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The legal status of the Port of Philadelphia was first defined in the City Charter granted by William Penn in 1701. This charter, that is in the possession of the Philadelphia City Archives, designated that the county sheriff would serve as the water bailiff and also provided that the mayor, aldermen and common council could regulate the building of piers on the waterfront. In 1762 the General Assembly passed "An Act for the Recovery of the Duties of Tonnage Upon Ships and Vessels and Certain Other Duties Upon Wine, Rum, Brandy and Other Spirits and Upon Sugar" (Statutes at Large, 6, pp. 173-177). Enoch Story was appointed to the post of Collector of Duties. An Act passed by the Provincial Assembly on February 8, 1766 provided for the appointment of Wardens for the Port of Philadelphia. The Wardens were responsible for issuing pilot licenses and making rules and regulations governing their service. The first Wardens were Abel James, Robert Morris, John Nixon, Peter Reeve, Oswell Eve, Michael Hulings and Thomas Penrose who were appointed under the Statutes at Large, 7, p. 19 on February 8, 1766 and reappointed on May 20, 1767. (Statutes at Large, 7, p.111). Peter Reeve, Michael Hulings, Robert Morris, Thomas Penrose, John Nixon, Oswell Eve, Robert White, John Maxwell Nesbitt and Samuel Mifflin were appointed on March 9, 1771 (Statutes at Large, 8, p. 58) and Luke Morris, Peter Reeve, Samuel Mifflin, Robert Morris, Thomas Penrose, Robert Whyte, and William Morrell were appointed on February 26, 1773 (Statutes at Large, 8, p. 264). Following the outbreak of the American Revolution, Luke Morris, Samuel Mifflin, Samuel Howell, Captain Joseph Stiles, Captain William Heysham, Commodore Andrew Cardwell, and Captain Nathaniel Falconer were appointed on July 23, 1778 (Commission Book 1, p. 2). Legislation passed in 1803 provided for a Board of Wardens consisting of a Master Warden and six assistants. This act defined the powers of the Board to grant licenses to pilots, to make rules for their conduct, to decide disputes involving masters of vessels and ship owners, to direct the mooring of vessels and their loading and unloading, and to publish rules and regulations relating to these duties.

The Board of Commissioners of Navigation for the River Delaware was created in 1907 to assume those duties previously assigned to the Wardens for the Port, and the offices of the Harbor Master and Master Warden. In 1937, the Commissioners of Navigation were replaced by the Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and Its Navigable Tributaries. Originally established in the Department of Forests and Waters, the Navigation Commission was transferred to the Department of Transportation in 1970, to the Department of Commerce in 1976, and currently resides in the Department of State. The relevant statutory citations are Administrative Code, Act of April 9, 1929, P.L. 177, as amended, 71 P.S. 180-5; in the Act of May 29, 1803, P.L. 542, as amended, 55, P.S. 31, 32, 44, 71, 72, 72.1, 103, 132, 171, 172 and 176; and in the Act of May 11, 1889, P.L. 188, as amended 55 P.S. 41, 173.1-173.3 and 174. The regulatory citation is 4 PA CODE, Part XIII, Chapters 401-409. The Navigation Commission of the Delaware River and its Navigable Tributaries has full power and authority to grant licenses to pilots and regulate the services they provide, promulgate regulations, and impose penalties on licensees who do not follow the Navigation Act and the Commission's regulations. The Commission also establishes regulations governing the application, qualifications, recruitment, selection and training of of apprentices. The Commission consists of seven members and two ex officio members. Two of the seven members of the Commission must be residents of Delaware County, one must be a resident of Bucks County, and the Mayor of Philadelphia appoints two members. The ex officio members are the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection or his representative and the Director of Commerce of the City of Philadelphia. The president of the Commission is the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Related types of materials will be found among the records of the Delaware River Port Authority in Records of Special Commissions (Record Group 25).

For additional Port of Philadelphia records, please consult the Independnece Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. The museum houses 100 linear feet of volumes pertaining to the Philadelphia Maritime Exchange, a not-for-profit organization created in 1875 to enhance the commercial viability of the Port of Philadelphia.

Account Book of Fines and Quarter Pilotage Received by the Collector of Tonnage,
1785-1787.
(1 volume)

{series #41.1} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Account record of fines and pilotage fees received by the Collector of Tonnage for the Port of Philadelphia. Information generally provided is date of entry, name of captain from whom fine or fee was received, name of vessel, and amount remitted.

