Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums

Captain Frank Hamilton Great Lakes Ships Loose Photograph Collection

FR-2

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Captain Frank Hamilton

Captain Frank Hamilton was born April 14, 1892 on Kelleys Island to Frederina Kelley Hamilton and Titus Hamilton. His mother’s family was among those for whom the island was named. Passionate about the Great Lakes, Captain Hamilton spent much of his life on Lake Erie. He served as a merchant marine officer during World War I. His voyages included trips to France, Greece, Italy, and South America. He married Katherine Shebley in 1919 and continued to work with ships. He was a master and marine superintendent on various boats and during runs on the Great Lakes until 1933, when he returned to Kelleys Island to work on his cottage and boat business. Hamilton focused on his business until 1943, when he took command of the steamer Put-in-Bay, belonging to Ashley & Dustin, after its former captain took ill. Hamilton helmed the ship through the hectic World War II years. Great Lakes excursions were a particularly popular diversion at that time, with trips available night and day. After the Put-in-Bay was sold, Hamilton continued his business on Kelleys Island. He became the president of the Kelleys Island Boat Company in 1950 and captained the company’s ferry, Welcome, on its run from Kelleys Island to Sandusky, Ohio. 

Throughout his life, Hamilton was deeply interested in the history of the Great Lakes. He was a charter member of the Great Lakes Historical Society, and he amassed an extensive personal collection of historical materials. In the 1960s, he wrote a series of articles on Great Lakes ships for the Peninsular News. He was also known to write in to correct other authors’ articles that he felt were not sufficiently accurate. Captain Hamilton spent his final years on Kelleys Island, passing away January 22, 1972. Prior to his death, he made arrangements to place his Great Lakes marine collection at the Hayes Presidential Center.

Captain Frank Hamilton Loose Photographs of Great Lakes Ships

Scope and Content
The Captain Frank Hamilton Great Lakes Ships Photograph Collection contains more than 2,000 loose photographic prints of Great Lakes vessels. In addition to the photographs, an extensive amount of information may be found on many of the ships, including, registration information, articles, and even some postcards and artistic renderings. The bulk of the ships documented were from the 1880s up through the 1950s, although there are some from as early as 1840 and as late as 1971. However, some of the images of ships are not dated.

The content of this collection varies greatly.  Some files consist of only a photograph; others have only a brief written description. Still others are more extensive, with multiple photographs, copies of articles written about the vessel, postcards, slides, or copies of tickets or advertisements dating from the time when the ship was operational.

Captain Hamilton also corresponded with others interested in Great Lakes ships. Some files hold information received from his correspondents. Box 36 contains a series on riverboats and steamboats. The first part of this series is based on geographic area or type of boat, with files on Grand River steamboats from Michigan, Lake Champlain vessels, riverboats in general, riverboats from the St. Lawrence, steamboats from the Upper Lakes in 1862, and Yukon River steamers. The second part of this series contains files on individual riverboats and steamboats organized alphabetically by vessel name. The rest of Box 36 and the beginning of Box 37 consist of a series on miscellaneous foreign and deepwater vessels. There are several general files at the beginning of this series on Hungarian battleships, Swiss ships, and unknown foreign and deepwater harbors. The rest of the series is made up of individual foreign and deepwater vessels, organized alphabetically by vessel name. The rest of Box 37 holds files on: barges and derricks, drawings of ships, Commodore Perry’s fleet, pound boats, revenue cutters, Rocky River tugs, sailboats, U.S. military ships, U.S.N. battleships, and yachts. The first part of Box 38 has three files on unknown ships. The rest of Box 38 contains (formerly) unlocated Great Lakes ships. They are organized alphabetically by ship’s name. Information has been found on these ships, and any information that has been assumed or isn’t certain is marked with a question mark.

There is an important difference between the bulk of the collection and the series in the last few boxes. For Boxes 1 through 35, the name in bold indicates the name of the vessel in that folder. The other names are names the ship was also known by at various times. Some of the series in Boxes 36 through 38 are organized differently. Folders in these series may contain more than one ship. The name listed in bold is that of the first ship in the folder. Other names listed may indicate additional ships information and photographs found in that folder..

