HCGL. Historical Collections of the Great Lakes

Scope and Contents

Narrative of events during a shipwreck on Lake Michigan aboard the steamer NOVADOC, as told by crewman Lloyd Belcher.

Scope and Contents

Summary of the life of Captain Thomas Wilford on the Great Lakes from 1859-1911.

Scope and Contents

Description of improvements to Indian River, MI, with a hand-drawn outline map of river with jetty locations.

Scope and Contents

Annual financial reports on Reoch Transports created by the accounting firm Clarkson, Gordon & Company, also of Montreal.

Scope and Contents

Record of 28 shipping runs carrying primarily taconite ore on the Great Lakes between April 21 and December 3, 1965.

Scope and Contents

Personal narrative of experiences as a child during a storm on Lake Superior on board the small fishing boat HURRY BACK

Scope and Contents

Personal papers with business and union correspondence, insurance papers, inventories, and invoices relating to the operation of Bush Electric Welding Company and other Great Lakes topics.

Scope and Contents

Transcripts of letters describing a trip from Port Colborne, ON, to Duluth, MN, on the steamer STADACONA in August of 1915. Megan was traveling as a passenger on the vessel.

Abstract

This collection is composed of 219 color photographs of Great Lakes vessels, with a focus on tugs. Photos in this series date from the 1990s to the 2000s. Photos in this series were taken by Franz VonRiedel, Wendell Wilke, Alfred Hart, and others.

Scope and Contents

Historical summary and photos describing the development and use of wooden bateaux.

Scope and Contents

Forms, clippings, printed material related to local support group for the vessel G.A. BOECKLING. The BOECKLING was a ferry operated by Cedar Point.

Abstract

The records for the G. A. TOMLINSON date from 1968, however the bulk of the collection consists of material generated in 1979, the last year the TOMLINSON was in service. The collection contains records left by the ship's chief engineer, bills of lading, deck logs, crew lists, and labor contracts. The TOMLINSON was built in 1907 by the Great Lakes Engineering Works at Ecorse, Michigan and was originally the D. O. MILLS.

Abstract This collection contains items accumulated by Captain G. Victor Chamberlain during his career on lake vessels from 1940 to 1981. A file of correspondence reveals the importance of safety issues, while radar logs and loading logs record operations aboard the ship. News clippings, particularly ones covering the sinking of the EDMUND FITZGERALD, provide insight on events of interest to Captain Chamberlain. Navigational and weather-related charts illustrate another area of the captain's...

Abstract

The diary of George A. Kelley is a handwritten journal owned by an early settler of Kelley's Island, Ohio. The diary begins on January 1, 1880 and continues through December 31, 1880.

Scope and Contents

Loose log sheets for trips made on Sept 21, Oct. 3, 8, 1974, and May 4, 8, 13, 14, 1977; gives information on course, cargo, and some remarks on weather.

Scope and Contents

Logbooks arranged by trip, giving location, cargo, time and distance traveled, weather conditions, and other notes.

Scope and Contents

Trip details giving location, cargo, expenses, fuel record, list of any passengers aboard, and other notes.

Scope and Contents

Personal correspondence with Elizabeth Phillips of Philadelphia, Pa., his future wife, while Getz was sailing on Great Lakes vessels. Describes daily shipboard activities and personal matters.

Scope and Contents

Listing by vessel of grain cargoes loaded for shipment.

Abstract

This collection consists of the daily records of the Weather Station at Alpena, Michigan for the years 1872-1882 and 1885-1917. The journals include weather information such as storms, temperature readings, aureole and lunar halo sightings, sunset predictions, barometer readings, and additional information on visitors and vessel movements. The collection is valuable for the study of early efforts to systematically record weather in the U.S.

Scope and Contents

Operating license with the FCC for shipboard radiotelephone

Scope and Contents The collection mainly consists of Port Pilots produced by the Club by the combined efforts of its members. These publications sought to document sailing directions and amenities for all ports available to recreational watercraft on the Great Lakes. Even those locations with no services are listed. Maps and navigational charts complement them. Also included in the collection are Harbor Updates, which provide new information and corrections to the annual Port Pilots. The collection is rounded...

Abstract

Corporate records, photographs, and films detailing the history and work of the marine construction and dredging company, 1899-1998. Projects such as the straightening of the Chicago River, extension of Lincoln Park, and land reclamation for the construction of the new international airport in Doha, Qatar, are documented.

Abstract

Naval architectural drawings for most of the vessels built by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, as well as construction specifications documents for a handful of them. Includes the Edmund Fitzgerald.