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A guide to the Permanente Metals Corporation photograph album, 1941-1945
P14-006 (SAFR 24426)
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Title: Permanente Metals Corporation photograph album
Date: 1941-1945
Identifier/Call Number: P14-006 (SAFR 24426)
Creator:
Permanente Metals Corporation
Physical Description:
1 item.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Permanente Metals Corporation photograph album, 1941-1945, (SAFR 24426, P14-006) is comprised of an album containing photographs
of World War II shipbuilding activities at the Kaiser Shipyards, operated by the Permanente Metals Corporation, in Richmond,
California. The collection has been processed to the Collection level and is open for use.
Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Language(s):
In English.
This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.
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.
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.
[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item
Number], P14-006 (SAFR 24426), Permanente Metals Corporation photograph album, San Francisco Maritime National Historical
Park
SAFR-02285
The photograph album was a gift from Dean L. Mawdsley to the Park's library, but it was never formally accessioned into the
library collection. It was accessioned as a field collection into the museum collection by San Francisco Maritime National
Historical Park staff in 2014.
Historical or Biographical Note
The Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California, were owned by Henry J. Kaiser and managed by the Permanente Metals Corporation.
The contract to build Richmond Shipyard No. 1 was signed on December 9, 1940, and construction began in January 1941. Approval
to build Shipyard No. 2 followed in April. Shipyard Numbers 3 and 4were built in 1942. The Richmond Kaiser Shipyards built
747 ships in four years during World War II, 519 of which were Liberty ships.
Source: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Richmond Shipyard Number Three
http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/00000364.pdf
The Permanente Metals Corporation photograph album, 1941-1945, (SAFR 24426, P14-006) is comprised of an album containing photographs
of World War II shipbuilding activities at the Kaiser Shipyards, operated by the Permanente Metals Corporation, in Richmond,
California. The collection has been processed to the Collection level and is open for use.
Contains photographs primarily of Liberty ships under construction at the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California, 1941-1945.
There is 1 bound photograph album containing 43 unique photographic images (black-and-white photographic prints, mostly 8.5
x 10.75 in.). The album measures 8.75 x 12 x 1.25 in. The name "C. S. Foley" is printed on the cover of the commemorative
album presented "In Appreciation of Your Cooperation on a JOB WELL DONE." Forty-two of the photographs are adhered to the
album pages and one photograph is adhered to the front cover. In addition to photographs of shipbuilding activities, the album
contains a map of the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards as well as graphs related to ship production.
The photograph on the cover of the album shows ROBERT E. PEARY (built 1942; cargo ship: Liberty ship) ready to launch from
shipway no. 1 of Kaiser Shipyard No. 2, bow view, 1942 November 12. The first seven photographs in the album are an aerial
view of Shipyard No. 2 and views of people assembling prefabricated sections and working aboard ships. The next four photographs
show BENJAMIN WARNER (built 1944; cargo ship: Liberty ship), YALE VICTORY (built 1945; cargo ship: Victory ship), a cargo
ship with "489" painted on the port bow, and a cargo ship with "PA205" painted on the starboard bow and starboard stern underway.
Next is a portrait of twenty-two men employed at Shipyard No. 2. The text opposite the photograph reads: "The Permanente Metals
Corporation / Shipyard Number Two and Prefab / Richmond, California / August 14, 1943 / Top Row--Reading from Left to Right
/ H. L. Modie, Hull Supt.; W. C. Dalby, Master Rigger; Grant Leeson, Plate Shop Supt.; A. S. Fountain, Ass't. Gen'l. Supt.;
C. L. Wood, Master Mtnce. Electrician; P. J. Soukup, Welder Supt.; D. T. Bush, Master Welder; J. B. Dodson, Supt. of Assemblies;
R. V. Wolfe, Master Shipfitter; J. Blackburn, Master Shipwright. / Middle Row--Reading from Left to Right / A. M. Underkoffler,
Ass't. Hull Supt.; E. H. Chapman, Ass't Mstr. Machinist; J. L. Brown, Sr., Ass't. Gen'l. & Marine Supt.; J. C. McFarland,
General Supt.; T. A. Bedford, Jr., Ass't General Manager; A. B. Innis, Ship Dlvry. Outftg. Qtr.; C. A. Johnson, Master Vessels
Electrician; D. L. Mapes, Warehouse & Trnsp. Supt. / Bottom Row--Reading from Left to Right / O. J. Babich, Master Painter;
W. F.
Smith, Master Steamfitter; F. J. Scheuerle, Outfitting Superintendent; O. A. Kent, Master Sheetmetal Worker."
Following the portrait are a map illustrating the general layout of Richmond Kaiser Shipyards 1, 2, 3, 4, and the "Prefab"
area as of September 1, 1944; a graph illustrating the average number of construction days (both days on ways and days outfitting)
required for Liberty ships up to June 1, 1944 (comparing the Richmond Shipyards to twelve other U. S. shipyards); and four
graphs illustrating the number of ships delivered monthly by the Richmond Shipyards from October 1941 to September 1945.
The remaining thirty photographs show the "Construction Sequence on Typical Liberty Ship." Twenty-one of the photographs document
various stages in construction while on the shipbuilding ways. They are captioned, "First Day on Way," "Second Day on Way,"
and so on up to "Twenty-first Day on Way." None of the ships are identified. The last nine photographs in the album document
activities at the outfitting docks. They are captioned "First Day at Outfitting Dock," "Second Day at Outfitting Dock," and
so on up to "Ninth Day at Outfitting Dock." All of the vessels are viewed from off the bow. Some of the vessels are identified
as EMILE BERLINER (built 1943; cargo ship: Liberty ship), EMMET D. BOYLE (built 1944; cargo ship: Liberty ship), GEORGE CLEMENT
PERKINS (built 1944; cargo ship: Liberty ship), HENRY DODGE (built 1943; cargo ship: Liberty ship), HENRY V. ALVARADO (built
1943; cargo ship: Liberty ship), JOHN COLTER (built 1943; cargo ship: Liberty ship), MARY M. DODGE (built 1943; cargo ship:
Liberty
ship), and MELVILLE E. STONE (built 1943; cargo ship: Liberty ship).
Single item.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cargo ships
Liberty ships
Shipyards
Shipbuilding
World War, 1939-1945
Kaiser Shipyards (Richmond, Calif.)
Richmond (Calif.)
Photograph albums
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Gelatin silver prints