Christensen (Carl) collection of Jim Gibbs photographs, circa 1930s-1950s

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
Carl Christensen collection of Jim Gibbs photographs
Dates:
circa 1930s-1950s
Creators:
Christensen, Carl M. (Carl Mobius) Gibbs, Jim
Abstract:
The Carl Christensen collection of Jim Gibbs photographs, circa 1930s-1950s, (SAFR 23356, P80-006a) is comprised of schooners in unidentified locations. The collection has been processed to the collection level and is open for use.
Extent:
21 items
Language:
In English.
Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], P80-006a (SAFR 23356), Carl Christensen collection of Jim Gibbs photographs, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Background

Scope and content:

The Carl Christensen collection of Jim Gibbs photographs, circa 1930s-1950s, (SAFR 23356, P80-006a) is comprised of schooners in unidentified locations. The collection has been processed to the collection level and is open for use.

Contains 7 black-and-white photographs of the vessels AZALEA (built 1890; schooner, 3m), C.A. THAYER (built 1895; schooner, 3m), CHARLES R. WILSON (built 1891; schooner, 3m), TONGASS (built 1915; steam schooner), and WAWONA (built 1897; schooner, 3m). The photographs were possibly taken in Seattle, Washington. There are 7 unique photographic images, in 21 physical forms (7 nitrate negatives, 7 contact interpositives, and 7 copy negatives). Each photographic image has a nitrate negative, a contact interpositive, and a copy negative.

Item List:
  • 1. AZALEA (built 1890; schooner, 3m) docked in an unidentified location, view of the port bow, circa 1930s-1940s. View of painted detail on the port bow and the vessel's name. 1 nitrate negative, 2.5 x 4.5 in. 1 contact interpositive, 2.75 x 4.75 in. 1 copy negative, 2.75 x 4.75 in.
  • 2. TONGASS (built 1915; steam schooner) docked in an unidentified location, view off port bow, circa 1950s. Possibly in Seattle, Washington. 1 nitrate negative, 2.5 x 4.5 in. 1 contact interpositive, 4 x 6 in. 1 copy negative, 4 x 6 in.
  • 3. WAWONA (built 1897; schooner, 3m) docked in an unidentified location, view off starboard bow, circa 1930s-1950s. 1 nitrate negative, 2.5 x 4.5 in. 1 contact interpositive, 3.25 x 5 in. 1 copy negative, 3.25 x 5 in.
  • 4. CHARLES R. WILSON (built 1891; schooner, 3m) and C.A. THAYER (built 1895; schooner, 3m) docked side by side in an unidentified location, broadside view from a distance, circa 1940s-1950s. Possibly in Lake Union, Seattle, Washington. 1 nitrate negative, 2.5 x 4.5 in. 1 contact interpositive, 3 x 5 in. 1 copy negative, 3 x 5 in.
  • 5. CHARLES R. WILSON (built 1891; schooner, 3m) and C.A. THAYER (built 1895; schooner, 3m) docked side by side in an unidentified location, close-up stern views, circa 1940s-1950s. Possibly in Lake Union, Seattle, Washington. 1 nitrate negative, 2.5 x 4.5 in. 1 contact interpositive, 2.75 x 4.5 in. 1 copy negative, 2.75 x 4.5 in.
  • 6. CHARLES R. WILSON (built 1891; schooner, 3m) and C.A. THAYER (built 1895; schooner, 3m) docked side by side in an unidentified location, stern views, circa 1940s-1950s. Possibly in Lake Union, Seattle, Washington. 1 nitrate negative, 2.5 x 4.5 in. 1 contact interpositive, 2.75 x 4.5 in. 1 copy negative, 2.75 x 4.5 in.
  • 7. CHARLES R. WILSON (schooner) docked in an unidentified location, stern view, circa 1940s-1950s. Possibly in Lake Union, Seattle, Washington. 1 nitrate negative, 2.5 x 4.5 in. 1 contact interpositive, 2.75 x 4.5 in. 1 copy negative, 2.75 x 4.5 in.
Biographical / historical:

Jim Gibbs was a lighthouse keeper and an author of more than 20 books related to lighthouses, shipwrecks, sailing ships and nautical history: he was considered an authority on Pacific Coast lighthouses and Northwest shipwrecks.

