Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Allan Yost collection of shipping company records, circa 1850-1980
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Yost, Allan
- Title
- Allan Yost collection of shipping company records
- Dates
- circa 1850-1980 (inclusive)18501980
- Quantity
- 6.54 cubic feet (7 boxes plus 1 oversize folder)
- Collection Number
- 6030 (Accession No. 6030-001)
- Summary
- Correspondence, annual reports, research notes, clippings, ephemera, and other records of the shipping and steamship companies Goodall, Nelson & Perkins; Pacific Alaska Navigation Company; Pacific Coast Steamship Company; American Mail Line; and American President Line, all operating primarily between the Pacific Northwest and Asia
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
No restrictions on access.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Allan Yost was an employee of the American Mail Line between 1931 and 1936.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Records of Goodall, Nelson, and Perkins; Pacific Coast Company; Pacific Alaska Navigation Company; Pacific Steamship Company; American Mail Line; the Dollar Line; and American President Line. The materials were collected and compiled by Allan Yost, who was an employee of the American Mail Line in the 1930s. Included are writings and histories of the companies, correspondence, annual reports, research notes, newspaper clippings, fliers and brochures, sailing schedules, stockholder information, passenger lists, and ephemera and memorabilia, including playing cards, keychains, and other objects bearing the logo of the different companies.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
Yost acquired many of the materials in this collection through correspondence with employees of each company and by visiting offices when companies went out of business.
The companies represented in this collection provided mail, shipping, and passenger services, first along the American west coast, and later between the west coast and Asia--and around the world. Goodall, Nelson, and Perkins was organized as a steamship shipping company in the 1860s. The company reorganized in 1876 as the Pacific Coast Steamship Company. In 1916, Pacific Coast Steamship Company merged with the Pacific Alaska Navigation Company to form the Pacific Steamship Company.
The American Mail Line was formed when the Dollar Shipping Company, known commonly as the Dollar Line, acquired the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and renamed it the American Mail Line. American Mail Line officially merged with American President Line in the 1950s; however, it continued to operate under its original name until it was completely consolidated with American President Line in 1973.
Beginning in 1958, American President Line began using containerization, a shipping method that became increasingly more common and profitable. American President Line provided its final passenger service in 1973, although its shipping business continued to grow.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Prior to November 30, 1991
Separated Materials
Material Described Separately:Allan Yost Collection of Shipping Company Photographs (PH2016-062)
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Goodall, Nelson, and Perkins | 1850-1870 |
| 1 | Pacific Coast Company | 1890-1900 |
| 1 | Pacific Alaska Navigation Company | 1900-1916 |
| 1 | Pacific Steamship Company | 1890-1934 |
| 1-3 | American Mail Line | 1917-1975 |
| 3-4 | American President Lines | 1968-1983 |
| 4 | Dollar Line | undated |
| 4 | Pacific Coast Railway Avila Beach | circa 1960s |
| 4 | Interport Requirements (Freight and Passenger) | undated |
| 4 | Lists of vessels and terminated voyages | 1940s-1970s |
| 4 | Deep Sea Ships correspondence and clippings | circa 1960s |
| 4 | Florence Bradshaw's trip on the SS Alaska Mail | 1977-1978 |
| 4 | Steam schooners and steam boats clippings | circa 1970s |
| 4-5 | Travel brochures | circa 1910s-1970s |
| 5 | Ephemera | 1920s-1980s |
| 5 | Research and correspondence | 1958-1974 |
| 6 | Ephemera | 1850-1870 |
| 7 | Pacific Steamship Company forms and passenger list | circa 1920s, undated |
| folder:oversize | ||
| Oversize Folder 1 | Pacific Coast Steamship Company ship deck layout of quarters | circa 1920s-1930s |
| Oversize Folder 1 | American Mail Line flags | undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Mail steamers--United States
- Postal service--United States
Corporate Names
- American Mail Line
- American President Lines, Ltd
- Goodall, Perkins & Co
- Pacific Coast Railway
- Pacific Steamship Company
- Pacific-Alaska Navigation Co
Form or Genre Terms
- Business correspondence
- Ephemera
- Records (Documents)
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- American Mail Line, (creator)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
