Patrick Cunneen Collection of South End Rowing Club Photographs, 1880-2003
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8w957k3 Online items available A guide to the Patrick Cunneen collection of South End Rowing Club photographs, 1880-2003 Processed by: Amy Croft and M. Crawford, 2012. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Building E, Fort Mason San Francisco, CA 94123 Phone: 415-561-7030 Fax: 415-556-3540 [email protected] URL: http://www.nps.gov/safr 2016 A guide to the Patrick Cunneen P07-004 (SAFR 23145) 1 collection of South End Rowing Club photographs, 1880-2003 A Guide to the Patrick Cunneen collection of South End Rowing Club photographs P07-004 San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service 2016, National Park Service Title: Patrick Cunneen collection of South End Rowing Club photographs Date: 1880-2003 Date (bulk): 1930-1970 Identifier/Call Number: P07-004 (SAFR 23145) Creator: Cunneen, Patrick Physical Description: 484 items. Some items available online. Repository: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department Building E, Fort Mason San Francisco, CA 94123 Abstract: The Patrick Cunneen collection of South End Rowing Club photographs, 1880-2003, (P07-004, SAFR 23145) is comprised mainly of club members rowing, swimming, running, and socializing at their boathouse in San Francisco and in other locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. The collection has been processed to the item level. 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 Dates refer to when the original photograph was taken. Many of the photographic prints and negatives in this collection are copies that were made much later than when the original photograph was taken, and the dates of these reproductions were noted when known. Some of the photographs (mostly 8 x 10 in.) have South End paper scroll labels with descriptive information affixed to the front of them. The presence of these labels likely indicates that the photographs were at one time framed and hanging in the South End boathouse. Information about numeric stamps on the back of the photographs has been included in the physical description notes, because in the early 20th century the stamp often signified the customer number. This might help to identify which photographs came from particular people. Photographs are numbered 1-280A, 280B-483. Each item number represents one photographic image or textual item. There are often different versions of a photograph (e.g. a print and a negative) but they are described as one item because they both depict the same image. The photographs were arranged in chronological order within each series. The photographs have been housed by material type and size, according to appropriate storage needs. Rowing Nomenclature and Abbreviations Coxed four man sweep = sweep boat (each man only has one oar) with four men rowing and a coxswain Coxless four man sweep = sweep boat (each man only has one oar) with four men rowing, with no coxswain Single scull = one man rowing in a boat with two oars Rowers number = Typically, each rower is identified by a sequential number in order from bow to stern. Occasionally, the numbering is reversed. PAAO= Pacific Association of Amateur Oarsmen SERC=South End Rowing Club A guide to the Patrick Cunneen P07-004 (SAFR 23145) 2 collection of South End Rowing Club photographs, 1880-2003 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], P07-004 (SAFR 23145), Patrick Cunneen collection of South End Rowing Club photographs, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Acquisition Information SAFR-01988 On December 3, 2007, the following materials were formally accessioned as SAFR-01988: photographic prints, negatives, and documents (including news clippings, announcements, etc.). They were donated by Patrick "Pat" Cunneen, a historian of the South End Rowing Club. Pat Cunneen took some of the photographs; however, the bulk were taken by a variety of other photographers, many unknown. Cunneen acquired most of the photographs from South End Rowing Club members but many do not have the photographer or source identified. Some members that likely gave him photographs are Carl H. Bierbaum, George Farnsworth, Al Horstmeyer, Al Rossi and Mrs. A. Rossi, Art Weinrib, and the son of Mike Wheatley. Historical or Biographical Note The South End Rowing Club is one of the oldest rowing clubs on the Pacific Coast still in existence. It was established in San Francisco in 1873, and its boathouse has been in various locations in Aquatic Park since late 1908. It has been in its current location at Hyde and Jefferson Streets since 1937. The club members participate in both professional and amateur rowing, as well as swimming, running, and handball competitions. They also participate in many social activities, including their annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. The South End Boat Club was founded on May 5, 1873, in San Francisco. The first officers were: Peter McAvoy (president); James Bolan (vice-president); H. Comfort (secretary) and James Roe (treasurer). Some of the first members were Dave Morris, Charles West, Richard Landers, Charles Brown, and [Tom] McNamara (Pickelhaupt, Club Rowing, 14). The first boathouse of the South End Boat Club was located at the foot of Third Street and Berry Street, in an area of the city called Steamboat Point. This location likely got its name because in the late 1850s, decommissioned and broken-down steamboats that had been shipped from the East Coast in pieces were reassembled near the foot of Third Street (1). Steamboat Point was near the Long Bridge, which ran along the line of Fourth Street from Channel Street on the north to the Potrero [Potrero Point] and on to Hunters Point (2). Construction of the bridge started on February 9, 1865. There were many boathouses on or near the bridge, and regattas were held there regularly. On April 7, 1874, the South End Boat Club and Friendship Rowing Club decided to combine forces and adopted the name of the Neptune Boat Club, and took over the South End's boathouse (16-17). In November 1878, the Neptune Boat Club changed its name to the Golden Gate Rowing Club. This was to avoid confusion with the Neptune Swimming and Boating Club in North Beach (which was established July 14, 1877) (20). In July 1881, the South End Boat Club was reestablished. The Golden Gate Rowing Club moved out of the building at the foot of Third Street and the new members of the South End Boat Club moved in (25). On February 26, 1882, the South End Boat Club participated in their first race after this re-establishment; a race against the Golden Gate Rowing Club (28). In September of 1885, construction started on a new boathouse for the South End Boat Club (still near the location at the end of Third Street). The architect was Adolph C. Lutgens and the contractors were E & F. J. Owens. (In 1895 Lutgens was hired to construct the Dolphin Club's new building.) The new South End boathouse was finished on November 1, 1885. The first floor was used for boat storage and dances, and the second floor was used as an assembly room, dressing room, and bath (38). In the early 1890s the club's official colors became red and white (46). Towards the end of 1891, the South End Boat Club changed its name to the South End Rowing Club (SERC). By 1892, there were 100 members of the South End Rowing Club and they built an indoor gymnasium in the boathouse (47). In 1897, the South End board approved the construction of a handball court, which was completed in October 1899 (52). From mid-1900 to 1901, there was discussion between the city of San Francisco and the South End Rowing Club about moving the club's boathouse. The Southern Pacific Railroad wanted to buy the block where the boathouse was located, in order to put in tracks and a warehouse. In December 1901, it was decided that the South End Rowing Club had to move, but they were able to get an 18 month stay in effect on January 1, 1902. "A letter from the San Francisco Board of Public A guide to the Patrick Cunneen P07-004 (SAFR 23145) 3 collection of South End Rowing Club photographs, 1880-2003 Works in March 1902, ordered the boathouse and handball court [to be] removed by July 1, 1903." The court was removed in May 1903 and in June, and construction started on a boathouse in a new location. The new boathouse was located at the foot of 16th Street near the Arctic Oil Wharf and was designed by Frank Van Trees. In early summer of 1904, the South End Rowing Club moved into its new boathouse (67-69). After only being in their new location for about three years, in August 1907, the Harbor Commission ordered the South End Rowing Club to move because they wanted to extend the seawall through Central Basin, Islais Creek and India Basin.