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A guide to the San Francisco Maritime Museum records, 1921-1979
HDC0649 (SAFR 9386)
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Title: San Francisco Maritime Museum records
Date: 1921-1979
Date (bulk): 1963-1977
Identifier/Call Number: HDC0649 (SAFR 9386)
Creator:
San Francisco Maritime Museum
Physical Description:
27 linear ft.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The San Francisco Maritime Museum records consist of textual records in nine series: Organizational records, Financial records,
Correspondence, Library records, Museum Vessel records, Museum Publications, Manuscripts, Periodical Articles and Newspaper
Articles. The bulk of the collection dates are 1963 to 1977; inclusive dates are 1921 to 1978. The Museum was dedicated on
May 27, 1951 in the Casino Building of Aquatic Park. Mrs. Alma de Brettville Spreckles and Karl Kortum were the lead individuals.
The first vessel of the Historic Fleet was the Balclutha, purchased in 1954.
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], HDC0649 (SAFR 9386), San Francisco Maritime Museum records, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SAFR-00001
SAFR-00132, SAFR-00274, SAFR-00432, SAFR-00658, SAFR-00685, SAFR-01048, SAFR-01068, SAFR-01524, SAFR-01679, SAFR-02214, SAFR-02290
This collection was transferred from Golden Gate National Recreation Area to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Historical or Biographical Note
The San Francisco Maritime Museum Association was incorporated in California on January 6, 1950. The formal dedication of
the San Francisco Maritime Museum occurred on May 27, 1951 in the Casino Building of Aquatic Park.
The San Francisco Maritime Museum had its beginnings in the San Francisco Museum of Science and Industry, which was conceived
by Mrs. Alma de Brettville Spreckels in 1939 and opened to the public in 1941. The Museum of Science and Industry was comprised
mainly of an impressive collection of ship models and artifacts, which were exhibited at Aquatic Park and various other locations
in the Bay Area during World War II.
Karl Kortum, a maritime history enthusiast and able bodied seaman freshly returned from a voyage on the bark Kaiulani (1948),
contacted Mrs. Spreckels to discuss his vision of a maritime museum for San Francisco. He believed that historic ships, on
exhibit and available to the public, would create a more interesting and economically viable museum than ship models.
In 1954, the San Francisco Maritime Museum Association undertook the purchase and restoration of the historic sailing vessel
Balclutha. A year later, after extensive restoration, the Balclutha opened to the public at Pier 43.
In 1956 a bill was passed through the state legislature that called for the purchase of the schooners C.A. Thayer and Wapama,
and also created the San Francisco Maritime State Historic Park. The ferry Eureka and scow schooner Alma were acquired (1958-1959)
and in 1960, the State Public Works Board approved the expenditure of $75,000 for the creation of an authentic Victorian Park.
In 1977, the San Francisco Maritime State Historic Park became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area; in 1978 the
holdings of the San Francisco Maritime Museum Association were transferred to the National Park Service.
The San Francisco Maritime Museum records consist of textual records in nine series: Organizational records, Financial records,
Correspondence, Library records, Museum Vessel records, Museum Publications, Manuscripts, Periodical Articles and Newspaper
Articles. The bulk of the collection dates are 1963 to 1977; inclusive dates are 1921 to 1978. The Museum was dedicated on
May 27, 1951 in the Casino Building of Aquatic Park. Mrs. Alma de Brettville Spreckles and Karl Kortum were the lead individuals.
The first vessel of the Historic Fleet was the Balclutha, purchased in 1954.
Arranged into 9 Series and ordered alphabetically by folder title:
- Series 1: Organizational Records (1950-1961)
- Series 2: Financial Records (1954-1972)
- Series 3: Correspondence (1951-1978): by Individual (1951-1978) and by Subject (1951-1975
- Series 4: Library Records (1954-1976)
- Series 5: Museum Vessel Records (1921-1977)
- Series 6: Museum Publications (1962-1977)
- Series 7: Manuscripts (1954, 1962)
- Series 8: Periodical articles (1951-1977)
- Series 9: Newspaper articles (1950-1970)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Spreckels, Alma de Bretteville, 1881-1968
Kortum, Karl
Olmsted, Roger R., 1927-1981
San Francisco Maritime Museum Association
San Francisco Maritime Museum
San Francisco Museum of Science and Industry
Balclutha (built 1886; ship, 3m)
C.A. Thayer (built 1895; schooner, 3m)
Wapama (built 1915; steam schooner)
San Francisco Maritime State Historic Park (Calif.)
Eureka (built 1890; ferry)
Alma (built 1891; scow schooner)
Administrative records
Financial records
Correspondence
Publications
Articles
Park resource managment records
Restoration (Ship)