Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Robert B. Ross Collection of Maritime Photographs and Other Material, circa 1895-1961
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ross, Robert B., 1869-1952
- Title
- Robert B. Ross Collection of Maritime Photographs and Other Material
- Dates
- circa 1895-1961 (inclusive)18901947
1910-1942 (bulk)19101942 - Quantity
- 2 boxes, (.84 cubic feet)
- Collection Number
- 1984.81
- Summary
- The collection consists largely of photographs of sailing ships, tugboats and steamships related to Ross's career as Chief Engineer on various vessels.
- 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
Robert B. Ross was born in Adelaide, Australia in 1867. In 1870 Ross's family sailed on the Benjamin Amer to San Francisco, and later that year to Port Madison on Bainbridge Island, Washington aboard the barkentine William H. Gawley. Ross began his maritime career in his teens, steamboating on Puget Sound in the summer 1883 and working as a machinist in various Puget Sound ports in 1884.
In 1891, Ross began working for the Puget Sound Tug Boat Company, serving as assistant or chief engineer on nearly all 14 deep-sea tugs comprising the company fleet. In 1898, Ross conveyed the fleet of 12 Moran Brothers river steamboats from Seattle to St. Michael, Alaska during the Klondike gold rush. In 1903, he was chief engineer of the tugboat Tyee when it towed the disabled freight steamship Meteor from Dutch Harbor, Alaska to Seattle.
In 1917, Ross left the towing fleets and worked installing machinery for the U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, working on ships including the motorship Alabama and the steamships Mahaska, Nasika, Yakima, Bosworth, Delight and Gaffeny. Around 1920, he worked aboard the steamship West Jessup as chief engineer, and later serving on the steamship Higho, on which he sailed from Seattle to Taku Bar, China, during a stormy voyage in which the ship sustained some damage. During his stay, Ross visited the Great Wall and various ports in China and Japan. While working aboard the Higho, Ross also visited ports along the east coast of South America and along the Mediterranean, in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Northern Africa.
Other ships on which Ross served as chief engineer include the tug Sea Monarch, the tug A.O. Hermanson, the steamships Norwood and Mahukona, as well as ferries of the Puget Sound Navigation Company.
In 1930, Ross went to New York, where he became chief engineer of the steamship Eastern Coast, renamed the Diamond Cement. The vessel came west and operated out of Seattle until 1933, when it returned to the Atlantic coast. Ross left the ship in Boston and returned to Seattle, but came on again as chief engineer when the Diamond Cement, of the Pacific Coast Coal Company, returned to Seattle in 1935. He served continuously in this position until his retirement in 1942.
Robert Ross died in Port Madison in December 1952.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection is comprised largely of photographs, with 239 loose photographs and 6 photograph albums. Most of the photographs depict ships and include sailing ships, tugboats and steamships. The photographs appear to relate to Ross's employment, with photographs of sailing ships apparently taken from tugboats, though it is unknown whether they were taken by Ross, or during the time he was serving on the tugboat. Photographs of tugboats depict ships Ross is known to have served on, such as the Tacoma and other tugs of the Puget Sound Tug Boat Company. The collection also depicts steamships on which Ross served as Chief Engineer, notably the Higho and the Diamond Cement, which operated for a time as an ore carrier that shuttled between Seattle and View Cove, Alaska.
The collection includes a series of photographs taken during the time Ross served on the Higho when the ship stopped in ports in China, Brazil and Italy and includes images of the officers of the Higho on tour visiting Pisa, Rio de Janeiro, China's Great Wall and other attractions.
Papers include original writings about Ross's experience on and knowledge of the tugs Tyee and Tacoma, a small amount of work-related correspondence and notes, and a file of clippings related to early vessels on Puget Sound, other vessels and maritime personalities.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
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
Robert B. Ross Collection of Maritime Photographs and Other Material, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in series:
- Photographs
- Photographic postcards
- Albums
- Papers
- Writings
- Correspondence
- Ephemera
Location of Collection
2b.1.9 (photographs and albums)Location of Collection
13b.4.3 (papers)Location of Collection
1a.3.14 (oversize photo)Acquisition Information
Gift of the estate of Robert B. Ross via William O. Beaton, August 1984.
