Vigor Industrial Collection on Todd Shipyards, circa 1905-1985

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Vigor Industrial
Title
Vigor Industrial Collection on Todd Shipyards
Dates
circa 1905-1985 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 box plus 2 oversize items
Collection Number
2023.36 (collection)
Summary
Photographs and ephemera related to Todd Shipyards' Harbor Island plant
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.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Todd Shipyards Corporation was formed in the midst of World War l, when William H. Todd purchased the Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company (originally Moran Brothers Shipyard) and three East Coast shipyards to create the William H. Todd Corporation in 1915. Todd Corporation was an important producer of military vessels during World War I, with seven plants operating 24 hours a day.

The company had five plants in New York and New Jersey and two in Washington State, in Seattle and Tacoma. The Todd Dry Dock & Construction Co. yard was built in Tacoma on Commencement Bay in 1917, and the Seattle location operated out of the Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company shipyard on the Seattle waterfront, where it built cargo vessels for the U.S. Shipping Board. In 1918, the Todd Corporation formed the wholly-owned subsidiary Todd Dry Docks, Inc. and moved the Seattle operation to a new plant on Harbor Island. In the years after WWI, Todd’s Seattle yard performed repairs and reconstruction, as well as routine maintenance. The Tacoma shipyard closed in 1925.

The West Coast operations expanded once again with the outbreak of World War II. In 1939, the Tacoma facility reopened and, with the Seattle yard, became the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, organized by Todd Seattle Dry Docks in partnership with the General Construction Company. In September 1939, the company was awarded a contract to build five C-1 freighters for the US Marine Commission, with the Tacoma yard building the hulls and the Seattle yard finishing construction. At the Seattle yard, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. won a Navy contract to convert two mail liners into transport ships. In September 1940, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding was awarded a Navy contract to build 25 destroyers. The ships were to be built at the Seattle plant, which required a huge expansion of the Harbor Island yard. The yard ultimately completed 45 destroyers and converted or repaired 576 ships for war service.

In June 1944, the busy Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation shipyards in Seattle and Tacoma were renamed Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. The Seattle Division resumed new vessel construction in 1952, but with the dramatic reduction of work after the war, Todd sold the Tacoma Division to the Navy, which later sold it to the Port of Tacoma in 1959. The Harbor Island yard continued with ship repair operations and began building new civilian and military ships.

In 1987, Todd Shipyards filed for bankruptcy, and by the end of 1990, the yard on Harbor Island was all that remained of Todd Shipyards. In 2011, Vigor Industrial purchased the Todd Pacific Shipyards Seattle Division, and Vigor Shipyards continues to provide ship construction and repair services at its Harbor Island shipyard.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists largely of views of the buildings, grounds, dry docks and piers of the Todd Corporation shipyards on Harbor Island: Todd Dry Docks, Inc. 1918-1935; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle Division, circa 1943; and Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle Division, 1945-1983. The photographs also include several images of employees at work, views of named ships in drydock, panoramas, and aerial views. The collection also includes correspondence, a short history of Todd Shipyards Corporation, and 1948 plan of Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle division.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

The collection is available for viewing in digital format in MOHAI's online collection.

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

Vigor Industrial Collection on Todd Shipyards, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Location of Collection

4a.1.8 ; 12b.3.4

Acquisition Information

Gift of Vigor Industrial LLC; received in 2023

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Photographs, 1905-1983Return to Top

