George H. Wayland naval architectural drawings, 1929-1947, and undated

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Summary

Creators:
Wayland, George H.
Abstract:
The George H. Wayland plans collection (HDC 1534) contains 721 items, the majority of which are original pencil on paper naval architectural drawings of yachts and smaller motor craft designed by George H. Wayland between 1921 to 1947. Most are undated. This collection is open for use without restrictions, except where noted for individual items at the file level.
Extent:
721.00 items
Language:
In English.
Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], HDC1534 (SAFR 22206), George H. Wayland naval architectural drawings, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Background

Scope and content:

The George H. Wayland plans collection (HDC 1534) contains 721 items, the majority of which are original pencil on paper naval architectural drawings of yachts and smaller motor craft designed by George H. Wayland between 1921 to 1947. Most are undated. This collection is open for use without restrictions, except where noted for individual items at the file level.

The bulk of the collection includes plans for 105 jobs identified by design or job numbers ranging from 65 to 396, with gaps. Plans identified by vessel name include those designed by George H. Wayland, or for which he made redesign recommendations. Vessels with associated design or job numbers are in series 1.01; vessels without associated design or job numbers are in series 1.02.

The named vessels represented in this collection are: Aloha (ketch, job number 199, 1935); Altair (48' ketch, 1928); Astoria (job number 219, 1936); Averna; Bali (job number 205, 1935); Barbara (50 foot aux. schooner, job number 182); Belvedere One; Blankenses (1929); Camarada (job number 134); Chinook (34 foot aux. sloop, job number 227); Conquista (job number 135); Duck (34 foot yawl, job number 232); El Cita; Fearless and Fearless II redesign (1939); Fulton G. (cutter, job number 109, 1939); Homeward Bound (aux. ketch, job number 245, 1939): Idalia (schooner, job number 203, 1935); Imp (ex Corinthian II, job number 163, 1922); Jimax III (1953, 1957); Kathanga or K'thanca (92 foot motor yacht); Lady Jo (40 foot schooner, 1932); Leader (70 foot tow boat; job number 224); Lombari (punt, 1938); Machy Export Tees; Malabar VII (barge conversion, job number 261); Margaret E. (65 foot fishing vessel); Marilen, Mary Jane, Mary Beth (all design number 136); Marylin G.; Minerva (47 foot aux. ketch, job number 187); Moonlight (job number 113); Orphans (23 foot); Otter; Skyblue (28 foot motor boat); Suds (job number 194); Telco (45 foot tow boat, job number 230, 1937); Truant (yawl; job number 133); Volante (42 foot aux sloop, 1936, job number 217); W.H. Balowin; Wataridori; Water Witch (job 249); Yo Ho Ho (job number 244); and Zahma (yacht, job number 262, 1940).

Twenty nine (29) drawings are identified only by apparent design characteristics such as length or sail area, and are described in series 1.03. 85 original drawings have no vessel identification or apparent design characteristics, and are described in series 1.04.

Not all of designs represented in this collection were completed or resulted in built vessels. Nor were all of the drawings done by George Wayland original designs; a portion of these drawings are probably modifications for existing vessels.

Thirty five (35) plans and drawings in this collection originate from other designers, and are described in series 2. In addition to plans and vessel drawings, the collection includes charts and maps, described in series 3, and a small number of office supplies and document files, described in series 4.

Biographical / historical:

BIOGRAPHY: George H. Wayland (1885-1947). George H. Wayland was educated at the University of Washington and began his professional career in the Seattle area. During World War I he worked for the Emergency Fleet Corporation at shipyards in Seattle and Tacoma, where he rose to the position of assistant superintendent of the Tacoma yard. Following the War, Wayland joined the Seattle design firm of Lee & Brinton, and was instrumental in opening their San Francisco office. In 1926 he left the firm to begin a solo design practice. Over the next two decades, Wayland either worked with or did contract work for the following ship and boat building yards on the west coast: Colberg Boat Works (Stockton); Geo. C. Boardman Co. (San Francisco); H.R. Fish & Co.; Wayland for Haviside Company; J.H. Madden and Co.; Madden and Lewis (Sausalito); Nunes Bros.; and Rasmussen Boat Works.

