A guide to the George F. Gruner photograph collection, 1906-1931, 1940-1941

Processed by: L. Bianchi, October 2014.
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
2015

A Guide to the George F. Gruner photograph collection

P03-014

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service
2015, National Park Service

Title: George F. Gruner photograph collection
Date: 1906-1931,
Date: 1940-1941
Identifier/Call Number: P03-014 (SAFR 24264)
Creator: Gruner, George F.
Physical Description: 22 items.
Repository: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The George F. Gruner photograph collection, 1906-1931, 1940-1941, (SAFR 24264, P03-014) consists mainly of photographs of the California coastal steamships YALE (built 1906; passenger vessel) and HARVARD (built 1907; passenger vessel). The collection has been processed to the Collection 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.
Some of the items in the collection are reproductions of photographs held by other institutions. Possible copyright or use restrictions may apply.

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

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

Preferred Citation

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], P03-014 (SAFR 24264), George F. Gruner photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Acquisition Information

SAFR-01823
Gift from the Friends of the San Francisco Maritime Museum Library in 2003. They received the photographs along with a donation of books from George F. Gruner in 2002.

Historical or Biographical Note

George F. Gruner (1925- ) was a journalist for forty-six years, thirty-three of which were with the Fresno Bee of Fresno, California. He previously worked at the Oakland Tribune of Oakland, California, and the European edition of the U.S. armed forces newspaper The Stars and Stripes. After retiring in 1988, he authored the books "Blue Water Beat: The Two Lives of the Battleship USS California" (1996) and "The White Flyers: Harvard and Yale: American Coastwise Travel" (2002).
The sister ships YALE and HARVARD were built by Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works in Chester, Pennsylvania, for the Metropolitan Line. The Pacific Steam Navigation Company acquired the vessels in 1910. The ships provided service along the California Coast between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The U.S. Navy acquired the vessels during World War I for use as troop transports. After the war, the Los Angeles Steamship Company purchased the vessels. HARVARD wrecked on the rocks off Point Arguello, California, on May 30, 1931. YALE was laid up in 1936, and, in 1941, the YALE traveled to Alaska to serve as a dormitory for construction workers. The U.S. Navy re-acquired YALE during World War II, and she was scrapped in 1949.
Source: Gruner, George F. The White Flyers: Harvard and Yale: American Coastwise Travel. San Francisco: Associates of the National Maritime Museum Library, 2002.

Collection Scope and Content

The George F. Gruner photograph collection, 1906-1931, 1940-1941, (SAFR 24264, P03-014) consists mainly of photographs of the California coastal steamships YALE (built 1906; passenger vessel) and HARVARD (built 1907; passenger vessel). The collection has been processed to the Collection level and is open for use.
Contains photographs of YALE (built 1906; passenger vessel) and HARVARD (built 1907; passenger vessel) during their careers as California coastal steamships and World War I U.S. Navy troop transports, 1906-1931, 1940-1941. There are 21 unique photographic images in 22 physical forms (19 black-and-white photographic prints and 3 color letterpress postcards). George F. Gruner likely used the photographs for research purposes. Some of the images appear in his book "The White Flyers: Harvard and Yale: American Coastwise Travel" (San Francisco: Associates of the National Maritime Museum Library, 2002).

Photographs

  • Item 01. YALE underway, starboard broadside view, 1910-1915. (1) color letterpress postcard, 3.5 x 5.5 in.
  • Item 02. YALE grand stairway of the main passenger saloon, 1906-1910. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. Elwin M. Eldridge collection courtesy of the Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virginia.
  • Item 03. YALE in drydock, bow view, 1906-1910. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. Elwin M. Eldridge collection courtesy of the Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virginia.
  • Item 04. YALE in drydock, starboard stern view, 1906-1910. (2) black-and-white photographic prints, 8 x 10 in. Elwin M. Eldridge collection courtesy of the Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virginia.
  • Item 05. YALE pierside, stern view, 1906-1911. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. San Diego Historical Society photograph.
  • Item 06. YALE underway in San Diego Bay, California, starboard broadside view, circa 1911-1920. A U.S. Navy vessel on the right. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. San Diego Historical Society photograph.
  • Item 07. YALE arriving at San Diego, California, circa 1911-1920. Numerous people and piles of lumber are on the pier. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. San Diego Historical Society photograph.
  • Item 08. YALE underway in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, port bow view, circa 1918-1925. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. Photographed by Swadley.
  • Item 09. YALE tied up at Antioch, California, bow view, circa 1940-1941. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 3.5 x 5 in. Photographed by Jack Whitmeyer.
  • Item 10. HARVARD pierside at San Diego, California, port quarter view, circa 1911. Several automobiles are on the pier. A U.S. Navy vessel is in the left background. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. San Diego Historical Society photograph.
  • Item 11. HARVARD passing Angels Gate lighthouse enroute to San Francisco, California, 1912. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. Leon Callaway Collection.
  • Item 12. CHARLES (built 1906; transport: U.S. Navy), ex HARVARD, starboard broadside view, circa 1918. The vessel is dazzle camouflage painted. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. San Diego Historical Society photograph.
  • Item 13. CHARLES, ex HARVARD, at Mare Island, California, starboard broadside view, 1918 June 1. The vessel is dazzle camouflage painted. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. U.S. Naval Historical Center photograph, photog. no. 55080.
  • Item 14. CHARLES docked at Southampton, England, loading troops to be taken to France, 1918 September 27. The vessel is dazzle camouflage painted. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. U.S. Naval Historical Center photograph, photog. no. 52855.
  • Item 15. HARVARD underway at San Pedro, California, view off port bow, 1929. Photographed by John L. Whitmeyer, Sr. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.
  • Item 16. HARVARD underway, starboard broadside view, 1920-1925. (1) color letterpress postcard, 3.5 x 5.5 in.
  • Item 17. HARVARD underway, starboard broadside view, 1920-1931. (1) color letterpress postcard, 3.5 x 5.5 in.
  • Item 18. HARVARD aground near Point Arguello, California, 1931 May 30. LOUISVILLE (built 1930; cruiser; U.S. Navy) and SAN ANSELMO (steamship) are in the distance. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. San Diego Historical Society photograph.
  • Item 19. HARVARD wrecked near Point Arguello, California, circa 1931 June. The bow of the vessel is missing. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. San Diego Historical Society photograph.
  • Item 20. Coastal residents collecting debris from the wrecked HARVARD near Point Arguello, California, circa 1931 June. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 12 in.
  • Item 21. LOUISVILLE (built 1930; cruiser: U.S. Navy), starboard broadside view, 1940-1941. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. U.S. Naval Historical Center photograph, photog. no. 92972. Note: LOUISVILLE was involved in the rescue of passengers of the wrecked HARVARD on May 30, 1931.

Collection Arrangement

Grouped by vessel name, then arranged approximately in chronological order.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Passenger ships
Yale (built 1906; passenger vessel)
Harvard (built 1907; passenger vessel)
Pacific Coast (Calif.)
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Gelatin silver prints
Picture postcards
Photomechanical prints