Museum of History & Industry
Sophie Frye Bass Library
2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org

Guide to the Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Company Photographs and Publications, 1889-1980


1988.13





Finding aid prepared by Helice Koffler

Finding aid encoded by, 2006
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection
 
Repository Name:
 

Museum of History & Industry
Sophie Frye Bass Library

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

1988.13
 
Creator:
 

Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Company
 
Title:
 

Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Company Photographs and Publications

 
Dates:
 

1889-1980 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

8 boxes
5.75 linear feet
 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

Photographs and publications of the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company and its successor, the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, documenting shipbuilding and construction projects in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska.
 
Location of Collection:
 

13b.1.5-6
 

Historical Note

Founded in 1889, the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company was destined to become one of Seattle's most important companies. Whether under the title Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company or Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, their hand can be seen in most major construction sites in the Pacific Northwest including Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California. In addition, they are responsible for many ships, including some of the Washington State ferries and many naval vessels during and after World War II.

Some of the highlights in the history of this company include:

1909-1910
Hydraulic Dredges construct Harbor Island, the largest man-made island for thirty-five years--second now only to Treasure Island in San Francisco. Harbor Island was the site of the company since the thirties.
1924
The Dexter Horton Building was constructed in Seattle. At fourteen stories, it was the largest reinforced concrete building in the United States west of Chicago.
1927
A steel cantilever bridge was constructed over the Snake River at Twin Falls, Idaho.
1939
Construction began on the Lake Washington Floating Bridge.
WWII
WWII provided a boom in contracts for the company with the Navy. In conjunction with their Canadian affiliate, the British Columbia Bridge and Dredging Company, they constructed Naval bases in Alaska at Sitka, Dutch Harbor and Kodiak. In addition the BCB & D built a Point of Embarkation at Prince Rupert for the Army.
Eighty-two ships were constructed for the Navy as well, with a record fifteen (five of three different types) ships being delivered in one day.
1959
Company purchased by Lockheed.

More recent projects include the Grand Coulee Dam, much of the Interstate 5 bridges and roadways through Seattle, and the San Fernando Tunnel in California. They have continued to build ships ranging from dredges, tugs and ferries to mine sweepers, ice breakers and guided missile frigates, mostly for the Navy, Coast Guard and the states of Washington and Alaska.

Content Description

This collection contains photographs and publications of the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company and its successor, the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, and documents shipbuilding and construction projects in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska. Building projects represented in the collection include bridges, tunnels, freeways and dams. Many photographs record individual ships in various stages of construction, and there are quite a few photos of shipyard workers during World War II. The collection also contains publications, including the World War II-era employee newsletter, Flood-Tide.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged in three series: photographs, publications, and oversize materials. Photographs are divided into subseries by subject (bridges, dams, people, products, etc.), with additional subseries of photo albums and miscellaneous negatives and proofs.

The collection is arranged as follows:

  • Series 1: Photographs
    • Subseries A: Bridges
    • Subseries B: Building construction projects
    • Subseries C: Dams
    • Subseries D: Facilities
    • Subseries E: People
    • Subseries F: Products
    • Subseries G: Ships
    • Subseries H: Tunnels
    • Subseries I: Photo Albums
    • Subseries J: Miscellaneous negatives and proofs
  • Series 2: Publications
  • Series 3: Oversize

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information 

The collection was donated by Lockheed in 1988.

Processing Note 

Processed by Helice Koffler. The table of contents for one of the photo albums was removed and relocated into the Oversize materials series in box 11.

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 

Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Company Photographs and Publications, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Related Information

Related Materials 

The H.W. McCurdy Collection on the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Co.  (text/html) (1955.970.500) and the James G. McCurdy II Photographs and Other Material  (text/html) (1995.37) contain additional materials about this company.

Subjects

McCurdy, H. W. (Horace Winslow), 1899- -- Photographs
Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co. -- Photographs
Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Co. -- Photographs
Photographic prints
Bridges -- Design and Construction -- Photographs
Dams -- Design and Construction -- Photographs
Shipbuilding -- Washington (State) -- Photographs
Tunnels -- Design and Construction -- Photographs

Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Series 1:  Photographs

Photographs created or received by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company and its successor, the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company. The majority of the photographs document various shipbuilding or construction projects. Another large set of photographs shows company employees during the World War II period. The subseries themselves are described more fully below. The photographs have been arranged in nine distinct subseries by subject. The photographs were received from Lockheed in 1988. It is not clear whether or not the subject categories that appear on the original inventory list created in 1988 by Sheila McKee reflect the original order in which the photograph files were organized or maintained by Lockheed.
 
