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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)
1910-1942 (bulk)
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.
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Biographical Note

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.

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Content Description

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.

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Use of the 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

Robert B. Ross Collection of Maritime Photographs and Other Material, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

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Administrative Information

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.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

  • Photographs

  • Photographic postcards

    Includes postcards written between Robert B. Ross and his family and friends

    • Description: 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

      Dates: circa 1912; undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/31
      Location: Photographic postcards
    • Description: 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."

      Dates: circa 1912; undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/31
      Location: Photographic postcards
    • Description: 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.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/31
      Location: Photographic postcards

    • Wrecks

      • Description: 250: Wreck of steamer Santa Clara on Coos Bay Bar
        Renfeld's Photo , Marshfield, Oregon (photographer)
        Dates: 1915 November 2
        Container: Box/Folder 1/31
        Location: Photographic postcards / Wrecks
      • Description: 251: Wreck of the S.S.Czarina, Coos Bay
        A.M. Prentiss , Marshfield, Oregon (photographer)
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 1/31
        Location: Photographic postcards / Wrecks
      • Description: 252: Wreck of S.S. Mariposa near Bella Bella, B.C.
        Dates: 1915 October 8
        Container: Box/Folder 1/31
        Location: Photographic postcards / Wrecks
      • Description: 253: Wreck of the Prince Rupert
        Dates: 1917 March 23
        Container: Box/Folder 1/31
        Location: Photographic postcards / Wrecks
      • Description: 254: S.S. Edith sinking off Alaska coast
        John E. Thwaites (photographer)
        Dates: circa 1910s
        Container: Box/Folder 1/31
        Location: Photographic postcards / Wrecks
    • Description: 255: Tatoosh Island showing Cape Flattery lighthouse and cedar-planked Makah buildings
      Dates: circa 1895
      Container: Box/Folder 1/31
      Location: Photographic postcards
    • Description: 256-257: Panorama of Hong Kong
      2 panoramas composed of 4 postcards each
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/31
      Location: Photographic postcards

  • Albums, undated

    Albums of ship photographs, depicting sailing ships, tugs and steamers.

    • Description: 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.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2/1
      Location: Albums, undated
    • Description: 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.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2/1
      Location: Albums, undated
    • Description: 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

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2/2
      Location: Albums, undated
    • Description: 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.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2/2
      Location: Albums, undated
    • Description: 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.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2/3
      Location: Albums, undated
    • Description: 263: Album 6
      48 photographs

      This album consists of the same photographs as Album 5, arranged in a different order.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2/4
      Location: Albums, undated

  • Papers

    • Writings

      Handwritten manuscripts, mostly signed by Robert B. Ross, with one signed by "Geo. Wish."

      • Description: 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.

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 3/1
        Location: Papers / Writings
      • Description: 265: "Record of the Tug Tacoma" by Robert B. Ross
        9 pages
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 3/2
        Location: Papers / Writings
      • Description: 266: "About the Tug Tyee - the Grand Old Lady" by Robert R. Ross
        7 pages
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 3/3
        Location: Papers / Writings
      • Description: 267: Poem "S.S. Higho," probably by Robert B Ross
        8 pages
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 3/4
        Location: Papers / Writings
      • Description: 268: Drawing and account by Robert B. Ross of the S.S. Diamond Cement listing at a Baltimore wharf
        2 pages
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 3/5
        Location: Papers / Writings
      • Description: 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."

        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 3/6
        Location: Papers / Writings
      • Description: 272: Engineering notes

        Includes a handwritten reference guide of formulas, and a list of distances traveled by the Diamond Cement from 1928-1940.

        Dates: 1919-1940
        Container: Box/Folder 3/9
        Location: Papers / Writings

    • Correspondence

      • Description: 270: Outgoing correspondence from Robert B. Ross as Chief Engineer of the S.S. Higho
        Dates: 1920-1921
        Container: Box/Folder 3/8
        Location: Papers / Correspondence

    • Ephemera

      • Description: Postcard advertising Puget Sound Tug Boat Company
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 3/7
        Location: Papers / Ephemera
      • Description: Inspection certificate for tug Pioneer
        Dates: 1890
        Container: Box/Folder 3/7
        Location: Papers / Ephemera
      • Description: Invitations

        Invitations to the launching of the Battleship Nebraska and the arrival of the U.S. Battleship Fleet from the tug Tyee.

        Dates: 1904; 1908
        Container: Box/Folder 3/10
        Location: Papers / Ephemera
      • Description: Flyers for a strike by the crew of the S.S. Diamond Cement in Baltimore
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 3/11
        Location: Papers / Ephemera
      • Description: Clippings

        Includes Ross's retirement announcement; articles on early Puget Sound vessels; and articles on Einer Thomsen, captain of the Diamond Cement.

        Dates: 1935-1961
        Container: Box/Folder 3/12
        Location: Papers / Ephemera

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

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

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