Overview of the Collection
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Repository Name:
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Museum of History &
Industry
Sophie Frye Bass
Library
2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org
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Collection Number:
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1989.89
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Creator:
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Blanchard
Boat Company
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Title:
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Blanchard Boat
Company Photographs
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Dates:
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1900-1963 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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2 boxes
.6 linear feet
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Languages:
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Collection materials are in
English.
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Summary:
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Photographs of ships built by the
Blanchard Boat Company in Seattle, including work boats, sailboats, rowboats
and motor yachts.
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Location of Collection:
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2b.4.3
4b.6 (negatives)
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Historical Note
This background of the Blanchard Boat Company was written by Stephen
Wilen, co-author, with Norman C. Blanchard, of Knee-deep
in shavings: Memories of early yachting and boatbuilding on the west
coast:
In 1905, Norman J. (N.J.) Blanchard (1885-1954) teamed up with his
friends, Dean and Lloyd Johnson, to open Johnson Bros. & Blanchard boatyard
at the former oxbow of the Duwamish River, near what is now South Hidalgo
Street. It was from this yard that the 100-foot motor yacht Helori was launched
in 1911 for O.O. Denny. Designed by N.J.'s friend, L.E. (Ted) Geary, it was at
that time the largest motor yacht built on the west coast. In 1915, after
underbidding a job, the yard went broke and closed.
N.J. eventually went to work at the large Skinner & Eddy yard, and
after saving enough money, he opened the N.J. Blanchard Boat Company on Lake
Union, at the foot of Wallingford Avenue North. It was at that location that
the 63-foot schooner Red Jacket, also designed by Geary, and still a popular
feature at many classic yacht gatherings, was built.
Following a fire in 1922 that destroyed the Blanchard yard, N.J.
rebuilt at 3201 Fairview Avenue East. It was at this location that many of the
production sailboats, including Star Boats, Flatties (also known as Geary 18s),
and the still-popular Junior and Senior Knockabouts were built, as well as
numerous one-off designs. Production motor yachts built include the 36-foot
standardized raised deck cruisers, several of which are still beautifully
maintained, and custom yachts, such as the Geary-designed, 100-foot Malibu of
1926.
Following N.J.'s death in 1954, his son Norman C. Blanchard (b. 1911),
who had worked alongside his father most of his life, succeeded as head of the
yard. The shift in pleasure craft by this time, however, was toward fiberglass,
and much of the work done at the yard in the 1960s was repair work. After over
60 years of operation, in 1969, Norm Blanchard sold the yard. The final tally
totals almost 2,000 boats constructed, including sail and power, commercial and
pleasure. That many of these boats are still in use by proud owners is
testament to the excellent workmanship of the Blanchard Boat Company.
Content Description
The collection consists largely of photographs of ships built by the
Blanchard Boat Company in Seattle between 1900 and 1963. These include images
of workboats, including progress photographs of a government contracted Navy
picket boat; pleasure boats, including sailboats such as the Sir Tom, and motor
yachts, such as the Helori; the Boeing hydroplane, the Pickle Fork; and
interiors of various Blanchard boats. The photographs also include images of
shipbuilding and repair, boat launches and ceremonies, the Blanchard shipyard
and people associated with the Blanchard company. The collection also contains
a small number of boat plans, brochures and clippings.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information Donated by Norman C. Blanchard in 1989
Processing Note The Blanchard collection is comprised of items from several donations.
The majority of the collection is from accession 1989.89. The collection also
contains items from three other accessions: 1982.196 (Blanchard), 1972.5503
(Olson & Winge Marine Works) and 1969.4634 (Blanchard).
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 Blanchard Boat Company Photographs, Museum of History & Industry,
Seattle
Related Information
Additional Reference Guides A complete inventory of the photographs is available in the
repository.
Bibliography Blanchard, N. & Wilen, S. (1999). Knee-deep
in shavings: Memories of early yachting and boatbuilding on the west
coast. Victoria, BC: Horsdale & Schubart Publishers Ltd.
Subjects
| Blanchard,
Norman C. |
| Blanchard,
Norman J. |
| Seattle
(Wash.) |
| Boat & ship
companies--Washington (State)--Seattle |
| Boat & ship
industry--Washington (State)--Seattle |
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Photographs
A complete inventory of the photographs is available in the
repository.
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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People
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11 photographs
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Blanchard Shipyard
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16 photographs Photographs of the shipyard include the image below, available
in digital format by clicking on the icon:
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1989.89.27:
Employees at the Blanchard Boat
Company plant (image/jpeg)
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circa 1924 |
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Boat Launches and Ceremonies
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18 photographs Photographs of boat launches include the image below, available
in digital format by clicking on the icon:
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1989.89.39:
Launching of the
Gadget at Blanchard Boat Company (image/jpeg)
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1929 |
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Boeing hydroplane and
hydrodynamic tests
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21 photographs
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Shipbuilding--unnamed boats
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12 photographs
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Shipbuilding and repair--Pleasure
craft--Sailboats--Named
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54 photographs
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Shipbuilding--Pleasure
craft--Motor Yachts--Named
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5 photographs
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Shipbuilding--Workboats--Passenger
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3 photographs
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Work Boats--Government
contracts--Numbered boats
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34 photographs
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Work boats--Government
contracts--USS Highway and unnumbered boats
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13 photographs
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Work boats--Non-government
contracted
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6 photographs
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Pleasure craft--Rowboats
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1 photograph
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Pleasure
craft--Sailboats--Unnamed
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31 photographs
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Pleasure craft--Sailboats--A-P
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48 photographs
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Pleasure craft--Sailboats--Q-Z
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40 photographs
3 color transparencies The photographs of sailboats include the two images described
below, available in digital format by clicking on the icon:
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1989.89.464:
Norman C. Blanchard in front of
the sailboat Sir Tom at Blanchard yard in
Wallingford (image/jpeg)
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1921 June 21 |
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1989.89.244:
The Winona
(image/jpeg)
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1910 |
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Pleasure craft--Motor
Yachts--Unnamed
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30 photographs
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Pleasure craft--Motor
Yachts--Named--50 feet and under
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31 photographs
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Pleasure craft--Motor
Yachts--Named--over 50 feet
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39 photographs The photographs of motor yachts includes the image described
below, available in digital format by clicking on the icon:
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1989.89.321:
The Wanda
(image/jpeg)
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1922 |
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Pleasure craft--Motor
Yachts--Named--Unknown length
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29 photographs
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Interiors--Unidentified engines
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2 photographs
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Interiors--Work boats--USS
Highway
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1 photograph
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Interiors--Sailboats
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5 photographs
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Interiors--Motor Yachts--A-H
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50 photographs
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Interiors--Motor Yachts--I-Z
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23 photographs
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Interiors--Motor Yachts--Unnamed
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3 photographs
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Stock prints--#1-270
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21 photographs
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Stock prints--#271-460
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37 photographs
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Yacht clubs
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5 photographic postcards
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Photos removed from album
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20 photographs
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Contact sheet
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Drawings and papers
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Container(s)
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Description
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Newspaper Clippings
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Boat plans
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Blanchard brochures
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Boatyard brochure and card
(successor firm to Blanchard Boat Co.) Moved from accession 1998.38.3
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Deed to Blanchard Boat Co.
Property
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Scale drawing of Blanchard Boat
Co. 36' Standardized Cruiser
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Scale drawing of Blanchard Senior
Knockabout
(oversize)
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