A (c) following a registration number indicates that that ship was registered in Canada. The absence of this (c) means that the ship was registered in the United States, except for the series of foreign and deepwater ships in Boxes 36 and 37, for which registration location is not specified. An asterisk (*) following a ship’s name indicates that the file contains no additional information on this ship.

Box 39, 40, 41 contain images of and published articles about Great Lakes ports, cities, and harbors. The images are primarily black and white prints measuring 8 ½”  x 10” and 3 ½” x 5”. However, there are many used and unused black and white and colored postcards. The folders are arranged alphabetically by the name of the port or location. Where images and articles exist for the same port or harbor, the folder containing images precedes that of the folder housing articles. There are numerous miscellaneous files, including pictures of ice-locked freighters, lighthouses, model ships, harbors other than those on the Great Lakes, marine museums, and an entire folder containing photographs of Captain Frank E. Hamilton.

Box Contents

 

BOX 1

127
Jeanie
53274

Abele 
Superior Straits
173188 (c)

Aberdeen
Gladys H.
106975  
126469 (c)

Abbott, H. B.*
96005

Acadian
Glenmavis
133533 (c)

Acme*
107039

Active*
105100

Acton
Coriscliffe Hall
160706 (c)

Adams, A. C.*
105994

Adams, James*
76294

Admiral
J. K. Dimmick
Edward U. Demmer
107523

Adriatic
204726

Aetna
Coperas
Saginaw
Manasquan
Gemine
217587

Agnew, William C.
Picture as Ben W. Calvin
George F. Rand
208396

Agoming
150338 (cc)

Aha
(built by Ephriam Shay)

Ajax*

Alabama
207138

Alabama
Tug
214376

Alaska
105798

Alberta
85765 (c)

Aldrich, Wm.
2362

Alexandria
Alexandra
85768 (c)

Algocen*
325748 (c)

Algoma
City of Toronto
Racine

Algonquin, R. C.*

Alice
105999

Allan, Glen
130645 (c)

Allan S.*
236880

Allegheny*
King Coal
178877

Allegheny
George D. Dixon
Concon
Angol
207792

Allen, Harry L.
John B. Cowle

Allendale*
107445

Allie May*
106263

Alma*
225326

Alpena
216022

Alpha*
Shayghraun
Princeton
Atlas
Avon
115833

Alpha (2^nd)*
Kentucky
106036

Alva
Minnetonka
Glenfinnan
Renfrew
107034

Alva B.*
106758

Alva W.
116316 (c)

Amadeno, James*
75616

America
Midland City
Maude
100662 (c)

America
Glenstriven
106638 (c)

America
107367

America
107302

American*
Fred W. Upton
Lila Haden
N. R. Coppedge
212487

American Eagle
105936

American Girl
222221

Americana
205096

Amherst Islander
Tante II
177561 (c)

Amherstburg*
311344 (c)

Amoco Wisconsin
Edward G. Seubert
230184

Amsden, C.
5054

BOX 2

Andaste
106962

Anderson, Arthur M.
254207

Anderson, Bob*
2040

Andrews, Matthew
Paul L. Tiegen
Harry L. Findlay
203907

Angeline
107494

Anlaranth
Southwind
258181

Ann Arbor No. 5
208261

Ann Arbor No. 7
Viking
244430

Ann Maria

Annie*
106633

Annie Laura
150106

Anchor Bay

Apostle Islands
237905

Aquarama
Marine Star
248329

Arabia*
Bickerdike
Maplebrook
City of Windsor
Bellville
105254

Aragon
Bayanna
107228
150811 (c)

Arcadia
106552

Archie, W.*
134551 (c)

Arenac
106549

Argo
Racine
Rene
107627

Argon
Bayanna
107228
150811 (c)

Argus
200211

Ariadne
85708 (c)

Ariadne
112102 (c)

Ariel
106032

Arizona
City of Racine
126551

Arizona
230656

Armco
265621

Armstrong, Frank
Pilot Knob
243425

Armstrong, William
Mons Meg
80613

Arnold, Fanny
Tupper Porter
85322 (c)

Arrow
107155

Arthur D.
Doughboy
106640

Ash, Annie M.
106540

Ashley, J. S.
Fred A. Manske
206695

Ashtabula
Tiffin
Jenny T.
212966

Ashtabula Car Ferry
203071

Aspin Lighthouse Tender

Assiniboia
125934 (c)