Processing Note
Glassine dividers between album pages were removed and album pages were interleaved with archival tissue.
Numbering of photographs begins with number 19; numbers 1 through 18 are assigned to collection artifacts held by the Collections Department at MOHAI.
Separated Materials
Several books that were received with the donation were transferred to the book collection of the Sophie Frye Bass Library.
These materials are part of a donation that also included a number of artifacts. These artifacts are cataloged and stored separately by MOHAI's Collections Department.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
PhotographsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Robert B. Ross |
circa 1940 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | 19: Robert B. Ross on the tug
Tacoma
|
circa 1900 |
| 1/1 | 20: Robert B. Ross on ship at sea,
probably the Diamond Cement
|
circa 1940 |
| 1/1 | 21: Robert B. Ross on the
Diamond Cement
"Latest picture at sea"
|
1940 |
| 1/1 | 22: Man on ship, probably Robert B.
Ross on the Diamond Cement
negative
;
4" x 6"
|
circa 1940 |
Sailing ships
Photographs of sailing ships were probably all taken from the
deck of a tugboat; tugboat deck and tow lines are visible in several of the
photographs.
|
circa 1891-1917 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/3 | 24-54: Sailing ships
Ships being towed to port from sea
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/4 | 55-60: Sailing ships
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/5 | 63-74: Sailing ships, probably from
tug Tacoma
5" x 7"
Includes images where the Tacoma
and crew are visible
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/6 | 75-79: Sailing ships
3.5" x 3.5"
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/7 | 80: Ship Pinmore listing starboard
"Salv[ag]ed by Tyee from sholes
north of Grey's Hbr and towed to Puget Sound"
|
1901 October 29 |
| 1/7 | 81: Ship Roanoke
"American wooden sailing ship of the Sewell fleet"
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/8 | 82: Barkentine
Gardner City
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/9 | 83: Sailing ship
Spartan
hand-colored
"Ship Spartan after being cast
off by Tug Tacoma at Cape Flattery. Coal ladened
for San Francisco"
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/10 | 84: Man with figurehead of sailing
ship Glory of the Seas
Muirhead Photo
(photographer)
|
1911 |
85-90: Sailing ships
negatives
;
5" x 7"
Tugboat from which photograph was taken is visible in two of
the images
|
circa 1891-1917 | |
Tugboats
Date range is estimated based on the years Ross is known to have
worked on tugboats; some photographs may be later
|
circa 1891-1917 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/2 | 23: Tug Politkofsky in Port Blakely harbor
Note signed by R.B. Ross on verso: "Tug Politkofsky formally [sic] a Russian gunboat came under
the American flag with the purchase of Alaska by the U.S.A.
The Politkovsky towed the Bkn. Wm. H. Gawley from sea to Port Madison Jan 1871 and our family was passengers on the Gawley. Later converted to a Tug and used by Port Madison and Port Blakeley [sic] Mill Cos." |
undated |
Tug Tacoma
|
circa 1891-1917 | |
| folder:oversize | ||
| OS | 91: Tug Tacoma
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/4 | 61: Three men on tug
Tacoma: J.F. Primrose, Charles Rasmoson, and John
Stromberg |
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/6 | 77: Crew on tug
Tacoma
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/11 | 92: Robert B. Ross, Sue Phillips
and Etta Alexander on tug Tacoma
cyanotype
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/11 | 93: H.H. Morrison, Sue Phillips
and Etta Alexander on tug Tacoma
cyanotype
|
circa 1891-1917 |
Tug Tyee
|
circa 1891-1917 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/12 | 94: Tug Tyee at sea
Handwritten on verso: "Was built at Ludlow by the Union Iron
Wks., S[an] F[rancisco] Cal[ifornia]"
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/12 | 95-96: Robert B. Ross on tug
Tyee
Handwritten on verso: "Tug Tyee. R.B. Ross Engr."