Accounts of the Wardens of the Port,
1763-1957.
(5 boxes)

microfilm rolls #858-861 (for period 1763-1800)

{series #41.2} [Holdings]

Grouped by type of material and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of record.

Cash books, daybooks, ledgers, journals, receipt book, vouchers, payroll requisitions, and related types of records kept by the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided varies with type of record but generally documents revenue received and expenditures made by the Wardens in the course of carrying out their duties.

Applications for Pilot Licenses,
1908-1925.
(1 box)

{series #41.3} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of application.

Applications for pilot licenses made to the Board of Commissioners of Navigation for the River Delaware and Its Navigable Tributaries. Information provided is name of applicant, applicant's place of residence, age of applicant, place of birth, year in which applicant was first licensed, and signature of applicant.

Authorization Book for Pier Erection,
1852-1864.
(1 volume)

{series #41.4} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of authorization.

Record of licenses granted by the Wardens of the Port for erecting piers. Information provided is name of applicant, date authorization was granted, description of nature and dimensions of pier or pier improvement, a file reference to the plan submitted, a detailed description of any conditions imposed, and name of the warden granting authorization.

Cargo Registers,
1909-1939.
(23 volumes)

{series #41.5} [Holdings]

Grouped by type of register and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of entry.

Registers of cargoes loaded and discharged. These are broken down by coal shipments (1910-1937), cargoes loaded and discharged at ports on the Schuylkill River (1911-1919), cargoes landed via canals and copes from coastal ports (1910-1939), cargoes landed from foreign ports (1909-1939), cargoes shipped to coastal ports (1912-1939), and the monthly value of exports to foreign countries (1917-1918). The coal shipment registers reveal whether shipments were handled at the Richmond Piers or the Greenwich Piers, date of entry, type of vessel, and tonnage of the bituminous or anthracite cargo. For cargoes loaded and discharged from the Schuylkill River the information provided is date of entry, type of vessel, name of vessel, gross tonnage, net tonnage, draught in feet and inches, and number of bushels of wheat, corn and barley being shipped out. For cargoes landed or shipped from foreign ports, information on the quantity of iron ore, china clay, manganese ore, walnut logs, crude asphalt, chrome ore, bauxite, flint pebbles, iron pyrites, opium cases, pilings, stones, and corkwood is given. The cargoes landed via canals and copes from coastal ports provide the number of feet of lumber, number of ties, number of tons of cinders, number of tons of mine props, number of tons of pilings, number of tons of pig iron, number of cords of pulpwood, number of tons of sand, number of tons of wood blocks, number of watermelons, number of tons of fish scrap, number of tons of wheat, number of tons of corn, number of tons of logwood, number of tons of sulphur, number of tons of nitrate of soda, number of tons of fertilizer, number of tons of bituminous coal, number of tons of phosphates, and the quantity of other merchandise and ballast. Cargoes shipped to coastwise ports during the later period include lubricating oil, gasoline, fuel oil, gas oil, refined oil, crude oil, kerosene, acid, cinders, fertilizer, automobiles, and coal tar.

Custom House Book,
1872-1875.
(1 volume)

{series #41.6} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Record of foreign and coastwise vessels entered at the custom house for the Port of Philadelphia that paid the Port Warden's Fees between December 1872 and January 1875. Information provided is a breakdown for each type of vessel entered (steamer, sloop, bark, brigantine or schooner), date of entry, name of vessel, name of captain, port from which last sailed, and name of consignor. The beginning of the volume contains a record of vessels sailing from the Richmond piers that did not have to pay fees between September 11, 1871 to July 30, 1872. Information provided in this section is date of entry, port from which sailed, port for which departed, by whom loaded, and pier number.

Declaration Books of British Vessel Registry,
1728-1776.
(12 volumes)

microfilm roll #859

{series #41.7} [Holdings]

Arranged numerically by declaration number.

Declarations made before the governor or deputy governor in pursuance to "an Act made in September et octavo William III Regis Entitled An Act for Preventing Frauds and Regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade." Information provided is date of declaration, name and signature of the person making the declaration, name of vessel, name of ship master, type of vessel, tonnage of vessel, where and when vessel was constructed, name of current owner, and declaration that "no foreigner directly or indirectly hath any share or part of interest therein."

