A guide to the Roy M. Fross photograph collection, circa 1920-1950
Processed by: L. Bianchi, June 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
2014
A Guide to the Roy M. Fross photograph collection
P99-010
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service
2014, National Park Service
Title: Roy M. Fross photograph collection
Date: circa 1920-1950
Date (bulk): circa 1940-1950
Identifier/Call Number: P99-010 (SAFR 23852)
Creator:
Fross, Roy M.
Physical Description:
22 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Roy M. Fross photograph collection, circa 1920-1950, bulk circa 1940-1950, (SAFR 23852, P99-010) is comprised mainly of
photographs of the Ferry Building and waterfront in San Francisco, 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.
Mr. Fross transferred copyright to the National Park Service at the time of his donation. However, only one photograph was
clearly identified as his work. Copyright on the remaining material is unknown.
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 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], P99-010 (SAFR 23852), Roy M. Fross photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Acquisition Information
SAFR-01347
The collection was donated by Roy M. Fross in 1999.
Historical or Biographical Note
Roy M. Fross (1919-2013), a lifelong resident of San Francisco, California, was the Assistant Superintendent of Harbor Maintenance
for the Port of San Francisco.
Roy M. Fross was born December 26, 1919, in San Francisco, California, to Isaac and Maude Fross. He attended Laguna Honda
Elementary School and Polytechnic High School. According to his obituary, after graduating in 1937, he was indentured "as
an Electrical Inside Wireman apprentice and a second generation member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Local 6, San Francisco; journeyman in 1941. Enlisted US Navy 1942 during World War II. Served in the Pacific as a Chief Petty
Officer (Seabee) repairing ships at sea. After the war as a ready/reserve teaching electrical theory at Treasure Island Naval
Base. Recalled to active service during the Korean War, serving aboard the USS Jason."
In 1946, Foss began working as an electrician for the Port of San Francisco. He worked his way up to Assistant Superintendent
of Harbor Maintenance, retiring in 1984.
Fross married Alberta Moloney on May 20, 1951, in San Francisco. They had two children, Daniel and Susan.
Roy M. Fross died May 10, 2013, at the age of 93.
Sources:
California Birth Index, 1905-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Accessed June 19,
2014.
"Roy Fross Death Notice." San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA), May 19, 2013. Accessed June 19, 2014. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?pid=164847883
Collection Scope and Content
The Roy M. Fross photograph collection, circa 1920-1950, bulk circa 1940-1950, (SAFR 23852, P99-010) is comprised mainly of
photographs of the Ferry Building and waterfront in San Francisco, California. The collection has been processed to the Item
level and is open for use.
Contains photographs primarily of the Ferry Building and views from the Ferry Building clock tower as well as other waterfront
views in San Francisco, California, circa 1920-1950, bulk circa 1940-1950. There are 22 black-and-white photographic prints.
Three photographs show SACRAMENTO (built 1877; paddle ferry) approaching and inside the slip at the Ferry Building. There
are photographs of people, including Arthur Allan, Ernest "Ernie" Boegershausen, Alan Dultz, Norman Kuhlmeyer, and unidentified
U.S. Navy sailors. Allan and Dultz are identified as electricians, likely for the Port of San Francisco, and Boegershausen
is identified as a sheet metal worker. Other San Francisco views include a streetcar, fishing boats at Fisherman's Wharf,
the Third Street Bridge, and a PG&E natural gas storage tank as well as photographs of a sloop yacht, freighter, and SARATOGA
(built 1925; aircraft carrier; U.S. Navy) underway in San Francisco Bay.
Fross is identified as the photographer of one of the images. He may have taken additional photographs in the collection;
however, this could not be confirmed.
Collection Arrangement
No arrangement due to the small size of the collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ferries
Ferry terminals
Sacramento (built 1877; paddle ferry)
Ferry Building (San Francisco, Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
San Francisco Bay (Calif.)
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Gelatin silver prints
Item No. 01.
Ferry Building, San Francisco, California, as seen from a ferry slip,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. A sticker with "5.32" handwritten on it is adhered to the print verso.
Scope and Content Note
Photograph was taken either at night or in the early morning.
Item No. 02.
View from Telegraph Hill toward the Ferry Building at night, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in.
Item No. 03.
Sacramento (built 1877; paddle ferry) getting underway from a ferry slip as seen from the clock tower of the Ferry Building,
San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in.
Item No. 04.
Passengers at the Ferry Building, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in.
Scope and Content Note
View from the staircase near the front of the building, looking out one of the entryways. A group of four people is passing
by and additional people are standing partially in view on the right. A display case is on the left and a neon sign for Viking
Air Lines is hanging in the upper right.
Item No. 05.
Arthur Allan in the electrical control room in an unidentified location,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. "Arthur Allan Stationary Engineer / Elect Control Room N[?] 2023" is handwritten below the photograph.