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/12 | 97-99: Tug Tyee
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/13 | 100: Tug Lorne
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/13 | 101: Tug Sea
Lion
Handwritten on verso: "Tug Sea
Lion rammed and sunk by Schr Oceana Vance off Race Rocks in fog.
Sea Lion was built by John Dialogue at Camden,
N.J. Was a speedy vessel and very hanson [sic]."
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/13 | 102: Tug Pioneer
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/13 | 103: Tug Wanderer
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/13 | 104: Tug boat towing sail
boat |
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/13 | 105: Tug Reliance
|
circa 1891-1917 |
| 1/13 | 106: Tug Wyadda
2 copies
|
circa 1891-1917 |
Tug Tatoosh
|
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/14 | 107-108: Launching of tug
Tatoosh at Moran Brothers shipyard,
Seattle |
1900 February 2 |
| 1/14 | 109: Tug Tatoosh flying ten different flags |
circa 1900-1917 |
| 1/14 | 110: Tug Tatoosh at sea
Anders B.
Wilse
(photographer)
3 copies
|
circa 1900-1917 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/15 | 111-113: Motorship Alabama on ways and launching
Note on verso indicates that the machinery on the
Alabama was installed by Robert B. Ross
|
circa 1891-1917 |
Steamships |
||
S.S. Higho
Ross served as Chief Engineer aboard the steamship
Higho.
Photographs depicts the steamship Higho, and Ross and other officers visiting ports in
China, Brazil and Italy.
|
1919-1920 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/16 | 114: S.S. Higho in Portland |
1919 June |
| 1/17 | 115-119: Officers of the S.S.
Higho 5 photographs
3 of the images depict 8 officers on the deck of the Higho:
1st Mate Meadows, 2nd Mate Phillips, Chief Engineer Robert B. Ross, 1st
Assistant Engineer H.O. Halvorsen, 2nd Assistant Engineer R. Billings, 3rd
Assistant Engineer B. Hubble, and an unidentified Radio Operator and 3rd
Mate.
2 of the images depict 4 of the officers listed above. |
1920 |
Hong Kong and China
tours |
1920 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/18 | 120: Chinese men unloading coal
from the Higho in Honk Kong |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 121: Chinese junks in Hong
Kong |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 122: Junks and sampans in Hong
Kong |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 123: Great Wall |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 124: Great Wall and city of
Shan-Hai-Kuan |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 125-126: Streets in
Shan-Hai-Kuan |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 127: Five men from the
Higho, including R.B. Ross, in front of tower on
top of Great Wall |
1920 April |
| 1/18 | 128: Five men from the
Higho, including R.B. Ross, and 8 Chinese men near
temple built on top of Great Wall |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 129: Prison with Great Wall in
background |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 130:
Higho officer Hubble standing with Chinese
family |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 131: Chinese man
squatting |
1920 |
| 1/18 | 132-134: Chow puppies |
1920 |
Brazil tour |
1920 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/19 | 135: Engineering crew on deck of
the Higho
"Panama Canal, July 5, 1920, S.S. Higho"
Identifications on verso. Left to right: Chief Engineer Robert B. Ross, 1st Engineer H.O. Halvorsen, 2nd Engineer R. Billings, 3rd Engineer B. Hubbel |
1920 July 5 |
| 1/19 | 136: Man on deck of
Higho with Rio de Janeiro and Sugar Loaf Mountain
in distance
Identified on verso as L. Weltgen
|
1920 |
| 1/19 | 137: Two men on deck of
Higho with Rio de Janeiro and Sugar Loaf Mountain
in distance
Identified on verso as D. Brunea and L. Weltgen
|
1920 |
| 1/19 | 138: Two men on deck of
Higho
Identified on verso and Robert B. Ross and "McCurdy"
|
1920 |
| 1/19 | 139:
Higho officer "Sparks" in front of hotel in Santos,
Brazil |
1920 |
| 1/19 | 140: Hotel in Santos,
Brazil |
1920 |
| 1/19 | 141-143: Train tracks between Santos
and Santa Paula |
1920 |
| 1/19 | 144: Statue and pond in Santa
Paula |
1920 |
| 1/19 | 145-150: Horse racing track in Santa
Paula |
1920 |
| 1/19 | 151-153: Robert B. Ross, H.O.
