John Gustaf Sjoberg naval architecture and marine engineering drawing and plans collection, 1878-1946, bulk 1921-1941

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Sjoberg, John Gustaf Union Construction Co. (Oakland, Calif.) Pacific Coast Engineering Co. (Oakland, Calif.)
Abstract:
John Gustaf Sjoberg naval architecture and marine engineering drawings (SAFR23387; HDC 1648) is open and available for use, with some restrictions as noted. Papers of John Gustaf Sjoberg, engineer for Union Construction Co., and later Pacific Coast Engineering Company. The bulk of the collection contains blueprints of barges, dredges, and derricks and dredging machinery from the Pacific Coast Engineering Company (Oakland, California), dating from the early 1920s into the early 1940s. A significant part of the remaining material is blueprints and related drawings from Union Construction Company (Oakland, California), dating from the 1920s. Other material includes plans from other companies relating to Pacific Coast Engineering Company and Union Construction Company projects.
Extent:
757 items
Language:
In English.
Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], HDC1648 (SAFR 23387), John Gustaf Sjoberg naval architecture and marine engineering drawing and plans collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Background

Scope and content:

John Gustaf Sjoberg naval architecture and marine engineering drawings (SAFR23387; HDC 1648) is open and available for use, with some restrictions as noted. Papers of John Gustaf Sjoberg, engineer for Union Construction Co., and later Pacific Coast Engineering Company. The bulk of the collection contains blueprints of barges, dredges, and derricks and dredging machinery from the Pacific Coast Engineering Company (Oakland, California), dating from the early 1920s into the early 1940s. A significant part of the remaining material is blueprints and related drawings from Union Construction Company (Oakland, California), dating from the 1920s. Other material includes plans from other companies relating to Pacific Coast Engineering Company and Union Construction Company projects.

Other material includes plans and drawings relating to Pacific Coast Engineering Company's non-maritime work, including plans for a commercial sized electric oven, as well as plans from other companies relating to Pacific Coast Engineering Company and Union Construction Company projects. Also included are several folders of original drawings presumed to be by J.G. Sjoberg. Most of these are draft drawings of machinery and vessels, but there is one folder of drawings, mostly duplicates, of drawings for a residence built between 1908 and 1915, in Oakland, California. A few folders include associated documents. Finally, there are several oversize plans and drawings which are in poor condition and require conservation work; they are restricted access.

Biographical / historical:

John Gustaf Sjoberg (1882-1969). Engineer at Union Construction Company (Oakland, California) from about 1917 to 1927, and at Pacific Coast Engineering Company (Oakland, California) from about 1927 to 1942.

Biography: John Gustaf Sjoberg was born in Eureka, Nevada in Dec 17, 1882 to Swedish parents, and died in Alameda, California in on January 6th, 1969. He was married to Nellie Virginia Sjoberg, and they lived in Brooklyn Township (now known as the Glenview district) of Oakland, California. [Sources: The United States census of 1920; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; U.S. World War II Draft Registration Card; Social Security Death Index.] [SAFR Collections: SAFR 23387]

Agency History: Union Construction Company: Union Construction Company was organized in 1918 to build cargo ships for the U.S. Shipping Board. The site was between Bataan and Chunking Streets in what is now the Oakland Army Base. [Source: http://shipbuildinghistory.com]

Agency History: Pacific Coast Engineering Company: Pacific Coast Engineering Company was started as a boat builder before WWII. It was located in Oakland, California, and later moved to Alameda, California. It ceased active shipbuilding in 1976 when it invented the container crane and shifted its activities to that market. Today is is known as PACECO Corporation. [Sources: http://shipbuildinghistory.com and http://www.pacecocorp.com/].

For more information on dredging more generally, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dredging

Acquisition information:

SAFR-01176

Found by the donor in the attic of his house after purchase. The collection includes drawings, specifications and building contracts for the house where the plans were found, which was built by J.G. Sjoberg in about 1915, and occupied by him at least until the 1940s.

Processing information:

Note on Description: 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. P lease cite the title and collection number in any correspondence with our staff.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into five series: Series 1 - Pacific Coast Engineering Company plans; Series 2 - Union Construction Company plans; Series 3 - Electirc Oven; Series 4 - J.G. Sjoberg house plans and undated original drawings; and Series 5 - Other creators.

The collection is housed in 57 oversize map folders (54 B size folders and 3 A sized folders), 1 oversize roll, and 6 additional conservation map folders which are resticted due to condition and which will be rehoused onto rolls as approriate.

Physical location:
San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], HDC1648 (SAFR 23387), John Gustaf Sjoberg naval architecture and marine engineering drawing and plans collection, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Location of this collection:
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123, US
Contact:
415-561-7030