 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
   
Subseries A:  Bridges
 
 
Four folders (Box 1, Folders 1-4) of black and white photographs containing images of bridges constructed by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company and its Canadian affiliate, the British Columbia Bridge and Dredging Company. This subseries consists mainly of 8 x 10 prints, but other formats, as well as some negatives are also present. Oversize materials have been placed in the Oversize series.
 
box
1		 folder
1
Miscellaneous bridges
  
 
See also oversize
 
2
Burrard Street Bridge
 
 
3
Granville Street Bridge
 
 
oversize
11

Hood Canal Bridge-- see oversize
 
 
box
1		 4
Olympic Peninsula -- girders
 
   
Subseries B:  Building construction projects
 
 
Twenty-two folders (Box 1, Folders 5-26) of black and white photographs containing images of various construction projects undertaken by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company. Of particular interest may be a folder containing several images of the construction of the I-5 freeway through downtown Seattle. This subseries consists mainly of 8 x 10 prints, but other formats, as well as some negatives are also present. Oversize materials have been placed in the Oversize series.
 
5
Miscellaneous construction projects -- General
 
 
6
Miscellaneous construction projects -- Buildings
 
 
7
Miscellaneous construction projects - Dredge Jobs
 
 
8
Miscellaneous construction projects - Dredge Jobs, pre-1940
 
 
9
Adak Naval Station, Alaska
 
 
10
Alaska - Cordova, Sitka, Dutch Harbor, Kodiak
 
 
See also oversize
 
11
Astoria Puget General
 
 
12
Canadian Bank of Commerce
 
 
13
Columbia Cellulose Plant
 
 
14
Elk Falls Paper Mill (1 of 2)
 
 
15
Elk Falls Paper Mill (2 of 2)
 
 
16
Kitimat Project
 
 
17
Kodiak, Alaska
 
 
18
Nanaimo Sulphate Pulp Mill
 
 
19
Powell River Paper Company
 
 
20
Prince Rupert Waterfront
 
 
21
Rainbow Pier (Long Beach, California)
 
 
22
Riverton Quarry
 
 
23
Santa Monica Breakwater
 
 
24
Seattle Freeway
 
 
25
Sluicing Projects
 
 
26
Texas Company Plant - Richfield Oil
 
   
Subseries C:  Dams
 
 
Thirteen folders (Box 1, Folders 27-39) of black and white photographs and other items relating to dam construction. Also included are some unsorted clippings on the Grand Coulee and Skookumchuck dams. This subseries consists mainly of 8 x 10 prints, but other formats, as well as some negatives are also present. Oversize materials have been placed in the Oversize series.
 
27
Miscellaneous dams
 
 
28
Blue River Dam
 
 
29
Chief Joseph Dam
 
 
30
Denver Reservoir #22
 
 
31
Grand Coulee Dam (1 of 2)
 
 
32
Grand Coulee Dam (2 of 2)
 
 
33
Grand Coulee Dam -- Clippings
  
   
Kitimat project -- see oversize
 
 
34
Lookout Point Dam
 
 
35
Lucky Peak Dam
 
 
See also oversize
 
36
McNary Dam
 
   
Ochoco Dam -- see oversize
 
 
37
Ruidi Dam and Tunnel
 
 
38
Skookumchuck Dam
 
 
39
Skookumchuck Dam -- Clippings
 
   
Subseries D:  Facilities
 
 
Seventeen folders (Box 1, Folders 40-56) of black and white photographs including images of shipyard facilities, owned, operated, or utilized by Lockheed, including Long Beach, California and the Puget Sound Naval Yard in Bremerton. The bulk of the images, however, are of the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company facility on Harbor Island, dating from the peak shipbuilding period of the 1940s. This subseries consists mainly of 8 x 10 prints, but other formats, as well as some negatives are also present. Oversize materials have been placed in the Oversize series.
 
40
General ship repair - Long Beach, California
 
 
41
Harbor Island
  1941
 
42
Harbor Island
  1941
 
43
Harbor Island
  1941
 
44
Harbor Island
  1941
 
45
Harbor Island
  1941
 
46
Harbor Island
  1941
 
47
Harbor Island
  1941
 
48
Harbor Island
  1941
 
49
Harbor Island
  1941
 
50
Harbor Island
  1941
 
51
Harbor Island
  1941
 
52
Harbor Island
  1941
 
53
Harbor Island
  1941
 
54
Harbor Island
  1941
 
See also oversize
 
55
Harbor Island (aerial views)
   1946
 
See also oversize
 
56
Puget Sound Navy Yard
  1939
   
Subseries E:  People
 
 
Ninety-two folders (Box 2, Folders 1-92) comprised of black and white photographs. The subjects chiefly fall into three categories: images of shipyard employees, mainly dating from the World War II period; dignitaries and guests at ship launches, and formal portraits of the owners of the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company. It is not clear how the alphanumerical filing system indicated on the smaller format prints functioned; the 8 x 10 most likely duplicate the smaller. Oversize materials have been placed in the Oversize series.
 