96 photographs
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
2023.36.1: Main Shop Building, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22583
circa 1920
1/1
2023.36.2: Caulkers' Oakum Loft, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22584
circa 1920
1/1
2023.36.3: Lumber Shed, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22585
circa 1920
1/1
2023.36.4: Paint Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22586
circa 1920
1/1
2023.36.5: Hospital, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22587
circa 1920
1/1
2023.36.6: Oil House, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22588
circa 1920
1/1
2023.36.7: Kitchen, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22589
circa 1920
1/1
2023.36.8: Checkboard Entrance to Yard, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22590
circa 1920
1/1
2023.36.9: Outdoor Substation, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22591
circa 1920
1/1
2023.36.10: Plate Shed, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22592
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.11: Boiler Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22593
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.12: Bending Slabs, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22594
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.13: Power Plant, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22595
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.14: Carpenter Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22596
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.15: Boiler Shop Tool Room, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22597
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.16: Blacksmith Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22598
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.17: Pipe Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22599
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.18: Joiner Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22600
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.19: Machine Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22601
circa 1920
1/2
2023.36.20: 12,000 ton wooden sectional dry dock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22602
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.21: 12,000 ton steel dry dock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22603
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.22: 3,000 ton wooden dry dock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Written on back: SS Eastern Gale SS Admiral Rodman Date 1920? Photographer's number: 22604
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.23: 3,000 ton wooden dry dock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22605
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.24: Steel Storage Yard, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22606
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.25: Pier No. 2, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Written on back: In Background: USS "Lea" DD113. Built by Wm. Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, 2/10/1918 Photographer's number: 22607
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.26: Pipe Storage Shed, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22608
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.27: Dry Dock Control Station, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22609
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.28: Rivet Shed, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22611
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.29: Yard Locomotive Crane, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22612
circa 1920
1/3
2023.36.30: General Office, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22613
circa 1920
1/4
2023.36.31: Yard Dining Room, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22614
circa 1920
1/4
2023.36.32: Section of Yard Store, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22615
circa 1920
1/4
2023.36.33: Section of Yard Store, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22616
circa 1920
1/4
2023.36.34: Power Plant, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22617
circa 1920
1/4
2023.36.35: Yard Kitchen, Todd Dry Docks, Inc
Photographer's number: 22618
circa 1920
1/4
2023.36.36: Panorama of Yard, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Seattle
Photographer's number: 22619
circa 1920
1/5
2023.36.37: Exterior View of Yard, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22620
circa 1920
1/5
2023.36.38: Machine Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22621
circa 1920
1/5
2023.36.39: Section of Yard Store, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22622
circa 1920
1/5
2023.36.40: General Offices, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22638
circa 1920
1/5
2023.36.41: S.S. "M.S. Dollar" drydocked at Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Photographer's number: 22828
1920 February 26
1/5
2023.36.42: S.S. "M.S. Dollar" drydocked at Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Written on back: SS Eastern (Gale?) SS ______ , SS "M.S. Dollar" Feb. 26, 1920 Photographer's number: 22829
1920 February 26
1/6
2023.36.43: Panorama view of Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Photographer's number: 19667
1918 November 4
1/6
2023.36.44: S.S. Fort Harrison and S.S. President [?] at Todd Dry Docks
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Written on back: S.S. "Fort Harrison" (Ferris-Type, 3,688 DWT) S.S. "President" Photographer's number: 19668
1918 November
1/6
2023.36.45: Main Shop Building, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Photographer's number: 19669
1918 November
1/6
2023.36.46: View of ships at Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Photographer's number: 19670
1918 November
1/6
2023.36.47: View of ships at Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Photographer's number: 19671
1918 November
1/6
2023.36.48: Main gate, administration and other buildings, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Written on back: M[ai]n. Gate, Admin Bldg, Restaurant & Hospital Bldgs. Photographer's number: 19672
1918 November 4
1/6
2023.36.49: Cargo Steamship in drydock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Written on back: Wooden "Ferris Type" Cargo Steamer (3,688 DWT) Nov 1918 Photographer's number: 19673
1918 November
1/6
2023.36.50: Group of men in suits posed outdoors
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Photographer's number: 19680
circa 1920
1/6
2023.36.51: S.S. Western Ally in drydock, Harbor Island
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Written on back: S.S. Western Ally, 8,500 DWT […] Built by Ames SB & DD Co., Jan. 1919 Photographer's number: 19731
1919 January 10
1/6
2023.36.52: S.S. Western Ally and other ships in drydock, Harbor Island
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
Written on back: S.S. Western Ally, S.S. Eastern ___?, S.S. _______ Photographer's number: 19732
1919 January 10
1/7
2023.36.53: Banquet given for Mr. Todd, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co
Webster & Stevens (photographer)
Photographer's number: 55307
1917 March 29
1/7
2023.36.54: One of Commandeered Ships with War-Zone Requirements, and in Loaded Condition, Seattle Construction & Drydock Co.
Webster & Stevens (photographer)
Photographer's number: 61661
circa 1918
1/7
2023.36.55: View of Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Webster & Stevens (photographer)
Photographer's number: 66557
1918 November 4
1/7
2023.36.56: View of Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Webster & Stevens (photographer)
Photographer's number: 66559
1918 November 4
1/7
2023.36.57: Ship in drydock at Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Webster & Stevens (photographer)
Photographer's number: 66560
1918 November 4
1/7
2023.36.58: Main gate, Administration building, restaurant, and garage at Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Webster & Stevens (photographer)
