Name/Title
James M. Blaisdell Scrapbook, 1919-1969Entry/Object ID
A0234Scope and Content
The Captain James M. Blaisdell Scrapbook dated 1919-1969 consists of period newspaper clippings, photographs, personal documents, correspondence and commendations collected during his time in the United States Merchant Marine Service.
Scrapbook donated by Captain James M. Blaisdell contains:
1. Sketch of S.S. Edward Sewell by Jerry MacMullen (built in 1899 by Arthur Sewall & Co., Bath, ME. In 1922 the vessel was sold to Alaska Packers Association and renamed Star of Shetland. In 1936 sent to Japan and scraped. (no date)
2. Copy of Captain Blaisdell's Master and Pilots License for steam and motor vessels (1936)
3. U.S. of America Citizen identification card for James M. Blaisdell (1919)
4. B/W photograph of the crew of the West Arvada, sunk off Holland in September, 1919 (no date)
5. Newspaper article by Jerry MacMullen describing Blaisdell's time on the S.S. Edward Sewell his first ship assignment (no date)
6. Photographs and newspapers clipping about San Diego-Coronado ferries and describes Captain Blaisdell's duties as ferry boat skipper (no dates)
7. Various photographs of Blaisdell in uniform and onboard the S.S. Yale, Coronado Ferry, and S.S Joseph Rodman Drake (1930s and 1940s), plus various crew members
8. Letter from Honor Barr Douglas to James Blaisdell accepting his resignation from the Board of Directors of Coronado Hospital (no year, September 20)
9. Various pages of handwritten log detailing weather conditions and ship movements during WWII (1940, October)
10. Western Union Telegram from Sudden and Christenson Inc. (shipping and lumber business) to Captain Blaisdell offering appointment as "Master" (no year, October 25)
11. Western Union Telegram from Alaska Steamship Company (E. M. Murphy) to Captain Blaisdell confirming acceptance of command of a Liberty Type vessel (1943, December 7)
12. San Diego Union War Extra newspaper clipping detailing the attack on Pearl Harbor, headline reads "Japs Bombing Honolulu, Manila; Ships Battle" (front page) (1941, December 7)
13. Merchant Seaman Passport for James Blaisdell, (dated 1942, October 28) contains period photograph of Blaisdell
14. Convoy BT-6 orders listing vessels in convoy (no year, October 28) accompanied by newspaper clippings describing the sinking of two Liberty ships in the convoy
15. 1943 calendar with photograph from Pickard's Chinese Syncopators, captions states "Calendar from Alexander, Egypt, Dec 1942"
16. Commendation from President Harry S. Truman to Merchant Marine Captain Blaisdell for service during war (1946, September 9)
17. War Shipping Administration Certificate documenting Captain Blaisdell service in the Merchant Marine commencing September 25, 1942 through August 1946, documents Blaisdell received the Meritorious Service Medal on August 15, 1946
18. War Shipping Administration Meritorious Service Citation for Captain Blaisdell as Master of the S.S. Mary E. Kinney during the invasion of the Philippines (1944, October)
19. Newspaper clippings about the valiant service of the crew aboard the S.S. Mary E. Kinney during the battle for the Philippines (1945, February)
20. Statement of Fact from L. M. Ashe, Lt. United States Navy detailing the combat action of the S.S. Mary E. Kinney during the battle for the Philippines from October 23 through November 2. 1944 (1944, November 11)
21. Correspondence from cadets on the S.S Joseph Rodman Drake to Captain Blaisdell (no dates)
22. Various newspaper clippings detailing the exploits of different Liberty ships during WWII (1940s)
23. Alaska Steamship Company receipt of personal items assigned to "Master" Blaisdell while aboard the S.S Mary E. Kinney (1945, January 30)
24. Battle Stations roster for the crew of S.S Mary E. Kinney (no date)
25. Sample certificate for Domain of Neptunus Rex for crossing the equator (no date)
26. Correspondence from Patrick L. Kelly (S.S. Mary E. Kinney) to Captain Blaisdell giving Blaisdell the authority to stop monthly payments to Mr. F. L. Kelly with accompanying execution document (no date)
27. Article from Collier's: The National Weekly dated 1945, July 2. Headlines reads "The Jungle is Beaten" by Walter Davenport explains how Americans survived the jungles of New Guinea with accompanying newspaper clippings
28. Alaska Steamship Company pay stub for Captain Blaisdell (no date)
29. Newspaper clippings detailing the return of General MacArthur to the Philippines (1944, October 20-21) (unknown source)
30. Life Magazine (Vol. 17, No. 21) article detailing the return of General MacArthur to the Philippines including photographs and maps (1944, November 13)
31. Various newspaper clipping about MacArthur and the invasion of the Philippines with photographs (1944) (unknown source)
32. Five B/W photographs of New Guinea (1943, May-August)
33. Article from Collier's: The National Weekly dated 1945, December 9. Headlines reads "Close Call at Leyte" by Royal Arch Gunnison details the return of MacArthur to the Philippines including photograph of the General wading ashore
34. Correspondence from Mrs. Iris Graft (mother of Warren Graft) to Captain Blaisdell inquiring about her son stationed onboard the S.S. Mary E. Kinney under Blaisdell's command (dated 1944, June 8 and December 30)
35. Various B/W photographs of Philippines including convoys, Leyte, officers of the S.S. Mary E. Kinney, damage aircraft, General MacArthur, B-29 Bomber and A-26 Bomber, Captain Blaisdell and crew of S.S. Mary E. Kinney (1944)
36. Correspondence from John D. Curtis M.D. to Captain James M. Blaisdell that accompanied pictures from their time in the Philippines (1947, October 13)
37. San Diego Union newspaper article by Jerry MacMullen detailing Captain Blaisdell's experiences on the Liberty Ship, S.S. Mary E. Kinney, headline reads "Ferryboat Job Welcome After War Cruises" (1941, December 7)
38. South Pacific currency includes Australian notes collected during the S.S. Mary E. Kinney cruise in the Philippines (1944)
39. Postcard from Captain Blaisdell to his wife, sent from Bahia, Brazil (1943, February 21)
40. Postcard from Captain Blaisdell to his wife from Paramaribo, Suriname (1943, March 12)
41. Christmas Greeting from L. J. Miller to Mrs. J. M. Blaisdell (no date)
42. Correspondence from S. E. Mason, President of San Diego & Coronado Ferry Company to James M. Blaisdell congratulating Captain Blaisdell on receiving the Meritorious Service Medal of the United States Merchant Marine Service (1946, August 16)
43. Newspaper clippings from San Diego Union announcing the death of Captain James M. Blaisdell on August 20, 1948 (1948, August 21)
44. Various letters of condolence to Mrs. Blaisdell on the occasion of Captain Blaisdell's death (1948, August)
45. Ferryboat Finale Certificate that documents the last day of the 83 year operation of the ferry from Coronado to San Diego (1969, August 2)Collection
Capt. James Blaisdell CollectionLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
ScrapbookNomenclature Primary Object Term
AlbumNomenclature Sub-Class
MemorabiliaNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Details
Date(s) of Creation
1919 - 1969