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Processing Note
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Historical or Biographical Note
Collection Scope and Content
Collection Arrangement
Title: Dudley Thickens' World Ship Society papers
Date: 1942-1985
Identifier/Call Number: HDC1658 (SAFR 23814)
Creator:
Thickens, Dudley, 1913-1993
Physical Description:
5 folders
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Dudley Thickens' World Ship Society papers (SAFR 2381, HDC 1658) consist of the files related to Mr. Thickens tenure as
the West Coast representative of the World Ship Society from approximately 1963 through 1985.
Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Language(s):
In English.
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lease cite the title and collection number in any correspondence with our staff.
Preferred Citation
[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item
Number], HDC1658 (SAFR 23814), Dudley Thickens' World Ship Society papers, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Acquisition Information
SAFR-02227
Field collection.
Historical or Biographical Note
Dudley Thickens was the West Coast representative of the World Ship Society from the mid 1960's through 1985.
Dudley Thickens (1913 - 1993) was fascinated by railroads in his youth, particularly the Sacramento Northern Railway, which
ran near his home in Saranap, California. He began photographing railroads in 1932, and in 1935 he went to work for the Sacramento
Northern Railroad taking the opportunity to travel and document the Sacramento Northern operations. In 1940 he transferred
to the Western Pacific Railroad Company where he worked in the Freight Traffic Department until his retirement. He was also
a fan of maritime shipping, and as such joined the World Ship Society in the mid-1960's, quickly becoming the West Coast representative
of the volunteer research organization. A post he held through 1985. As the West Coast representative, Mr. Thickens was in
charge of collecting membership dues, recruiting new members, and writing articles for the Marine News, a monthly publication
of the Society.
The World Ship Society (WSS) is an international organization devoted to maritime and naval history. Founded in 1946 to distribute
shipping information to correspondents, the society now has thousands of members in dozens of branches across the world. It
publishes a newsletter, the Intercom, a monthly magazine, Marine News and a quarterly magazine, Warships. The WSS has grown
to 50 branches throughout the world, all of which actively promote historical research. Staffed by volunteers, the society
maintains a central record database and photo libraries, as well as a publication library in Chatham, Kent, England. The WSS
has also published many well-regarded books by its members, and maintains a wealth of research material which has given the
society a reputation for scholarly excellence throughout the maritime historical community.
Collection Scope and Content
The Dudley Thickens' World Ship Society papers (SAFR 2381, HDC 1658) consist of the files related to Mr. Thickens tenure as
the West Coast representative of the World Ship Society from approximately 1963 through 1985.
The papers are divided into 5 file folders as follows: (1) Correspondence with members and others; (2) Brochures, flyers and
advertising material for the WSS; (3) Newsletters published by the WSS; (4) Research and lecture notes taken by Mr. Thickens
on the topics of Maritime history; and (5) News-clippings of a Maritime nature with a 1957 press release authored by Mr. Thickens.
Collection Arrangement
5 folders containing correspondence, brochures, newsletters, research notes and news clippings.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Maritime history
Thickens, Dudley
World Ship Society
Correspondence
Maritime history
Administrative records