Name/Title
William E. FitzgeraldContext
The W.E. Fitzgerald was a Great Lakes freighter built by Captain Dennis Sullivan in honor of William E. Fitzgerald (1859-1901). The W.E. Fitzgerald was built by the Detroit Ship Building Company as Hull #167 for the Chicago Navigation Company and launched on September 8, 1906. The connection with the Edmund Fitzgerald is that William E. Fitzgerald was the father of Edmund Fitzgerald, the namesake for the later ship.
Vessel information supplied on a label on back of work: "Steamer W.E. Fitzgerald. Built 1906 by Detroit Ship building Co for Chicago Navigation Co. W. steel hull. Self-unloader added 1928. Named for Wm. E. Fitzgerald. Scrapped at Humberstone, Ontario winter of 1971-72."
Although Gerlach paints the ship with "WILLIAM E. FITZGERALD" lettering on its bow, photos of the ship indicate that it actually read "W.E. FITZGERALD."Collection
Marine Collection, Artwork Collection, Wisconsin Art CollectionAcquisition
Source (if not Accessioned)
Elizabeth CutlerMade/Created
Artist
Frederick H. GerlachDate made
1982Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
SignatureLocation
Lower leftTranscription
"Fritz Gerlach • 82"Relationships
Related Publications
Notes
MPL holds a vessel file for the W.E. Fitzgerald, a launching memento, and the ship's nameboard.