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Announcement of Library Closure
The Mariners' Museum Library will cease research and reference service for several months beginning March 1, 2008 in preparation for its move to the new Christopher Newport University library. Visitors will still be able to access the Museum Library collections until it closes down fully on April 1, 2008, at which time all material, including the Chris-Craft Collection, will be unavailable to both staff and researchers.
The Library will reopen at its new location on the campus of Christopher Newport University in September, 2008. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to serving you in our new state-of-the-art facilities.
For more information regarding The Mariners’ Museum Library’s partnership with Christopher Newport University, please click here.
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The Library will begin verifying IDs in December
Effective 1 December, 2007, The Mariners' Museum Library will begin checking ID for all researchers accessing Library material. Patrons must present a valid photo identification card in order to enter the Library, and also sign and date a copy of the Library’s rules and regulations. This process is being put into place to bring the Library up to the security standards established by the National Archives and Records Administration for institutions that hold federal records.
We apologize for any inconvenience during the early stages of this process and appreciate your patience. This policy is in place to better safeguard our collections and ensure that they are accessible to researchers for years to come!
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The Mariners’ Museum Preserves Historic Arthur Piver Films with NFPF Grant
The museum has successfully completed a second National Film Preservation Foundation Grant for preservation and duplication of the Piver Films. The Piver Collection contains plans of trimaran boats designed by Arthur Piver and produced under the company name Pi-Craft during the 1950’s and 1960’s plans are part of a larger collection (MS232) consisting, in addition to the films, photographs, slides, articles, periodicals, books from Piver’s personal library, and manuscripts pertaining to his research.
Vessels documented include the Lodestar, Trident, Banner, Chariot, Empress, Encore, Herald, Nimble, and Victress. Arthur Piver, generally considered to be the "Father of Modern Multi-hulls," took his design cues from Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian sailing canoes. Piver’s designs, which appeared with irresistible appeal in various publications, were aimed at amateur boat builders and many of his boat plans were sold through his claim that "you can build a yacht in a few months for $3,000 and go to see the world!"
Even though Piver had no training as a naval architect, he developed some of the most popular sailing vessels of his time. Not only did he conceive and market the multi-hull dream to a growing class of sailing enthusiasts, but he also cruised and raced them extensively.
The Piver films provide unique documentation on the design and construction of
multi-hulls, as well as insights into adaptation of design from South Pacific cultures.
View Video
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Library Acquires Important Cowper Phipps Coles Patents
You may not know the name Cowper Phipps Coles, but if you’ve spent any time at The Mariners’ Museum’s website, then you have seen his influence in a large way. The Library is proud to announce the acquisition of three original published copies of Coles’ designs for ironclad ships. All of these patents describe vessels and armored turrets that bear a remarkable resemblance to John Ericsson’s ironclad Monitor.
Specification of Cowper Phipps Coles: Apparatus for Defending Guns, &c. was published in 1859 and shows Coles design for a wooden and iron-constructed gun turret intended to protect gunners on both warships and land batteries. Coles’ Iron-cased Ships of War, published in 1860, illustrates a design for a large turreted and ironclad warship that incorporates some design elements Ericsson utilized in the Monitor while retaining some distinct Coles-engineered differences. Lastly, his Vessels of War, Forts, &c. published in 1866 at the height of gun turret mania in Western naval architecture, illustrates a wide, low gun turret for warships and land-based fortifications.
Coles was one of a few men who all seemingly came up with the idea of a revolving gun turret-armed ironclad warship around the same time. John Ericsson managed to maintain a spot in the limelight the longest, and therefore, is largely remembered and hailed as the gun turret’s innovator. Coles’ reputation took a hit in 1870, when the Royal Navy acquiesced and constructed a vessel that incorporated most of Coles’ designs. The outcome was the HMS Captain, an ungainly and poorly balanced warship (most attribute its instability to the rigging the Admiralty demanded be added) that sank with the loss of nearly 500 lives in a storm on September 7, 1870.
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Library Acquires Thomas H. Rowland Collection
In January of 2006, The Mariners’ Museum, with the help of its Bronze Door Society, purchased the Thomas F. Rowland Collection, which offers valuable information on the design and construction of USS Monitor. Highlights of this collection include 47 original drawings of Monitor, an original contract concerning her construction at Continental Iron Works, and a commemorative photo scrapbook featuring images of individuals and places associated with her design and construction.