Photographer's number: 66563
1918 November 4
1/7
2023.36.59: Main gate, Administration building, restaurant, and garage at Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Webster & Stevens (photographer)
Photographer's number: 66564
1918 November 4
1/8
2023.36.60: U.S.S. N.1 Operating Amidships, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co.
1917 January 22
1/8
2023.36.61: U.S.S. N.2 Torpedo Tubes, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co.
circa 1917
1/8
2023.36.62: U.S.S. N.1 Top of submarine emerging from water, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co.
circa 1917
1/9
2023.36.63: Aerial view looking east, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Label on back: Todd Drydocks, Inc., N.W. Corner of Harbor Island, Seattle, Washington, Founded June 15, 1918
1905 April 11
1/9
2023.36.64: Aerial view looking northeasterly, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Label on back: Todd Drydocks, Inc., N.W. Corner of Harbor Island, Seattle, Washington, Founded June 15, 1918
1905 April 11
1/9
2023.36.65: Aerial view Looking southeasterly, Todd Dry Docks, Inc.
Label on back: Todd Drydocks, Inc., N.W. Corner of Harbor Island, Seattle, Washington, October 1934 until December 1943.
1905 April 18
1/9
2023.36.66: Repair Yard, aerial view looking south, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle Division
Pacific Aerial Surveys (photographer)
Label on back: Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. Seattle Division -- Repair Yard, Seattle, Washington, Corporate Name Change 1944 Photographer's number: 5342
1956 November 17
1/9
2023.36.67: Repair Yard, aerial view of yard, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle Division
Pacific Aerial Surveys (photographer)
Label on back: Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. Seattle Division -- Repair Yard, Seattle, Washington, Corporate Name Change 1944 Photographer's number: 5346
1956 November 17
1/9
2023.36.68: Aerial view of Harbor Island with Todd Shipyards located on NW corner of Island
Ebert, Jesse (photographer)
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington. Formed new corporation October 1977 with Seattle Division and Los Angeles Division of Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporations. Photographer's number: 20202
1965 February
1/9
2023.36.69: Aerial view looking north, Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division
Ebert-Aerolist Photographers, Inc. (photographer)
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington. Formed new corporation October 1977 with Seattle Division and Los Angeles Division of Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporations. Photographer's number: 26003
1966 July 8
1/9
2023.36.70: Aerial view looking northeasterly, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp, Seattle Division
Camera Craft (photographer)
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington. Formed new corporation October 1977 with Seattle Division and Los Angeles Division of Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporations. Photographer's number: 5826-1-12
1977
1/9
2023.36.71: Aerial view of yard looking southwesterly, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp, Seattle Division
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington. Formed new corporation October 1977 with Seattle Division and Los Angeles Division of Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporations.
1983
1/9
2023.36.72: Aerial view looking northeasterly, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp, Seattle Division
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington. Formed new corporation October 1977 with Seattle Division and Los Angeles Division of Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporations.
1983
1/10
2023.36.73: Todd Dry Docks annual picnic at Shady Beach
Dudley, Roger (photographer)
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel." Photographer's number: 48722-A
1938 July 7
1/10
2023.36.74: Sheet metal workers, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle Division
Dudley, Roger (photographer)
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."
circa 1943
1/10
2023.36.75: Employees, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle Division
Dudley, Roger (photographer)
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."
circa 1943
1/10
2023.36.76: Welders, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle Division
Dudley, Roger (photographer)
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."
circa 1943
1/10
2023.36.77: Craft employee, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation Seattle Division
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."
1943
1/10
2023.36.78: Employee painter, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle Division
Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."
circa 1943
1/10
2023.36.79: George Dunlap training Herb Johnson and Jack Ferris, In-Plant Training Department at Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle Division
Leiser, Roy (photographer)
Slip attached to back: Photo identification - Todd Keel. Description explains that George Dunlap, who knows sign language, is training two deaf and mute welder students; unclear if the two students are the men in the photo.
circa 1945
1/10
2023.36.80: "Snake Farm" at Todd Pacific Shipyards Plant A
Leiser, Roy (photographer)
Slip attached to back: Photo identification - Todd Keel. Description explains that these are high pressure steam pipes ready for final assembly, having been bent, machined, heat-treated and painted.
circa 1943
1/10
2023.36.81: Softball team
Leiser, Roy (photographer)
Slip attached to back: Photo identification - Sea-Tac Keel- Softball team. Back row: L-R: Gene Grosso, MacConville, Hal Schlicting, "Ziggy" Zigich, James Murdoch, Geo. Stokes, Harry Hamilton. Front row: Ted Adams, George Forsyth, Roger Evans, Tommey Sifferman, Hal Harolson, Maynard Goody, Alex McClannan, manager.
1943
1/10
2023.36.82: Machine Shop, Plant A, Todd Pacific Shipyards Inc., looking southwest
Leiser, Roy (photographer)
Slip attached to back: Photo identification - Sea-Tac Keel. Notice several types of heavy equipment being worked-propellers, rudder, tail shaft, main shaft, etc. Photographer's number: 104
circa 1943
1/10
2023.36.83: Navy Transport in drydock at Todd Pacific Shipyards
Leiser, Roy (photographer)
Slip attached to back: Photo identification - Sea-Tac Keel. Slip includes information on the difficulty of bringing the large vessel into drydock.
1945 May
1/11
2023.36.84: Plant A, Todd Pacific Shipyards Inc.
Leiser, Roy (photographer)
Photographer's number: 500
circa 1943
1/11
2023.36.85: Men watching large section being lifted by a crane at Todd Pacific Shipyards
Leiser, Roy (photographer)
circa 1945
1/11
2023.36.86: Cranes in yard, Plant A, Todd Pacific Shipyards
circa 1943
1/11
2023.36.87: Row of cranes, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Plant A
Photographer's number: B-172
circa 1945
1/11
2023.36.88: View of Todd Shipyards with Space Needle in the background
circa 1975
1/11
2023.36.89: Todd Shipyards Seattle Division, crane 5
circa 1980
1/12
2023.36.90: S.S. President Jackson, first time at Todd Dry Docks
1922 October 28
1/12
2023.36.91: S.S. President Jackson at #4 drydock, first time at Todd Dry Docks
1922 October 28
1/12
2023.36.92: S.S. President Jackson, first time at Todd Dry Docks
Written on back: S.S. President Jackson (Ex - Silver State) Built by NNSB & DD in 1921 shown in #4 DD on 10/28/22. (Cleared at 10:25 AM after 2 days voyage repairs)
1922 October 28
1/12
2023.36.93: S.S. "West Hartland" from the Admiral Oriental Line at #4 drydock, Todd Dry Docks, after sinking the passenger liner "Governor" of Admiral Line
1921 April 19
1/12
2023.36.94: Panorama of ships in dry dock at Todd Dry Docks
circa 1920
1/12
2023.36.95: Steamer West Harlan in dry dock, Todd Dry Dock, Seattle
1919 July
1/12
2023.36.96: Pacific Coast Co. Piers A & B, Seattle
circa 1905

