A guide to the Captain John T. Torrance personal photographs, 1901-1973
Processed by: E. LeBlanc, 2014.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
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
2014
A Guide to the Captain John T. Torrance personal photographs
P09-003
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service
2014, National Park Service
Title: Captain John T. Torrance personal photographs
Date: 1901-1973
Identifier/Call Number: P09-003 (SAFR 22230)
Creator:
Torrance, John T., Captain
Physical Description:
19 items.
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
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.
Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Language(s):
In English
Access
This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.
Publication and Use Rights
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.
Processing Note
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.
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
Acquisition Information
SAFR-02017
SAFR-02092
The collection was donated by the wife of the nephew of Captain John T. Torrance's wife.
Historical or Biographical Note
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.
Collection 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.
Collection Arrangement
18 items in 3 flat boxes and 1 shared 8 inch box.
Related Materials
The Captain John T. Torrance papers, 1905-1975 (SAFR 22211, HDC 1581)
- This material is located at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sailing ships
Merchant ships
Torrance, John T., Captain
James Rolph (built 1884, rebuilt 1919; ship, 3m)
Los Angeles Military Academy
John F. Craig (built 1923; tug)
Arapahoe ( built 1884; ship, 3m)
Photographic prints
Photograph albums
Crew portraits
Portrait photographs
Captain
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.