General Correspondence,
1944-1949, 1955-1963.
(1 box)

{series #41.8} [Holdings]

Grouped alphabetically by subject or surname of Commissioner and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of correspondence.

General correspondence of the Navigation Commissioners, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers memoranda, bid information, and a bridge safety report. The bid information concerns the cruiser Commonwealth (1958-1959) and the bridge safety report concerns a study made on possible ship collisions with the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (1961-1963). The correspondence files are those of Executive Secretaries of the Navigation Commission D.W. Long (1955-1957), Thomas T. Darlington (1956-1963) and James J. Walls (1963); Navigation Commissioner Warren B. Watson (1956-1963); Department of Forests and Waters Deputy Secretary W. Montgomery (1944-1946); Department of Forests and Waters Comptroller S.R. Doutrich (1945-1949); and Department of Forests and Waters Secretaries James A. Kell (1945-1947) and M.F. Draemel (1947).

Health Officer's Account of Passenger Entries,
1789-1794.
(1 volume)

microfilm roll #864

{series #41.9} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Account of vessels arrived kept by Captain Nathaniel Falconer, Health Officer of the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of arrival, description of vessel, name of vessel, name of commander, name of port from which last sailed, record of vessels visited and fee collected, and the number of passengers and servants on each vessel.

Health Officer's Register of Passengers' Names,
1792-1794.
(1 volume)

microfilm rolls #859-860

{series #41.10} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Register of the names of passengers and servants arrived at the Port of Philadelphia that was returned to Health Officer Captain Nathaniel Falconer by the commanders of the vessels. Information provided is date of entry, name of vessel, name of commander, and name of each passenger and servant.

Index of Coastal Vessel Arrivals,
1873-1878.
(3 volumes)

{series #41.11} [Holdings]

Volumes arranged chronologically with information within grouped alphabetically by name of vessel.

Index of coastal vessel arrivals at the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of arrival, name of vessel, and type of vessel.

Index of Vessel Arrivals,
1862-1937.
(27 volumes)

{series #41.12} [Holdings]

Volumes arranged chronologically with information within grouped alphabetically by name of vessel.

Index of vessel arrivals at the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of arrival, name of vessel, and type of vessel.

Index of Vessel Clearances,
1862-1915.
(7 volumes)

{series #41.13} [Holdings]

Each volume is arranged alphabetically by name of vessel and arranged thereunder chronologically of entry.

Indexes of the names of vessels clearing the port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of clearance, name of vessel, and type of vessel.

Letter Books,
1793-1849.
(2 volumes)

microfilm roll #860 (for period 1792-1799)

{series #41.14} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of correspondence.

Letter books of correspondence exchanged by Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia with a variety of correspondents including most prominently the Governors or members of their staff. Information provided is date of correspondence, names of correspondents, and transcripts of the letters.

Letter Press Books,
1877-1909.
(11 volumes)

{series #41.15} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of correspondence.

Record of correspondence sent by the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of correspondence, names of correspondents, and transcript of letters sent.

Log Books,
1912-1942.
(7 volumes)

{series #41.16} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Port captain's log books (1914-1942) and logs of the steamer M.S. Quay (1912-1919, 1928-1934). Information provided in the chief officer's log books of the steamer M.S. Quay includes name of officer, date and time of entry, temperature, latitude and longitude, course direction, wind direction, barometer reading, and remarks providing detailed descriptions of unusual events. The daily log books generally contain date of entry and a brief description of noteworthy events.

Maps, Plans, and Blueprints,
1864-1964.
(2 cartons)

{series #41.17} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of item.

Among the items present is a chart of the Atlantic Coast from Portland, Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina showing the locations of wrecked vessels for the period 1906-1910, a geodetic survey of the Delaware Bay coast made in February, 1913, and numerous maps and plans depicting smaller sections of the Delaware Bay, the Schuylkill River, and the Philadelphia waterfront.

Maritime Freight and Vessel Registers,
1905-1907, 1909.
(4 volumes)

{series #41.18} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of publication.

