Verge (George M.) photograph collection, 1907-1959, bulk 1907-1921,, 1940-1945

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Summary

Title:
George M. Verge photograph collection
Dates:
1907-1959, bulk 1907-1921,, 1940-1945
Creators:
Brummett, Jim Verge, George M. Richards, Turner Aero-Marine Photos Eyerman, J. R
Abstract:
The George M. Verge photograph collection, 1907-1959, bulk 1907-1921 and 1940-1945, (SAFR 24836, P78-314) is comprised of photographs of U.S. Revenue Cutter Service sailors at sea and ashore on the Pacific Coast as well as photographs of shipbuilding activities during World War II at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Tacoma, Washington. The collection has been processed to the File Unit level and is open for use.
Extent:
273 items
Language:
In English.
Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], P78-314 (SAFR 24836), George M. Verge photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Background

Scope and content:

The George M. Verge photograph collection, 1907-1959, bulk 1907-1921 and 1940-1945, (SAFR 24836, P78-314) is comprised of photographs of U.S. Revenue Cutter Service sailors at sea and ashore on the Pacific Coast as well as photographs of shipbuilding activities during World War II at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Tacoma, Washington. The collection has been processed to the File Unit level and is open for use.

Contains photographs during George M. Verge's employment in the United States Revenue Cutter Service and as a superintendent at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Tacoma, Washington, 1907-1959, bulk 1907-1921, 1940-1945.

Consists of 1 photograph album complied by George M. Verge containing photographic prints and postcards primarily from his sailing career aboard vessels such as BURNSIDE (built 1882; transport: U.S. Army) and MANNING (built 1898; cutter: U.S. Revenue Service). Includes photographs of crew members on board vessels and on shore leave, ship mascots, training camps, Alaska scenes where Verge travelled, and other U.S. government and merchant vessels. Later photographs continue after his employment Revenue Cutter Service, likely during his time as a longshoreman, primarily showing him at leisure with his friends.

The collection also consists of photographs of shipbuilding activities and employees at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard (later referred to as Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation) in Tacoma, Washington, where Verge was an employee during World War II. Includes photographs of vessels, primarily cargo ships, on the shipbuilding ways and at the outfitting piers as well as photographs of rigging operations during construction.

Additional photographs show Liberty ship hulls under construction and outfitting at the California Shipbuilding Corporation (Calship) shipyard at Terminal Island, California.

Biographical / historical:

George M. Verge (1892-1971) (also known as "P. K. Kelly" or "Kelly") served on US Army Transport and Revenue Service ships and worked in ship yards during and after the first and second world wars.

Born on June 28, 1892, in Great Falls, Montana, he left as a teenager for Seattle, Washington. He served aboard United States government vessels, including BURNSIDE (built 1882; transport: U.S. Army) and MANNING (built 1898; cutter: U.S. Revenue Service) where he spent time sailing in Alaska. During World War I he was employed at Skinner & Eddy Corporation shipyard in Seattle as a plate hanger. He also worked as a merchant sailor, longshoreman, and rum runner. Around 1940, he became Rigging Superintendent at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation (later known as Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma Division) in Tacoma, Washington. He became General Superintendent of the 2nd Shift (night operations) in 1942, and in 1944 he was promoted to General Superintendent of Steel Construction. Sometime after World War II he worked as a construction superintendent at Everett Pacific Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company before he was offered a position at the Todd Shipyards facility at Alameda, California, where he stayed until his retirement in January 1959.

George married Lulu Delia Lanning (1897-1985) in 1936. He died in Alameda, California, on October 11, 1971.

Source: Correspondence and clippings located in the George M. Verge scrapbook (SAFR 24149, HDC 1687) and correspondence from William S. Croft located in the collection file for the George M. Verge photograph collection (P78-314, SAFR 24836).

Acquisition information:

SAFR-00001

GOGA-00789

Gift from Larry R. Schultz of Owen Mortgage Company.

SAFR-00001 is a blanket accession that was transferred from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in September 1988. GGNRA had previously acquired the collection from the San Francisco Maritime Museum when it became a unit of the National Park Service in 1977.

GOGA-00789 was transferred from the J. Porter Shaw Library to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in February 1985.

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:

Arranged into 2 Series by time period: Series 1. U.S. Revenue Cutter Service photographs; Series 2. World War II shipbuilding photographs.

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: L. Bianchi, September 2016.
Date Prepared:
2016
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. 11/3/2016 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

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], P78-314 (SAFR 24836), George M. Verge photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

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