The contents of these drawings vary widely. General plans such as deck plans, profiles, and sectional views are included as are more detailed plans for riveting arrangements, gun carriages, and the propeller wheel. These 47 items more than double the Museum’s holdings of drawings of Civil War-era naval ironclad drawings.
Thomas Fitch Rowland (1831-1907) owned Continental Iron Works in Green Point, New York, where Monitor was assembled and then launched on January 30, 1862. Rowland had long been involved with shipbuilding and had previously worked on the construction of iron vessels. Because of his expertise and experience, he was chosen to be a supervising engineer for Monitor’s construction.
On March 9, 1862, Monitor met the Confederate ironclad ram, CSS Virginia, in the Battle of Hampton Roads: the first battle between two ironclad vessels. This event revolutionized both naval architecture and naval warfare, clearly illustrating the vulnerability of wooden vessels and the strength of ironclads.
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Ship Register Books of the Province of Pennsylvania, 1726 – 1775
Elaine Killam, a dedicated volunteer, has created a database and a printed guide to approximately 2,277 colonial vessels registered in the Province of Pennsylvania from 1726 – 1775. The information is organized alphabetically by vessel name and also by tonnage. The information in the publication includes vessel name, type of vessel, place built, tonnage, year registered, and owners. Elaine obtained the data from records of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, which were used by Joseph A. Goldenberg in preparation for his work, Shipbuilding in Colonial America. If you are searching for information on early vessels registered in Philadelphia, this is a source you will want to consult.
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CSS Virginia Drawing Conserved
The March 9, 1862, battle between the ironclads CSS Virginia and USS Monitor altered naval warfare—in terms of strategy as well as vessel construction and design. The Library at The Mariners' Museum has a wide variety of items pertaining to these historic ironclads. One of its more notable items, an original drawing of Virginia’s gun deck, was recently conserved.
John Luke Porter, a naval constructor at the Gosport Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia, prepared this drawing in 1861. At the time the Confederate Navy was hurriedly developing a plan to break the Union blockade. Ironclads were to play a key role and Virginia would be the Confederate Navy’s first.
The drawing of Virginia’s gun deck was in need of care when The Mariners'
Museum acquired it in 2003. There were ink spots and glue stains as well as insect specks and soil on the surface. The paper had become discolored and brittle with age. Years of mechanical damage had resulted in folds, creases, holes and tears along the edges.
The goal of the conservation treatment was to return physical stability to the paper while retaining the integrity of the line work and any evidence of Porter’s drafting techniques. The surface of the paper was selectively dry cleaned with vinyl eraser crumbs to reduce stains and soiling. The paper was washed with a slightly alkaline water to address the discoloration and brittleness. Japanese paper and a wheat starch paste were applied to fill holes and mend tears. Finally, a composite mount was constructed to support the drawing during storage, handling, and display.
Chesapeake Paper Conservation of Williamsburg, Virginia, performed this work in 2004 and 2005. The results can be seen in the image provided here.
The Library at The Mariners' Museum has two other original drawings by Porter—a concept drawing of a floating ironclad battery and a construction drawing of Virginia.
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Steamship Ephemera Collection Now Open!
The Library at The Mariners’ Museum
is pleased to announce the opening of the
Steamship Ephemera Collection to the public.
Archivists have completed processing of
this extensive Collection, consisting of
over 21,000 printed items, representing
more than 1000 different U.S. and international
steamship companies.
These pieces of ephemera illustrate, in
vivid detail, all aspects of steamship travel
and adventure, including schedules, accommodations,
meals, deck plans, itineraries, fares, recreational
activities, and passenger services. Formats
include advertising and detailed, descriptive
travel literature that documents departures
and destinations, along with more personal
information including passenger lists, handbooks,
baggage labels and tags, and tickets. Most
of the items are in color and many have
numerous pages.
The Steamship Ephemera Series materials
date from the 1840s to the present (materials
continue to be added to the collection),
with the majority of items reflecting the
period from the 1890s to the 1950s. Approximately
25% of the materials, some of which are
fragile, are folded oversize brochures,
booklets, plans, and broadsides that, when
unfolded, become poster-size.
To examine a list of steamship lines in the collection, download a copy of the box-level finding aid.
 Previous
Library News Items
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