Printed copies of Freight Circular, Shipping List and Maritime Register published every Saturday by the Commercial List Publishing Company. Information provided is names of vessels in port, names of their masters, their nationality, tonnage, destination, and cargo. For the category of vessels sailed is given the nationality of the vessel, tonnage, from whence departed, and name of consignor. Also included are tables providing weekly statistics on imports, exports, freight and charters, and the grain trade.

Memoranda Books,
1811-1813, 1836-1860.
(2 volumes)

{series #41.19} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of memorandum.

Memoranda books recording payments received by the Warden of the Port. Information provided is date of entry, name of captain or vessel, name of consignor, quantity of cargo, and amount remitted.

Minute Books of the Wardens of the Port, the Board of Commissioners of Navigation, and the Navigation Commission,
1766-1773, 1783-1978.
(64 volumes)

microfilm rolls #860-861 (for the periods 1766-1772, 1790-1800)

{series #41.20} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.

Record books containing minutes of the meetings of the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date and place of meeting, names of those present, and a description of the business transacted.

Minutes and Reports of the Wardens of the Port, the Board of Commissioners of Navigation, and the Navigation Commission,
1865-1970.
(59 boxes)

{series #41.21} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.

Minutes of the meetings and reports presented at the meetings of the Wardens of the Port, the Board of Commissioners of Navigation, and the Navigation Commission. Information provided is date and place of meeting, names of those present, description of business conducted, and reports submitted for consideration.

Minute Book, Subscription Book, and Account Book of the Marine Benevolent Committee,
1809.
(3 volumes)

{series #41.22} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.

Minute book, subscription book, and account book of the Marine Benevolent Committee established in Philadelphia in February, 1809 by the Society for the Relief of Poor and Distressed Masters of Ships, Their Widows and Children. This Committee met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia and the information provided in the minutes is date of meeting, names of those present, and description of business discussed and resolutions passed. Information provided in the account book kept by Dr. Joseph Vansise for the Benevolent Committee is date of entry, name of person to whom payment was made, and amount of payment.. Information provided in the subscription book is date of entry, name of subscriber, and a description of the provisions supplied to the subscriber such as food, clothing, wood, or cash.

Miscellaneous Papers,
1881-1910.
(1 folder)

{series #41.23} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of document.

Miscellaneous items including a 1902 card bearing the names of the Wardens of the Port, a record of foreign and coastal arrivals and clearances for the period January through June, 1881, a record of vessel arrivals for the October 27-30, 1901, a breakdown for arrivals for March, 1910, and miscellaneous pieces of shipping news.

Monthly and Annual Tonnage Reports,
1880-1907, 1909-1941.
(10 volumes)

{series #41.24} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Monthly and annual tonnage reports for arrivals at the port of Philadelphia. Information provided is the month or calendar year covered by the report, total number of vessels arrived during the period, gross tonnage of vessels arrived, net tonnage of vessels arrived, and a breakdown of the number of vessels and both the gross and net tonnage for steamers from foreign ports and coastwise vessels by the categories of regular liners, fruiters, tankers, transient, and via canal. There is also a breakdown for barks and barkentines, brigs and brigantines, schooners, and barges. Finally there is a breakdown of nationality for the foreign vessels that arrived.

Newspaper Clippings,
[ca. 1900-1908]
(1 folder)

{series #41.25} [Holdings]

Arranged more or less chronologically by date of news item.

Newspaper clippings concerning primarily vessels or their passengers arriving or departing from the port of Philadelphia. Titles include "Schoolship Saratoga Home From Caribbean" (The North American, May 8, 1905), "The Saratoga Has a Quiet Day," "Nine American Craft Lost in 1905," "A Sleeping Volcano Their Ship, Three Wouldn't Quit," "American Liner Brings Brides Who Were Courted in Norway and Russia," "Maritime Exchange Director to be Tried for Making Noise," "Miss Charlotte Dod, Famous 'Diana of the Links,' Arrives on Steamer Merion," "Railroad Discrimination Sends Ships Away Empty," "Woman of Mystery Arrives on Westernland," "Chased by Cannibals, Ship Drifts Five Months Along Equator," "Wizard Comes Here, Crew in Great Fear of Him," "Banana Trust Stirs Nicaraguan Muddle," and "Wireless Warns the Cedric of Icebergs."

Notations About Shipping and Tonnage,
1879-1881.
(1 folder)

{series #41.26} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of document.