Atlantic
Homer Warren
298

Atlantic 1842

Atlantic 1848

ATR4
Louis Simard
179240

Atwater, William C.
E. J. Kulas
Thomas E. Millsop
Ben B. Morel
224662

Augur, Chas. H.
126504

Augustus, A. A.
Howard Hindman II
207074

Aurania
107186

Aurelia
66063 (c)

Averill, Wm.  J.
Oatland
80127

Avery, Sewell
243488

Avery, Waldo A.*
80765

Avondale*

Avondale
John A. France
Starwell
161518 (c)

Azon
(c)

BOX 3

Babcock, W. L.*
81204

Bad Boy

Badger
265156

Badger, H. H.
Kate Gillett
14164

Bailey, James E.*
217063

Bainbridge I
Arnold T. Rice 5
Algoman II 9
Erie Queen 3
222185

Baker, Fannie L.
Battle
Thomas F.
120729

Balcon
3205

Balize*
Mary Grandy
Bignonia
2714
100306 (c)

Ball, Daniel*
6199

Ball Brothers
201695

Ballen*
Sulphite
217678

Band, C. S.
Florence J.
Martha
Florence
Maureen H.
Owendoc
170554 (c)

Bangs, Anson M.
Eileen Morse
Titan
107301

Bannockburn
(c)

Barber, E. B.
194458

Barker, James R.

Barker, James R. 1976

Barker, S. B.
Globe
115837

Barkhamstead
217889

Barlow
U.S. Engineers

Barlum, Thomas
Algosteel
204796

Barnes, Bertha
W. D. Hossack
2935

Barnes, C. C.
125214

Barnes, Frank C.*
120894
116386 (c)

Barrett, William H.*
80458

Barrie
Robert P. Kerman
151045 (c)

Bastican
United States
154476 (c)
206330

BOX 4

Batavia
Handy Boy
201164

Battle, James
77444
174801(c)

Bayfield
Islay
100535

Bayton

Beatty, Charles
Ironwood
Usona
127641

Beaver
Oval Agitator
155225

Beaver Islander
289010

Beaverton
125440 (c)

Becker, Charles*
Michigan Alkali Co.
228717

Becker, Florence K.
279186

Bee Jay
239666

Belden, Cliff*

Bell*
2324

Bell, Sir Isaac Lothian
Black River
Blanche H.
116741

Bellechasse
133935 (c)

Bellinger, A. A.*
105938

Beloeil
Pelerin
103342 (c)

Bennett, J. W.

Bennington (?) *
162596

Benson, C. B.

Berry, B. F.
C. A. Bennett
Viscount Bennett
Berryton
204981

Berwind, Edward J.
Blanche Hindman
Mathew Andrews
224139

Bibb, George M.
U.S. Revenue Marine

Bide-A-Wee
Pittsburg
Bridgebuilder
208790

Bielman, C. F.
126887

Bielman, C. F.
Dove
204485

Bienville
McKie
148859 (c)

Bigane, Joseph F.

Birckhead, L.
140618

Birchard, Sardis*

Bismark
Gary, G. R.
Justice Field
Traveler
2767

Bissell, Harvey
11281

Block, Philip D.
224508

Block, E. J.
W. R. Woodford
N. F. Leopold
206250

Blockade Runner
Unnamed

Blough, Roger

Blue Comet
Troy Socony
222943

Bluebell
121849 (c)

Boeckling, G. A.
206423

Boland, John J.
Harris N. Snyder
Thunder Bay Quarries
204563

Boland, John J.
266270

Bon Ami
North Shore
3626

Bon Ami
Mariposa
Islet Prince
122436 (c)

Bon Voyage
3497

Bon Voyage
158615 (c)

Bonita*
Chicago Harbor No. 4
Effie B.
3968

Bool, Samuel E.
Daniel S. Lamont
Lamont
John Roen
231994

Bowden, W. A.
103211 (c)

Boyce, Isabella J.
100446

Boynton, C. L.
Ufasco
12703

BOX 5

Bradley, Carl D.
226776

Bradley, Charles H.
126653

Brandon
3915
River Du Loup
154469 (c)

