Collection Contents
Series 001.
Childhood photographs,
1901-1908
Extent:
4 envelopes
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of 4 black-and-white portait photographic prints of John T. Torrance as a boy.
Arrangement
4 photographic prints in 4 envelopes
Oversized 16x20 shared collections
Item No. 001.
Portrait of John T. Torrance, 9 years of age,
1905
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 25 cm x 41 cm (9.75 x 16.25 inches)
Scope and Content Note
This file contains 1 mounted photographic print of John T. Torrance, three-quarter portrait. On the verso is inscribed, "John
T. Torrance, 9 yrs of age, 1905, cadet at Los Angeles Military Academy."
Envelope, 8 in. box
Item No. 002.
Portrait of John T. Torrance, aged 5,
1901
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
contains 1 black-and-white mounted photographic print, 14 cm x 19 cm (5.5 x 7.5 inches)
Scope and Content Note
This file contains 1 photographic print titled, "Portrait of John Torrance, Jr. aged 5 yrs., Oct. 30th, 1901." Photographed
by Alisky, San Francisco.
Envelope, 8 in. box
Item No. 003.
Portrait of John T. Torrance,
1901
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white mounted photographic print, 14 cm x 19 cm (5.5 x 7.5 inches)
Scope and Content Note
This file contains 1 photographic print of John T. Torrance, Jr., photographed by Alisky, San Francisco. Undated, but the
image was likely taken at the same session as Series 1, item 2.
Envelope, 8 in. box
Item No. 004.
Portrait of John and Mark Torrance, ages 12 and 10,
1901
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description:
1 black-and-white photographic print, 17 cm x 24 cm (6.5 x 9.5 inches)
Scope and Content Note
This file contains 1 photographic print. Inscribed on the verso is "John and Mark Torrance, Los Angeles, 1908. John was 12,
Mark 10." Photographed by Central Studio, Los Angeles, CA.
Series 002.
Vessels and crews photographic prints and negatives,
1919 and undated
Extent:
11 EA
Scope and Content Note
This series contains loose photographic prints and negatives of vessels that Captain John T. Torrance worked on.
Arrangement
11 photographic prints and negatives in 4 envelopes
Flat box 2
File Unit 001.
Bunker Hill (built 1942; tanker),
undated
Extent:
1 photograph.
Physical Description: 1 20 cm x 25 cm (8 x 10 inch) black-and-white photographic print on mat
Scope and Content Note
This file contains 1 photographic print on mat of the ship BUNKER HILL underway. Mat is inscribed "Port of Los Angeles" and
on the verso of the mat inscribed in pen is "S.S. Bunker Hill. Turbo-Electric Tanker. Capt. John T. Torrance Master."
File Unit 002.
James Rolph (built 1884, rerigged 1919; ship, 3m) and crew,
1919
Extent:
2 envelopes (5 physical forms: 1 photographic print and 4 copy negatives).
Physical Description: 1 20 cm x 25 cm (8 x 10 inch) black-and-white photographic print; 4 10 cm x 13 cm (4 x 5 inch) black-and-white acetate copy
negatives
Scope and Content Note
This file contains a photographic print (envelope 1) and original copy negative (envelope 2) of JAMES ROLPH with crew lined
up on deck; 2 copy negatives (envelope 2) of JAMES ROLPH underway and 1 copy negative of JAMES ROLPH at anchor. The following
was handscripted on the original envelope, "Re'd Fri May 1st 1964. Print of original. crew of ship James Rolph anchored SF
Bay. May 4th 1919. I am on far left."
File Unit 003.
John F. Craig (tug),
undated
Extent:
5 EA.
Physical Description: 2 9 cm x 15 cm (3.5 x 6 inch) black-and-white photographic prints
Scope and Content Note
This file contains 5 black-and-white photographic prints of JOHN F. CRAIG beached at low tide, with individuals. From original
envelope: "Pictures of tug John F. Craig - getting ready to go from Taft, Ore. - Siletz River to Craig's - Long Beach." 2
of the prints have inscriptions on the verso: "90 ft. diesel tug John F. Craig at low water. Mouth of Siletz River, Taft Ore."
and "90 ft. diesel tug John F. Craig high and dry at the mouth of the Siletz River, Taft. Ore. To clean barnacles off hull,
before proceeding to Long Beach, John T. Torrance, Captain."
Series 003.
Vessels and crews photograph albums,
1917-1973
Extent:
3 photograph albums
Scope and Content Note
This series contains 3 photograph albums of merchant vessels, 2 of which are representative of the career of Captain John
T. Torrance. The 3rd album is a compilation of prominent sailing vessels.
Arrangement
3 albums in 2 flat boxes
Flat box 1
File Unit 001.
Arapahoe (built 1884; ship, 3m) photograph album,
1918
Extent:
1 photograph album.
Physical Description: 1 photograph album, 25 cm x 30 cm (10 x 12 inches)
Scope and Content Note
This file contains one photograph album with 10 pages of black-and-white photographic prints of a voyage of the ship ARAPAHOE
from San Francisco to Manila and back with captions. Photos include the ship underway and at port in both San Francisco and
Manila. Well documented here is life aboard a sailing vessel including men working aloft and on deck. There is a series of
photographs that document the rescue of the crew of ETHEL ZANE (built 1890; schooner) that had lost her rigging in a gale
S.E. off of Guam. In addition there is a menu from Cliff House, San Francisco and a color photographic print of Fort Point
(prior to the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge) looking across the Golden Gate to Fort Baker. Pages are wax stripped
for mounting photos in album.
Flat box 1
File Unit 002.
Multiple vessels photograph album,
about 1917-1973
Extent:
1 photograph album.
Physical Description: 1 photograph album, 29 cm x 32 cm (11.5 x 12.5 inches)
Scope and Content Note
This file contains one photograph album of multiple vessels including: Slocum (tug), Arapahoe (built 1884; ship 3m), James
Rolph (built 1884, rerigged 1919; ship, 3m), Julia Luckenbach (built 1917; steam vessel), and Maui (built 1917; steam vessel).
Tucked into this album is an autobiographical essay by Captain John T. Torrance that describes his working association with
most of these vessels (1973). Pages are wax stripped for mounting photos in album.
Flat box 2
File Unit 003.
Multiple sailing vessels photograph album,
assembled 1953
Extent:
1 photograph album.
Physical Description: 1 photograph album, 30 cm x 37 cm (12 x 14.5 inches)
Scope and Content Note
This file contains 1 photographic album containing copy prints of prominent merchant sailing vessels with captions. Christmas
gift to Richard C. Harlan from his aunt, Capt. Torrance's wife, 1953. Album contains 1 photographic print of STAR OF ALASKA
rigging captioned "In the Rigging of the Star of Alaska." 85 pp.
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