Halverson and R. Billings on auto road along beach outside Rio de
Janeiro
Note on 153: "Drive along cliffs out of Rio de Janeiro.
This road was built to entertain King Albert of Belgium."
|
1920 |
| 1/19 | 154: Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio de
Janeiro |
1920 |
| 1/19 | 155-157: Cable cars at Sugar Loaf
Mountain |
1920 |
Italy tour |
circa 1920 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/20 | 158-162: Leaning tower at
Pisa
Includes images of the tower from the ground and views
from the top of the tower. Robert B. Ross appears in some images, along with
"McCurdy" and "Daniellson."
|
circa 1920 |
| 1/20 | 163-165: Pisa Cathedral |
circa 1920 |
| 1/20 | 166-170:
Higho officers, including Robert B. Ross, in
Pompeii |
circa 1920 |
| 1/20 | 171: "Weltgen" at café table in
Genoa |
circa 1920 |
| 1/20 | 172: Columbus House,
Genoa |
circa 1920 |
| 1/20 | 173: Steamship
This photo was together with the Higho tour photos but the location of the steamship is
unknown
|
undated |
The Diamond Cement
Dates are estimated based on the dates that Ross served as
Chief Engineer on the Diamond Cement.
|
circa 1930-1942 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/21 | 174-175:
Diamond
Cement loading ore at View Cove, Alaska |
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/22 | 176-177: Seattle waterway bridges (?)
open for passage of Diamond Cement (view from deck
of Diamond Cement) |
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 178-180: Stormy sea from the
Diamond Cement showing water on deck, views
forward and aft
"S.S. Diamond Cement with 6500
tons lime rock cargo in Hekita Straits"
|
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 181:
Diamond
Cement discharging cargo in Seattle |
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 182: View of deck and water from
bridge of Diamond Cement
|
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 183: View of Laurada (?) Channel
from Diamond Cement
|
1940 April 29 |
| 1/23 | 184: View of Principe Channel,
B.C. from Diamond Cement
|
1940 April 30 |
| 1/23 | 185: Men on deck near
lifeboat
"Fire drill on the S.S. Diamond
Cement"
|
1940 May 3 |
| 1/23 | 186: Man near winch on deck
|
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 187: Robert B. Ross, Joe Brugger,
S.M. Anderson, 2nd mate Larsen and two female passengers on deck |
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 188: Robert B. Ross and young girl
passenger on deck |
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 189: Radio operator "Bears" on
deck |
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 190: 2nd Officer Clark, 1st Office
Peterson and Chief Engineer Robert Ross on deck |
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 191: Captain Guptill, Chief
Engineer Robert Ross and six passengers on deck |
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/23 | 192: Robert B. Ross on
deck |
1940 May 3 |
| 1/23 | 193: Captain Einer Thomsen on
deck |
1940 May 3 |
| 1/23 | 194: 2nd Assistant Joe Brugger on
deck |
1940 May 3 |
| 1/23 | 195: 1st Officer Delbert Kelly on
deck |
1940 May 3 |
| 1/23 | 196: Robert B. Ross and "Biers" of
S.S. Diamond Cement standing near cactus on San
Marcos Island, Mexico |
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/24 | 197-201: Limestone quarry at View
Cove, Dall Island, Alaska
Showing quarry, power plant, crusher house, wharf, and
conveyer.