2 1
Miscellaneous
 
 
2
Miscellaneous
 
 
3
Miscellaneous
 
 
4
Miscellaneous
 
 
5
Miscellaneous
 
 
6
Miscellaneous
 
 
7
4 x 5 prints, W-1 -- W-20
 
 
8
4 x 5 prints, W-30 -- W-49
 
 
9
4 x 5 prints, W-50 -- W-69
 
 
10
4 x 5 prints, W-70 -- W-89
 
 
11
4 x 5 prints, W-90 -- W-109
 
 
12
4 x 5 prints, W-110 -- W-129
 
 
13
4 x 5 prints, W-130 -- W-149
 
 
14
4 x 5 prints, W-150 -- W-169
 
 
15
4 x 5 prints, W-170 -- W-189
 
 
16
4 x 5 prints, W-190 -- W-209
 
 
17
4 x 5 prints, W-210 -- W-229
 
 
18
4 x 5 prints, W-230 -- W-249
 
 
19
4 x 5 prints, W-250 -- W-269
 
 
20
4 x 5 prints, W-270 -- W-289
 
 
21
4 x 5 prints, W-290 -- W-309
 
 
22
4 x 5 prints, W-310 -- W-329
 
 
23
4 x 5 prints, W-330 -- W-349
 
 
24
4 x 5 prints, W-350 -- W-369
 
 
25
4 x 5 prints, W-370 -- W-389
 
 
26
4 x 5 prints, W-390 -- W-409
 
 
27
4 x 5 prints, W-410 -- W-429
 
 
28
4 x 5 prints, W-430 -- W-449
 
 
29
4 x 5 prints, W-451 -- W-469
 
 
30
4 x 5 prints, W-470 -- W-489
 
 
31
4 x 5 prints, W-490 -- W-509
 
 
32
4 x 5 prints, W-510 -- W-529
 
 
33
4 x 5 prints, W-530 -- W-549
 
 
34
4 x 5 prints, W-550 -- W-569
 
 
35
4 x 5 prints, W-570 -- W-589
 
 
36
4 x 5 prints, W-590 -- W-609
 
 
37
4 x 5 prints, W-610 -- W-629
 
 
38
4 x 5 prints, W-630 -- W-649
 
 
39
4 x 5 prints, W-650 -- W-669
 
 
40
4 x 5 prints, W-670 -- W-689
 
 
41
4 x 5 prints, W-690 -- W-709
 
 
42
4 x 5 prints, W-710 -- W-729
 
 
43
4 x 5 prints, W-730 -- W-749
 
 
44
4 x 5 prints, W-750 -- W-769
 
 
45
4 x 5 prints, W-770 -- W-789
 
 
46
4 x 5 prints, W-790 -- W-809
 
 
47
4 x 5 prints, W-810 -- W-829
 
 
48
4 x 5 prints, W-830 -- W-839
 
 
49
4 x 5 prints, R-26 -- R-69
 
 
50
4 x 5 prints, R-70 -- R-84
 
 
51
4 x 4.5 prints, SA-54 -- SA-86
 
 
52
4 x 4.5 prints, N-743 -- N-827
 
 
53
4 x 4.5 prints, N-829 -- N-3352
 
 
54
4 x 4.5 prints, N-3353 -- N-3372
 
 
55
4 x 4.5 prints, N-3373 -- N-3383
 
 
56
3 x 3.5 prints, N-355 -- N-2498
 
 
57
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3061 -- N-3081
 
 
58
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3082 -- N-3105
 
 
59
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3106 -- N-3129
 
 
60
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3130 -- N-3149
 
 
61
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3150 -- N-3170
 
 
62
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3171 -- N-3191
 
 
63
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3192 -- N-3212
 
 
64
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3213 -- N-3235
 
 
65
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3236 -- N-3257
 
 
66
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3259 -- N-3280
 
 
67
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3281 -- N-3307
 
 
68
3 x 3.5 prints, N-3308 -- N-3335
 
 
69
3 x 3.5 prints, SA-1 -- SA-39
 
 
70
3 x 3.5 prints, SA-40 -- SA-52
 
 
71
3 x 3.5 prints (mainly), H-12 -- H-139; Y-2 -- Y-40
 
 
72
Unnumbered 4 x 5 prints
 
 
73
Unnumbered 4 x 5 prints
 
 
74
Unnumbered 4 x 5 prints
 
 
75
"Extra prints" 4 x 5, N-2847 -- N-2852 ("Crew working on APL-47")
 
 
76