Norman C. Blanchard family photographs and other materials, 1895-2003

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Blanchard, Norman C., 1911-2009
Title
Norman C. Blanchard family photographs and other materials
Dates
1895-2003 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 boxes
Collection Number
2009.98 (accession)
Summary
Photographs, scrapbooks, albums, journals and clippings documenting the Norman C. Blanchard family and the history of Blanchard Boat Company
Repository
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library

P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

Languages
English.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Norman C. Blanchard was born in 1911, the third generation in a family of mariners and boat builders. His father founded the Blanchard Boat Company in 1905. As a youth, Norman spent his spare time on the Seattle waterfront and after graduating from Roosevelt High School he worked alongside his father at the family boat yard. Almost 2,000 boats were built at the Blanchard Boat Company over its 60 year history, including commercial ships, classic motor cruisers and sailing yachts, some of which are still in use today. Following his father’s death in 1954, Norman became the president of Blanchard Boat Company. He married Eunice Scholl in 1935, and their son Norman J. Blanchard III was born in 1945. Eunice Scholl Blanchard died in 1985.

In the 1970s, Norman C. Blanchard was appointed to the National Boating Safety Council and served as president of the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society. He was active in sail boat racing and known for his extensive maritime knowledge of the Pacific Northwest. He co-authored the book “Knee Deep in Shavings” with Steve Wilen, published in 1999. Norman C. Blanchard was a member of the Seattle Yacht Club since 1938 and served on the Board of Directors. He participated on several boat show committees and joined the Northwest Marine Industries at the first meeting held by the organization.

Norman C. Blanchard married his second wife Mary Barnard in 1991. The Barnard and Blanchard families were long-time boating friends, and the couple enjoyed cruising Puget Sound with other members of the Seattle Yacht Club. Norman C. Blanchard passed away on July 9, 2009 at the age of 98. Mary Barnard Blanchard died in Redmond, Washington on January 18, 2013.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of photographs, albums and a scrapbook spanning four generations of Blanchard family history. The photo collection includes studio portraits and casual snapshots of children, holidays, boating excursions and outdoor activities in the Pacific Northwest. There are images of the family home in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle, Blanchard Company employees, boat construction, launchings, special events, sailboat racing and recreational cruising.

The personal photograph albums document over 100 years of Blanchard family history. The images are in black and white in various sizes and formats, with the exception of a small set of faded color snapshots from the 1960s. It appears that the albums were assembled in a general chronological order, and photographs were glued directly to album pages.

The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, photographs and articles documenting the history of Blanchard Boat Company. The collection also includes a photocopy of a 1910 sailing diary and Norman C. Blanchard’s 1987 personal journal.

The extended Blanchard family was large, and many of the individuals in the photograph albums have not been identified. However, some photographs of family members and Blanchard boats were identified with handwritten captions. The donation also included a large number of loose photographs, and those that could not be matched with a specific album were loosely organized by subject.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.

Restrictions on Use

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Norman C. Blanchard Family Photographs and Other Materials, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Location of Collection

3a.4.6 (Box 1)

Location of Collection

3a.4.7 (Box 2)

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mary Blanchard, 2009. Additional photos (2009.98.97-.124) received in 2013 and added to collection .

Processing Note

Loose photographs were placed in envelopes. During accessioning, one of the albums (2009.98.87) contained Post-It notes identifying some of the pictures, and this information was transcribed in pencil on the album pages.

Bibliography

Blanchard, N. & Wilen, S. (1999). Knee-deep in shavings: Memories of early yachting and boatbuilding on the west coast. Victoria, BC: Horsdale & Schubart Publishers Ltd.

Related Materials

Blanchard Boat Company Photographs and Other Material, 1900-1963, MOHAI accession no. 1989.89.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

PhotographsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
2009.98.1: Carlisle Patterson Blanchard , b. 1852, father of N.J. Blanchard, Meda Blanchard Marum, C.P. Blanchard. Grandfather of N.C. Blanchard
5x7 inches
Oval shape, trimmed
circa 1900
1/1
2009.98.2: Norman J. Blanchard, b. 1885
5x7 inches
Handwritten on back, if he was 17 or 18 in this picture, it would have been 1902 or 1903
circa 1902
1/1 1924
1/1
2009.98.4: Elsie, Meda and Norman Blanchard
4x6 inches
Mounted on board
circa 1914
1/1
2009.98.5: Norman C. Blanchard
5x7 inches
Marine Digest photograph
circa 1965
1/1
2009.98.6: Infant child, unidentified
5x4 inches
circa 1900
1/2
2009.98.7: Norman and Bill Blanchard playing in snow, 2002 E. 54th, Seattle
5x3 inches
circa 1918
1/2
2009.98.8: Norman C. Blanchard on boat
5x7 inches
1963
1/2
2009.98.9: Norman C. Blanchard and Fenton Radford at Cowitchen Bay
8x10 inches
1920
1/2
2009.98.10: Norman J. Blanchard with daughter Pauline and Joseph Waller "Bud" Marum, on the beach at Pleasant Harbor, Hood Canal
5x7 inches
circa 1924
1/2
2009.98.11: Norman J. Blanchard and Doug Egan
5x7 inches
circa 1995
1/2
2009.98.12: Norman J. Blanchard
4x6 inches
circa 1995
1/2
2009.98.13: Eunice Blanchard sailing "Blue Boat Star"
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, she is 18 or 19 here
circa 1932
1/3 circa 1914
1/4
2009.98.15: Norman and Fletcher, opening day
6x8 inches
Handwritten on back, first Saturday April and wind so strong all races cancelled
1929
1/4
2009.98.16: Norman Blanchard and group posing outdoors with banner, P.P.C of Tacoma
6x4 inches
circa 1914
1/4
2009.98.17: Barge "Meda" on Lake Washington with Meda Blanchard, Carlisle P. Blanchard, N.J. Blanchard, C.P. "Collie" Blanchard
6x8 inches
Includes handwritten information sheet with boat specifications and details
1895
1/5
2009.98.18: Norman C. Blanchard with son Norman J. Blanchard, on board "Aura"
5x7 inches
circa 1952
1/5
2009.98.19: Norman C. Blanchard with son Norman J. Blanchard, on board "Aura"
4x6 inches
circa 1952
1/5
2009.98.20: Eunice Blanchard
3x4 inches
circa 1925
1/5
2009.98.21: Norman J. Blanchard
3x4 inches
Stamped on back, Myron-Robert Studio
circa 1950
1/5
2009.98.22: Norman J. Blanchard
3x4 inches
circa 1945
1/5
2009.98.23: Unidentified boy, possibly Norman J. Blanchard on deck of boat
3x4 inches
circa 1950
1/5
2009.98.24: Unidentified girl on horseback
3x4 inches
circa 1950
1/5
2009.98.25: Unidentified boy
3x4 inches
circa 1950
1/5
2009.98.26: Unidentified boys with Easter baskets
3x4 inches
circa 1950
1/5
2009.98.27: Unidentified woman and boy on dock
5x7 inches
circa 1950
1/5
2009.98.28: Unidentified woman with two men outdoors
5x7 inches
circa 1940
1/5
2009.98.29: Unidentified boy on shore
5x7 inches
circa 1950
1/5
2009.98.30: Unidentified men working in ship galley
5x7 inches
circa 1950
1/5
2009.98.31: Unidentified man in sailor uniform
5x7 inches
circa 1950
1/6
2009.98.32: Norman and Eunice Blanchard, on board "Aura"
5x7 inches
circa 1952
1/6
2009.98.33: Unidentified children in a rowboat
5x7 inches
c.1950
1/6
2009.98.34: Boating activities with adults and children
3.5x4.5 inches
circa 1950
1/6
2009.98.35: Boating activities with adults and children
3.5x4.5 inches
circa 1950
1/7
2009.98.36: Norm Blanchard and son Norman J. skiing
5x7 inches
circa 1955
1/7
2009.98.37: Children skiing
4x5 inches
circa 1955
1/7
2009.98.38: Car in snow
5x7 inches
circa 1955
1/7
2009.98.39: Children standing at waterfront on concrete edge
5x7 inches
circa 1955
1/7
2009.98.40: Man and boy on hill overlooking water
5x7 inches
circa 1955
1/7
2009.98.41: Sailboat and dinghy in a bay
5x7 inches
circa 1955
1/7
2009.98.42: Woman standing on shoreline in forest
5x7 inches
circa 1955
1/8
2009.98.43: Anton Peier, Chief Machinist Mate, USN, World War I
5x7 inches
circa 1918
1/8
2009.98.44: Launching party for "Gadget," N.J. Blanchard Boat Company
7.5x9.5 inches
Stamped on back, Walter P. Miller Commercial Photographers
1925
1/8
2009.98.45: Group of men drinking beer
5x7 inches
Handwritten on back, Gordon Wilson, Stewart Palmer, Sidal, Clarence Foss, Ack Mansger
circa 1925
1/8
2009.98.46: Lorraine Slingsby, bookkeeper, Blanchard Boat Company
5x7 inches
circa 1955
1/8
2009.98.47: Group dinner at Blanchard Boat Company to celebrate contract with U.S. Bureau of Ships during World War II
17x11 inches
Folded photocopy
circa 1940
1/8
2009.98.48: Rudy Peier, Gary Bitner and Bill Warren on "First Neoga"
8x9 inches
Includes handwritten explanatory note from Bill Barnard
circa 1976
1/8
2009.98.49: Bill Barnard and Eunice Blanchard
5x7 inches
circa 1976
1/9
2009.98.50: Small sailboat on the water
3.5x3.5 inches
1965
1/9
2009.98.51: Small sailboat on the water
4x5 inches
circa 1930
1/9
2009.98.52: Sailboat with two masts anchored on water
circa 1930
1/9
2009.98.53: Sailboat "Red Jacket" on the water
5x8 inches
1936 June
1/9
2009.98.54: Sailboat "Sindbad" on the water
5x8 inches
Handwritten on back, Bill Hedley's Sindbad now owned by Dick Wagner
1936 June
1/9
2009.98.55: Sailboat "Angelia" view of cockpit under sail
5x8 inches
