A guide to the Captain Adolph Tornquist photograph collection, 1906-1966
Processed by: L. Bianchi, May 2014.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
2014
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-561-7030
Fax: 415-556-3540
SAFR_Historic_Documents@nps.gov
URL: http://www.nps.gov/safr
A Guide to the Captain Adolph Tornquist photograph collection
P95-037
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service2014, National Park Service
Title: Captain Adolph Tornquist photograph collection
Date: 1906-1966
Date (bulk): 1940-1953
Identifier/Call Number: P95-037 (SAFR 23846)
Creator:
Tornquist, Adolph, Captain
Physical Description:
24 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Captain Adolph Tornquist photograph collection, 1906-1966, bulk 1940-1953, (SAFR 23846, P95-037), is comprised mainly
of photographs of Adolph Tornquist during his career on Southern Pacific Company ferries in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
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 accession paperwork indicated that there were 22 photographic prints in the collection; however, 24 were found at the
time of processing.
Each photographic image has been assigned an Item number; there are often multiple physical forms of each image (e.g. two
copies of a print) which has been noted in the description.
Description Notes:
Dates refer to when the original photograph was taken. Some of the photographic prints in this collection may be copies that
were made later than when the original photograph was taken.
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], P95-037 (SAFR 23846), Captain Adolph Tornquist photograph collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical
Park
SAFR-00988
The collection was donated by the son of Captain Adolph Tornquist, in November 1995. The collection was originally part of
two boxes of clippings and photographs, but only the photographs were accessioned.
Historical or Biographical Note
Captain Adolph Tornquist (1884-1968) was a Southern Pacific Company ferry captain in San Francisco Bay, California.
Adolph Tornquist was born in Sweden on May 4 or 20, 1884. He went to sea when he was 12 and immigrated to the United States
in 1903. His career on San Francisco Bay Area ferries began in 1905.
Tornquist served in various capacities, from deckhand to captain, aboard the ferries ALAMEDA, BAY CITY, BERKELEY, EL PASO,
ENCINAL, GARDEN CITY, KLAMATH, MELROSE, NEW ORLEANS, OAKLAND, PIEDMONT, SACRAMENTO, SAN MATEO, SAN PABLO, SANTA CLARA, SAUSALITO,
SHASTA, SIERRA NEVADA, THOROUGHFARE, TRANSIT, and YOSEMITE (Dennison). He apparently served on the EUREKA as well. He retired
on August 1, 1953, after 48 years and four months of service during which he logged 150,000 bay crossings, or the equivalent
of circling the globe 25 times (Dennison). Most, if not all, of his career appears to have been with the Southern Pacific
Company.
Tornquist was a resident of Oakland and Alameda. He married his wife, Ellen, in 1915. They had a daughter, Dorothy, and a
son, Adolph Jr. Captain Adolph Tornquist died on February 28, 1968.
- 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Accessed May 9, 2014.
- California, Death Index, 1940-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Accessed May 9, 2014.
- Dennison, Virginia. "Captain 'Circles Globe' 25 Times, but It's All Crossing S.F. Bay on Ferries." Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA), June 14, 1953.
- U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Accessed May 9, 2014.
The Captain Adolph Tornquist photograph collection, 1906-1966, bulk 1940-1953, (SAFR 23846, P95-037), is comprised mainly
of photographs of Adolph Tornquist during his career on Southern Pacific Company ferries in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
Contains photographs of Captain Adolph Tornquist and other crew members who worked on ferries operated by the Southern Pacific
Company in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, including BERKELEY (built 1898; ferry), EUREKA (built 1890; paddle ferry),
OAKLAND (built 1860; paddle ferry), and SACRAMENTO (built 1877; paddle ferry), 1906-1966, bulk 1940-1953. There are 19 unique
photographic images, in 24 physical forms (22 black-and-white photographic prints and 2 color photographic prints).
