 1, Folder 33

Ship Launching - S.S. Samuel Adams: invitation, 1942 January 31

Box 1, Folder 34

Ship Launching - S.S. Thomas Paine: invitation, 1941 October 26

Box 1, Folder 35

Ship Launching - S.S. Zebulon Pike: invitation, 1942 February 24

Box 1, Folder 36

The Skipper (Consolidated Steel), 1943 January

Box 1, Folder 37

Surveyor and Outfitting Boys - "Preview of S.S. John C. Freemont": invitation, 1942 February 9

Box 2, Folder 1

01-02 Marine Electricians: Group pictures,

Box 2, Folder 2

03 Marine Electricians: Aboard the John C. Fremont - "To My Wife: Charles Lewis, and its all mine. Hilde",

Box 2, Folder 3

04 Marine Electricians: U.S. War Bond Campaign,

Box 2, Folder 4

05 Marine Electricians: Wire - Cable Insulator,

Box 2, Folder 5

06 Ship Construction: unidentified ship,

Box 2, Folder 6

07-10 Ship Launching - S.S. John C. Fremont, 1941 September 27

Box 2, Folder 7

11-12 Ship Launching - S.S. Paul Revere, 1941 December 21

Box 2, Folder 8

13 Ship Launching - S.S. Thomas Paine, 1941 October 26

Box 2, Item 9

14 Ship Launching - S.S. John C. Fremont, 1941 September 27

Box 2, Item 10

15 Ship Launching - S.S. Thomas Paine, 1941 October 26

Box 2, Item 11

16 Ship Launching - S.S. John C. Fremont - with Cal-Electric Club Dinner Dance Ticket, 1941 September 27; 1942 April 11

Box 2, Item 12

17 Marine Electrical Department: Batteries and file cabinet,

Box 2, Item 13

18 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's wire cables,

Box 2, Item 14

19 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's wire cables,

Box 2, Item 15

20 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's fathometer and related electrical equipment,

Box 2, Item 16

21 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's gages,

Box 2, Item 17

22 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's gages with two men wearing police uniforms,

Box 2, Item 18

23 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's gages with inspector,

Box 2, Item 19

24 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's electrical switches,

Box 2, Item 20

25 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's electrical equipment,

Box 2, Item 21

26 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's fuse box,

Box 2, Item 22

27 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's electrical equipment with notices - "ALERT! Your Skill and Devotion will WIN THE WAR" and "Station Bills, Drills, and Reports of Masters",

Box 2, Item 23

28 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's wire cables,

Box 2, Item 24

29 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's circuit breakers,

Box 2, Item 25

30 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's wire cables,

Box 2, Item 26

31 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's electrical equipment including sound powered telephone, cables, fuse boxes on bridge of ship,

Box 2, Item 27

32 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's bridge showing electrical equipment,

Box 2, Item 28

33 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's wire cables,

Box 2, Item 29

34 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's fire station,

Box 2, Item 30

35 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's engineering department with cell gages, engineering log and flashlight,

Box 2, Item 31

36 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's circuit beaker unit,

Box 2, Item 32

37 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's main electrical control station,

Box 2, Item 33

38 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's electrical workstation,

Box 2, Item 34

39 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's electrical workstation with Mackay Radio and mechanical drawings,

Box 2, Item 35

40 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's electrical equipment - Brown Electric Pyrometer,

Box 2, Item 36

41 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's power cables,

Box 2, Item 37

42 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's wire cables outside Gunners office with fire extinguisher,

Box 2, Item 38

43 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's wire cables,

Box 2, Item 39

44 Marine Electrical Department: Ship's room with cooling pipes,

Folder 1

CALSHIP - Terminal Island: newspaper article "Now It Can Be Shown", 1945 September 10