Penciled tables providing information on coastwise and foreign shipping. Information typically provided is date of entry, number of steam powered vessels, number of sailing vessels, and total tonnage for the day.

Personnel Card File,
1920-1966.
(1 box)

{series #41.27} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname of employee.

Approximately five hundred 3x5 personnel cards documenting monthly wages and periods of employment. Information generally provided is name and address of employee, date of appointment, monthly salary, job titles held, dates of promotions and demotions together with the corresponding monthly salary adjustment, and date of resignation. Also sometimes given is date of birth or of death.

Photographs,
1917-1936, 1952.
(1 folder)

{series #41.28} [Holdings]

Arranged more or less chronologically by date of image.

Photographs from the Department of Wharves, Docks and Ferries (1917-1936) and the State Pilots' Association for the Bay and River Delaware (1952). The earlier sequence contains images of both dock and river views of the various piers, aerial views of the waterfront, pier elevations, and a few portraits. The views sometime depict the loading or unloading of vessels, interior views of facilities on the piers, and and the vicinity of the waterfront. The 1952 material consists of portrait images of members of the Pilot's Association for the Bay and River Delaware giving the names of members depicted. .

Pilot Apprentice Indenture Books,
1806-1931, 1942.
(4 volumes)

microfilm roll #862 (for period 1806-1831)

{series #41.29} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of indenture.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname of apprentice.

Records of indentures of apprenticeship to river pilots. Information provided is date of indenture, name of apprentice, name of pilot, term of indenture in years and months, and conditions of the indenture agreement.

Pilot Apprentices' Reports,
1911-1935.
(4 volumes)

{series #41.30} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Record books of pilot apprenticeships. Information provided is name of pilot apprentice, date of entry, name of vessel, name of pilot, and draught of vessel.

Pilot License Books,
1908-1982.
(9 volumes)

{series #41.31} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date license issued.

Record of pilot licenses granted by the Navigation Commissioners under the provisions of the Act of June 8, 1907 for examining the qualifications of candidates offering their services as pilots in the Delaware River and Bay. Information provided is date license was issued, name of pilot, name of the President of the Board of Commissioners, amount of bond, period covered by the license.

Pilots' Lists of Vessels Taken Inward and Outward,
1956-1958.
(1 volume)

{series #41.32} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by surname of pilot and thereunder entries are chronologically by date of entry.

Record of vessels piloted inward and outward. Information provided is date of arrival or departure of vessel, name of vessel, draft at arrival and departure, and name of pilot.

Pilots' Report Books,
1793-1982.
(44 volumes, 1 folder)

microfilm rolls #857, 864-865 (for period 1784-1800)

{series #41.33} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of report.

Record books of ships piloted. Information provided is date of entry, name of vessel, name of commander, name of pilot, from whence sailed, and the number of persons on board.

Pilots' Report Books of Accidents and Casualties,
1888-1982.
(4 volumes)

{series #41.34} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Pilot record books of collisions and disasters. Information generally provided in the earliest reports is date of entry, date of incident, name of pilot, and description of the accident. The description generally gives name of vessel, location of vessel at time of accident, details of how accident occurred, and extent of damage. From 1912, the reports are documented in a standardized format that gives date of report, name of pilot, name of vessel and nationality, date of casualty, locality of casualty, port from which last sailed, kind of cargo, nature of casualty, cause of casualty, force of wind and current, any measures taken to avoid casualty, by whom and to what extent any assistance was rendered, and the signature of the pilot.

Port Captain Report Books,
1908-1933.
(12 volumes)

microfilm roll #859-860 (for the period 1789-1794)

{series #41.35} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Anchorage reports kept by the Port Captain documenting where vessels were anchored in the port. Information provided includes date of entry, type of vessel, name of vessel, name of captain, whether vessel was brought in by pilot or tug, location of anchorage, draught of water in feet and inches, type of cargo, and occasional remarks.

Registers of Pilots' Names and Securities,
1783-1791, 1794-1876.
(6 volumes)

microfilm roll #860 (for period 1795-1804)

{series #41.36} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Information provided is name of pilot, place of residence, date bonded, and the name, occupation and place of residence of the person who stood as security on behalf of the pilot.

