The John A. Blaich Collection is comprised of four series: Biographical Materials, Biographical Files, 1931-2002, General Subject Files, 1923-2003, Large Yachts of Newport before World War II Files, 1924-2002, and M. S. Stranger Files, 1922-1994. The collection includes photographs, slides, notes, newspaper clippings, copies of published materials, logs and correspondence.

John A. Blaich was born on November 2, 1918. He grew up in Whittier, CA, but he spent many summers at a family house on the Balboa peninsula. In 1935, Blaich was one of thirty Sea Scouts to be hired as the crew of the M. S. Stranger. In six months, M. S. Stranger visited Miami, Panama, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Cocas Islands, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico and San Diego, collecting animals for the San Diego Zoo. Following his tour with Stranger, Blaich started the first sailing instruction school in Newport Harbor in 1937. In 1941, the Newport Harbor Yacht club hired him as the clubs’ first full-time sailing instructor. In 1942, he completed his studies at the University of Southern California, receiving a degree in engineering.

6 document boxes; 2 linear feet, 5 inches.

The collection is open for research.