Edwin B. Hoffman Collection
Finding aid prepared by Gina C Giang.
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© August 2019
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Edwin B. Hoffman collection
Inclusive Dates: 1901-1921
Bulk Dates: 1915-1921
Collection Number: mssHoffmane
Collector:
Hoffman, Edwin, 1875-1964
Extent:
186 items in 1 box (0.42 linear feet)
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The Edwin B. Hoffman collection consists material related to his service in the United States Revenue Cutter Service, United
States Lighthouse Service, United States Shipping Board, and his time as Master of the steamer "Eastern Leader."
Language of Material: The material is in English.
Administrative Information
Access
The collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please go to the following
web site .
Publication Rights
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Edwin B. Hoffman collection. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Acquisition Information
Purchased from Back of Beyond Books, July 2019.
Biography
Edwin Bertolet Hoffman was an American seaman and master mariner. Hoffman was born in Reading, Pennsylvania to Henry Greisemer
and Emma (Ehst) Hoffman in 1875. In 1893, Edwin attended the Pennsylvania Nautical School aboard the United States Ship Saratoga.
Two years later, he served on the United States Ship Bear, while working for the United States Revenue Cutter service, from
1895-1896. He was stationed on the Umatilla Reef Light Vessel Number 67 during his time with United States Lighthouse Service,
from 1909-1910. His career with the United States Shipping Board spans from 1918-1921, where he served on the following ships:
West Eagle, Puget Sound, Elkton, Havilah, and Eastern Leader. Hoffman passed away in December 1964.
Scope and Content
The Edwin B. Hoffman collection mostly consists of professional correspondence and records related to Hoffman’s career at
sea, from 1901-1921. The first series includes accounts, forms, correspondence, financial records, legal documents, photographs,
and printed ephemera pertaining to his time at the United States Lighthouse Service and United States Shipping Board. Letters
and telegrams detail the loss of P.J. Abler (schooner) in 1915 and the collision of Dorr (schooner) and Oklahoma (schooner)
in 1916. Included is a certificate indicating Hoffman was pilot on the first torpedo flotilla aboard the United States Ship
Whipple. Most of the correspondence in this series is addressed to Hoffman. The second series includes accounts, certificates,
correspondence, documents, logs, manifests, and reports concerning his service as Master of Eastern Leader (steamboat) in
1921. Letters and reports detail an accident to the rudder on 1921 May 26, while undocking in Limerick, Ireland for New York.
Most of the letters are typed copies retained by Hoffman addressed to colleagues and family.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Series 1: United States Lighthouse Service and United States Shipping Board, 1901-1921
- Series 2: United States Shipping Board, Master of Eastern Leader, 1921
Indexing Terms
Personal Names
Hoffman, Edwin, 1875-1964.
Alternate Authors
Ellicott, John M. (John Morris), 1859-1955.
McNoble, E.L.
Shields, John Edward, 1881-1962.
Sims, William Sowden, 1858-1936.
Corporate Names
United States. Lighthouse Service.
United States. Revenue-Cutter Service.
United States. Shipping Board.
Subjects
Collisions at sea.
Sailers.
Schooners.
Seafaring life.
Ship captains.
Ships.
Steamboats.
Geographic Areas
Goodnews Bay (Alaska : Bay).
Ketchikan (Alaska).
Liverpool (England).
Genre
Accounts.
Financial records.
Letters (correspondence).
Logs (records).
Reports.
Telegrams.
Series 1: United States Lighthouse Service and United States Shipping Board, 1901-1921
Box 1, Folder 1
Accounts, 1919
Master's Expense Account, Steamship Elkton Voyage #1.
Box 1, Folder 2
Application forms, 1909-1910
United States Civil Service Commission. Application for the Trades and Skilled Occupations; Department of Commerce and Labor.
Notice of Rating; Department of Commerce and Labor. Probationary Appointment-Prior Date; and Department of Water and Commerce.
Personal Question Sheet.
Box 1, Folder 3
1908 October 24
Hoffman, Edwin B. to "Dear Sir"
Includes reply letter from Charles F. Pond, 1908 October 26.
Box 1, Folder 4
1908 October 29
Sims, William Sowden to Edwin B. Hoffman
Includes copy of a letter.
Box 1, Folder 5
1909-1910
United States. Department of Commerce and Labor to Edwin B. Hoffman
Includes Oath of Office form.
Signed: John M. Ellicott.
4 letters.
Box 1, Folder 6
1910 June 1
Baldwin, A.H. to Edwin B. Hoffman
Resignation acceptance letter.
Box 1, Folder 7
1910 November 12
Hoffman, Edwin B. to "the Honorable board of U.S. Local Inspectors of Steamboats."
Box 1, Folder 8
1910 November 18
Nickles, A.F. to "whom it may concern"
Box 1, Folder 9
1910 December 17
United States. Department of Commerce and Labor to Edwin B. Hoffman
Signed: Ray L. Hankinson.
Box 1, Folder 10
1912 October 21
Office of Commissioner. Kuskokwim Precinct to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 11
1915 October 4
Leckey, ----- to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 12
1915 October 9
Allisuk, Anna to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 13
1915 October 9
----- ----- to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 14
1915 December 2
Faulkner, H.L. to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 15
1915
Shields, J.E. to/from Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 16
1915-1916
Shields, J.E. to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 17
1916 January 20
Hoffman, Edwin B. to "the Honorable board of Local Inspectors of Steam Vessels."