Brandon
207301

Bravado
250746

Brazil
Glenbrae
3467

Breech, Ernest R.
Charles L. Hutchinson
264317

Brewster, William
242635

Breyman, John D.*
Marinette
91857

Breymann, G. H.*
86675

Brightie
2587

Britamoco
Gulf Transport
157359 (c)

Britamoil
157039

Britamolene
Wave Transport
Florence B.
157343 (c)

Brittania
203237

Brittanic
100188 (c)

Brockway, George E.*
10666

Brogan, L. T.*
203252

Brooklyn
Northern Transport Co

Brooks, LeRoy
Henry Stokes
Aburg
141143

Brooks, S. C.*
22913

Brown Beaver
Fulton
160721(c)

Brown Bros.*
Ivey Rose
133792 (c)

Browning, Troy H.
Thomas F. Patton
Scott E. Land
349354

Bryn Barge
Bryn Mawr
172359 (c)

Buck, Robert J.
Meaford
151043 (c)

Buckley, Edward
136252
135377 (c)

Bues, H. F.
95346

Buffalo
1838

Buffalo*
3368

Buffalo
210571

Buffington, Eugene J.
1909
206147

Burch, A. W.*
106362

Burger, H. B. Jr.*
207890

Burlington
Juneau
Back Bay
204945

Burrows, Ella*
7326

Burt, Willington R.
80763

Burton
Cuyahoga

Burton, Ida*
100073

Butler, Frank S.*
9200

Butterfield*
John Purvis
218244

Butters, Marshall F.
91408

Byers, James*
76722

C. & M.*
222924

Cadillac
Arrowhead (U.S.C.G.)
Lady Hamilton
227292

Cadillac
Lake Angeline
243423

Cadwell, C. W.
208798

Calcite
209763

Caldera
Hillsdale
A. T. Kwney
204864

California
225914

Calkins, Bertie

Calloway, Cason J.
264349

Calumet*

Calumet
126237

Calumet
201027

BOX 6

Cambria
E. H. Utley
207568

Campbell, Ben*
Fairmount
3620

Campbell, David*
Chief
Aleutian Native
Express
211065

Campbell, Peter G.

Canada

Canadian Century
326295 (c)

Canadian Corvette #716

Canadian Hunter
Hamiltonian
Petite Hermine
319241 (c)

Canadian Olympic

Canadian Passengers Steamers
207479

Canadian Progress

Canadiana

Cananova
Petropavlsysk (Russia)
220388

Canfield, Captain A.
U.S. Engineers

Canisteo
126360

Capitola*
201194

Captain Collier
Marine Fuel
Cemico
208473

Captain George
U.S. Engineers

Cardinal
Imperial Windsor
Windsolite
138580 (c)

Caribou
116249 (c)

Carnham
Alantic Dealer
Honey Hill
248208

Carol Lake
188395 (c)

Carolina
Hartford
Terry (U.S.Q.M.)
Charles H. Hackley
96172

Caroline*
206194

Carpenter, O. O.
Massasoit
155198

Carport
260922

Carrington, M. D.*
90792

Carroll, J. J.
224735

Cartiercliffe Hall
372490 (c)

Cartierdoc

Cascade*
126913

Cascade II*
127088

Case, J. I.
75720

Caspian
Passport
112142 (c)

Cassidy, James H.
209800

Castalia
126610

Castanet*
206238

Castle, W. B.*
26860

Cataract           

Catherine*
126849

Cayuga
122219 (c)

Cedarbay
Charpentier
Vernon
Joan Virginia
150845 (c)

Cedarbranch
192529 (c)

Cedarville*
A. F. Harvey
226492

Celebrezze, Anthony J.
290776

Cement Karrier
160732 (c)

Centurion
Alex B. Uhrig
126994

Challenger
252625

BOX 7

Chamberlin, H. L.*
96009

Champion 1808

Champlain
116999 (c)

Champlain
243612

Chandler, Zack
Sch.

