Walter Smith Miscellaneous Ship Drawing collection

Collection

Identifier: GLMS-0074

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

Drawings prepared for lake vessels from 1900-1920 have been assembled from several shipyards. Such companies as Sidney McLouth, Chicago Ship Building, Detroit Dry Dock, and Great Lakes Engineering Works are represented. Unique approaches to vessel design can be viewed in the work of S.B. Kingsbury and Charles L. Seabury. Modelers may find lists of specifications pertinent to their projects.

Dates

Creation: 1900-1920

Extent

1 Reels (1 reel of 35mm microfilm)

Creator

Chicago Ship Building Company (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The drawings in this collection date from 1900 to 1920. Use of the collection is limited by its incomplete nature. Naval historians and architects, as well as model ship builders, may find the drawings and specifications of greatest value. Economic and Naval historians of the Great Lakes also may find the cost estimates which are contained in the Great Lakes Engineering Works of use.

Drawings from the Sidney McLouth Shipyard in Marine City, Michigan are of particular interest to historians because many of the plans were never realized. It also is questionable where or if copies of the McLouth plans exist in any other repository. Drawings from the Chicago Ship Building Company, Detroit Dry Dock, and Great Lakes Engineering Works compliment, and in some cases, duplicate, those drawings microfilmed under the Great Lakes Architectural Drawings Project at the Center for Archival Collections.

The designs of S. B. Kingsbury, naval architect, and drawings from Johnson Brothers, Charles L. Seabury & Company, and the drawings of unidentified ship builders are also unique.

The list of specifications for various ships and boats may provide information to model ship builders and naval historians of the Great Lakes. Specifications listed are for proposed ships, as well as some ships that were built, and range from tugs to passenger propellers.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Materials in the collection are organized by the Shipyard.

Existence and Location of Copies

While these materials were loaned for filming in 1981, the current status of the originals is unknown.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was loaned to the Center for Archival Collections for the purpose of microfilming by Walter Smith of Marine City, Michigan in late 1981. Mr. Smith acquired the drawings at an undetermined date from Peirce McLouth.