Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
5933 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98108
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.mohai.org
2009.98
Blanchard, Norman C., 1911-2009
Norman C. Blanchard family photographs and other materials
1895-2003
2 boxes
Photographs, scrapbooks, albums, journals and clippings documenting the Norman
C. Blanchard family and the history of Blanchard Boat Company
3a.4.6 (Box 1)
3a.4.7 (Box 2) Collection materials are in
English.
Biographical Note
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.
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.
View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory
below.
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.
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
Norman C. Blanchard Family Photographs and Other Materials, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Gift of Mary Blanchard, 2009. Additional photos (2009.98.97-.124) received in 2013 and added to collection
.
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.
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.
Blanchard Boat Company Photographs and Other Material, 1900-1963, MOHAI accession no. 1989.89.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials
about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Blanchard family
Blanchard Boat Company (Seattle, Wash.)
Seattle (Wash.)
Boat & ship companies--Washington (State)--Seattle
Boat & ship industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
Families--Washington (State)--Seattle
Family members--Washington (State)--Seattle
Seattle
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Home and family
Ships and shipping
Photograph albums
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Photographs
2009.98.1
1/1
Carlisle Patterson Blanchard , b. 1852, father of N.J. Blanchard, Meda
Blanchard Marum, C.P. Blanchard. Grandfather of N.C. Blanchard
circa 1900
5x7 inches
Oval shape, trimmed
2009.98.2
1/1
Norman J. Blanchard, b. 1885
circa 1902
5x7 inches
Handwritten on back, if he was 17 or 18 in this picture, it would have been 1902 or 1903
2009.98.3
1/1
Millicent Blanchard with children: Weaton, Gee Gee, Norman, Meda,
Pauline, Elsie
1924
6x8 inches
Mounted in folder
2009.98.4
1/1
Elsie, Meda and Norman Blanchard
circa 1914
4x6 inches
Mounted on board
2009.98.5
1/1
Norman C. Blanchard
circa 1965
5x7 inches
Marine Digest photograph
2009.98.6
1/1
Infant child, unidentified
circa 1900
5x4 inches
2009.98.7
1/2
Norman and Bill Blanchard playing in snow, 2002 E. 54th, Seattle
circa 1918
5x3 inches
2009.98.8
1/2
Norman C. Blanchard on boat
1963
5x7 inches
2009.98.9
1/2
Norman C. Blanchard and Fenton Radford at Cowitchen Bay
1920
8x10 inches
2009.98.10
1/2
Norman J. Blanchard with daughter Pauline and Joseph Waller "Bud" Marum,
on the beach at Pleasant Harbor, Hood Canal
circa 1924
5x7 inches
2009.98.11
1/2
Norman J. Blanchard and Doug Egan
circa 1995
5x7 inches
2009.98.12
1/2
Norman J. Blanchard
circa 1995
4x6 inches
2009.98.13
1/2
Eunice Blanchard sailing "Blue Boat Star"
circa 1932
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, she is 18 or 19 here
2009.98.14
1/3
Blanchard family home, 609 Fidalgo Street, Seattle, with children Elsie,
Meda and Norman in front
circa 1914
5x7 inches
Mounted on board
2009.98.15
1/4
Norman and Fletcher, opening day
1929
6x8 inches
Handwritten on back, first Saturday April and wind so strong all races cancelled
2009.98.16
1/4
Norman Blanchard and group posing outdoors with banner, P.P.C of Tacoma
circa 1914
6x4 inches
2009.98.17
1/4
Barge "Meda" on Lake Washington with Meda Blanchard, Carlisle P.
Blanchard, N.J. Blanchard, C.P. "Collie" Blanchard
1895
6x8 inches
Includes handwritten information sheet with boat specifications and details
2009.98.18
1/5
Norman C. Blanchard with son Norman J. Blanchard, on board "Aura"
circa 1952
5x7 inches
2009.98.19
1/5
Norman C. Blanchard with son Norman J. Blanchard, on board "Aura"
circa 1952
4x6 inches
2009.98.20
1/5
Eunice Blanchard
circa 1925
3x4 inches
2009.98.21
1/5
Norman J. Blanchard
circa 1950
3x4 inches
Stamped on back, Myron-Robert Studio
2009.98.22
1/5
Norman J. Blanchard
circa 1945
3x4 inches
2009.98.23
1/5
Unidentified boy, possibly Norman J. Blanchard on deck of boat
circa 1950
3x4 inches
2009.98.24
1/5
Unidentified girl on horseback
circa 1950
3x4 inches
2009.98.25
1/5
Unidentified boy
circa 1950
3x4 inches
2009.98.26
1/5
Unidentified boys with Easter baskets
circa 1950
3x4 inches
2009.98.27
1/5
Unidentified woman and boy on dock
circa 1950
5x7 inches
2009.98.28
1/5
Unidentified woman with two men outdoors
circa 1940
5x7 inches
2009.98.29
1/5
Unidentified boy on shore
circa 1950
5x7 inches
2009.98.30
1/5
Unidentified men working in ship galley
circa 1950
5x7 inches
2009.98.31
1/5
Unidentified man in sailor uniform
circa 1950
5x7 inches
2009.98.32
1/6
Norman and Eunice Blanchard, on board "Aura"
circa 1952
5x7 inches
2009.98.33
1/6
Unidentified children in a rowboat
c.1950
5x7 inches
2009.98.34
1/6
Boating activities with adults and children
circa 1950
3.5x4.5 inches
2009.98.35
1/6
Boating activities with adults and children
circa 1950
3.5x4.5 inches
2009.98.36
1/7
Norm Blanchard and son Norman J. skiing
circa 1955
5x7 inches
2009.98.37
1/7
Children skiing
circa 1955
4x5 inches
2009.98.38
1/7
Car in snow
circa 1955
5x7 inches
2009.98.39
1/7
Children standing at waterfront on concrete edge
circa 1955
5x7 inches
2009.98.40
1/7
Man and boy on hill overlooking water
circa 1955
5x7 inches
2009.98.41
1/7
Sailboat and dinghy in a bay
circa 1955
5x7 inches
2009.98.42
1/7
Woman standing on shoreline in forest
circa 1955
5x7 inches
2009.98.43
1/8
Anton Peier, Chief Machinist Mate, USN, World War I
circa 1918
5x7 inches
2009.98.44
1/8
Launching party for "Gadget," N.J. Blanchard Boat Company
1925
7.5x9.5 inches
Stamped on back, Walter P. Miller Commercial Photographers
2009.98.45
1/8
Group of men drinking beer
circa 1925
5x7 inches
Handwritten on back, Gordon Wilson, Stewart Palmer, Sidal, Clarence Foss, Ack Mansger
2009.98.46
1/8
Lorraine Slingsby, bookkeeper, Blanchard Boat Company
circa 1955
5x7 inches
2009.98.47
1/8
Group dinner at Blanchard Boat Company to celebrate contract with U.S.
Bureau of Ships during World War II
circa 1940
17x11 inches
Folded photocopy
2009.98.48
1/8
Rudy Peier, Gary Bitner and Bill Warren on "First Neoga"
circa 1976
8x9 inches
Includes handwritten explanatory note from Bill Barnard
2009.98.49
1/8
Bill Barnard and Eunice Blanchard
circa 1976
5x7 inches
2009.98.50
1/9
Small sailboat on the water
1965
3.5x3.5 inches
2009.98.51
1/9
Small sailboat on the water
circa 1930
4x5 inches
2009.98.52
1/9
Sailboat with two masts anchored on water
circa 1930
2009.98.53
1/9
Sailboat "Red Jacket" on the water
1936 June
5x8 inches
2009.98.54
1/9
Sailboat "Sindbad" on the water
1936 June
5x8 inches
Handwritten on back, Bill Hedley's Sindbad now owned by Dick Wagner
2009.98.55
1/9
Sailboat "Angelia" view of cockpit under sail
1936 June
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.
2009.98.56
1/9
50 foot sightseeing boat on lake with passengers, Gates of the Mountain
Club, Helena
1982
5x8 inches
Handwritten on back, St. Worxed Norman, built by Blanchard Boat Co. 1950
2009.98.57
1/9
Motor yacht "Gadget" on the water, built in 1928 for T. Harvey Gowman
circa 1970
8x8 inches
2009.98.58
1/9
Sailboat "Gwendolyn II" on the water, Seattle Yacht Club Wada Island
race
1922
5x7 inches
2009.98.59
1/9
Unidentified sailboat on the water
circa 1970
8x10 inches
Condition faded
2009.98.60
1/9
Sailboat "Aura" on the water
circa 1970
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, NJB says this is the Aura, he knows because he was raised on it
2009.98.61
1/9
Unidentified small sailboat on lake with crew
circa 1940
8x10 inches
2009.98.62
1/9
Sailboat "Sir Tom" on the water
circa 1940
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, fastest boat anywhere
2009.98.63
1/9
Unidentified sailboat on the water
circa 1940
8x10 inches
Stamped on back, Photo by Kenneth G. Ollar
2009.98.64
1/9
Unidentified racing sailboat on the water
circa 1955
8x10 inches
2009.98.65
1/10
Sailboat "Mrs. Pettibone" in dry dock, built for Jim Moffett, ready for
sail
circa 1950
5x7 inches
Handwritten on back, The last Blanchard "33," Mrs. Pettibone, bulit for Jim Moffett, 195_, ready for
launch
2009.98.66
1/10
Herb Mattson and unidentified man, setup 33 foot Transom
circa 1930
5x7 inches
2009.98.67
1/10
Sailboat under construction
circa 1930
5x7 inches
2009.98.68
1/10
Sailboat under construction
circa 1930
5x7 inches
2009.98.69
1/10
Motor boat "Stormy" under construction
circa 1934
5x7 inches
2009.98.70
1/10
Motor boat "Stormy" under construction
circa 1934
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.
2009.98.71
1/10
Herb Mattson, journeyman at Blanchard Boat Co.
circa 1950
5x7 inches
Handwritten on back, present from David Coy
2009.98.72
1/10
Construction view
circa 1950
5x7 inches
Condition poor
2009.98.73
1/10
"Malibu" under construction at Blanchard Boat Yard, 3201 Fairview Ave. E
Seattle Washington
1924
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
2009.98.74
1/10
"Sea Rest" launching day at Blanchard Boat Co., designed by Ed Monks, Sr.
for Oliver D. Fisher
1937
5x7 inches
2009.98.75
1/10
Blanchard 33 under construction
circa 1930
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, Aura or one of the 10 or so same hull
2009.98.76
1/10
Sailboats under construction
1937
9x6 inches
Handwritten on back, left a Blanchard 33, right Charlie Frisbee's Tola
2009.98.77
1/10
Sailboat "Tola" under construction
1937
8x10 inches
Handwritten on back, photo taken by Ben Seaborn of Tola under construction
2009.98.78
1/10
Cappie and Dawn Frisbee at Blanchard Boat Co. cleaning port lights on
"Tola" under construction
1937
8x10 inches
Photocopy of original
2009.98.79
2
Sailboat "Tola" under sail
c.1940
10x12 inches
Oversize, handwritten on back, Charlie Frisbie "Tola"
2009.98.97
1/19
Norman C. Blanchard standing with group of workmen on a dock
circa 1969
Color photograph
2009.98.98
1/20
Interior of "Aura" cabin
circa 1966
2009.98.99
1/21
"Navita" under construction
circa 1937
2009.98.100
1/21
"Navita" being christened
circa 1937
2009.98.101
1/21
"Navita" under construction
circa 1937
2009.98.102
1/21
45 foot Ben Seaborn design under construction
circa 1946
2009.98.103
1/21
45 foot Ben Seaborn design under construction
circa 1946
2009.98.104
1/21
"We're Here" sailboat on the water
circa 1936
2009.98.105
1/21
"Neoga II" on the water
circa 1941
2009.98.106
1/22
Day cruiser on the water, designed by Norman C. Blanchard
circa 1940
2009.98.107
1/22
"Aira" sailboat on the water
circa 1947
2009.98.108
1/22
"Romp II" on the water
circa 1938
2009.98.109
1/22
Cutter "White Cloud" on the water
circa 1930
2009.98.110
1/22
Cruiser "Susie" at dock
circa 1944
2009.98.111
1/23
Inboard runabout on the water
circa 1920
2009.98.112
1/23
"Gwendolyn II" under sail
circa 1905
2009.98.113
1/23
"Virginia Dare" in Victoria Harbor
circa 1930
2009.98.114
1/23
Blanchard cruiser on the water
circa 1924
2009.98.115
1/23
Fleet of motor cruisers on Lake Union
circa 1925
2009.98.116
1/23
Blanchard stock cruiser on the water
circa 1925
2009.98.117
1/24
Small sailboat on the water
circa 1922
2009.98.118
1/24
Blanchard Starboat on the water
circa 1930
2009.98.119
1/24
Sailboat "Angelica" on the water
circa 1930
2009.98.120
1/24
Sailboat "Nooka" on the water
circa 1940
2009.98.121
1/24
Sailing dinghy on the water
circa 1940
2009.98.122
1/24
Launch of "Barnacle" from Blanchard Boat Company
circa 1931
2009.98.123
1/24
"Virginia Dare" on the water
circa 1932
2009.98.124
1/24
"Romp II" on the water
circa 1938
Ephemera
2009.98.80
1/11
Newspaper clippings about Blanchard Boat Co. and photocopied article from
Pacific Motor Boat Magazine (1929)
1929-2003
9 items
2009.98.81-.82
1/12
Blanchard Boat Co. illustrated promotional catalogs
circa 1925
2 catalogs
Journals
2009.98.83
1/13
Photocopy of personal journal
1910
15 pages
5 x 8 in.
Handwritten description of a group sailing excursion on Winona, from Elliot Bay to Eagle Harbor,
includes photographs.
2009.98.84
1/14
Handwritten history of Blanchard Boat Co.
1996
9 pages
2009.98.85
1/15
Norman C. Blanchard's personal journal
1987
98 pages
Albums and scrapbook
2009.98.86
1/16
Family photograph album
circa 1920-1940
34 pages
7 x 11 in.
2009.98.87
2
Family photograph album
circa 1920-1940
86 pages
10 x 13 in.
2009.98.88
2
Scrapbook
circa 1945-1970
30 pages
12 x 14 in.
The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, photographs and articles documenting the history of
Blanchard Boat Company.
2009.98.89
1/17
Unidentified photographs of boating, holidays and family
activities
circa 1950
43 photographs
Loose photographs from album 2009.89.87.
2009.98.90
1/17
Unidentified photographs of boating, holidays and family
activities
circa 1945
19 photographs
2009.98.91
1/17
Unidentified photographs of boating activities
circa 1950
25 photographs
Loose photographs from album 2009.89.87.
2009.98.92
1/17
Photographs of family members and boating activities, with
captions
circa 1950
6 photographs
Loose photographs with handwritten captions on the back.
2009.98.93
1/17
Unidentified photographs of family activities
circa 1955
8 items
Loose, faded photographs from album 2009.89.87.
2009.98.94
1/18
Photographs of family members and boating activities, with
captions
circa 1955
10 photographs
2009.98.95
1/18
Unidentified photographs of family members and outdoor
activities
circa 1955
21 photographs
2009.98.96
1/18
Unidentified photographs of family members and outdoor
activities
circa 1945
8 photographs