The Diamond Cement carried
loads of limestone between the View Cove quarry and Seattle for the Pacific
Coast Coal Company.
|
circa 1930-1942 |
| 1/25 | 202:
Diamond
Cement in Inside Passage from Alaska to Puget Sound |
undated |
Other steamships |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/4 | 62: S.S. Garonne
|
undated |
| 1/6 | 78-79: S.S. Victorian; unidentified steamer |
undated |
| 1/26 | 203: Steamer Fairhaven at sea |
undated |
| 1/26 | 204: Steamer Prince Robert in pass |
undated |
| 1/26 | 205: Steamer Sehome loading passenger at dock
Crain's Instantaneous
Photographics
(photographer)
|
undated |
| 1/26 | 206: Steamer Flyer at sea
"Built at Portland-famous for performances as ferry between
Seattle & Tacoma for many years"
|
undated |
| 1/26 | 207: Steamer Michigan loaded with passengers, Port
Blakely
Peiser
(photographer)
"Jas Nugent owner. Wm. Primrose master"
|
undated |
| 1/26 | 208: Steamer Egremont at dock, Seattle |
1912 |
| 1/26 | 209: Steamer Zephyr with passengers at dock
Stereograph
|
undated |
| 1/26 | 210: Steamer Beaver near coast
"Beaver first steam vessel on
the Pacific Ocean"
|
undated |
211: Steamship at sea
negative
;
5" x 7"
|
undated | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/27 | 212: Crew of steamer
Hyak
Studio portrait of 4 men in uniform. Left to right: Ole
Hansen, Engineer; Alfred Welfare, Mate; Gus Johnson, Purser; Henry Hansen,
Captain.
|
circa 1910 |
Wrecks |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/28 | 213-214: Men and women posed on top of
wreck of the tug Lorne
|
undated |
| 1/28 | 215: Men near wreck of the tug
Lorne
|
undated |
| 1/28 | 216-217: Wrecks of the tug
Lorne and sailing ship America
|
undated |
| 1/28 | 218: Wrecks of the tug
Lorne and sailing ship America with tugs Prosper
and Tyee in background |
undated |
| 1/28 | 219: Figurehead on wreck of the
sailing ship America
|
undated |
| 1/28 | 220: Steamer Ohioan aground near Seal Rocks, San
Francisco |
undated |
| 1/28 | 221: Remains of S.S. Islander near Juneau, Alaska
The steamship Islander of the
Canadian Pacific Steam Navigation Co. Pacific sunk in 1901 after hitting an
iceberg. Repeated salvage efforts have failed to yield strong boxes of gold
bullion that were expected to be on board.
"S.S. Islander after being raised
from bottom of sea after being under water about 25 years."
|
circa 1934 |
| 1/28 | 222: Buildings at Observation Point
(now Prospect Point), Vancouver, near the site of the steamship
Beaver's remains
The steamship Beaver, owned by
the Hudson Bay Company, was run aground off Prospect Point, then called
Observation Point, Vancouver, in 1888. The wreck site is currently used to
train divers in underwater archaeology techniques.
|
undated |
Cartes de visite |
undated | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/29 | 223-224: Captain Tug Wilson of the
Tidal Wave
Vaughan's First Premium Photographic
Gallery
, San Francisco
Runnels & Co.
, San Francisco
"Captain [of] Tidal Wave-sailing
between Port Madison [and] San Francisco"
|
undated |
| 1/29 | 225-226: Captain Jeremiah Farmham of the
Northwest
Vaughan's First Premium Photographic
Gallery
, San Francisco
|
circa late 1800s |
| 1/29 | 227: Alec Wood, former captain of
the West Seattle ferry
Theo. E. Peiser
, Seattle
(photographer)
|
circa 1880s |
| 1/29 | 228: Wife of Captain McGuire of the
bark Nonantum
Morse
, San Francisco
(photographer)
|
circa late 1800s |
Miscellaneous |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/30 | 229: Steamer Prosper towing 5 whales: 4 humpback and 1 sulphur
bottom |
1909 |
| 1/30 | 230: Sulphur bottom whale and 5 men
on slip |
1909 |
| 1/30 | 231-232: Unidentified
lighthouse
Negatives
;
5"x7"
|
undated |
| 1/30 | 233: Six people in canoe
Negative
;
5"x7"
|
undated |
Photographic postcardsReturn to Top
Includes postcards written between Robert B. Ross and his family and friends
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/31 | 231-235: Sailing ships 5 postcards
Numbers 231-233:
O. Beaton
(photographer)
Includes bark Everett G. Griggs,
the Horzogin Cecelie, and the barks
St. Paul and Star of
Finland
|
circa 1912; undated |
| 1/31 | 236-240: Tugboats 5 postcards
Number 236:
O. Beaton
(photographer)
Includes the Tatoosh, the
Pioneer, the Tyee and
the Lorne.
