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A guide to the Ted Miles postcard and photograph collection, circa 1900-1967
P94-023 (SAFR 23265)  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication and Use Rights
  • Processing Note
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Historical or Biographical Note
  • Collection Scope and Content
  • Collection Arrangement
  • Related Materials

  • Title: Ted Miles postcard and photograph collection
    Date: circa 1900-1967
    Date (bulk): circa 1959
    Identifier/Call Number: P94-023 (SAFR 23265)
    Creator: Miles, Ted
    Physical Description: 95 items.
    Repository: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
    Building E, Fort Mason
    San Francisco, CA 94123
    Abstract: The Ted Miles postcard and photograph collection, 1900-1967, bulk circa 1959, (SAFR 23265, P94-023) is comprised of postcards depicting various maritime scenes circa 1900-1967 and photographs of BALCLUTHA (built 1886; ship, 3m: museum ship) docked at Pier 43 for display by the San Francisco Maritime Museum circa 1959. 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

    The original accessions have been physically left together and are housed within the box in accession number order, with later accessions at the end of the box. The material has been intellectually arranged in the finding aid in the appropriate Series, while the physical locations will remain fixed. If new material is added to this collection, it will be physically placed at the end of the collection and intellectually arranged in the finding aid for ease of access.
    Item numbers 12-51 represent photographic images, and each item consists of two physical objects: one black-and-white photographic print and one corresponding black-and-white acetate negative. Photographs were placed in chronological order and the corresponding negative was placed with it in the same enclosure, prints separated from negatives by archival paper.
    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], P94-023 (SAFR 23265), Ted Miles postcard and photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

    Acquisition Information

    SAFR-00793
    SAFR-00856, SAFR-00958, SAFR-01595, SAFR-01622, SAFR-01663, SAFR-01713, SAFR-001772, SAFR-02312
    The "Ted Miles postcard collection" was established in 2011. Accessions SAFR-00793, SAFR-00856, SAFR-00958, SAFR-01595, SAFR-01622, SAFR- 01663, and SAFR-01713 were the only accessions included in this collection up until 2012.
    SAFR-00793, consisting of (1) postcard showing TAHOE, was purchased by Ted Miles in 1994 from Acorn Books, San Francisco, California. He was reimbursed with San Francisco National Maritime Museum Association funds in 1994.
    SAFR-00856, consisting of (1) postcard showing Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, was donated by Miles in 1994. The accession was accrued to P94-023 on June 22, 2012.
    SAFR-00958, consisting of (2) postcards showing THOMAS and a Columbia River log raft, was purchased by Miles. He was reimbursed with San Francisco National Maritime Museum Association funds in 1995. The accession was accrued to P94-023 on June 22, 2012.
    SAFR-01595, consisting of (1) postcard showing EPPLETON HALL, was donated by Miles in 2001. The accession was accrued to P94-023 on June 22, 2012.
    SAFR-01622, consisting of (2) postcards showing Oakland Dock & Warehouse Co. and Aquatic Park bathhouse, was donated by Miles in 2001. The accession was accrued to P94-023 on June 22, 2012.
    SAFR- 01663, consisting of (1) postcard showing the Hilaire Hiler mural in the Aquatic Park bathhouse, was donated by Miles in 2002. The accession was accrued to P94-023 on June 22, 2012.
    SAFR-01713, consisting of (3) postcards showing log rafting and the Aquatic Park bathhouse, was purchased by Miles in 2001 from a postcard show held in San Francisco. He was reimbursed with San Francisco National Maritime Museum Association funds in 2002. The accession was accrued to P94-023 on June 22, 2012.
    SAFR-01772 was received December 18, 2002, from Ted Miles. He purchased (40) prints and (40) negatives at a postcard sale in Palo Alto, California, on November 9, 2002. The accession was accrued to P94-023 in August 2012, and the collection was also renamed the "Ted Miles postcard and photograph collection" at this time.
    SAFR-02312, consisting of (2) postcards of the San Francisco Hay Wharf, (2) photographic prints of the launching of CITY OF BERKELEY (built 1920; freighter), and a 1919 Union Construction next hit Company launching pass, was purchased by Ted Miles at a monthly meeting of the San Francisco Bay Area Post Card Club. The accession was accrued to P94-023 on March 20, 2015. The launching pass has been cataloged separately as SAFR 24376.

