Alexander Turnbull Library photograph collection, 1870-1925

Summary

Creators:

Alexander Turnbull Library

Abstract:

The Alexander Turnbull Library photograph collection, 1870-1925, (SAFR 23850, P89-050) is comprised of photographs copied from the Alexander Turnbull Library showing various sailing vessels. The collection has been processed to the Item level and is open for use.

Extent:

55 items

Language:

In English.

Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], P89-050 (SAFR 23850), Alexander Turnbull Library photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Background

Scope and content:

The Alexander Turnbull Library photograph collection, 1870-1925, (SAFR 23850, P89-050) is comprised of photographs copied from the Alexander Turnbull Library showing various sailing vessels. The collection has been processed to the Item level and is open for use.

Contains photographs primarily of various ships, barks, schooners, and barkentines, 1870-1925. There are 51 unique photographic images in 55 physical forms (51 black-and-white photographic prints and 4 preservation copy negatives). Includes photographs of California-built sailing vessels, such as BENICIA (built 1899; barkentine, 3m), CHARLES F. CROCKER (built 1890; barkentine, 4m), COMMERCE (built 1900; schooner, 4m), JANE L. STANFORD (built 1892; barkentine, 4m), KOHALA (built 1901; barkentine, 4m), KOKO HEAD (built 1902; barkentine, 4m), and LAHAINA (built 1901; barkentine, 4m), as well as vessels built in other United States and foreign locations. Other Pacific Coast-built sailing vessels include ANNIE M. CAMPBELL (built 1897; schooner, 4m), FOREST HOME (built 1900; schooner, 4m), GEORGE E. BILLINGS (built 1903; schooner, 5m), INCA (built 1896; schooner, 5m), and KING CYRUS (built 1890; schooner, 4m). Also includes photographs of two steam vessels, ALAMEDA (built 1883; passenger vessel) and ANNETTE ROLPH (built 1918; steam schooner). Some locations are identified as the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz, California; Bath, Maine; and Port Chalmers and Wellington, New Zealand; however, most locations are unidentified.

Biographical / historical:

Alexander Turnbull (1868-1918) of Wellington, New Zealand, was a merchant, bibliophile and collector. He bequeathed his collection of books, photographs, manuscripts, and other materials to the government of New Zealand, forming the basis of the Alexander Turnbull Library. The collection is currently in the custody of the National Library of New Zealand. Source: J. E. Traue. 'Turnbull, Alexander Horsburgh', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 18-Mar-2014. http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/2t53/turnbull-alexander-horsburgh.

Acquisition information:

SAFR-00001

GOGA-00789

Based on a letter in the collection file from Andrew J. Nesdall to Karl Kortum (founder of the San Francisco Maritime Museum) dated November 17, 1971, Nesdall appears to have obtained copy photographs from the Alexander Turnbull Library (part of the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand) and given them to Kortum who placed them in the museum's library collection.

SAFR-00001 is a blanket accession that was transferred from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in September 1988. GGNRA had previously acquired the collection from the San Francisco Maritime Museum when it became a unit of the National Park Service in 1977. GOGA-00789 was transferred from the J. Porter Shaw Library to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in February 1985.

Processing information:

Each photographic image has been assigned an Item number; there are often multiple physical forms of each image (e.g. a print and a negative) which has been noted in the physical description field. The four preservation copy negatives in the collection were made by SAFR staff between 1994-2004.

The collection was previously cataloged in the PHOINDX database in March 1989. In June 2014, the processing archivist edited the pre-existing Item level records and wrote the finding aid front matter.

Description Notes: Dates refer to when the original photograph was taken. All 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.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by vessel name.

Physical location:

San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department

Physical description:

.

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard .

Related resources

Related material:

Alexander Turnbull Library photographs, circa 1900-1920. SFMNHP, (SAFR 14764, P80-142). Consists of black-and-white photographic copy prints, 8 x 10 in., from the Alexander Turnbull Library: (2) photographs of JOHN ENA (bark, 4m) at New Zealand and (1) photograph of E.R. STERLING (barkentine, 6m).

Alexander Turnbull Library photographs, [1892-1912]. SFMNHP, (SAFR 14912, P79-122a). Consists of (2) black-and-white photographic copy prints, 6 x 8 in., from the Alexander Turnbull Library showing SAMUEL PLIMSOLL (ship, 3m) and HOWARD D. TROOP (bark, 4m).

Alexander Turnbull Library photographs, 1858-[circa 1921]. SFMNHP, (SAFR 19523 , P78-484a). Consists of (17) black-and-white photographic copy prints, 8 x 10 in., from the Alexander Turnbull Library showing various sailing vessels.

Additional copy photographs from the Alexander Turnbull Library are cataloged as part of the SFMNHP Classified photograph collection.

• This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

De Maus, David Alexander, 1847-1925 : Shipping negatives (http://natlib.govt.nz/items/22874284)

• This material is located at National Library of New Zealand

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Sailing ships
Square-riggers
Barks (Sailing ships)
Schooners
Barkentines
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Gelatin silver prints
Black-and-white negatives

Places:

Harbors--California
Harbors--New Zealand

Restrictions:

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

Copyright unknown. Each print is stamped on the verso, "This photograph must be acknowledged/to the/ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY/WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND" followed by a reference number.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], P89-050 (SAFR 23850), Alexander Turnbull Library photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Location of this collection:

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Building E, Fort Mason

San Francisco, CA 94123, US

Contact:

415-561-7030

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