Shaw (J. Porter) photograph and postcard collection, circa 1880-1939

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Summary

Title:

J. Porter Shaw photograph and postcard collection,

Dates:

circa 1880-1939

Creators:

Shaw, J. Porter

Abstract:

This collection primarily depicts various maritime scenes and vessels. While 90% of the postcards have a maritime theme, only about half of these relate to the Pacific Coast. The postcards and photographic prints were collected by J. Porter Shaw as part of his interest in maritime history.

Extent:

1760 items.

Language:

In English.

Preferred citation:

Preferred Citation

[Item title or description including date]. J. Porter Shaw photograph and postcard collection, P05-001. [Location within collection organization identified by container number, series number, file unit number, or item number]. Historic Documents Department, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

Background

Scope and content:

Roughly half (802 of 1,611) of the postcards are sorted alphabetically by vessel name. The vessel name was noted on the back, and these postcards tend to be unused ones. Broken down by size, the number of photographs are: 27 large photos (up to 11" x 15"), 56 medium-sized photos (up to 8" x 11"), 66 smaller photos (up to 5" x 7").

Biographical / historical:

Biography
James Porter Shaw was born in Oroville, CA, on May 8, 1884. He was an attorney and sportsman who lived in Oakland from the time he was one year old. Graduating from the University of California in 1908, he was admitted to the bar in 1914, enlisted in the military in 1917, and served as a first lieutenant at Camp Lewis, WA, until 1919. A specialist in street law, Shaw also collected books, documents, photographs, vessel plans, models, paintings, and memorabilia, all concerning Pacific Coast maritime history. He died on February 5, 1959, in Oakland, CA.

The acquisition of Shaw's collections shortly after his death constituted the formal funding of the research library at the San Francisco Maritime Museum, now part of the San Francisco Maritime National Park, the institution was named the J. Porter Shaw Library.

Acquisition information:

Accession number SAFR-00001.

Custodial history:

Accession No. SAFR-1 was transferred to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park from Golden Gate National Recreation Area which acquired the collection (Accession No. GOGA-735) from the San Francisco Maritime Museum when it became a unit of the National Park Service. The collection was donated to the San Francisco Maritime Museum by the J. Porter Shaw Estate, on June 11, 1959.

Processing information:

Processing and Cataloging

Processed by Charles Miller and completed 1/24/2005.

ANCS+ Catalog No. SAFR 20641.
The collection is cataloged in the National Park Service (NPS) Automated National Catalog System (ANCS+). A portion of the ANCS+ catalog record can be viewed on the NPS Museum Collections on the Web Catalog by searching on the catalog number 20641 at http://www.museum.nps.gov/safr/page.htm. Do not include the acronym "SAFR" in the search.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in 2 series and subseries as follows:

Series 1. Postcards.
Subseries 1.1, Vessels arranged alphabetically by vessel name; Subseries 1.2, United States port cities arranged alphabetically by state and city name; Subseries 1.3, Foreign port cities arranged alphabetically by continent, country, and city name; Subseries 1.4, Five incomplete sets of postcards issued together with a common theme.

Series 2. Photographic prints.
Subseries 2.1, Vessels arranged alphabetically by vessel name; Subseries 2.2, Port cities arranged alphabetically by city name; Subseries 2.3, Clippings cut from magazines and journals; Subseries 2.4, Stereoptical and photographic cards; Subseries 2.5, Photographic prints; Subseries 2.6, Miscellaneous.

Physical location:

Historic Documents Department

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard.

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Photography of ships
Harbors--United States
Postcards

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: This description was produced by the Historic Documents Department of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Date Prepared:: 2007
Date Encoded:: Machine-readable finding aid generated by automated script. Data derived from the ANCS+/Rediscovery archives module database and other sources. Date of source: 1/24/2005.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Access

This collection is open for research.

Condition Restrictions
There are no restrictions based on the condition of this material. However, you should be aware that access to collection material is always at the discretion of NPS curatorial staff if the condition warrants restricting the access and handling of the collection items at any time.

Terms of access:

Use

The San Francisco Maritime NHP possesses physical property rights through ownership of the materials. However, copyright may reside with the individual or corporate body responsible for the creation of the materials, or with their heirs. It is the user's responsibility to respect the provisions of the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Permission to reproduce or publish from this collection must be secured by the user from the copyright holders.