Guide to the Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records NMAH.AC.0240 NMAH Staff Archives Center, National Museum of American History P.O. Box 37012 Suite 1100, MRC 601 Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 [email protected] http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives Table of Contents Collection Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 Administrative Information .............................................................................................. 1 Arrangement..................................................................................................................... 2 Scope and Contents........................................................................................................ 2 Biographical / Historical.................................................................................................... 1 Names and Subjects ...................................................................................................... 2 Container Listing ............................................................................................................. 4 Series 1: Project Papers.......................................................................................... 4 Series 2: Names of Vessels..................................................................................... 5 Series 3: Index and Catalogue, 1937...................................................................... 6 Series 4: Surveys..................................................................................................... 7 Series 5: Drawings................................................................................................. 11 Series 6: Artwork.................................................................................................... 33 Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records NMAH.AC.0240 Collection Overview Repository: Archives Center, National Museum of American History Title: Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records Identifier: NMAH.AC.0240 Date: 1936-1937. Creator: United States. Works Progress Administration Extent: 18.5 Cubic feet (79 volumes, 10 rolls) Language: English . Administrative Information Acquisition Information The materials in this collection were turned over to the Smithsonian soon after the completion of the project in 1937. Provenance Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Transportation (now Division of Work and Industry), October 20, 1986. Processing Information Collection processed by NMAH Staff, undated Preferred Citation Historic American Merchant Marine Survey, 1936-1937, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Restrictions Collection is open for research. Conditions Governing Use Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions. Biographical / Historical The Historic American Merchant Marine Survey (HAMMS) was one of six projects created by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to provide work for unemployed skilled or "white collar" workers. These projects were intended to provide work which was both useful and appropriate to the skills and experience of workers who were not suited for more traditional work programs involving manual or outdoor labor. The specific goal of HAMMS was to undertake a national survey of watercraft, in order to document the design and technical evolution of vessel types significant in America's commercial maritime history. This was to be Page 1 of 33 Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records NMAH.AC.0240 accomplished by making measured drawings of existing vessels, ship models, and builders' half models; by making a photographic record of significant vessels; and by compiling written data about vessels. The HAMMS program was in existence from January 1, 1936 to October 15, 1937. The Smithsonian Institution served as the official sponsor of the Survey and received all the documentation produced, thus augmenting its already significant National Watercraft Collection. Unlike other WPA projects, HAMMS was administered directly from Washington by its Director, Eric J. Steinlein, who coordinated the survey work of six regional directors. Despite its national mandate, the Survey actually was limited to the eastern seaboard, the Great Lakes, and California. Furthermore, the types of craft surveyed and the level of documentation varied considerably within the six regions. During the course of its existence, the HAMMS program conducted over 166 surveys and produced over 400 sheets of line drawings of ship's hulls, rigging, and details. Scope and Contents This collection is comprised of over 18 cubic feet of material generated during the course of the Historic American Merchant Marine Survey. The bulk of the collection consists of survey books and measured drawings. Other records include administrative papers relating to the project, an index and catalogue, and a listing of the names of vessels surveyed. Arrangement The collection is divided into five series. Series 1: H.A.M.M.S. Index Series 2: H.A.M.M.S. Catalogue Series 3: Names of Vessels, 1789- Series 4: Field Notes Series 5: Drawings Names and Subject Terms This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Smithsonian Institution under the following terms: Subjects: Naval architecture -- Designs and plans Types of Materials: Drawings -- 1930-1940 Notes Records Tracings Names: Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Jackson, Melvin H. National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Transportation United States. Work Projects Administration Page 2 of 33 Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records NMAH.AC.0240 Places: Great Lakes (North America) Page 3 of 33 Series 1: Project Papers Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records NMAH.AC.0240 Container Listing Series 1: Project Papers Series 1: Project Papers Box 1 Return to Table of Contents Page 4 of 33 Series 2: Names of Vessels Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records NMAH.AC.0240 Series 2: Names of Vessels Box 1 Names of Vessels (Measured Drawings) Return to Table of Contents Page 5 of 33 Series 3: Index and Catalogue Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records NMAH.AC.0240 Series 3: Index and Catalogue , 1937 Box 15, Folder 1 Alphabetical Index Box 15 Working Notes Box 15 Notes by Region: including survey number, name of ship, date, length, type, number of drawings, number of photographs, description of drawings and photographs Box 15 Annotated Catalogue (Master List) , 1937 - 1937 Return to Table of Contents Page 6 of 33 Series 4: Surveys Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records NMAH.AC.0240 Series 4: Surveys Box 16 Early Surveys: Volumes 1-6 Box 17 Early Surveys: Volumes 7-10 Notes: Photos of South Atlantic Watercraft and Photos of Chesapeake Watercraft Box 18 Regions 1-4 [Captain Adams at the stern of the gundalow he's building, b&w photoprint], 1936-1937 1 Item (4.9" x 5.9".) Sponsor: United States. Works Progress Administration Photographer: Belcher, A.L. Language: English. Notes: AC0240-0000005.tif (AC Scan No.) Silver gelatin on paper. In Series ?, Box 18, Notebook region 2, photo 2-171-4 Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves. Photograph by A. L. Belcher, East Kingston, New Hampshire. Topic: Boats and boating Ships Gundalows Place: East Kingston (N.H.) New Hampshire Genre/Form: Black-and-white negatives [Gundalow loaded with salt hay on the Parker River, Newbury, Massachusetts, b&w photoprint.], 1936-1937 1 Item (4.3" x 7.1") Sponsor: United States. Works Progress Administration Photographer: Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities Language: English. Notes: AC0240-0000006 (AC Scan No.) Silver gelatin on paper. In Series ?, Box 18, Notebook region 2, photo 2-171-9 Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves. Photograph by Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities Topic: Hay Boats and boating Ships Gundalows Page 7 of 33 Series 4: Surveys Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records NMAH.AC.0240 Place: Newbury (Mass.) Massachusetts -- 1930-1940 Genre/Form: Photographs -- 1930-1940 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin [Captain Adams' Gundalow under construction, b&w photoprint.], 1936-1937 1 Item (4.3" x 7.1".) Sponsor: United States. Works Progress Administration Photographer: Belcher, A.L. Language: English. Notes: AC0240-0000007 (AC Scan No.) Silver gelatin on paper. In Series ?, Box 18, Notebook region 2, photo 2-171-10 Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves. Photograph by A. L. Belcher, East Kingston, New Hampshire. Topic: Boats and boating Ships Gundalows Place: East Kingston (N.H.) New Hampshire Genre/Form: Photographs -- 1930-1940 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin [Wreck of Fanny M, b&w photoprint], 1925 2 Items (4.9" x 7.0") Image(s) Image(s) Sponsor: United States. Works Progress Administration Language: English. Notes: AC0240-0000008 (AC Scan No.) AC0240-0000009 (AC Scan No.) Silver gelatin on paper. In Series ?, Box 18, Notebook region 2, photo 2-171-11 & 12 Unrestricted research use by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless