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Collection on David Rodgers, circa 1894-1942

Overview of the Collection

Title
Collection on David Rodgers
Dates
circa 1894-1942 (inclusive)
1917-1918 (bulk)
Quantity
.42 cubic feet, (1 box)
Collection Number
2009.56
Summary
Photographs, both loose and in albums, as well as newspaper articles and correspondence relating to David Rodgers and his career as manager of Skinner and Eddy Corporation shipyard in Seattle, Washington
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.
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Biographical Note

David Rodgers (circa 1865-June 25, 1923) was the manager of the Skinner and Eddy Corporation shipyard in Seattle in the 1910s.

Rodgers was born in 1868 in Belfast, Ireland, where he became a shipyard apprentice at age 10. In 1886, Rodgers immigrated to the United States. He worked in the shipbuilding industry across the country, starting in Duluth, Minnesota with the American Steel Barge Company and moving to Chicago at the Chicago Ship Building Company. He began working in the shipyards of San Francisco in 1898 with Union Ironworks.

In approximately 1903, Rodgers moved to Seattle. He worked as a master shipfitter (outside) with the Navy Yard in Bremerton until 1906, then with the Moran Company until 1908, when he returned to the Navy Yard, where he worked until 1912. He managed the Wallace shipyards in Vancouver, B.C. until approximately 1916, when he joined Skinner and Eddy Corporation as general manager.

On February 14, 1916, he broke ground on the Skinner and Eddy shipyard at the end of Atlantic Street on Elliott Bay. While running the shipyard, his crew broke records with how quickly ships were built, including a record time of 55 days. In 1918, Rodgers was invited to the White House to be thanked personally by Woodrow Wilson for his contribution to the war effort.

Rodgers retired from the shipyards in 1919 due to health issues, and died in 1923 at 58 years old. At his retirement, the Evergreen Park on Queen Anne Hill Seattle was renamed the David Rodgers Park, when workers at Skinner & Eddy raised $2000 for park improvements on condition the be named for their well-loved boss. In addition, Rodgers’ iconic derby hat was commandeered from his Queen Anne home and nailed, with ceremony, to the top of the mast of the Skinner & Eddy plant’s sheer leg, where it remained for many years.

David Rodgers was married to Canadian-born Carrie B. Rodgers (circa 1867- May 13, 1947). Carrie Rodgers sponsored at least two ships constructed at the Skinner and Eddy shipyard while her husband was general manager there.

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Content Description

The collection consists of loose photographs, photograph albums, newspaper clippings, magazines, and correspondence (approximately 96 photographs, some bound in four photograph albums, 47 clippings, one magazine, and 17 pieces of correspondence). Materials mostly deal with David Rodgers' professional life, but also include a small number of photographs of his wife Carrie Rodgers, cars, and his personal yachts. There are also three portraits of an unknown young man. Three of the photograph albums are dedicated to ships built by Skinner and Eddy, and the fourth consists mostly of portraits of David Rodgers at work in the shipyard.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

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

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

Collection on David Rodgers, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in 3 series:

  • Photographs
  • Correspondence
  • Ephemera

Location of Collection

3a.4.6

Acquisition Information

Anonymous donation, July 27, 2009

Additional photograph album “S.S. David Rodgers” (2009.56.135-156) was donated anonymously on October 26, 2010 and added to the collection.

Processing Note

Processed by Jessica Werner, 2009.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Boat and ship industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Ships--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Rodgers, Carrie, d. 1947
  • Rodgers, David, d. 1923--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Skinner and Eddy Corporation

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs

Finding aid prepared by Jessica Werner
2009

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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