A guide to the Crossing the line certificate, 1910 February 10
Processed by: Historic Documents Department Staff.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
2012
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 Crossing the line certificate
HDC0034
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service2012, National Park Service
Title: Crossing the line certificate
Date: 1910 February 10
Identifier/Call Number: HDC0034 (SAFR 14028)
Creator/Collector:
Oceanic Steamship Company
Physical Description:
1 item
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Crossing the line certificate (SAFR 14028, HDC 0034) commemorates an equator crossing, a seafaring milestone. This certificate,
dated February 10, 1910, was made out to E. Schwerin while a Mariner aboard the S.S. MARIPOSA (built 1883; steamer), and was
issued by the Oceanic Steamship Company-Tahiti Line. The document is affixed with a red wax stamp containing the ship name.
The collection is processed and open for use without restrictions.
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.
Note on Description: 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. P
lease 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], HDC0034 (SAFR 14028), Crossing the line certificate, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SAFR-00001
This item was transferred from Golden Gate National Recreation Area to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Historical or Biographical Note
Historical Note: Equator crossing rituals have been performed in the Western world for over 400 years. The ceremony is performed
aboard the vessel where the landlubber (one learning to sail) is subjected to a ritual death and rebirth in order to gain
a new status of Seafarer (seaman or mariner). Landlubbers must prove themselves capable of standing the terrors, stresses
and strains of maritime life, and prove they have the courage and strength of character to gracefully accept the rowdy humor
encountered in daily shipboard life.
The Crossing the line certificate (SAFR 14028, HDC 0034) commemorates an equator crossing, a seafaring milestone. This certificate,
dated February 10, 1910, was made out to E. Schwerin while a Mariner aboard the S.S. MARIPOSA (built 1883; steamer), and was
issued by the Oceanic Steamship Company-Tahiti Line. The document is affixed with a red wax stamp containing the ship name.
The collection is processed and open for use without restrictions.
This collection consists of a single item.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Initiations (into trades, societies, etc.)
Steamships
Oceanic Steamship Lines (San Francisco, CA)
Mariposa (Ship)
Certificates
Rites of passage