Charles
248572

Charles D.
127273

Charlevoix
225736

Charlton*
John Prendivelle
88622 (c)

Charm*
126292

Charnley, C. M.
126117

Charny
Josephine LeBorgne
313976 (c)

Checotah
85267

Chemical Transport

Cheney, O. W.*
155034

Cheney,O. W. No.2*
155187

Cherokee

Cherry
U.S. Lighthouse Service

H.M.S. Cherub
British Gunboat

Chester, L. W.*
210707

Chicago
125338

Chicago*
126009

Chicago Challenger

Chicago Trader
Harvester
209060

Chicago Tribune
Thorold
160889 (c)

Chicora
Warrenko
53588 (c)

Chicoutimi
100355 (c)

Chicoutimi
14459 (c)

Chief Justice Robinson 1842

Chief Justice Waite
125281

Chief Oshkosh
292900

Chief Wawatam
209235

Chieftan
127722

China
City of Montreal
Westerian
Sula
5972

Chippewa
100753 (c)

Chippewa
127440

Chippewa
(2 of 2)
127440

Chippewa
Wm. P. Fessenden
206249

Chisholm, Alvah S. Jr.*
107557

Christian, D. E.*
203713

Christie, T. S.
145402

Christopher
Robert J. Paisley
Thomas Britt
J. E. Savage
127583

Church, H. F.*
95264

Cincinnati

Ciscoe*
126787

Citizen

BOX 8 

City Ice Boat #2

City of Alpena II
City of Saugatuck
Leona
Normil
126974

City of Benton Harbor
200919

City of Buffalo
127132

City of Cheboygan
Ex Ann Arbor No.4
Potato Boat
Edward Anderson
203695

City of Chicago
City of St. Joseph
126627

City of Cleveland
City of Alpena
State of Ohio
125808

City of Cleveland
City of St. Ignace
Keystone
126333

City of Cleveland III
204080

City of Detroit
City of the Straits
Liberty
125662

City of Detroit III
209571

City of Dover
126647 (c)

City of Dresden
126197 (c)

City of Erie
127242

City of Flint
Roanoke         
229316

City of Fremont
Adiramled
4379

City of Grand Rapids
125743

City of Grand Rapids
210065

City of Hamilton
Japan
City of Walkerville
Roy K. Russell
126526 (c)

City of Hancock
Ossian Bedell
155414

City of Holland
Melbourne
Clarence La Beau
126967

City of Hudson

City of Kalamazoo
126949

City of Key West

City of Kingston

City of Ludington
Georgia
125873

City of Mackinac
State of New York
Florida
126150

City of Mackinac II
City of Holland
126988

City of Midland II
240326

City of Milwaukee
Holland
Muskegon
125906

City of Milwaukee
230448

City of Montreal

City of New Baltimore
125408

City of Norfolk
208414

City of Petosky
Pere Marquette
150966

City of Port Huron
Duluth
City of Cheboygan
157279

BOX 9

City of Rochester
J. D. Scott
125515

City of Rossford
F. E. Harvey
John Roberts
127359

City of St. Ignace
126333

City of Saginaw
229150

City of South Haven
City of Miami
E. G. Crosby
127731

City of the Straits
125662

City of Toledo
126738

City of Toledo 1865

City of Toronto
94769

City of Traverse
5428

City of Windsor
Michidicoten
E. K. Roberts
94843 (c)

City of Windsor
154463

City of Winnipeg
Craig, Annie L.
(c)

Clarion
125937

Clark, Alvin

Clark, J. C.
T. D. Doyle
51669 (c)

Clark, Philip R.
263699

Clark, T. J.
12638 (c)

Clayton
Farrandoc
161526 (c)

Cleffer W.*
116260

Clemson, D. M.
214599

Cleveco
211035

Cleveland, Grover

Cliffs Victory
Notre Dame Victory
247522

Clifton
33565 (c)

Clifton of Fairport

Clinton*
76250

Clinton
127245

Clinton, W. R.*
26250

Cloverland Queen

Michigan State Highway Dept.

Clyde, George W.

Clymer, Irvin L.
John G. Munson
Carl D. Bradley
215018

Coalfax
147793

Coalhaven
Bayfair
160508

Coastal Cliff
Bruce Hudson
158658 (c)

Coastal Creek
Rosemount
Willowbranch
Empire Tadpole
Basing Creek
123965 (c)

Coastal Delegate
Paul H. Townsend
248646

Coates, Peter
150368

Cobourg
103955 (c)

Codorus
126886

Cohen, Wilfred M.

