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William A. Bergstrom / CalShip
Collection # 1
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Title: William A. Bergstrom / CalShip
Dates: 1941-1945
Collection Number: Collection # 1
Creator/Collector:
Richard Bergstrom
William A. Bergstrom
Cyril Hubert
California Shipbuilding Corporation
Extent: 3.5 cu. ft. (3 record storage boxes, 1 document case)
Online items available
Repository:
Los Angeles Maritime Museum
San Pedro, California 90731
Abstract: The William A. Bergstrom Engineering Collection of the California Shipbuilding Corporation is a collection of archival materials
about engineering the design of ships built at California Shipbuilding Corporation during World War II. William A. Bergstrom
and his father-in-law, Cyril Hubert, both worked as engineers for the company during the war and oversaw training of other
engineering employees. This collection includes engineering and training manuals, publications, and photographs of the engineering
and construction of ships.
Language of Material: English
The collection is open for research. Please make an appointment with the Museum Archivist or Director for access to the collection.
The material in this collection is the property of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. The material is subject to copyright restrictions
and may not be used without prior permission from the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.
William A. Bergstrom / CalShip. Los Angeles Maritime Museum
The collection was donated by Richard Bergstrom in 1998, 2012, and 2013.
Biography/Administrative History
William A. Bergstrom was hired and trained at California Shipbuilding Corporation by his father-in-law, Cyril Hubert. Like
other company workers, he received most of his training on the job. Eventually, Bergstrom became Chief Loftsman and coordinated
all loft training. He was an amateur photographer; it's believed that he produced most of the images in this collection. After
the closing of the shipyard, Bergstrom and Hubert worked at MGM Studios building sets, which Hubert had done prior to the
war and working at the shipyard. After working at the studios, Bergstrom founded the “Vent-a-Hood” company in Buena Park,
California.
Scope and Content of Collection
The William A. Bergstrom Engineering Collection of California Shipbuilding Corporation is a collection of materials that pertain
to engineering and shipbuilding at California Shipbuilding Corporation during World War II. The collection is comprised of
materials belonging to William Bergstrom and his father-in-law, Cyril Hubert, both of whom worked for the company during its
operations from 1941-1946. The collection includes engineering manuals, blueprints, plans for ships at California Shipbuilding
Corporation, and personnel training manuals written by Bergstrom. The collection also contains a number of publications of
mostly California Shipbuilding Corporation’s newsletter, Calship Log, several issues of other shipyards’ publications and
a small library of books on ship construction. Finally, the collection includes a number of photographs believed by Bergstrom’s
son Richard, to have been taken by William Bergstrom, who was an amateur photographer in addition to his job at the shipyard.
These photographs are of the shipyard, personnel, and shipyard special events.
cargo ships
dry dock
drafting tools
Liberty ships
lines drawings (ships plans)
marine engineering
model ships
mold loft
propellers
shipbuilding
steam engines
Victory ships
Terminal Island (Port of Los Angeles), Calif.
Terminal Island, California
aerial views
blueprints
photographic prints
marine engineers
naval architects