Item list:
Item 01: Portrait of fourteen OAKLAND (built 1860; paddle ferry) crew members at the mole in Alameda, California, 1906. The
men are in two rows: the front row is seated and the back row is standing. Includes the chief engineer, assistant engineer,
gate tender, and others. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 5 x 7 in., mounted on a 7 x 9 in. board. "Stmr Oakland at
Alameda mole 1906" is handwritten on the verso.
Item 02: Captain Henry G. Hansen and First Officer Adolph Tornquist of SACRAMENTO (built 1877; paddle ferry), 1921. Portrait
of the two men standing, with Tornquist on the left. (2) black-and-white photographic prints (same image), 4 x 5 in. and 5
x 7 in.
Item 03: Portrait of twelve men from the Steamer Safety Committee with a banner for promoting safety, circa 1921 December
31. The men are in two rows: the front row is seated and the back row is standing. Six men are on each side of a banner that
reads, "STEAMER DIVISION / PREMIUM / FOR PROMOTING SAFETY / FOR PERIOD / MAR. 1st 1920 TO DEC. 31st 1921." This image appears
in the September 1922 edition of "Southern Pacific Bulletin," Vol. XI, No. 9, Pg. 14, with the caption: "Steamer Safety Committee
with banner won by this Division for period of March 1, 1920 to December 31, 1921. Top row: John A. Lewis, Second Officer;
Hugh Ellison, Chief Clerk; J. H. Smith, Fireman; R. H. Lobsen, Deckhand; I. R. Pomgren, Captain; J. V. Christie, Clerk. Bottom
row: A. Tornquist, First Officer; John Nethercott, Emergency Foreman; J.B. Monahan, Supervisor of Safety; C.F. Heath, Supt.
of Steamers; O. Olson, Captain; Michael McNamara, Asst. Chief Engineer." (1) black-and-white photographic print, 5.5 x 8 in.
Item 04: Charles F. Heath studio portrait, circa 1905-1920. Heath was appointed Southern Pacific Company's Superintendent
of Steamers in 1917. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in. Handwritten on verso in black ink: "To my old collegue
[sic] & shipmate Capt Adolph Thornquist [sic] / From Charles F. Heath / Sept 16th, 1954." Handwritten on verso in blue ink:
"Superintendent of Ferries."
Item 05: Captain Adolph Tornquist standing outside the pilot house on board an unidentified ferry, 1940-1953. He is wearing
a uniform. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 3.5 x 5.5 in.
Items 06-09: Captain Adolph Tornquist looking at radar equipment in the pilot house of an unidentified ferry, 1940-1953. Four
different views. Tornquist is in uniform. An unidentified man is also in view in Item 06 and a ship officer is in view in
Item 07. (5) black-and-white photographic prints, 4 x 5 in. Note that there are two copies of Item 06. Three of the prints
(Items 06a, 07, and 09) have "THE LOG / 121 Second Street, San Francisco, 5 / 379 Lexington Avenue, New York, 17" stamped
on the verso. The photographs may have appeared in the periodical "The Log," the official monthly publication of the American
Society of Marine Engineers; however, this could not be confirmed.
Item 10: Radar antenna and the stack on an unidentified Southern Pacific Company ferry, 1940-1953. (2) black-and-white photographic
prints (same image), 4 x 5 in. One of the prints has "THE LOG / 121 Second Street, San Francisco, 5 / 379 Lexington Avenue,
New York, 17" stamped on the verso. The photograph may have appeared in the periodical "The Log," the official monthly publication
of the American Society of Marine Engineers; however, this could not be confirmed.
Items 11: Captain Adolph Tornquist and an unidentified man shaking hands on the deck of EUREKA (built 1890; paddle ferry)
with a lifering between them and the San Francisco Ferry Building in the background, 1940-1953. Captain Tornquist is wearing
his uniform and the other man, who also appears in Item 12, is wearing a suit. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x
10 in., mounted on cardboard.