Registers of Vessel Arrivals,
1879-1956.
(53 volumes)

{series #41.37} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Registers of daily vessel arrivals at the port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of arrival, name of vessel, name of captain, port from which sailed, name of person or firm to which consigned, registered tonnage, draught of water, and a running daily tally of the number of both foreign and coastal steam and sailing vessels arrived and the total tonnage.

Registers of Vessel Arrivals and Clearances,
1784-1879.
(11 volumes)

microfilm roll #864 (for period 1787-1788)

{series #41.38} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Registers of vessels arriving and clearing the port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of arrival or clearance, name of vessel, from whence or to where bound, name of owner or consignor, name of pilot on the inward leg, name of pilot on the outward leg, draught of water and signature of the captain.

Registers of Vessel Clearances,
1879-1955.
(51 volumes)

{series #41.39} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Registers of vessel clearances from the port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of clearance, name of vessel, name of ship master, name of pilot, and to where bound.

Richmond Report Books of Vessel Arrivals and Clearances,
1864-1878.
(4 volumes)

{series #41.40} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Reports of vessel arrival and clearances at the Richmond wharves. Information provided is name of vessel, name of captain, from whence sailed, to where bound, and by whom loaded.

Scrapbook,
1882-1898.
(1 volume)

{series #41.41} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of item.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by subject.

Newspaper clippings, correspondence, and photocopies of news items relating to the port of Philadelphia. Subjects include the concurrent jurisdictions of Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the Delaware River, opinions of the city solicitor on the cleaning of docks into which the city sewers empty, opinions of the city solicitor regarding dredging, Delaware Pilot Land, and pilotage on coal laden vessels. Date and source of news clipping is sometimes given.

Shipping Bonds and Certificates,
1752-1775.
(2 boxes)

microfilm rolls #858-859

{series #41.42} [Holdings]

Arranged numerically by shipping bond or certificate number.

Certificates of ship masters certifying the name of the ship master, ownership of the vessel, and certifying that no foreigners have any share in the property of the vessel. Also present are bonds to the king by the ship master and merchant attesting to the same. Information provided on the certificates is name of the ship master, type of vessel, name of vessel, where anchored, ship burthin in tons, number of any guns mounted on the vessel, number of crew members, number of crew members who were His Majesty's subjects, where the vessel was bound and also the next port after that to which bound, name of naval officer by whom surveyed, and date of certificate. The bonds to the king give the date of the bond, name of the shipmaster, name of the vessel, name of merchant providing bond, amount of the bond, and date of the bond.

Subject, Name, and Title Reference Card File,
1912-1960.
(1 box)

{series #41.43} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by subject, name or title.

Reference file consisting of approximately five hundred 3x5 cards containing such types of information as names and addresses of contractors who constructed or repaired wharves, names of merchants, names of ship masters or pilots, or other topics relating to the activities of the port of Philadelphia.

Surveys of Damaged Cargoes,
1784-1790.
(4 volumes)

microfilm roll # 858

{series #41.44} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of survey.

Record books of surveys of damaged cargoes. Information provided in the earliest volume is date of survey, name and type of vessel, name of captain, and an inventory of damaged cargo giving the package or container number, mark stamped on the container, and type of container.. Commencing with the second volume in 1786, a standardized form is employed giving date of survey, name of commander, name of vessel, port from whence last sailed, and the result of the examination of the cargo giving a description of the nature of any damage found.

Time Books of Wardens' Attendance,
1784-1802.
(3 volumes)

microfilm roll #858 (for periods 1784, 1786-1790)

{series #41.45} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Record books revealing names of pilots and dates of bonds for the first, second and third rate pilots, accounts of anchors and cables received by the wardens, and daily attendance record of the Wardens of the Port. Information provided in the attendance record is the name of the warden, dates of attendance, and amount he was paid.

Tonnage Registers,
1784-1789.
(6 volumes)

microfilm roll #857

{series #41.46} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Registers of vessels recorded in the tonnage office for payment of tonnage duty. Information provided is date of entry, name of vessel, name of commander, name of port from whence or to where bound, name of person by whom owned, number of tons, duty per ton, and amount paid.

Wharf License Books,
1864-1979.
(6 volumes)

microfilm roll #6568-6570

{series #41.47} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of license.

Record books of wharf licenses granted by the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia to construct or extend piers and wharves. Information provided is date of license, location of wharf, name of applicant, description of the improvement to be made, and signature of warden.

