Photo Archives Spotlight: A River Tyne Paddle Tug Arrives in San Francisco

(By M. Crawford, Processing Archivist)

Two recently processed collections (cue Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge over Troubled Water) will take you back to March 24, 1970, and a British Invasion of the nautical kind. The George R. Lamuth photographs and the H. Alan Sims photographs of the Eppleton Hall (built 1914; tugboat) are collections of 28 and 56 slides, respectively, documenting the approach, celebration, and new home of Eppleton Hall in San Francisco.

Fireboats and spectators welcome Eppleton Hall as she makes her way

Fisherman’s Wharf. Photo by George R. Lamuth. (P99-015, Item 7)

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George R. Lamuth photographs of the Eppleton Hall (built 1914; tugboat), 1970 March-1989 September, P99-015 (SAFR 23143)

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H. Alan Sims photographs of the Eppleton Hall (built 1914; tugboat), circa 1950s, 1970 March 24, P99-014 (SAFR 22590)

An epic journey it was!

As if this wasn't dramatic enough, add to the plot three 

children aboard for the journey, illness in Mexico, and some 

colorful disagreement about the way to run a ship, and you 

have yourself an adventure. Photographed by H. Alan Sims.

(P99-014, Item 4)

You will have to bring your own band, but you can still experience the crowds, camera crews, and first glances of this relic as she steams into San Francisco. The measures taken to pull the burned-out hull of this steam side-wheeler out of the mud and return her to full operation were tremendous--a labor of love, indeed--and her arrival from Newcastle, England, was a day of exuberance. H. Alan Sims, of the Sacramento Area, and George Lamuth, life-long San Franciscan, were there to capture it on film for all of us that couldn't be there and for all of us who choose to relive it.

Builder’s plate from the restoration of  Eppleton Hall.

William “Bill” Bartz, went to Newcastle with Karl Kortum 

and Scott Newhall to purchase the paddle tug. He stayed 

with her while she underwent her renovation in England, doing 

much of the work himself. Photographed by H. Alan Sims.

(P99-014, Item 38)

Peruse the collection guides on the Online Archive of California to explore more, or while you’re in the mood, make an appointment with our reference staff to see the collections in person. While you’re here, feel free to pull Captain Scott Newhall's book on the Eppleton Hall (Call No. G470 N4) off the public reference shelf, or request a look at the logbook of her journey to San Francisco (HDC 1137, SAFR 17686). There's more to be found; it's only a reference request away.

Photo Archives Spotlight: Shipboard Life on a Merchant Steamship

(by L. Bianchi, Project Archivist)

Alexander Ryan
(P77-003 Ser. 1.3 File 3 Item 85)

Although photographs of ships seen underway from a distance can be nice, sometimes you might find yourself wishing you could zoom in to see what sort of mischief (if any) the crew and passengers are getting into on board. The Alexander Ryan Photographs recently processed by the Historic Documents Department staff here at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park provide a peek into this world. The collection contains 307 images mostly split between glass plate and nitrate film negatives, the bulk of which was likely photographed by Ryan between 1900-1920. Besides cargo, merchant ships carried crews and passengers. Alongside the regular work, shipboard life was filled with activities to combat the boredom of a long passage--games and costumes were common along with the occasional shoreside excursions.

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Alexander Ryan photographs, circa 1895-1926. Collection No. P77-003 (SAFR 23353)

Manoa in drydock. (P77-003 Ser. 1.3 File 1 Item 26)

Alexander Ryan (1871-1964) served as chief engineer aboard steamships operated by various shipping companies, including American-Hawaiian Steamship Company, Oceanic Steamship Company, and Matson Navigation Company. The photographs depict his travels aboard various merchant steamships including Californian (built 1900; cargo vessel), Lurline (built 1908; merchant vessel), and Manoa (built 1913; merchant vessel). Among the collection you'll find photographs of vessels in drydock, decks awash from heavy weather, and glimpses inside engine rooms. The collection also contains views of other miscellaneous sailing, steam, and naval vessels, and as well as views of coastlines, waterfronts, and scenery ashore in San Francisco, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C. One group of 8 photographs depicts views of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition waterfront in 1915 as seen from the San Francisco Bay.

But have you ever wondered, "What did women do during long, monotonous ocean voyages? Did they stay in their cabins and knit?" Well, if they're anything like the ladies photographed in this collection, they cross-dressed! In this collection you'll discover women in borrowed officer's hats, and sometimes full uniforms, posing with crew members. One particularly brave woman is photographed climbing a mast with the assistance of a crew member during her voyage aboard Lurline. Another woman wearing the captain's uniform fully embraced her new look by adding a fake mustache and goatee to her ensemble while aboard Manoa.

She’s no landlubber. (P77-003 Ser. 1.3 File 3 Item 6)

And there are plenty of men sporting mustaches as well.

‘Staches galore. (P77-003 Ser. 1.4 File 3 Item 284)

Yet being a chief engineer requires more than just posing for photographs with passengers or letting women try on your uniform. For those interested in the more technical side of engineering, the Maritime Library holds a book formerly in the possession of Alexander Ryan on the construction of the steamship Maui titled Specifications for building a steel twin-screw geared turbine passenger and freight steamer to three-deck rule, hull No. 127, November 18, 1915. Built by Union Iron Works Company, San Francisco.

Make an appointment to take a closer look at Alexander Ryan’s photographs documenting early 20th century merchant steamship travel. Peruse the collection guides on the Online Archive of California to explore more, and know our reference staff is here to help in person.