"Tug Lorne--British tug and one of
the Puget Sound Tugboat Cos. fleet. Wrecked on San Juan Island and later salved
and repaired."
|
circa 1912; undated |
| 1/31 | 241-249: Steamships 9 postcards
Numbers 241-242:
Renfeld's
Photo
(photographer)
Includes the Harvard, the
Northwestern, the H.B.
Kennedy and two images of the Congress near
Coos Bay during and after a fire on board. One image shows the
Congress being towed by the tugs
Tyee, Oneonta and
Granger.
|
undated |
Wrecks |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/31 | 250: Wreck of steamer
Santa Clara on Coos Bay Bar
Renfeld's Photo
, Marshfield, Oregon
(photographer)
|
1915 November 2 |
| 1/31 | 251: Wreck of the S.S.Czarina, Coos Bay
A.M. Prentiss
, Marshfield, Oregon
(photographer)
|
undated |
| 1/31 | 252: Wreck of S.S.
Mariposa near Bella Bella, B.C. |
1915 October 8 |
| 1/31 | 253: Wreck of the
Prince Rupert
|
1917 March 23 |
| 1/31 | 254: S.S. Edith sinking off Alaska coast
John E.
Thwaites
(photographer)
|
circa 1910s |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/31 | 255: Tatoosh Island showing Cape
Flattery lighthouse and cedar-planked Makah buildings |
circa 1895 |
| 1/31 | 256-257: Panorama of Hong Kong 2 panoramas composed of 4
postcards each
|
undated |
Albums, undatedReturn to Top
Albums of ship photographs, depicting sailing ships, tugs and steamers.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/1 | 258: Album 1
6
photographs
3.25" x 3.25"
Six photographs of sailing ships: the Santa Clara, Gatherer, and
unidentified ships. The photographs were probably taken from a tugboat; the end
of a tugboat is visible in one of the images.
|
undated |
| 2/1 | 259: Album 2
34
photographs
4" x 5.5"
31 photographs of sailing ships,2 photographs of steamships, and
1 photograph of a tugboat. Includes sailing ships
Highland, Griffiths, and
Admiral and the steamer Victoria. Photographs probably taken from a tugboat.
|
undated |
| 2/2 | 260: Album 3
48
photographs
3.5" x 3.5"
Sailing ships depicted include the Eclipse, Wm. J. Rotch, Occidental, Drenna, Lamorna, Okanogan,
Nokomis, Spartan, Angerona, Eric, Tanner, Grant, Mayflint, Vidette, Glendoon,
Trongate, Coryphene, Manila, Harry Morse, Colbert, Highland Light, Honoipu,
Quickstep, J.M. Coleman and Imberhorn.
Tugs depicted include the J.E. Boyden, Wallula, and Puget Sound Tug Boat Co. tugs Pioneer, Sea Lion, Tacoma, and Holyoke. Steamships depicted include the Victorian, Mayflower, Prosper, Bloemfontein, Angeles, Milos, Glenogil, Flyer, Sehome, Walla Walla, survey steamer Pathfinder, and transport ships Sheridan, Lawton and Victoria. Other ships: hospital ship Iroquois. Photographs probably taken from tugs, with tug or tow line visible in some |
undated |
| 2/2 | 261: Album 4
60
photographs
3.5" x 3.5"
Sailing ships depicted include the Inca, Wm. H. Smith, Courser,
Highland Light, John A. Briggs, J.M. Griffith, Drenna (a German ship),
St. Robert, Eric, Florence, Rickmers, and
Colorado.
