Arthur C. Frederickson collection

This collection documents the research interests of Arthur C. Frederickson, author of books and articles on Great Lakes history for the years 1854-1969. Correspondence discusses projects in progress by the writers Frederickson contacted in preparing his own manuscripts. Vessels and lighthouses are frequently mentioned.

The largest series in the collection contains logbooks from vessels and lighthouses. Daily activities for the years 1874-1957, including wreck reports, are present for lighthouses in Michigan at Point Betsie, Poverty Island, and Manistee. Logs for the vessels ANN ARBOR #3, HYACINTH, and THEODORE ROOSEVELT constitute most of the vessel related material in this series.

Arthur Frederickson's research notes covering 1897-1965 offer readers the compiled information he used to prepare manuscripts for publication. Most of the notes are on vessels, shipping companies, and other marine subjects.

Financial documents from 1873-1940 record operating costs on the ANN ARBOR #3, CITY OF TOLEDO, HYACINTH, PERE MARQUETTE #6, and the GEORGE L. SANFORD. Cashiers books and crew time books are the main records in this series.

A series of book mockups appears near the end of the collection presenting versions of three books by Frederickson. These items provide a view of the research products Frederickson created from his notes.

PROCEEDINGS

Box 1, Folders 1-3; 1953-1961 Series contains copies of minutes for meetings of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit in 1960-1961. A membership directory for MHSH from 1957-1958 is included. Membership information for the Steamship Historical Society from 1953 is present. Arrangement is alphabetical by organization title.

CORRESPONDENCE

Box 1, Folders 4-6; Box 2-3; Box 4, Folders 1-6; 1900-1965; Series contains correspondence created by Arthur C. Frederickson and items acquired by him through his research. The Ann Arbor car ferries, the Poverty Island Lighthouse and author George Vargo receive extended attention. Arrangement is alphabetical by subject.

SUBJECT FILE

Box 4, Folders 7-10; 1947-1960; Series contains scattered files on research topics for which no correspondence file was compiled. Typed lists and printed items appear. Arrangement is alphabetical by subject.

Box 4, Folders 11-16; Boxes 5-12; Oversize volumes; 1874-1957; Series contains logbooks from lighthouse stations and Great Lakes commercial vessels reporting on daily activities. Lighthouses at Manistee, Poverty Island, and Point Betsie, MI are covered. Several vessels are included with the ANN ARBOR #3, HYACINTH, and THEODORE ROOSEVELT, but these three are most heavily represented. Arrangement is alphabetical by lighthouse for lighthouses and by vessel name for vessels.

Manuscripts Box 13, Folders 1-12; Ca. 1942-1962; Series contains manuscript drafts of articles Arthur C. Frederickson and other authors were preparing for publication. George Vargo and his wife prepared most of the drafts not authored by Arthur or Lucy Frederickson. The subjects of these manuscripts are Great Lakes oriented. Arrangement is by author.

Speeches Box 13, Folders 13-14; 1960, 1963; Series contains two speeches acquired by Arthur Frederickson during his research. One is a speech on the Lake Carriers Association presented by the Marine Historical Society of Detroit in February 1960. The second speech was given by W. R. Harkins of the Fraser Nelson Ship Building Company to the St. Louis County, Minnesota Historical Society in March 1963. Arrangement is chronological.

Research Notes-Vessels Box 14, 21; 1906-1962; Series contains research notes compiled during Arthur Frederickson's preparation of articles and books on Great Lakes vessels. Items included are handwritten notes, typescripts, and clippings from publications. Arrangement is alphabetical by vessel name. Box 21 unarranged.

Research Notes-Transportation Lines Box 15, Folders 1-8; 1897-1964; Series contains research notes Arthur C. Frederickson compiled during his prepartion for articles and books on Great Lakes transportation companies. Items included are handwritten notes, typescripts and clippings from publications. Arrangement is alphabetical by company name.

Research Notes-Other subjects Box 15, Folders 9-35; 1886-1965; Series contains research notes Arthur C. Frederickson compiled during his prepartion for articles and books on Great Lakes subjects. Items included are handwritten notes, typescripts, and clippings from publications. Arrangement is alphabetical by subject.

Research Notes-Card Index Boxes 16-18; Undated; Series contains research notes Arthur C. Frederickson compiled during his research on Great Lakes vessels and ports. Entries contain vessel and port data. Arrangement is alphabetical.

Book Mockups Box 20, Folders 1-3; 1955; Series contains mockup drafts for "Pictorial History of the Chesapeake and Ohio Train and Auto Ferries and Pere Marquette Line Steamers," "Flint and Pere Marquette Railway and the C and O History," and "Chesapeake and Ohio." Arrangement is by title.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

Box 19, Folders 1-5; 1912-1936; Series contains orders, regulations and inspections certificates issued by the US Coast Guard. Arrangement is chronological.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

Box 19, Folders 6-21; 1873-1940; Series contains records for the following vessels: ANN ARBOR #3, CITY OF TOLEDO, HYACINTH, PERE MARQUETTE #4, and GEORGE L. SANFORD. Cashiers books and crew time books are included. Miscellaneous financial records from other sources complete the series. Arrangement is alphabetical by record type: cashier books, crew time books, receipts, and invoices.

CARD FILE; Box 22; Contains index cards of an inventory of maritime artifacts owned by Frederickson. One item is featured per card.

MAPS, CHARTS, DRAWINGS

Box 20, Folders 9-12; Box 21, Folders 74-75; 1854-1940; Series contains seven cartographic items in the form of maps, navigational charts, and vessel plans. Subjects covered are the Ballard's Reef Channel in the Detroit River, the Manitowoc and Mississippi Railroad, Outer Island, the Welland Canal, the Great Lakes region, and the lighthouse tender HYACINTH. Arranged by title.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Box 20, Folders 13-14; Box 21, Folder 76; 1947, undated, 1950s; Series contains 26 items acquired during Arthur Frederickson's research. Seven are from a work entitled "A Pictorial History of the Seatrain Operations," n.d. Ten are of unidentified vessels. The other nine ar miscellaneous views of people, 1947, n.d. Arranged by subject.