C. Patrick Labadie collection

The collection contains a number of sources providing researchers with insights into Great Lakes shipping activities. Though not large (4 cubic feet), this set of maritime history resources permits users to examine subjects from daily vessel operations through logs and procedure manuals to issues of an industry-wide nature through annual meeting minutes for vessel officers. Coverage is extensive in time span, if not volume, with information dating from 1848-1980.

A record group on Proceedings (1.5 cubic feet) includes minutes from the 1956 and 1957 annual meetings of the Masters and Chief Engineers employed by the Pittsburgh Steamship Division of U. S. Steel and assorted log books from eight vessels dating from 1941-1974. The WILLIAM P. PALMER and the HENRY PHIPPS are covered the most extensively through the logbooks.

Reports (1.5 cubic feet) cover shipping activities from a construction and maintenance perspective through Offsets on the PHILIP R. CLARKE and the ARTHUR M. ANDERSON. Survey and Casualty Reports on nine vessels document the inspection process for damaged vessels. Vessel enrollment information offers a view of the effort to standardize registration and licensing procedures for Great Lakes vessels. Enrollment data for forty vessels (see Appendix 1) registered from 1848 to 1942 is included. Vessel Traffic reports for locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway record trip activities.

A record group on printed material (1 cubic foot) offers published works on shipping for examination. Fourteen items have been retained in the collection and Appendix 2 lists materials separated for cataloging in the main HCGL print materials collection.

Some 240 photographic images, including 159 glass plate negatives, have been separated for inclusion in the main HCGL photographic images catalog. The area around Saugatuck, Michigan and its role in the tourist excursion business in the 1900-1940 period receive coverage here.