    Historical or Biographical Note

    Ted Miles (Theodore Miles) was born on April 9, 1950, to Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Beth Miles in New York City. He has one brother David, who was born in 1952. Ted grew up on Long Island and attended public school. He graduated from Long Island University in 1975 and did graduate study in maritime history at Mystic Seaport's Munson Institute in 1989. He married Arlene Schroeder in June 1984.
    Ted began his career in maritime preservation at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City in 1969. It was there that he met Karl Kortum, the founder of the San Francisco Maritime Museum (SFMM). The SFMM had by that time become the San Francisco Maritime State Historical Park (SFMSHP). In 1984, Kortum recruited Miles to come to SFMSHP as his assistant, capitalizing on Ted's knowledge of commercial sailing vessels, especially the British iron and steel vessels. In this position, Miles was in daily contact with the world's leading authorities on historic ship preservation.
    After Kortum retired in 1989, Ted became an assistant to Stephen Canright, the Curator of Maritime History. Canright and Miles worked together documenting and researching the Park's historic fleet. Among other things, Ted's research led to the identification of the historic paint schemes for EUREKA (built 1890; paddle ferry) and BALCLUTHA (built 1886; ship, 3m) -- the latter paint schemes having been identified as a result of Ted's negotiation of the loan of three paintings of BALCLUTHA to the park.
    In 2009, Ted became the reference historian for the J. Porter Shaw Library, of what is now called the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (SFMNHP). In this role, Miles provided service to patrons requesting reference services as well as serving on the Acquisitions Committee for the Cultural Resources Department. He retired in July 2014.
    Ted and Arlene have been avid postcard collectors for many years, and have been members of the Bay Area Post Card Collectors Club since 1984. Together, they collect 25 different categories of postcards. Ted's collecting interests are primarily focused on ships and steam trains, although also include street cars and interurbans, railroad museums, early day and modern San Francisco, California missions, Disneyland, carousels, cats and dogs, Worlds Fairs, National Park Service and restoration villages. Their private collection contains approximately 100,000 cards. Miles also looks for postcards that could be added to the SFMNHP's collection, per Karl Kortum's encouragement early on in Ted's career. Throughout his years of employment, Ted has acquired and donated several items for the museum collection.
    References: Miles, Ted. 2012. Ted Miles and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Photos. (Located in the collection file).

    Collection Scope and Content

    The Ted Miles postcard and photograph collection, 1900-1967, bulk circa 1959, (SAFR 23265, P94-023) is comprised of postcards depicting various maritime scenes circa 1900-1967 and photographs of BALCLUTHA (built 1886; ship, 3m: museum ship) docked at Pier 43 for display by the San Francisco Maritime Museum circa 1959. The collection has been processed to the Item level and is open for use.
    The collection contains 13 postcards depicting various maritime scenes, including but not limited to San Francisco Maritime Museum vessels, the San Francisco Maritime Museum Aquatic Park Bathhouse, log rafts on the Columbia River, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Union Plant in San Francisco, Oakland Dock and Warehouse Co., the San Francisco Hay Wharf, and other west coast vessels.
    There are also 40 photographs of BALCLUTHA (built 1886; ship, 3m: museum ship) docked at Pier 43 in San Francisco, circa 1959. Photographs include views of the deck, masts and rigging, and the figurehead as well as views along the hull, stem, and stern. Twelve of the photographs have "Sep 59" printed on the front, one photograph has "Dec 59" printed on the front, and the remaining prints are not labeled with dates. Each photographic image has a black-and-white acetate negative and corresponding black-and-white photographic print, for a total of 80 EA.
    Two photographs show the launching of CITY OF BERKELEY (built 1920; freighter) at the previous hit Union Construction next hit Company in Oakland, California, in 1919.
    The collection consists of black-and-white negatives, black-and-white photographic prints, color offset lithographic postcard prints, black-and-white silver gelatin postcard prints, color letterpress halftone postcard prints, and a black-and-white collotype postcard print.

