Ernest Gann Collection
Finding aid created by Harrison Memorial Library staff using RecordEXPRESS
Harrison Memorial Library
2021
P.O. Box 800
Mission St & 6th Ave
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California 93921
(831) 624-1615
hml.localhist@gmail.com
https://ci.carmel.ca.us/library
Title: Ernest Gann Collection
Dates: 1955 August - September
Collection Number: G36
Creator/Collector:
Gann, Ernest Kellogg, 1910-1991
Extent: 1 archival box
Repository:
Harrison Memorial Library
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California 93921
Abstract: This collection contains materials pertaining to Gann's ship, the Albatros. Included are black and white photographs, ship
blueprints, and copies of ship logs. Gann purchased the ship in 1954, and it appeared in the 1958 movie "Twilight for the
Gods", which was based on one of Gann’s novels. Gann later sold the Albatros to a sailing school, and it sunk in a squall
in 1961, killing several passengers. This incident was the subject of the 1996 film "White Squall". Throughout his life
Gann held a variety of jobs, including general manager of Broadway plays, commercial fisherman, cartoonist, commercial pilot,
barnstormer pilot, and newsreel cameraman, before becoming an author and screenwriter. Gann’s first novel, “Island in the
Sky,” was published in 1940, and those that followed dealt with flying, sailing, or adventurous historical themes. His novels
were translated into successful movies and a television miniseries. He lived in Pebble Beach until 1965, when he moved to
the San Juan Islands in Washington State.
Language of Material: English
Materials are open for research.
The Henry Meade Local History Room, Harrison Memorial Library does not hold copyright to these items. Permission to publish
must be obtained from the copyright holder by the user.
Ernest Gann Collection. Harrison Memorial Library
Donated by Steven Gann
Biography/Administrative History
Ernest K. Gann was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on October 13, 1910. He lived in St. Paul, Minnesota as a child, graduated magna
cum laude from Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, and attended the Yale School of Drama. He later held a variety
of jobs – general manager of Broadway plays, commercial fisherman, cartoonist, commercial pilot, barnstormer pilot, newsreel
cameraman, and eventually author and screenwriter. Gann’s first novel, “Island in the Sky,” was published in 1940, and those
that followed dealt with flying, sailing, or adventurous historical themes. His novels were translated into successful movies
and a television miniseries. In 1954 Gann purchased the 1920s schooner the Albatros. The ship appeared in the 1958 movie
"Twilight for the Gods", which was based on one of Gann’s novels. Gann later sold the Albatros to a sailing school, and it
sunk in a squall in 1961, killing several passengers. This incident was the subject of the 1996 film "White Squall". Ernest
Gann lived in Pebble Beach until 1965, when he moved to the San Juan Islands in Washington State.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains material pertaining to Gann's ship the Albatros, including black and white photographs, ship blueprints,
and copies of ship logs.
Boats and boating
Sailing ships