Marine photographer Wilhelm Hester's images of sailing ships and seamen of Washington's Puget Sound from 1893-1905. The collection of mostly 8 x 10 inch glass gelatin dry plates includes broadside views of vessels at anchor, crew portraits, masters and family portraits, and cabin interiors.

At the turn of the 20th-century, marine photographer Wilhelm Hester took and sold photographs of ships and sailors at the Tacoma, Seattle, and Port Blakeley waterfronts. The shipment of grain centered in Tacoma and lumber at Puget Sound's sawmills attracted deepwater sailing ships, steamers and coastal vessels.

837 items

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.

This collection is accessible by contacting the San Francisco Maritime National Historical. Due to the fragility of the original glass dry plate negatives, researchers maybe restricted to handling and viewing the contact film interpositive or negative.