James A. Gibbs, Jr. was born January 17, 1922 to James A. Gibbs, Sr. and Vera Gibbs in Seattle, Washington. He went by the name Jim Gibbs. He graduated from Queen Anne High School in Seattle. Jim was a World War II veteran and in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he became a lighthouse keeper at Tillamook Rock Lighthouse starting in 1945. This experience helped inspire his interest in nautical history. In 1948, he and four other people co-founded the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society and Gibbs served as one of its first presidents.

In 1950, Jim married Cherie Lola Norman. They had a daughter named Debbie Ann. In 1965, he built his first private lighthouse at Skunk Bay near Hansville, Washington, located a few miles from Point No Point. Jim and Cherie used Skunk Bay Light as a vacation retreat. At that time, Jim was editor of the "Marine Digest" and lived in Seattle. The lantern room of Skunk Bay Lighthouse came from the Smith Island Lighthouse in Port Townsend, Washington; Gibbs personally saved it from being destroyed shortly before the lighthouse toppled over the bluff. Gibbs later sold the Skunk Bay Lighthouse to a group of investors.

Throughout his adult working life Jim Gibbs wrote more than 20 books related to lighthouses, shipwrecks, sailing ships and nautical history. He was considered an authority on west coast shipwrecks and lighthouses. Gibbs was the editor of "Marine Digest" magazine in the 1960s until he retired in 1972. He and Cherie then moved to Hawaii.

Jim and Cherie returned to the Oregon coast in 1976, where they established a home just south of Yachats in the lee of Cape Perpetua. Next to their home, Gibbs built the Cleft of Rock Lighthouse, the first privately owned working lighthouse in Oregon. The lighthouse was a replica of the Fiddle Reef Lighthouse which stood on Oak Bay near Victoria, British Columbia from 1898 to 1978. Cleft of the Rock Lighthouse eventually became licensed as a private navigational aid, regularly inspected by the Coast Guard. Its signal was five white flashes and one red flash. The lens is a 300mm acrylic beacon Jim salvaged from the Solander Lighthouse in British Columbia. In his lighthouse, Gibbs displayed many rare lighthouse artifacts that had been discarded in years past, thus saving them for future generations.

Gibbs was also a member, deacon and lay pastor at the Yachats Baptist Church for many years.

Jim died on April 30, 2010 at his home in Yachats, Oregon, at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by his parents, James A. Gibbs, Sr. and Vera Gibbs; his wife Cherie Lola Norman (1999); and his sister, Betty Eicher. He was survived by his daughter, Debbie (Ray) Ann Pedrick; and his sister, Adrian Blackstock.

References:
  • DeWire, Elinor (2006). A Visit with Jim Gibbs. March 2005. Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved on January 11, 2013, from: http://www.lighthousedigest.com/Digest/Photopage.cfm?Photo=7802
  • Harrison, Timothy. Remembering Jim Gibbs. Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved on January 11, 2013, from http://www.lhdigest.com/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=3443
  • Author Jim Gibbs - gone but never forgotten! Reprinted from Newport News Times, May 5, 2010, on the the U.S. Lighthouse Society website. Retrieved on January 11, 2013, from: http://www.uslhs.org/assets/jim_gibbs_article.pdf.
  • James A. Gibbs Obituary. Wednesday, May 5th, 2010. Newport News Times. Retrieved on January 11, 2013, from: http://www.newportnewstimes.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=74&story_id=22668
  • Unknown author. Cleft of the Rock (Cape Perpetua), OR. Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved on January 11, 2013, from: http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=853
Acquisition information:

SAFR-00001

GOGA-00789

SAFR-00001, GOGA-00789: This photograph collection was donated to the San Francisco Maritime Museum by Carl Christiansen on January 14, 1980. All photographs taken by J.A. Gibbs, Jr. of Seattle (Jim Gibbs).

Processing information:

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.

Arrangement:

Not arranged due to small size of collection.

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

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by: SAFR staff, 1980; updated by Amy Croft, 2013.
Date Prepared:
2013
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from ICMS database and converted into xml from a template revised and updated by San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department. 7/15/2013 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

Nitrate negatives are restricted from use. Use-copies can be provided.

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], P80-006a (SAFR 23356), Carl Christensen collection of Jim Gibbs photographs, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

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