This collection includes correspondence, reports on voyages from seamen and ship documents.

Biography: James Tuft was born at Nordby, Fano, Denmark on June 30, 1827. He left Denmark at age 14 shipping out as a cabin boy. He arrived in San Francisco in 1849 and signed up with an unknown principal to search for gold under the terms of free food and lodging plus $1.00 per year plus a percentage of gold produced. This contract lasted one year with Tuft terminating with only the $1.00 specified. He started in business for himself carrying potatoes and onions from Sacramento to San Francisco in a small double-ender scow gradually increasing this business to the point of purchasing several larger double-ender vessels for this traffic. Eventually, he purchased an interest in a coastal schooner and entered into the carriage of passengers for the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco. Later, he established an office located at 22 California Street, investing his earnings in shares of certain vessels, also acting as agent for certain vessels. At the time of the earthquake in 1906, Tuft's office was removed from San Francisco to 1402 Park Street, Alameda and shortly thereafter at age 79 he retired from active business. He died at Alameda, California on August 18, 1909.

19 items

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