Curried Chicken Indian Style

(by Heather Hernandez, Technical Services Librarian)

The recipe that follows is on the page following the one for chicken à la Jacqueline in the Library's copy of  The captain's table : 18 recipes for famous dishes served aboard the S.S. United States and S.S. America:

Unquestionably one of the most delicious chicken dishes ever conceived.

Cut a tender plump chicken into serving pieces and dust the pieces with flour.  In a Dutch oven, sauté the chicken in 1/4 cup butter over low heat until it is golden on both sides.  Remove the chicken from the pan and keep it warm.  To the pan juices add 1 large onion and 1 apple, both chopped, 1 tomato, peeled, seeded, and chopped, 1/4 cup each of chopped bacon and chopped celery, 1 gingerroot and a few sprigs of parsley, all chopped, 1 bay leaf, cut in pieces, 1 garlic clove, minced and a pinch of thyme.  Cook the mixture over low heat until the vegetables are tender.  Add 1-1/2 tablespoons each of an Indian curry powder and flour and cook the mixture, stirring, for 2 minutes.  Add 1 quart hot chicken stock, bring it to a boil, and cook it until the liquid is reduced by half.  Strain the sauce, return it to the pan and add the chicken.  Stir in 1 cup heavy cream and salt to taste.  Cook the chicken, covered, over low heat until it is tender.  If the sauce becomes too thick, more chicken stock may be added.  Serve the chicken with rice and chutney.  Serves 4.

Photo Archives Spotlight: From Wooden Boats to Steel Hulls

(by Amy Croft and M. Crawford, Project Archivists)

Two newly processed collections at San Francisco Maritime represent the diverse talents of Northern California residents. From designing commercial vessels to building wooden boats by hand, these creators reflect the difference in the scale of maritime craft and the different processes of building boats and ships.

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William H. Grunwald photographs, circa 1960-1997. Collection No. P99-007 (SAFR 19671)

Aeolus Boats logo burned into wood.

(P99-007, Ser. 1, File 1, Item 1.1)

If your interests are in wooden boats and small craft and you don't know about Aeolus Boats in Davenport, California, you'll probably want to. The William H. Grunwald photographs (SAFR 19671, P99-007) come from the owner of Aeolus Boats and  builder of fine craft himself, and were recently processed and made available for research by the Historic Documents Department.

Bill at work in his boatshop.

(P99-007, Ser. 1, File 2, Item 18.3)

Over the course of his 40 year career building boats, Bill Grunwald, became a prominent and established boat builder in Northern California. Born in Seattle and raised in Alameda, Grunwald bought a barn in Davenport and began Aeolus Boats in the 1950s. He first built sailboats; later concentrating his efforts on custom boats. He used about 26 designs for rowing boats, punts, dories, and yacht tenders.

The photos date from around 1960 to 1997 and depict mainly boats built by Grunwald. They are shown being constructed, out and about on various San Francisco Bay Area waters, and they are often occupied or surrounded by people enjoying themselves. Awaiting your discovery are photographs from photo essays, prospective and satisfied customers, as well as Grunwald's personal collection, making up three photo albums and 124 loose photoprints. Take a look to view the construction of the boat hulls, the boat shop itself, and a master at work (and sometimes at leisure.)

Grunwald’s shop with his boats under construction. (P99-007, Ser. 1, File 3, Item 3.2)

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L. Christian Norgaard photographs, circa 1954-1985. Collection No. P95-035 (SAFR 22581) 

Norgaard, upper left, celebrates
delivery of Mokuhana.
(P95-035, Ser 1, File 1, Item 4.1)

These photographs are from the prodigious work of local naval architect and marine engineer, "Chris" Norgaard. Chris was a longtime resident of the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, California. His career spanned from the design of small craft and large cargo vessels to the design of replicas and historic ship renovations. He was responsible for the design of over 400 vessels seen from Los Angeles, California, to the fisheries and canneries of Alaska. He designed the cargo vessels Mokuhana and Komoku for Bay and River Navigation Company to transport sugar from the C & H Sugar Refinery at Crockett, California, to distribution points across San Francisco Bay including C & H’s headquarters at the city’s now historic landmark Pier One. Norgaard is perhaps best known for his designs of the replica of Sir Francis Drake's flagship Golden Hinde, Western Pacific's train ferry Las Plumas and the Red and White Fleet of sightseeing boats on San Francisco Bay during the fifties, sixties and seventies. He also worked on restorations of famous vessels, such as President Roosevelt's yacht Potomac.

Girl inside of kort nozzle on unidentified tug.
(P95-035, Ser 1, File 3, Item 2.26)

Notably, Norgaard was responsible for numerous maritime engineering innovations, such as the adoption, development and design of the "Kort Nozzle" on U.S. West Coast vessels.  He also authored and compiled a number of technical papers and books, including Golden Hinde II: A Galleon, c1570 (1974).

The collection holds 15 photo albums, loose photographs, and loose album pages (2.4 linear feet) documenting tugboats, cargo, passenger, public, and fishing vessels that he worked on from the 1950s to the 1970s. Many photographs depict the construction and christening of new vessels as well as exterior views of vessels at work. In addition, you will find Norgaard’s personal papers and over 1,300 vessel plans in the Loring Christian Norgaard historic documents collection, HDC 1294.

Golden Hinde II
(P95-035, Ser 1, File 4, Item 1.2)

Make an appointment to take a closer look at the art of wooden boat building and ship design through these photographs -- some of them may document some vessels you may have seen with your own eyes cruising San Francisco Bay waters. Peruse the collection guides on the Online Archive of California to explore more on your own or contact our reference staff to guide you.