wasmhi2023_36.xml Guide to the Vigor Industrial Collection on Todd Shipyards circa 1905-1985 Vigor Industrial Collection on Todd Shipyards Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson Museum of History & Industry © 2024
5933 6th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.mohai.org
Finding aid encoded by Jody Hendrickson 2024 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Museum of History & Industry Sophie Frye Bass Library
5933 6th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.mohai.org
2023.36 Vigor Industrial Vigor Industrial Collection on Todd Shipyards circa 1905-1985 1 box plus 2 oversize items Photographs and ephemera related to Todd Shipyards' Harbor Island plant 4a.1.8 ; 12b.3.4 Collection materials are in English. Historical Note

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Gift of Vigor Industrial LLC; received in 2023

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.

Todd Shipyards Corporation Seattle (Wash.) Harbor Island (Wash.) Boat & ship industry--Washington (State)--Seattle Shipyards--Washington (State)--Seattle Photographs Ships and Shipping Photographs 1905-1983 96 photographs 2023.36.1 1/1 Main Shop Building, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22583

 2023.36.2 1/1 Caulkers' Oakum Loft, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22584

 2023.36.3 1/1 Lumber Shed, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22585

 2023.36.4 1/1 Paint Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22586

 2023.36.5 1/1 Hospital, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22587

 2023.36.6 1/1 Oil House, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22588

 2023.36.7 1/1 Kitchen, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22589

 2023.36.8 1/1 Checkboard Entrance to Yard, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22590

 2023.36.9 1/1 Outdoor Substation, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22591

 2023.36.10 1/1 Plate Shed, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22592

 2023.36.11 1/2 Boiler Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22593

 2023.36.12 1/2 Bending Slabs, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22594

 2023.36.13 1/2 Power Plant, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22595

 2023.36.14 1/2 Carpenter Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22596

 2023.36.15 1/2 Boiler Shop Tool Room, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22597

 2023.36.16 1/2 Blacksmith Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22598

 2023.36.17 1/2 Pipe Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22599

 2023.36.18 1/2 Joiner Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22600

 2023.36.19 1/2 Machine Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22601

 2023.36.20 1/2 12,000 ton wooden sectional dry dock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22602

 2023.36.21 1/3 12,000 ton steel dry dock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22603

 2023.36.22 1/3 3,000 ton wooden dry dock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Written on back: SS Eastern Gale SS Admiral Rodman Date 1920?

Photographer's number: 22604

 2023.36.23 1/3 3,000 ton wooden dry dock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22605

 2023.36.24 1/3 Steel Storage Yard, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22606

 2023.36.25 1/3 Pier No. 2, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Written on back: In Background: USS "Lea" DD113. Built by Wm. Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, 2/10/1918

Photographer's number: 22607

 2023.36.26 1/3 Pipe Storage Shed, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22608

 2023.36.27 1/3 Dry Dock Control Station, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22609

 2023.36.28 1/3 Rivet Shed, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22611

 2023.36.29 1/3 Yard Locomotive Crane, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22612

 2023.36.30 1/3 General Office, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22613

 2023.36.31 1/4 Yard Dining Room, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22614

 2023.36.32 1/4 Section of Yard Store, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22615

 2023.36.33 1/4 Section of Yard Store, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22616

 2023.36.34 1/4 Power Plant, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22617

 2023.36.35 1/4 Yard Kitchen, Todd Dry Docks, Inc circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22618

 2023.36.36 1/4 Panorama of Yard, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Seattle circa 1920 Four 9.25 x 7.5 in. photographs mounted on a linen backing to 38 x 7.5 in.

Photographer's number: 22619

 2023.36.37 1/5 Exterior View of Yard, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920 Two 9.25 x 7.5 in. photographs, mounted on a linen backing to 19.5 x 7.5 in.

Photographer's number: 22620

 2023.36.38 1/5 Machine Shop, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22621

 2023.36.39 1/5 Section of Yard Store, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920 Two 7.5 x 9.5 in. photographs, mounted on a linen backing to 15 x 9.5 in.

Photographer's number: 22622

 2023.36.40 1/5 General Offices, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. circa 1920

Photographer's number: 22638

 2023.36.41 1/5 S.S. "M.S. Dollar" drydocked at Todd Dry Docks, Inc. 1920 February 26

Photographer's number: 22828

 2023.36.42 1/5 S.S. "M.S. Dollar" drydocked at Todd Dry Docks, Inc. 1920 February 26

Written on back: SS Eastern (Gale?) SS ______ , SS "M.S. Dollar" Feb. 26, 1920

Photographer's number: 22829

 2023.36.43 1/6 Panorama view of Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Frank H. Nowell 1918 November 4 Two 9.5 x 7.25 in. photographs taped together to 19 x 7.25 in.

