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A guide to the John Thomas Scott business papers and plans, 1888-1921
HDC0126 (SAFR 15793)
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Title: John Thomas Scott business papers and plans
Date: 1888-1921
Identifier/Call Number: HDC0126 (SAFR 15793)
Creator:
Scott, John T.
Physical Description:
121.7 linear ft.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The John Thomas Scott business papers and plans (SAFR 15793, HDC 126) consists largely of technical data on shipbuilding and
heavy machinery manufacturing compiled by John T. Scott during the course of his career as a marine engineer and plant superintendent
with San Francisco Bay Area shipyards. The collection is composed of records from the three companies he worked for: Union
Iron Works, Moore & Scott Iron Works and the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company. There are seven series are composed from
the found groupings of materials: Correspondence, Subjects, Reports, Projects, Notebooks, Ephemera and Vessel Plans. A more
detailed finding aid is available through the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Research Center. The collection
is available for research use without restriction.
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], HDC0126 (SAFR 15793), John Thomas Scott business papers and plans, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SAFR-00001
SAFR-02202.6
This collection was transferred from Golden Gate National Recreation Area to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Historical or Biographical Note
John Thomas Scott was born in 1864 or 1865. The place of his birth not known, but it is likely San Francisco. His uncles were
Henry Tiffany Scott and Irving Murray Scott, the owners of the Union Iron Works in San Francisco's Potrero district. John
was a marine engineer by profession, and followed his uncles into the family business, becoming a superintendent of the works
in 1895. He managed operations at this famous shipyard for 11 years until he left in 1905 to begin his own business, in partnership
with Robert S. and Joseph A. Moore. The Moore & Scott Iron Works commenced operation in 1905 at Hunter's Point, in San Francisco,
then moved in 1909 to the site of W.A. Boole's old yard on the shore of the Oakland Estuary. Moore & Scott was a very successful
operation, which continued to thrive under the name of Moore Drydock Company after Scott sold his interests in late 1917.
Scott's next venture was the short-lived Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company, which he established in 1918 in partnership with
his uncle Henry at Bay Point, California (present day Port Chicago) to take advantage of the World War I shipbuilding boom.
Scott lived in San Francisco until 1909, subsequently in Burlingame, and finally by the side of Lake Merritt in Oakland. He
died at the age of 96 in March of 1960.
The John Thomas Scott business papers and plans (SAFR 15793, HDC 126) consists largely of technical data on shipbuilding and
heavy machinery manufacturing compiled by John T. Scott during the course of his career as a marine engineer and plant superintendent
with San Francisco Bay Area shipyards. The collection is composed of records from the three companies he worked for: Union
Iron Works, Moore & Scott Iron Works and the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company. There are seven series are composed from
the found groupings of materials: Correspondence, Subjects, Reports, Projects, Notebooks, Ephemera and Vessel Plans. A more
detailed finding aid is available through the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Research Center. The collection
is available for research use without restriction.
The collection is arranged in 7 series as follows:
Series 1 - Correspondence consists of documents addressed or routed to Scott in his personal or business capacity, organized
alphabetically by originator or client.
Series 2 - Subject files of memoranda and information sent to Scott from unattributed sources kept for informational purposes,
organized alphabetically.
Series 3 - Reports of in-depth studies on marine engineering.
Series 4 - Project files of Scott's or one his firms, organized alphabetically by vessel or client name.
Series 5 - Notebooks contain a variety of information on shore-side steam machinery and mining equipment compiled by Scott
for use while making visits to clients.
Series 6 - Ephemera contains printed material including launching invitations, catalogs, title pages of engineering journals
and monographs collected by Scott.
Series 7 - Vessel Plans are organized alphabetically by vessel name, vessel type, equipment or part name.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Shipbuilding--California--San Francisco
Scott, John T.
Correspondence
Architectural drawings--Marine
Marine engineers