U.S. Customs Service (Muskegon, MI) records

Collection

Identifier: GLMS-0124

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

This collection documents the issuance of certificates and sale of vessels recorded at the Muskegon, Michigan, office of the U.S. Customs Service for the years 1916-1956. Certificates of Enrollment and Registry are found on rolls one through four. Roll 4 also contains a record of marine documents deposited from the Muskegon Customs office from 1936-1956. Bills of Sale can be found on rolls four and five. The financial and legal files in this collection document a portion of the regulatory work of the US Customs Service in twentieth century.

Dates

Creation: 1916-1959

Extent

5 Reels (5 reels of 35mm microfilm)

Creator

United States. Bureau of Customs (Organization)

Scope and Contents

This collection of five microfilm rolls documents the issuance of certificates and sale of vessels recorded at the Muskegon, MI office of the US Customs Service for the years 1916-1956. Certificates of Enrollment and Registry are found on rolls one through four. Roll 4 also contains a record of marine documents deposited from the Muskegon Customs office from 1936-1956. Bills of Sale can be found on rolls four and five. The financial and legal files in this collection document a portion of the regulatory work of the US Customs Service in twentieth century.

Agency History

The United States Customs Service, created by an act of July 31, 1789, became part of the Department of the Treasury when that Department was established in September of 1789. The service has been responsible for the enforcement of numerous laws and regulations pertaining to the import and export of merchandise, collection of tonnage taxes, control of the entrance and clearance of coastwise and fishing trades, and the protection of passengers. A Bureau of Customs was established March 3, 1927, to supervise these activities and in 1942 it assumed the responsibilities of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation relating to the registering, enrolling, licensing, and admeasurement of merchant vessels. This responsibility was assigned to the Coast Guard in 1967.

The act that established the Customs Service in 1789 also provided for the creation of collection districts in various coastal, river, Great Lakes, and inland ports. A Collector of Customs in each district was responsible for the enforcement of all rules and regulations including the protection of American seamen and passengers and the forwarding of basic data on immigration, imports, and exports. A Naval officer in each district, coordinate in rank with the Collector, was required to keep separate accounts and copies of all manifests and entries and to countersign certain of the daily record of all vessel arrivals and clearances, and was assisted by inspectors, weighers, and gaugers in the collection and payment of bounty allowances and fees and the admeasurement of foreign vessels for tonnage duties.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Collection is in the public domain.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Existence and Location of Originals

The original volumes are housed in the Chicago branch of the National Archives and Records Administration.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The original volumes were loaned to Bowling Green State University for microfilming in 1982 by the US Coast Guard 9th District Commander, Rear Admiral James S. Gracey.