Cole, Darius
Huron
Colonial
157173

Cole, Thomas F.
203891

BOX 10 

Colfax, Schuyler
23355

Collier
Collier No.1
147662 (c)

Collingwood
117089 (c)

Colonel Clayton
223237

Colonel Ward*
211702

Colorado
4267

Colorado*
227317

Colton, A. W.*
106025

Columbia
127665

Columbia
126882

Columbia

Columbian
Brockville
Rapids Queen (c)
126860

Columbus

Columbus, Christopher
126952

Columbus’s Fleet           

Comet
Mayflower
(c)

Comet (Colonial Line)

Commodore
107487

Commuter
The Islander
Show Boat
248189

Como
71614 (c)

Compound*
5684

Conemaugh
125858

Conestoga
125669

Conmee, A. B.*

Conneaut*
127000

Connecticut*
226554

Connell, Charles J.*
225861

Connell, W. & J.*
America
Lafayette
81471

Connelly, Dan
157192

Conners, Arthur
Lillian P. Nichols
W. S. Doran
217511

Consumers Power
Adam E. Cornelius
Captain John Rohen
George M. Humphrey
226276

Conway, Carl C.
William A. Hawgood
R. L. Agassiz
204701           

Cooke, Jay
City of Sandusky
13780           

Cooper, Ralph M.*
111038

Cora B.
Walton B.
125442

Corey, William E.   
Ridgetown (c)
202296

Corinthian
(c)

Cornelius, Adam E.
278853

Cornett, J. A.
158477 (c)

Corning, Erastus
7239

Cornwall
Kingston
Bavarian
Algerian
71609 (c)

Corona
Paiponge
Dorte Jensen
Kaupa
126505

Corona Yacht

Corrigan, James
Arthur E. Newbold
Maryland
Henry La Liberte
205285

Corsair, Ferry

Corsican
Picton
(c)

Cort. Henry
Pillsbury
150589

Cort. Stewart J.

Coteaudoc
Milverton
Clary Foran
Ferndale (I)
149500 (HAM)
161520 (BAUS)

Cotter, Edward M.           

Coulby, Harry
Finland
Peter Robertson
202960

Courtland (Bark)
5397

Cova, A. 1889

Covalt
Patrick Sheridan
217774

Cove Transport
Leecliffe Hall
177899

Coverdale
190493 (c)

Craig*
202136

Craig, Alice*
Ex. R. C. Floyd John B.
554

Craig, John
Panama
76729

Cranage, Thomas
145648

Crapo, S. T.
226885

Crawford*
125799

Crawford, J. A.*
Pathfinder
12770

Crawl Keys
216727

Cream City*

Crescent City

Cresco
126020

Cricket           

BOX 11

Crocus
Lighthouse Tender

Croft, Harry W.
Fred G. Hartwell
204987

Cromwell, Oliver*
19372

Crosby, E. G.*
136320

Crow, D. W.*
90530 (c)

Crowell, William R.*
80531

Crowley, Dennis*
157208

Cumberland

Cumberland
Collinge
Stewart W.
Yewbay
125918

Curran, James W.
176167 (c)

S.S. Curry
E. G. Mathiott
Elmore
P. W. Sherman
116558

Curtiss, Charles G.*
126211

Cushing, John F.
James E. Skelly
Olive L. Moore
227740

Cushing, W. D.*
26893

Cyclo-Warrier
Texaco Warrier
160731 (c)

Cyclone*
Frank D. Phelps
126155

Cypress
204527

Cytacki, Alfred           

Dahlia
Flora M. Hill
206265

Dahlke, Bertie
Sprite
2766

Daldean*
194291 (c)

Dalton, Henry G.
214051

Damia
161522 (c)

Danforth, Grace
Cornell
86017

Dark, Samuel J.
William R. Panton
Wilcox II
212902

Dave and Mose
6774

David John
282113

Davidson, James
220802

Davidson, James E.
201961

Davis, Townsend*
145580

Davitt, Michael*
91757
112055 (c)

Day, Erastus*
136360

Dayton
35372

Dean, S. M.*
258651

Dean, Scotty

Dearborn*