Captain John T. Torrance personal photographs, 1901-1973

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Summary

Creators:
Torrance, John T., Captain
Abstract:
The Captain John T. Torrance personal photographs, 1901-1973 (SAFR 22230, P09-003) consists of photographic prints, copy negatives and photograph albums concerning the life and working career of Captain John T. Torrance. The collection has been processed to the file and item unit levels and is available for use without restrictions.
Extent:
19 items
Language:
In English
Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], P09-003 (SAFR 22230), Captain John T. Torrance personal photographs, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Background

Scope and content:

The Captain John T. Torrance personal photographs, 1901-1973 (SAFR 22230, P09-003) consists of photographic prints, copy negatives and photograph albums concerning the life and working career of Captain John T. Torrance. The collection has been processed to the file and item unit levels and is available for use without restrictions.

This photograph collection documents Torrence's life as a child and his life at sea and some of the vessels he sailed on including BUNKER HILL, ARAPAHOE and JAMES ROLPH. After receiving his master's license, Capt. Torrance served mostly on oil tankers and yachts. Many of the photographs are unique period images including albumen photographs on cabinet cards of the Captain as a child. Many photographs are identified and two of the photo albums are thoroughly captioned. There is also an autobiographical essay that is tucked into one of the albums and explains the relevancy of the vessel photographs to Torrence's career.

Biographical / historical:

Captain John T. Torrance was born 26 July 1896 in Chetopa Kansas and began his sailing career as a messboy aboard a lumber steamer at San Pedro, Calif. in the summer of 1916.

Torrance was at the 1916 Preparedness Day Parade in San Francisco at the time of the famous bombing. He and a friend had been standing at the corner of Steuart Street and Market, the site of the bombing, just 10 minutes before the explosion. He worked on the Army Transport Tug SLOCUM out of Fort Mason (San Francisco) during World War I and served aboard her on the East Coast, Bermuda and France. He joined the full-rigged ship ARAPAHOE as an A.B. sailor in June 1918 for voyage to Manila. During the voyage, they rescued 8 survivors of the schooner ETHEL ZANE after it had floundered in a gale. They engaged in a race to San Francisco with the 4-masted bark AMVERS of Antwerp. Torrance left the ARAPAHOE in San Francisco. He then shipped on the WEST ERRAL from Los Angeles to Union Iron Works, San Francisco and carried coal from Oakland to Hawaii then to New York. He returned to San Francisco in 1919 and sailed on the ship JAMES ROLPH from San Francisco to England. After receiving his master's license, Capt. Torrance served mostly on oil tankers and yachts. Torrance died on January 5, 1975 in Long Beach, CA. Source: Autobiographical essay by Captain John T. Torrance found with album in this collection, series 03, file 02.

Acquisition information:

SAFR-02017

SAFR-02092

The collection was donated by the wife of the nephew of Captain John T. Torrance's wife.

Processing information:

July 10, 2014, SAFR-02092, 7 photographic prints were added by E. LeBlanc.

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.

Arrangement:

18 items in 3 flat boxes and 1 shared 8 inch box.

Physical location:
San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Physical description:
.
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], P09-003 (SAFR 22230), Captain John T. Torrance personal photographs, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

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