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/13
2023.36.97: Letter from N.W. Wiley, President of Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company, to William H. Todd, President of Todd Shipyards, sharing "progress photograph" May 2, 1918
Photographs not included
1918 May 2
1/14
2023.36.98: Letter from Henry C. Ewing, President of Calhoun, Denny & Ewing, to C. W. Wiley at Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Co., about property purchases on Harbor Island
Photographs not included
1918 May 20
1/15
2023.36.99: Letter from N.W. Wiley, Chairman of the Board of Todd Dry Docks, Inc., to William H. Todd, President of Todd Shipyards, sharing photographs of a Luckenbach boat in drydock
Includes two 8 x 10 in. photographs.
1922 June 19
1/16
2023.36.100: Correspondence related to ownership of vacated street areas on Harbor Island, September 6, 1963
1963 September 6
box-oversize
A1
2023.36.104: Notice from R.J. Lamont, President of Todd Pacific Shipyard, Seattle Division, to employees regarding Navy Department Certificate of Achievement
Includes copy of certificate, dated December 15, 1945 and signed by H. Struve Hensel, Assistant Secretary of the Navy
1946 January 24

MiscellaneousReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/17
2023.36.101: "Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division: History and Experience"
1 sheet
Includes a map of the shipyard grounds on the back.
1961 September
1/17
2023.36.102: "Facts and History of Todd Shipyards Corporation and its Seattle Division"
1 sheet
The back of the sheet is printed for use in a "Children's Tour of Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division, sponsored by the Seattle Historical Society, operating the Museum of History and Industry," August 18, 1960
1960 August 10
VI.a.top
2023.36.103: Yard plan, also showing second stories, Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division
70 x 23.5 inches
1946 September 27

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Boat & ship industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Shipyards--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Todd Shipyards Corporation

Geographical Names

  • Harbor Island (Wash.)
  • Seattle (Wash.)