Photographer's number: 19667

 2023.36.44 1/6 S.S. Fort Harrison and S.S. President [?] at Todd Dry Docks Frank H. Nowell 1918 November

Written on back: S.S. "Fort Harrison" (Ferris-Type, 3,688 DWT) S.S. "President"

Photographer's number: 19668

 2023.36.45 1/6 Main Shop Building, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Frank H. Nowell 1918 November

Photographer's number: 19669

 2023.36.46 1/6 View of ships at Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Frank H. Nowell 1918 November

Photographer's number: 19670

 2023.36.47 1/6 View of ships at Todd Dry Docks, Inc. 1918 November Frank H. Nowell

Photographer's number: 19671

 2023.36.48 1/6 Main gate, administration and other buildings, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Frank H. Nowell 1918 November 4

Written on back: M[ai]n. Gate, Admin Bldg, Restaurant & Hospital Bldgs.

Photographer's number: 19672

 2023.36.49 1/6 Cargo Steamship in drydock, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Frank H. Nowell 1918 November

Written on back: Wooden "Ferris Type" Cargo Steamer (3,688 DWT) Nov 1918

Photographer's number: 19673

 2023.36.50 1/6 Group of men in suits posed outdoors Frank H. Nowell circa 1920

Photographer's number: 19680

 2023.36.51 1/6 S.S. Western Ally in drydock, Harbor Island Frank H. Nowell 1919 January 10

Written on back: S.S. Western Ally, 8,500 DWT […] Built by Ames SB & DD Co., Jan. 1919

Photographer's number: 19731

 2023.36.52 1/6 S.S. Western Ally and other ships in drydock, Harbor Island Frank H. Nowell 1919 January 10

Written on back: S.S. Western Ally, S.S. Eastern ___?, S.S. _______

Photographer's number: 19732

 2023.36.53 1/7 Banquet given for Mr. Todd, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co Webster & Stevens 1917 March 29

Photographer's number: 55307

 2023.36.54 1/7 One of Commandeered Ships with War-Zone Requirements, and in Loaded Condition, Seattle Construction & Drydock Co. Webster & Stevens circa 1918

Photographer's number: 61661

 2023.36.55 1/7 View of Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Webster & Stevens 1918 November 4

Photographer's number: 66557

 2023.36.56 1/7 View of Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Webster & Stevens 1918 November 4

Photographer's number: 66559

 2023.36.57 1/7 Ship in drydock at Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Webster & Stevens 1918 November 4

Photographer's number: 66560

 2023.36.58 1/7 Main gate, Administration building, restaurant, and garage at Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Webster & Stevens 1918 November 4

Photographer's number: 66563

 2023.36.59 1/7 Main gate, Administration building, restaurant, and garage at Todd Dry Docks, Inc. Webster & Stevens 1918 November 4

Photographer's number: 66564

 2023.36.60 1/8 U.S.S. N.1 Operating Amidships, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co. 1917 January 22 2023.36.61 1/8 U.S.S. N.2 Torpedo Tubes, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co. circa 1917 2023.36.62 1/8 U.S.S. N.1 Top of submarine emerging from water, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co. circa 1917 2023.36.63 1/9 Aerial view looking east, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. 1905 April 11

Label on back: Todd Drydocks, Inc., N.W. Corner of Harbor Island, Seattle, Washington, Founded June 15, 1918

 2023.36.64 1/9 Aerial view looking northeasterly, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. 1905 April 11

Label on back: Todd Drydocks, Inc., N.W. Corner of Harbor Island, Seattle, Washington, Founded June 15, 1918

 2023.36.65 1/9 Aerial view Looking southeasterly, Todd Dry Docks, Inc. 1905 April 18

Label on back: Todd Drydocks, Inc., N.W. Corner of Harbor Island, Seattle, Washington, October 1934 until December 1943.

 2023.36.66 1/9 Repair Yard, aerial view looking south, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle Division Pacific Aerial Surveys 1956 November 17

Label on back: Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. Seattle Division -- Repair Yard, Seattle, Washington, Corporate Name Change 1944

Photographer's number: 5342

 2023.36.67 1/9 Repair Yard, aerial view of yard, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle Division Pacific Aerial Surveys 1956 November 17

Label on back: Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. Seattle Division -- Repair Yard, Seattle, Washington, Corporate Name Change 1944

Photographer's number: 5346

 2023.36.68 1/9 Aerial view of Harbor Island with Todd Shipyards located on NW corner of Island Ebert, Jesse 1965 February

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

 2023.36.69 1/9 Aerial view looking north, Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division Ebert-Aerolist Photographers, Inc. 1966 July 8

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

 2023.36.70 1/9 Aerial view looking northeasterly, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp, Seattle Division Camera Craft 1977

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

 2023.36.71 1/9 Aerial view of yard looking southwesterly, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp, Seattle Division 1983

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.