Among the noted vessels designed by Wayland are Volante (1936, sloop), Tamalmar (1927, 57 foot schooner), Alotola (ex Water Wheel, 1927, 57 foot schooner), Lady Jo (1932, schooner), Altair (1927, ketch), Mary Beth (1927), Marquita (1929, motor yacht), Skeeter (1930), and Graemar (1940). During the 1930s, Wayland also completed a few commercial designs, including a 1937 design for a 45 foot wooden tow boat, Telco, which was built at the Sausalito yard of Madden and Lewis for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. The Telco is a museum vessel at Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (SAFR 20427).

George Wayland is particularly well remembered as the architect who redesigned John Alden's 1922 original Bird class design, which measured 29 feet. In 1926 the Bird Boat association paid Wayland $100 to redesign the Bird Boat, which resulted in the 25 foot Golden Gate Design Class One, otherwise known as the Baby Bird design.

According to Thomas Skahill, George Wayland was "something of an unsung master during his lifetime [but his boat designs] remain in high regard by the West Coast maritime community." He was an important mentor to noted Bay Area yacht designer and builder Myron Spaulding; Myron Spaulding collected and preserved this collection of George Wayland's naval architectural plans. Examples of George Wayland's design drawings can be found in other collections held by the park.

SOURCES: (1) Gregory O. Jones, The American Sailboat (St. Paul, MN. : MBI Publishing, 2002). (2) Lucia del Sol Knight and Daniel Bruce MacNaughton (editors), The Encyclopedia of Yacht Designers (New York : W.W. Norton, 2006).

Acquisition information:

SAFR-02011

SAFR-2011. This material was created by George H. Wayland during the course of his professional life. Upon his death in 1947 the material passed into the possession of Myron Spaulding, a boat designer and builder who had apprenticed with George Wayland and who subsequently owned a boat building yard in Sausalito at the old Marinship site. George H. Wayland plans were given to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in 2009 as part of a much larger donation from the Myron Spaulding estate.

Processing information:

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.

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into four series, the first of which is divided into four sub-series.

Series 1.01 - George H. Wayland enumerated jobs. 484 items organized into 106 files by job number, described to the file level. This sub-series includes named vessels that have associated job numbers.

Series 1.02 - George H. Wayland jobs, named vessels. 49 items organized into 17 files, described to the file level. The following vessels are represented: Altair (1928); Averna; Belvedere One; El Cita; Fearless (1929) and Fearless II redesign (1939); Jimax III (1953, 1957); Kathanga;); Lady Jo; Lombari (punt, 1938); Machy Export Tees; Margaret E. (65 foot fishing vessel); Marylin G. ; Orphans (23 foot); Otter; Skyblue (28 foot motor boat); and W.H. Balowin.

Series 1.03 - George H. Wayland designs by design characteristics. 29 items organized into 14 files, described to the file level. These plans have no associated job numbers or vessel names, and are described by common vessel characteristics like vessel length or sail area.

Series 1.04 - George H. Wayland unidentified drawings. 85 items described at the series level.

Series 2 - Other designers and builders. 35 items, described at the series level. Businesses and individuals represented here include Anderson and Christofani; Berkeley Street Construction Co., Inc.; Edwin Monk; John G. Alden; Lee and Britton; Sparkman-Stevens; Stephen Brothers (Stockton, California); and W.F. Stone.

Series 3 - Charts and maps. 26 items, described at the series level. Annotated published charts and race courses, and one hand-drawn survey map.

Series 4 - Office supplies, items and notes. 13 items and folders, described at the series level.

Collection of 721 plans is housed in 25 "A-size" map folders, 22 "B-size" map folders, 1 roll, and three boxes.

During processing 16 out of scope and/or duplicate maps and navigational charts were removed from the original accession and transferred to San Francisco Maritime National Historical, Park J. Porter Shaw Library. Transfer paperwork is in collection folder.

Physical location:
San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

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], HDC1534 (SAFR 22206), George H. Wayland naval architectural drawings, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Location of this collection:
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123, US
Contact:
415-561-7030
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