Box 1, Folder 18
1916 March 24
Snow, MacCormac to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 19
1916 August 19
Jacobsen, Charles to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 20
1916 September 28
United States. Department of Agriculture to John A. O'Brien
Box 1, Folder 21
1916 December 13
Theile, Ruby Lindsay to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 22
1916
Bowlby, Laura to Edwin B. Hoffman
With envelope.
2 letters.
Box 1, Folder 23
1916
Boyd, Bertha J. to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 24
1917 January 27
Sims, William Sowden to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 25
1920 August 17
Nash, Charles M. to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 26
1920-1921
Hoffman, Edwin B. to James W. Elwell & Company
2 copies of letters to and from Mr. Perine and Mr. R. Joly.
Box 1, Folder 27
Kinyon, E.B. to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 29
Empty envelopes, 1908-1909
Addressed and postmarked.
Box 1, Folder 30
Financial records, 1909-1920
Includes estimates, receipts, and statements.
Box 1, Folder 31
Legal documents, 1901-1911
Includes certifications, Warranty Deed, and Contract for Deed.
Box 1, Folder 32
Manuscripts, undated
Entitled "Some of the cooks sayings."
Box 1, Folder 34
Poems, undated
Entitled "The Amalgamated Order of Bull-Shitters."
Box 1, Folder 36
Printed ephemera, 1913-1920
Includes Harbour Regulations for the Port of Shanghai; Pacific Load Line Data by J.C. Rohlfs; United States Department of
Agriculture, Weather Bureau. Small Craft, Storm, and Hurricane Warnings; and "Code Flag" and "Answering Pennant."
Box 1, Folder 37
Statements, undated
2 statements beginning "WHEREAS, Captain E.B. Hoffman, was captain of..."
Signed by multiple individuals.
Series 2: United States Shipping Board, Master of Eastern Leader, 1921
Box 1, Folder 38
Accounts, 1921
Master's Expense Account, Voyage #51.
Box 1, Folder 40
Circular letters, 1921 March 31
The Admiral Line Pacific Steamship Company Foreign Freight Department Circular #16.
Box 1, Folder 41
1921 March 1
Hoffman, Edwin B. to A.E. Wyndham
Box 1, Folder 42
1921 March 9
Ehst, A.B. to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 43
1921 March 21
Hoffman, Edwin B. to "U.S. Shipping Commissioner"
Box 1, Folder 44
1921 March 31
Hoffman, Edwin B. to Anna Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 45
1921 March 31
Hoffman, Edwin B. to W. York
Box 1, Folder 46
1921 April 4
Hoffman, Edwin B. to ----- Bush
Box 1, Folder 47
1921 June 2
Hoffman, Edwin B. to ----- Leahey
Box 1, Folder 48
1921 June 6
Dinan, John A. to Edwin B. Hoffman
Includes copy of a letter.
Box 1, Folder 49
1921 June 6
Hoffman, Edwin B. to Annie Ellis
Box 1, Folder 50
1921 June 6
Hoffman, Edwin B. to Ben Emsley
Box 1, Folder 51
1921 June 6
Hoffman, Edwin B. to Helga Plath
Box 1, Folder 52
1921 June 11
Hoffman, Edwin B. to T.E. Evans
Box 1, Folder 53
1921 June 12
Hoffman, Edwin B. to W. Wilson
Box 1, Folder 54
1921 July 15
Hoffman, Edwin B. to Mary O'Keefe
Box 1, Folder 55
1921 July 17
Hoffman, Edwin B. to Katie Cross
Box 1, Folder 56
1921 July 22
Hoffman, Edwin B. to S.P. Woodin
Box 1, Folder 57
1921 July 27
Barber Steamship Lines, Inc. to Edwin B. Hoffman
Box 1, Folder 58
1921 August 15
Hoffman, Edwin B. to "U.S. Local Inspectors of Steamboats"
Box 1, Folder 59
1921 November
Direct mail
Includes Mitchell-Lewis & Staver Co. and Review of Reviews Company.
Box 1, Folder 60
1921
Hoffman, Edwin B. to A.B. Ehst
4 letters.
1921 March 9 letter incomplete.
Box 1, Folder 61
1921
Hoffman, Edwin B. to A.J. Storrs
Box 1, Folder 62
1921
Hoffman, Edwin B. to E.L. McNoble
Box 1, Folder 63
1921
Hoffman, Edwin B. to Frank J. O'Connor
Box 1, Folder 64
1921
Hoffman, Edwin B. to Richard Waters
Box 1, Folder 65
1921
Hoffman, Edwin B. to "Sister"
Box 1, Folder 66
1921
Hoffman, Edwin B. to Walter Van Ruyssevelt
Box 1, Folder 67
1921
Hoffman, Edwin B. and W. Wilson to "Whom It May Concern"
Box 1, Folder 68
Empty envelope, 1921
Prescription envelope for A. Patrick.
Box 1, Folder 70
Journals, 1921
Fragment of a 1-page account beginning "Weather fine + clear."
Box 1, Folder 71
Logs, 1921
Voyage #51.
Includes 3 entries in Official Log.
Box 1, Folder 72
Manifests, 1921
Department of Commerce. Outward Foreign Manifest.
Box 1, Folder 73
Records, 1921
Miscellaneous documents and records include Department of Commerce radio service; Times on Voyage; List of Slop supplies;
United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation standing orders, crew list, application for officer's berth, and
receipt.
Box 1, Folder 74
Reports, 1921
Includes Illness; Report of Loading and Discharge; and Voyage #51.
Box 1, Folder 75
Statements, 1921
United States Public Health Service. Port Sanitary Statement.