Tugs depicted include the Tyee, Walula and Puget Sound Tug Boat Co. tugs Pioneer and Tacoma. Steamship depicted include the Prosper, Queen City, Victorian, Mayflower, Morgan City, Angeles, and Discovery. Also includes images of Neah Bay; the Skagway waterfront showing the Pacific Coast Co. dock; Fort Wrangel; a view from Ross's home of a sandspit at Port Madison; people atop a large rock at Tracyton; men and horses on a logging road; people at a cabin; Crystal Springs; women and children with horses; a large house ("home, sweet home"); a horse and buggy on a dirt road; women and children on house steps ("coming home from school"); women posed on porches, on a dock, and in other outdoor scenes; and a cemetery. Images of Port Madison depict the Port Madison Hotel, a Port Madison stable, cookhouse and mill, a cabin, and McClallam House in Port Madison. Two cyanotypes depict the Port Madison Post Office, Masonic Hall and a store; and a schoolhouse in Port Madison. |
undated |
| 2/3 | 262: Album 5 48 photographs
Sailing ships depicted include the Spartan, Reaper, Silo, Occidental, Okanogan, Expansion,
Mermaid, Portland, Santa Clara, Gatherer, Meteor, Emilie, Abner Coburn, W.H.
Smith, May Flint, Tanner, Helene, Standard, Honoipu, Maggie Russ, J.M.
Griffith, News Boy, Battle Abbey, Admiral, Benicia, Isaac Reed, Robert R. Hind,
Monitor, Brinhilda, General Banning, Inca, Florence and
Fred D. Sander.
The Tug Tacoma is visible towing ships J.D. Peters, Pengwern, Expansion and Yola. |
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| 2/4 | 263: Album 6 48 photographs
This album consists of the same photographs as Album 5, arranged
in a different order.
|
undated |
PapersReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Writings
Handwritten manuscripts, mostly signed by Robert B. Ross, with
one signed by "Geo. Wish."
|
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/1 | 264: "Record of the Tug
Tacoma" by Robert B. Ross 4 pages
Ross notes at the end of the manuscript that he served as
Engineer on the Tacoma for about 10 years.
|
undated |
| 3/2 | 265: "Record of the Tug
Tacoma" by Robert B. Ross 9 pages
|
undated |
| 3/3 | 266: "About the Tug
Tyee - the Grand Old Lady" by Robert R.
Ross 7 pages
|
undated |
| 3/4 | 267: Poem "S.S.
Higho," probably by Robert B Ross 8 pages
|
undated |
| 3/5 | 268: Drawing and account by Robert
B. Ross of the S.S. Diamond Cement listing at a
Baltimore wharf 2 pages
|
undated |
| 3/6 | 269: "The Ross Family - Port
Madison" 1 page
The top of the page reads "C.T. Conover history" and the page
appears to be signed "Geo. Wish."
|
undated |
| 3/9 | 272: Engineering notes
Includes a handwritten reference guide of formulas, and a list
of distances traveled by the Diamond Cement from
1928-1940.
|
1919-1940 |
Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/8 | 270: Outgoing correspondence from
Robert B. Ross as Chief Engineer of the S.S. Higho
|
1920-1921 |
Ephemera |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/7 | Postcard advertising Puget
Sound Tug Boat Company |
undated |
| 3/7 | Inspection certificate for tug
Pioneer
|
1890 |
| 3/10 | Invitations
Invitations to the launching of the Battleship
Nebraska and the arrival of the U.S. Battleship
Fleet from the tug Tyee.
|
1904; 1908 |
| 3/11 | Flyers for a strike by the crew
of the S.S. Diamond Cement in
Baltimore |
undated |
| 3/12 | Clippings
Includes Ross's retirement announcement; articles on early
Puget Sound vessels; and articles on Einer Thomsen, captain of the
Diamond Cement.
|
1935-1961 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Sailing ships--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Photographs
- Steamships--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Tugboats--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Puget Sound Tug Boat Company--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Dall Island (Alaska)--Photographs
- Port Madison (Bainbridge Island, Wash.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Photograph albums
- Photographic prints
Finding aid prepared by Jody
Hendrickson
2008
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
