Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
A guide to the Balclutha (built 1886; ship, 3m) Bureau of Navigation records, 1901-1986
HDC1296 (SAFR 21355)
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Balclutha (built 1886; ship, 3m) Bureau of Navigation records
Date: 1901-1986
Date (bulk): 1905-1906
Identifier/Call Number: HDC1296 (SAFR 21355)
Creator:
Unknown
Physical Description:
3 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Balclutha (built 1886; ship, 3m) Bureau of Navigation records (SAFR 21355, HDC1296) relate to the years 1901-1906, documenting
the beginning of the Alaska Packers Association's relationship with the ship. The collection consists of two folders and one
roll of microfilm. Both folders contain photocopies of Bureau of Navigation correspondence regarding the BALCLUTHA. Folder
1 contains Certificates of Enrollment (Bureau of Navigation Correspondence, File #40324-N). Folder two includes correspondence
regarding changing the name of the ship from BALCLUTHA to STAR OF ALASKA; a photocopy of a Deed of Trust between the Alaska
Packers Association and Mercantile Trust Company of San Francisco; and Certificates of Inspection (Bureau of Navigation Correspondence,
File #193061-N). The reel of microfilm contains Shipping Articles for BALCLUTHA. These are for inbound trips in 1902, 1904
and 1906 and an outbound trip from 1905. The collection is available for use.
Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Language(s):
In English.
This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.
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.
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], HDC1296 (SAFR 21355), Balclutha (built 1886; ship, 3m) Bureau of Navigation records, San Francisco Maritime National
Historical Park
SAFR-01449
Purchased from the National Archives, Old Military and Civil Records, Textual Archives Services Division, Washington, D.C.,
December 7, 1999.
Historical or Biographical Note
In 1901, a special act of Congress admitted BALCLUTHA to the American registry so it could engage in trade between American
ports. Subsequently, the Alaska Packers Association, a San Francisco-based firm that harvested and canned salmon, chartered
the BALCLUTHA to carry supplies and men north to Alaska. After the ship ran aground in 1904, the Packers Association purchased
the ship for $500. The firm did extensive repairs and renamed the vessel STAR OF ALASKA. It regularly carried supplies and
cannery workers to Alaska in the spring and returned to San Francisco with cases of canned salmon in September. In 1930, STAR
OF ALASKA was the only sailing ship the Packers Association sent to the salmon fishing fields (they once had a fleet of 35).
The firm retired the vessel when it returned in September. In 1933, entrepreneurs Frank and Rose Kissinger purchased the vessel
from the Packers Association in 1933 for $5,000 and renamed it the PACIFIC QUEEN.
The Balclutha (built 1886; ship, 3m) Bureau of Navigation records (SAFR 21355, HDC1296) relate to the years 1901-1906, documenting
the beginning of the Alaska Packers Association's relationship with the ship. The collection consists of two folders and one
roll of microfilm. Both folders contain photocopies of Bureau of Navigation correspondence regarding the BALCLUTHA. Folder
1 contains Certificates of Enrollment (Bureau of Navigation Correspondence, File #40324-N). Folder two includes correspondence
regarding changing the name of the ship from BALCLUTHA to STAR OF ALASKA; a photocopy of a Deed of Trust between the Alaska
Packers Association and Mercantile Trust Company of San Francisco; and Certificates of Inspection (Bureau of Navigation Correspondence,
File #193061-N). The reel of microfilm contains Shipping Articles for BALCLUTHA. These are for inbound trips in 1902, 1904
and 1906 and an outbound trip from 1905. The collection is available for use.
Original order was maintained.
- Folder List:
- (1) Certificates of Enrollment, 1901-1906
- (2) Correspondence Re: Name Change, Deed of Trust, Certificates of Inspection, 1905-1906, 1986 January 23.
- (3) Shipping Articles for BALCLUTHA, 1902, 1904-1906, on microfilm
Alaska Packers Association Logbooks, 1876-1945, SAFR 14033, HDC0115
BALCLUTHA (1886, ship, 3m), SAFR 19584, HDC1167
Model, STAR OF ALASKA, circa 1886-1935, SAFR 5461
Kissinger, Rose (Donor) " Collection, 1908-1950, SAFR 9556, HDC0528
U.S. Office of the Shipping Commissioner, Mutual Releases, 1912, SAFR 13191, HDC1069
Art Walter photographs, [circa 1880]-1919, SAFR 15217, P79-078
STAR OF ALASKA document collection, 1909, SAFR 17196, HDC0301
Charles Paulson photographs [has photo of STAR OF ALASKA crew in 1905], SAFR 20960, P06-021
- This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Salmon canning industry--Alaska--History
Balclutha (built 1886; ship, 3m)
United States. Department of Commerce. Bureau of Shipping
Alaska Packers Association
microfilms
Correspondence
Photocopies
Certificates