    Collection Arrangement

    Arranged into two Series:

    • Series 1: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
    • Subseries 1.1: Vessels
    • Subseries 1.2: Facilities
    • Series 2: Pacific Coast Vessels and Places
    • Subseries 2.1: Vessels
    • Subseries 2.2: Places
    Items 1-11 are in accession number order.
    Items 12-51 are part of one accession (SAFR-01772). They were not in any discernible order, and were consequently placed in order by date printed on the photographic prints: Sep 59 first, then Dec 59, and undated photographs last. Items 52-55 are part of one accession (SAFR-02312). They were not in any discernible order.
    Arranged at the Item level.

    Related Materials

    Ted Miles photo collection, undated. (1) 8 x 10 in. black-and-white copy print. Broadside view of lightship SAN FRANCISCO. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, (SAFR 17770, P84-091).
    Ted Miles photo collection, 1908-1954. (2) copy negatives of postcards of the San Francisco waterfront and ship PACIFIC QUEEN. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, (SAFR 17204, P88-002).
    Ted Miles Photo Collection, undated. (3) 4 x 5in. copy negatives of photographic postcards. Views of a Redondo Beach, California, fishing barge; the ship HENRY VILLARD; and the bark STAR OF INDIA. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, (SAFR 17860, P88-044).
    Ted Miles Photo Collection, undated. (1) black-and-white postcard of schooner C. A. THAYER in Hood Canal, Washington, as the "pirate ship" BLACK SHIELD. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, (SAFR 18063, P88-055).
    Postcard: Large format card showing Brett's BALCLUTHA/Bristol Channel painting. (1) Interpretive folder on BALCLUTHA, circa 1965; (1) large-format color reproduction postcard of Oswald Brett's painting of BALCLUTHA beating out of Bristol Channel. Postcard donated by Ted Miles. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, (SAFR 20215).
    BALCLUTHA (built 1886; ship, 3m: museum ship) at Pier 43 1/2 in San Francisco. (1) Print made from a painting of BALCLUTHA at Pier 43, San Francisco, by Floyd Hidebrand. Postcard donated by Ted Miles. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, (SAFR 20296).
    SONOMA & VENTURA Oceanic SS Co. Far East Service, circa 1920. Unused picture postcard promoting the Far East passenger service of the Oceanic SS Co. On one side is a picture of propeller steamer SONOMA (or sister VENTURA); printed on the other side is "Sydney/ Short Line / 19 Days." Postcard donated by Ted Miles. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, (SAFR 20377).
    Pass, Launch: previous hit Union Construction next hit Company, Oakland, California, 1919 May 19. SFMNHP, (SAFR 24376). Rectangular paper pass has "SPECIAL PASS FOR LAUNCHING ISSUED TO" printed on it and the name "C.O. Clark" handwritten in the space following the printing. The pass is stamped with the date "May 19, 5:45 P.M." with the year "1919" handwritten under the stamped date and time. It is signed by the vice president and general manager H.G. Peaks and by the bearer, "C.O. Clark."
    • This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Timber--Rafting
    Log transportation
    Shipbuilding
    Shipyards
    Docks
    Transports
    Tugboats
    Maritime museums
    n Francisco Maritime Museum
    Eppleton Hall (built 1914; tugboat)
    Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
    Oakland Dock and Warehouse Co.
    n Francisco (Calif.)
    Oakland (Calif.)
    Pacific Northwest
    Tahoe, Lake (Calif. and Nev.)
    Wear River (England)
    Photomechanical prints
    Photographic postcards
    Black-and-white prints (photographs)
    Picture postcards
    Offset lithographs
    Gelatin silver prints
    Letterpress printing
    Collotypes (prints)
    Postcards