 2023.36.72 1/9 Aerial view looking northeasterly, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp, Seattle Division 1983

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.

 2023.36.73 1/10 Todd Dry Docks annual picnic at Shady Beach Dudley, Roger 1938 July 7

Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."

Photographer's number: 48722-A

 2023.36.74 1/10 Sheet metal workers, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle Division Dudley, Roger circa 1943

Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."

 2023.36.75 1/10 Employees, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle Division Dudley, Roger circa 1943

Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."

 2023.36.76 1/10 Welders, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle Division Dudley, Roger circa 1943

Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."

 2023.36.77 1/10 Craft employee, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation Seattle Division 1943

Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."

 2023.36.78 1/10 Employee painter, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle Division circa 1943

Label on back: Todd Shipyards Corporation Publication "The Keel."

 2023.36.79 1/10 George Dunlap training Herb Johnson and Jack Ferris, In-Plant Training Department at Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle Division Leiser, Roy circa 1945

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.

 2023.36.80 1/10 "Snake Farm" at Todd Pacific Shipyards Plant A Leiser, Roy circa 1943

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.

 2023.36.81 1/10 Softball team Leiser, Roy 1943

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.

 2023.36.82 1/10 Machine Shop, Plant A, Todd Pacific Shipyards Inc., looking southwest Leiser, Roy circa 1943

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

 2023.36.83 1/10 Navy Transport in drydock at Todd Pacific Shipyards Leiser, Roy 1945 May

Slip attached to back: Photo identification - Sea-Tac Keel. Slip includes information on the difficulty of bringing the large vessel into drydock.

 2023.36.84 1/11 Plant A, Todd Pacific Shipyards Inc. Leiser, Roy circa 1943

Photographer's number: 500

 2023.36.85 1/11 Men watching large section being lifted by a crane at Todd Pacific Shipyards Leiser, Roy circa 1945 2023.36.86 1/11 Cranes in yard, Plant A, Todd Pacific Shipyards circa 1943 2023.36.87 1/11 Row of cranes, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Plant A circa 1945

Photographer's number: B-172

 2023.36.88 1/11 View of Todd Shipyards with Space Needle in the background circa 1975 2023.36.89 1/11 Todd Shipyards Seattle Division, crane 5 circa 1980 2023.36.90 1/12 S.S. President Jackson, first time at Todd Dry Docks 1922 October 28 2023.36.91 1/12 S.S. President Jackson at #4 drydock, first time at Todd Dry Docks 1922 October 28 2023.36.92 1/12 S.S. President Jackson, first time at Todd Dry Docks 1922 October 28

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)

 2023.36.93 1/12 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 2023.36.94 1/12 Panorama of ships in dry dock at Todd Dry Docks circa 1920 Two 9.5 x 7.25 photographs taped together to 19 x 7.25 in. 2023.36.95 1/12 Steamer West Harlan in dry dock, Todd Dry Dock, Seattle 1919 July 2023.36.96 1/12 Pacific Coast Co. Piers A & B, Seattle circa 1905 Correspondence 1918-1963 2023.36.97 1/13 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 1918 May 2

Photographs not included

 2023.36.98 1/14 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 1918 May 20

Photographs not included

 2023.36.99 1/15 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 1922 June 19

Includes two 8 x 10 in. photographs.

 2023.36.100 1/16 Correspondence related to ownership of vacated street areas on Harbor Island, September 6, 1963 1963 September 6 2023.36.104 A1 Notice from R.J. Lamont, President of Todd Pacific Shipyard, Seattle Division, to employees regarding Navy Department Certificate of Achievement 1946 January 24

Includes copy of certificate, dated December 15, 1945 and signed by H. Struve Hensel, Assistant Secretary of the Navy

 Miscellaneous 2023.36.101 1/17 "Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division: History and Experience" 1961 September 1 sheet

Includes a map of the shipyard grounds on the back.

 2023.36.102 1/17 "Facts and History of Todd Shipyards Corporation and its Seattle Division" 1960 August 10 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

 2023.36.103 VI.a.top Yard plan, also showing second stories, Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Division 1946 September 27 Blueprint 70 x 23.5 inches