Scope and Content Note
He is squatting down. Numerous levers are mounted on the wall behind him.
Items 05-10 are adhered to the same sheet of 11 x 14 in. paper.
Item No. 06.
Alan Dultz in the electrical control room in an unidentified location,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. "Alan Dultz Electrician / Electrical Control Room" is handwritten below the photograph.
Scope and Content Note
He is seated in a chair. Various dials are on the wall behind him.
Items 05-10 are adhered to the same sheet of 11 x 14 in. paper.
Item No. 07.
Sacramento (built 1877; paddle ferry) approaching a slip, as seen from the clock tower of the Ferry Building, San Francisco,
California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. "From F.B. Tower" is handwritten below the photograph.
Scope and Content Note
Items 05-10 are adhered to the same sheet of 11 x 14 in. paper.
Item No. 08.
Streetcar loop outside the Ferry Building as seen from the clock tower, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. "Ferry Loop & Park from Tower" is handwritten on the photograph.
Scope and Content Note
A small park is in the center of the loop.
Items 05-10 are adhered to the same sheet of 11 x 14 in. paper.
Item No. 09.
Ernest "Ernie" Boegershausen replacing sheet metal on the Ferry Building clock tower, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. "Ernie Bogershausen [sic] Replacing Sheet Metal on the Tower Crown" is handwritten above the photograph.
Scope and Content Note
Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower are in the distance.
Items 05-10 are adhered to the same sheet of 11 x 14 in. paper.
Item No. 10.
Market Street as seen from the Ferry Building clock tower, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. "Looking up Market St." is handwritten above the photograph.
Scope and Content Note
The Matson Line and Mobilgas buildings are among those in view.
Items 05-10 are adhered to the same sheet of 11 x 14 in. paper.
Item No. 11.
Embarcadero and Telegraph Hill as seen from the clock tower of the Ferry Building, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. "Looking North From Tower" is handwritten below the photograph.
Scope and Content Note
Pier sheds line the right side of the photograph. Coit Tower and Alcatraz Island are in the distance. Businesses in the left
foreground include Wellman, Peck & Company and Planters Nuts.
Items 11-13 are adhered to the same sheet of 11 x 14 in. paper.
Item No. 12.
Sacramento (built 1877; paddle ferry) approaching a ferry slip at the Ferry Building, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in.
Scope and Content Note
Items 11-13 are adhered to the same sheet of 11 x 14 in. paper.
Item No. 13.
Norman Kuhlmeyer on the fleet landing at the Ferry Building, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. "Norman Kuhlmeyer on The Fleet Landing" is handwritten above the photograph.
Scope and Content Note
The clock tower is in view behind him.
Items 11-13 are adhered to the same sheet of 11 x 14 in. paper.
Item No. 14.
Freighter underway, likely as seen from the clock tower of the Ferry Building, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in.
Scope and Content Note
Ferry slips are in view in the foreground. A tugboat is also underway on the left.
Item No. 15.
Freighter underway in an unidentified location, broadside view as seen from a distance,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in.
Item No. 16.
Sloop yacht underway on San Francisco Bay, California, port broadside view,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in.
Scope and Content Note
"23" and an unidentified insignia are on the sail. The Golden Gate Bridge is in the distance.
Item No. 17.
Fishing boats moored at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 3.75 x 4.75 in.
Scope and Content Note
BIG JIM, LEONILDA, and an unidentified fishing boat are in view. Boicelli & Boss Machine Works is in the right background.
Item No. 18.
Third Street Bridge span raised over Mission Creek, San Francisco, California, with a power yacht approaching,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 7.25 x 8.75 in.
Shared oversize box
Item No. 19.
Streetcar near the Transbay Terminal, San Francisco, California,
circa 1940-1950
Creator/Collector:
Fross, Roy M.
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 5.5 x 7.75 in., mounted on a 11.5 x 16 in. mat
Scope and Content Note
The Embarcadero YMCA is in the left background.
Item No. 20.
PG&E natural gas storage tank and powerhouse in San Francisco, California,
circa 1920-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in.
Scope and Content Note
A train is underway on a trestle bridge in front of the building.
Item No. 21.
Saratoga (built 1925; aircraft carrier; U.S. Navy) underway in San Francisco, California,
1946
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in. "USS Saratoga / Headed for Bikini / Atomic Test 1946 or 47 / at Pier 39?" is handwritten on the verso.
Scope and Content Note
View of either the port stern or starboard bow. At least two airplanes are visible on deck. The vessel was headed to Bikini
Atoll for testing the effects of atomic bombs on ships. She survived an air burst blast, but was sunk by an underwater blast.
Item No. 22.
U.S. Navy sailors aboard an unidentified naval vessel in San Francisco Bay, California,
circa 1940-1950
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 4 x 5 in.
Scope and Content Note
Seven men are on board. The barrel of a large gun is in view. San Francisco is in the distance.