Handwritten on back, on board Angelia, Pt. Angeles to Esqumalt, C.W. Stimson, Norman Littell, Swift Baker, Col. Brooke Stephenson, Morley Hader behind dinghy.
1936 June
1/9
2009.98.56: 50 foot sightseeing boat on lake with passengers, Gates of the Mountain Club, Helena
5x8 inches
Handwritten on back, St. Worxed Norman, built by Blanchard Boat Co. 1950
1982
1/9
2009.98.57: Motor yacht "Gadget" on the water, built in 1928 for T. Harvey Gowman
8x8 inches
circa 1970
1/9
2009.98.58: Sailboat "Gwendolyn II" on the water, Seattle Yacht Club Wada Island race
5x7 inches
1922
1/9
2009.98.59: Unidentified sailboat on the water
8x10 inches
Condition faded
circa 1970
1/9
2009.98.60: Sailboat "Aura" on the water
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, NJB says this is the Aura, he knows because he was raised on it
circa 1970
1/9
2009.98.61: Unidentified small sailboat on lake with crew
8x10 inches
circa 1940
1/9
2009.98.62: Sailboat "Sir Tom" on the water
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, fastest boat anywhere
circa 1940
1/9
2009.98.63: Unidentified sailboat on the water
8x10 inches
Stamped on back, Photo by Kenneth G. Ollar
circa 1940
1/9
2009.98.64: Unidentified racing sailboat on the water
8x10 inches
circa 1955
1/10
2009.98.65: Sailboat "Mrs. Pettibone" in dry dock, built for Jim Moffett, ready for sail
5x7 inches
Handwritten on back, The last Blanchard "33," Mrs. Pettibone, bulit for Jim Moffett, 195_, ready for launch
circa 1950
1/10
2009.98.66: Herb Mattson and unidentified man, setup 33 foot Transom
5x7 inches
circa 1930
1/10
2009.98.67: Sailboat under construction
5x7 inches
circa 1930
1/10
2009.98.68: Sailboat under construction
5x7 inches
circa 1930
1/10
2009.98.69: Motor boat "Stormy" under construction
5x7 inches
circa 1934
1/10
2009.98.70: Motor boat "Stormy" under construction
5x7 inches
Handwritten on back, 34 foot motor sailor built as joint venture N.J. Blanchard and J.L. Patton of Seattle Marine Equipment Co. in winter of 1934, sold and delivered to Santa Barbara on her own bottom by N.C. Blanchard and crew of three. Designed by Edwin Monk.
circa 1934
1/10
2009.98.71: Herb Mattson, journeyman at Blanchard Boat Co.
5x7 inches
Handwritten on back, present from David Coy
circa 1950
1/10
2009.98.72: Construction view
5x7 inches
Condition poor
circa 1950
1/10
2009.98.73: "Malibu" under construction at Blanchard Boat Yard, 3201 Fairview Ave. E Seattle Washington
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, photo probably taken by Dan Pratt of Pacific Motor Boat Magazine fall of 1924. Malibu under construction for Mrs. Adamson and Mrs. Ringe, sisters. Foreman was Charlie Seaborn
1924
1/10 1937
1/10
2009.98.75: Blanchard 33 under construction
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, Aura or one of the 10 or so same hull
circa 1930
1/10
2009.98.76: Sailboats under construction
9x6 inches
Handwritten on back, left a Blanchard 33, right Charlie Frisbee's Tola
1937
1/10
2009.98.77: Sailboat "Tola" under construction
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, photo taken by Ben Seaborn of Tola under construction
1937
1/10
2009.98.78: Cappie and Dawn Frisbee at Blanchard Boat Co. cleaning port lights on "Tola" under construction
8x10 inches
Photocopy of original
1937
Box
2
2009.98.79: Sailboat "Tola" under sail
10x12 inches
Oversize, handwritten on back, Charlie Frisbie "Tola"
c.1940
Box/Folder
1/19
2009.98.97: Norman C. Blanchard standing with group of workmen on a dock
Color photograph
circa 1969
1/20
2009.98.98: Interior of "Aura" cabin
circa 1966
1/21
2009.98.99: "Navita" under construction
circa 1937
1/21
2009.98.100: "Navita" being christened
circa 1937
1/21
2009.98.101: "Navita" under construction
circa 1937
1/21
2009.98.102: 45 foot Ben Seaborn design under construction
circa 1946
1/21
2009.98.103: 45 foot Ben Seaborn design under construction
circa 1946
1/21
2009.98.104: "We're Here" sailboat on the water
circa 1936
1/21
2009.98.105: "Neoga II" on the water
circa 1941
1/22
2009.98.106: Day cruiser on the water, designed by Norman C. Blanchard
circa 1940
1/22
2009.98.107: "Aira" sailboat on the water
circa 1947
1/22
2009.98.108: "Romp II" on the water
circa 1938
1/22
2009.98.109: Cutter "White Cloud" on the water
circa 1930
1/22
2009.98.110: Cruiser "Susie" at dock
circa 1944
1/23
2009.98.111: Inboard runabout on the water
circa 1920
1/23
2009.98.112: "Gwendolyn II" under sail
circa 1905
1/23
2009.98.113: "Virginia Dare" in Victoria Harbor
circa 1930
1/23
2009.98.114: Blanchard cruiser on the water
circa 1924
1/23
2009.98.115: Fleet of motor cruisers on Lake Union
circa 1925
1/23
2009.98.116: Blanchard stock cruiser on the water
circa 1925
1/24
2009.98.117: Small sailboat on the water
circa 1922
1/24
2009.98.118: Blanchard Starboat on the water
circa 1930
1/24
2009.98.119: Sailboat "Angelica" on the water
circa 1930
1/24
2009.98.120: Sailboat "Nooka" on the water
circa 1940
1/24
2009.98.121: Sailing dinghy on the water
circa 1940
1/24
2009.98.122: Launch of "Barnacle" from Blanchard Boat Company
circa 1931
1/24
2009.98.123: "Virginia Dare" on the water
circa 1932
1/24
2009.98.124: "Romp II" on the water
circa 1938

