Guide to the Moran Brothers Company Collection
1893-1939

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Overview of the Collection

Creator: Moran Brothers Company (Seattle, Wash.)
Title: Moran Brothers Company Collection
Dates: 1893-1939 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 6 boxes (3 linear feet)
Location of Collection: 12b.3.2-3
Collection Number: 1995.49
Summary: Photographs, clippings, and other materials documenting the work of the Moran Brothers Company, a Seattle shipbuilder, between 1893 and 1906.
Repository: Museum of History & Industry
Sophie Frye Bass Library

2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org

Languages: Collection materials are in English. 
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical Note

After working on ships for a number of years, Robert, Sherman, and Frank Moran established Moran Bros. Marine and Sawmill Machinery Co. in 1882. The company became Moran Bros. Co. (ship and engine builders) in 1890. In 1898, the firm built -- in the record time of only four months -- a fleet of 12 steamers and 10 barges, and delivered them on the Yukon River to carry food to the miners. The firm also built many large steel and wood vessels, including the U.S. battleship NEBRASKA. Robert Moran served as mayor of Seattle from 1888 to 1890, overseeing both the response to the Great Fire and the development of the Cedar River water system.

Content Description

This collection documents the work of the Moran Brothers Company between 1893 and 1906. A large proportion of the collection is photographs, including images of vessels, ship components, machines, construction processes, facilities, and workers. Non-photographic materials include clippings, brochures, and correspondence. Much of the material relates to the NEBRASKA, including photographs, clippings, correspondence, and invitations and programs from the launch.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

Restrictions on Use :  

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation :  

Moran Brothers Company Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information :  

Found in collection. Apparently an artificial collection assembled from various donations by Moran family members. Many of the photographs and photo albums are from a 1972 donation by Betty Burns, Robert Moran's granddaughter.

Related Materials :  

The Betty Burns Papers on Robert Moran (2000.87) and the Betty Burns Papers on the Moran Brothers Company (1972.5439) contain additional materials relating to Robert Moran and the Moran Brothers Company.


Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1:  Photographs

Photographs of vessels, machinery, workers, and facilities, some in scrapbooks. Item-level photograph inventory available at repository.

Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
1 1995.49.1-1995.49.56: Photographs
Identified vessels, including steamers, tugs, schooners, and the battleship USS NEBRASKA. Box also includes copy negatives and photograph inventory.
1896-1905
2 1995.49.57-1995.49.150: Photographs
Identified and unidentified vessels, as well as ship construction. Includes USS NEBRASKA (also invitation to launching), SS WILLAMETTE, and other steamers, torpedo boats, and tugs, as well as the wreck of the SS UMATILLA.
1896-1902
3 1995.49.151-1995.49.243: Photographs
Unidentified vessels, facilities (exterior and interior shots), and machines and parts. Includes dry docks, shop buildings, and some shots of workers.
1893-1906
4 1995.49.244-1995.49.275: Photographs
Machines and parts, people (including striking workers), vessels, and facilities. Also includes album containing images of the USS NEBRASKA along with people and facilities, and a set of commemorative photos of the construction of the NEBRASKA.
1894-1906
5 1995.49.276-1995.49.277: Photographs
Scrapbook with images of Yukon River steamboat building, loose photos from scrapbook, copy prints and negatives from Moran albums, and photo of NEBRASKA main propelling engines.
1896-1906

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Series 2:  Manuscript material

Correspondence, articles, clippings, and ephemera. Also includes visitors' register logging visitors to the company from 1896-1902.

Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
6 Miscellaneous manuscripts: 1895-1924
"Salving of the Steamship WILLAMETTE"
Letter from Wm. B. Mershon & Co. re: building carriage
Carriage blueprints from Wm. B. Mershon & Co.
Standard lists and standard dimensions
American Machinist article on centrifugal pump
Moran Bros. Co. history
Address by Robert Moran to 50th Jubilee Meeting of Pioneers Association
Invitations to NEBRASKA launching
Correspondence re: KOMO radio program about NEBRASKA
Moran Bros. brochure
Robert Moran biographical sketch
NEBRASKA souvenir booklet
Employee notice and invitation to launch of USS GOLDEN GATE
Shop orders book
Seattle Sunday Times article re: laying of keel of NEBRASKA
NEBRASKA launch program, NEBRASKA furnace markings and firing schedules
Robert Moran correspondence
Seattle Star special edition re: launch of NEBRASKA
Correspondence re: NEBRASKA bid
no box Visitor's register 1896-1902

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Subjects

  • Personal Names :
  • Moran, Robert, 1857-1943
  • Form or Genre Terms :
  • Photographic prints
  • Subject Terms :
  • Mayors -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
  • Shipbuilding -- Washington (State) -- Seattle -- Photographs

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