A guide to the Clarence Wright photograph collection, circa 1930s

Processed by: M. Crawford, May 2013.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

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

2013

A Guide to the Clarence Wright photograph collection

P77-013

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service

2013, National Park Service

Title: Clarence Wright photograph collection

Date: circa 1930s

Identifier/Call Number: P77-013 (SAFR 23372)

Creator: Wright, Clarence

Physical Description: 2 items.

Repository: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department

Building E, Fort Mason

San Francisco, CA 94123

Abstract: The Clarence Wright photograph collection, circa 1930s, (SAFR 23372, P77-013) is comprised of two photographs of yachting on the San Francisco Bay, California. The collection has been processed to the Item level and is open for use.

Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department

Language(s): In English.

Access

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

Publication and Use Rights

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.

Processing Note

Each photographic image has been assigned an Item number.

Description Notes: Dates refer to when the original photograph was taken. It is possible that the photographic prints in this collection are copies that were made much later than when the original photograph was taken, and the dates of these reproductions were noted when known.

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.

Preferred Citation

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], P77-013 (SAFR 23372), Clarence Wright photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Acquisition Information

SAFR-00001

GOGA-00789

Two photographic prints were donated to the San Francisco Maritime Museum by Bob Battaglia on August 18, 1977. They were the property of Clarence Wright, a lithographer, who died in 1976. Battaglia was his neighbor.

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.

Historical or Biographical Note

Clarence Wright (1890-1976) was a lithographer that lived in the San Francisco Bay Area of California for many years.

Clarence Allen Wright was born September 21, 1890, in Arizona. His father was born in New York (although one source listed his birthplace as England) and his mother was born in California. It is unknown at what point he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1910, he was employed as a printer for a newspaper in San Francisco. In 1912, he was elected to serve as the vice-president of the recently organized apprentices of the San Francisco Typographical Union No. 21. He was employed at Schwabacher-Frey Stationary Co. of San Francisco in 1915.

Clarence enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 7, 1917, and served as a sergeant during World War I. He returned to San Francisco and worked as a printer at least throughout the early 1920s. Little biographical information was found regarding the later part of his life. It is possible that the same Clarence A. Wright moved to Tracy, California, sometime between 1930 and 1932 and worked in real estate. It is also possible that the same Clarence A. Wright moved to Tulare, California, sometime between 1935 and 1940 and worked as a hay buyer. The 1940 Census lists his marital status as widowed, but no record of a marriage was found.

Clarence last lived in Daly City, California. He died February 23, 1976, and is buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California.

References:

1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line].; Census Place: Tulare, San Joaquin, California; Roll: T627_327; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 39-102. Accessed May 15, 2013. Ancestry.com.
California, Death Index, 1940-1997 [database on-line]. Place: San Mateo; Date: 23 Feb 1976; Social Security: 555166257. Accessed May 15, 2013. Ancestry.com.
Crocker-Langley San Francisco directory for the year commencing 1910 (San Francisco: Crocker-Langley, 1910). Accessed May 15, 2013. http://archive.org/details/crockerlangleysa1910dire.
Crocker-Langley San Francisco directory for the year commencing 1915 (San Francisco: Crocker-Langley, 1915), Accessed on May 15, 2013. http://archive.org/details/crockerlangleysa1915sanfrich
National Cemetery Administration. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 [database on-line]. Accessed on May 15, 2013. Ancestry.com.
"News of Labor Unions." San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA), May 7, 1912. Accessed May 15, 2013. California Digital Newspaper Collection, http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc.
San Francisco Voter Registration, 1921, 1924. Accessed May 15, 2013. Ancesty.com.
San Joaquin County Voter Registration Records, 1930-1932. Accessed May 15, 2013. Ancestry.com.

Collection Scope and Content

The Clarence Wright photograph collection, circa 1930s, (SAFR 23372, P77-013) is comprised of two photographs of yachting on the San Francisco Bay, California. The collection has been processed to the Item level and is open for use.

Contains photographs of unidentified yachts underway, circa 1930s. There are 2 unique photographic images, in 2 physical forms (black-and-white photographic prints). One photograph was taken by Walter A. Scott.

Collection Arrangement

Not arranged due to the small size of the collection.

Related Materials

Researchers should note that there are other photograph collections with photographs of Corinthian Yacht Club vessels and/or photographs taken by Walter A. Scott in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. They can search the Park's web catalog for more information.

This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Marine photography

Yachting--California--San Francisco

Yacht racing/cruising

Wright, Clarence

Scott, Walter A., 1866-1959

San Francisco Bay (Calif.)

San Francisco (Calif.)

Alcatraz Island (Calif.)

Black-and-white prints (photographs)

Gelatin silver prints

Shared collection box

Item No. 1. Aerial view of a group of people on board a yacht, circa 1930s

Extent: 1 photograph.

Physical Description: 1 black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in., mounted on cardboard of the same size.

Scope and Content Note

There are six men and six women seated at the stern of an unidentified yacht. The photograph was taken from the mast. The Captain is standing over the wheel. Open water is seen on three sides of the vessel. The photographer is unknown.

Shared collection box

Item No. 2. Two unidentified yachts underway on the San Francisco Bay, California, full sail, with Alcatraz Island in the background, circa 1930s

Creator/Collector: Scott, Walter A.

Extent: 1 photograph.

Physical Description: 1 black-and-white photographic print, 12 x 14.5 in. "Walter A. Scott Photo, S. F." is embossed in the lower right corner of the print and "9424/"767-731 [Silveri]; 11 7/8 x 14 1/2" is written on the back of the print.

Scope and Content Note

The yacht in the foreground is listing to port, making much of the deck visible. There is one person visible at the stern of the vessel. This yacht has a "21" on the sail and is flying a Corinthian Yacht Club burgee; because the burgee is flying, this is most likely not a race. The vessel in the background is listing port, exposing the broadside starboard hull. There are four men visible on board. The southeast side of Alcatraz Island is visible in between the two vessels.