Ephemera,  Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/11
2009.98.80: Newspaper clippings about Blanchard Boat Co. and photocopied article from Pacific Motor Boat Magazine (1929)
9 items
1929-2003
1/12
2009.98.81-.82: Blanchard Boat Co. illustrated promotional catalogs
2 catalogs
circa 1925

Journals,  Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/13
2009.98.83: Photocopy of personal journal
15 pages 5 x 8 in.
Handwritten description of a group sailing excursion on Winona, from Elliot Bay to Eagle Harbor, includes photographs.
1910
1/14
2009.98.84: Handwritten history of Blanchard Boat Co.
9 pages
1996
1/15
2009.98.85: Norman C. Blanchard's personal journal
98 pages
1987

Albums and scrapbookReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/16
2009.98.86: Family photograph album
34 pages 7 x 11 in.
circa 1920-1940
Box
2
2009.98.87: Family photograph album
86 pages 10 x 13 in.
circa 1920-1940
2
2009.98.88: Scrapbook
30 pages 12 x 14 in.
The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, photographs and articles documenting the history of Blanchard Boat Company.
circa 1945-1970
Box/Folder
1/17
2009.98.89: Unidentified photographs of boating, holidays and family activities
43 photographs
Loose photographs from album 2009.89.87.
circa 1950
1/17
2009.98.90: Unidentified photographs of boating, holidays and family activities
19 photographs
circa 1945
1/17
2009.98.91: Unidentified photographs of boating activities
25 photographs
Loose photographs from album 2009.89.87.
circa 1950
1/17
2009.98.92: Photographs of family members and boating activities, with captions
6 photographs
Loose photographs with handwritten captions on the back.
circa 1950
1/17
2009.98.93: Unidentified photographs of family activities
8 items
Loose, faded photographs from album 2009.89.87.
circa 1955
1/18
2009.98.94: Photographs of family members and boating activities, with captions
10 photographs
circa 1955
1/18
2009.98.95: Unidentified photographs of family members and outdoor activities
21 photographs
circa 1955
1/18
2009.98.96: Unidentified photographs of family members and outdoor activities
8 photographs
circa 1945

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Boat & ship companies--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Boat & ship industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Families--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Family members--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Blanchard Boat Company (Seattle, Wash.)

Family Names

  • Blanchard family

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photograph albums
  • Photographs
  • Scrapbooks