Item 12: Captain Adolph Tornquist and an unidentified man in a pilot house, possibly on EUREKA (built 1890; paddle ferry),
with Yerba Buena Island visible in the distance through the window, 1940-1953. Captain Tornquist is wearing his uniform and
the other man, who also appears in Item 11, is wearing a suit. (1) black-and-white photographic print, 8 x 10 in., mounted
on cardboard.
Items 13-14: Captain Adolph Tornquist and four unidentified crew members standing on the deck of EUREKA (built 1890; paddle
ferry) with SACRAMENTO (built 1877; paddle ferry) in the background, 1940-1953. Two slightly different views of the same scene.
Tornquist is second from the right and is shaking hands with one of the men; a EUREKA lifering is leaning against their legs.
The men, from left to right, have "2nd Officer," Asst. Chief Engr.," "[1st ?] Asst. Engr.," and "Captain" visible on their
hats, with the title obscured on the hat of the man on the far right. The Assistant Chief Engineer and the [1st?] Assistant
Engineer are wearing overalls and the other three men are wearing formal uniforms. The same men also appear in Item 15. (2)
black-and-white photographic prints, 8 x 10 in. Item 13 is mounted on a piece of cardboard. Item 14 has "Dad - 48 1/2 years
Southern Pacific Company" handwritten on the verso.
Item 15: Captain Adolph Tornquist and fourteen crew members standing on the deck of EUREKA (built 1890; paddle ferry) with
SACRAMENTO (built 1877; paddle ferry) in the background, 1940-1953. The men include officers, engineers, and seamen. Captain
Tornquist is seventh from the right. Some of the men also appear in Items 13 and 14. (2) black-and-white photographic prints
(same image), 8 x 10 in. and 4 x 5 in.
Item 16: Captain Adolph Tornquist and crew members standing outside the pilot house of BERKELEY (built 1898; ferry), 1940-1953.
Nine men are in view. Captain Adolph Tornquist is second from the right. (2) black-and-white photographic prints (same image),
8 x 10 in. One copy is mounted on a piece of cardboard. The print not mounted has "Captain Tornquist & crew" handwritten on
the verso.
Item 17: Captain Adolph Tornquist and crew members standing on deck of an unidentified ferry, 1940-1953. Eleven men are in
view, some of whom are wearing hats that identify them as the Deck Attendant, 2nd Officer, Engineer, and seamen. Captain Tornquist
is sixth from the right. Three of the men, including the Captain Tornquist, are wearing formal uniforms. (1) black-and-white
photographic print, 8 x 10 in., mounted on cardboard. The print is punctured near the center of the top edge.
Items 18-19: Adolph Tornquist with a painting of ALAMEDA (built 1913; paddle ferry), 1966 October. Tornquist is seated on
a blue bench and the painting is behind him. In Item 19, an unidentified man is also seated on the left side of the bench
with Tornquist seated on the right. (2) color photographic prints, 5 x 7 in. Handwritten on the verso of Item 18: "This picture
was taken in October 1966 and this is Captain A. Tornquist and it was taken in my back yard I painted this Boat Steamer Alameda
there were two alike the other one was steamer Santa Clara two fine Boats to Handled so please take a good care of me in my
old age. All of the pictures was taken at 1514-36-Ave Oakland, California in my back yard."
No arrangement due to the small size of the collection.
Researchers should note that there are other books and collections with materials related to San Francisco Bay Area ferries
in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. They can search the Park's web catalog for more information.
- This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ferries
Crew portraits
Alameda (built 1913; paddle ferry)
Berkeley (built 1898; ferry)
Eureka (built 1890; ferry)
Oakland (built 1860; paddle ferry)
Sacramento (built 1877; paddle ferry)
Southern Pacific Company
San Francisco Bay (Calif.)
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
Oakland (Calif.)
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Color prints (photographs)