Pennsylvania Maritime Academy

Under the Act passed by the United States Congress on June 20, 1879, any state of the union desiring and capable of supporting a nautical school ship for the purpose of training officers for the merchant marine service was to be assigned a suitable vessel by the United States Navy. On April 17, 1889 the Pennsylvania General Assembly created a Board of Directors consisting of three members appointed by the Governor and three members appointed by the Mayor of Philadelphia to manage the Pennsylvania Nautical School at Philadelphia. In the same year, the United States Navy assigned the U.S.S. Saratoga, together with officers and a skeleton crew, to Pennsylvania for use as a nautical school ship. After eighteen years in service to the state, this sailing ship was replaced by the steamship U.S.S. Adams in 1907. When Phildelphia failed to appropriate sufficient funds for the maintenance of the steamship, the Commonwealth also refused to grant funds. As a result, in 1913 the U.S.S. Adams was withdrawn by the Navy and the school was closed.

When reestablished by the General Assembly in 1919, the Pennsylvania State Nautical School was placed under the control of the Board of Commissioners of Navigation. In 1920, the Navy Department assigned the U.S.S. Annapolis to the school and in 1923 the expenditure of state funds for the school became subject to the approval of the Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction. In 1937, the management of the school and the school ship was placed under the newly established Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and its Navigable Tributaries. The Chairman of the Commission was the Secretary of the Department of Forests and Waters. In 1940 the United States Congress transferred all nautical school ships from the cognizance of the Navy Department to that of the United States Maritime Commission. The Pennsylvania Nautical School was at that time renamed the Pennsylvania Maritime Academy. In May 1941 the U.S.S. Annapolis was replaced by the former United States Coast Guard Cutter Seneca, which was renamed the Keystone State.

Accounts,
1919-1933, 1940-1959.
(2 volumes, 1 box)

{series #41.48} [Holdings]

Grouped by type of record with information arranged thereunder chronologically by date of entry.

Cash books for the school ship U.S.S. Annapolis (1919-1933) and the cadet equipment funds (1944) and the account records for cadets (1940-1959) including per diem payrolls for the period 1945-1948. Account records and cash books give the name of cadet, date of cadet's entry into service, description of the items purchased, amount of debit for each purchase, and a running tally of the amount deposited and the account balance. The per diem payrolls give date span covered by payroll, name of employee, employee title, address, dates and number of hours worked each day, rate per hour, and amount paid. A medical expenses file contains correspondence and financial records for expenses incurred by cadets for various injuries and diseases. Information generally provided is name of cadet, date of injury or disease, description of injury or disease, amounts of expenses incurred, and change of pay status.

Admission Books,
1896-1947.
(1 volume)

microfilm roll #863

{series #41.49} [Holdings]

Arranged numerically by admission number that was assigned chronologically by date of entry.

Record book of admissions to the Pennsylvania Nautical School. Information provided is admission number, name of student admitted to the school, date admitted, age, height, weight, chest size, whether vaccinated, place of birth, name and address of parent or guardian, and remarks that usually give the date of graduation.

Logs,
1942-1943, 1946.
(10 volumes, 1 folder)

{series #41.50} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Hourly log books and quartermasters' bridge books for the training vessel U.S.S. Keystone State. Information provided is day of the week and date, hourly direction and force of wind, barometric pressure, air and water temperature, periodic descriptions of weather conditions, signature of the person making the observations and the signature of the navigator and of the commanding officer of the vessel. Also occasionally given are the quantities of fuel and water supply expended and on hand.

Minutes of the Board of Instruction of the State Nautical School Annapolis (State Nautical School),
1927-1947.
(1 volume, 1 folder)

{series #41.51} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.

Minutes of the Board of Instruction of the State Nautical School Ship U.S.S. Annapolis (September 23, 1927-October 8, 1941) and of the Board meeting concerning the training ship Keystone State held on February 14, 1947. Information provided is date of meeting, names of those present, and description of the business transacted.

Pennsylvania State Nautical School Certificate of Appointment,
1938.
(1 item)

{series #41.56} [Holdings]

Unarranged.

Certificate of appointment, signed by the school superintendent, elevating Wellington K. Boyle to rank of Cadet Chaplain in the Corps of Cadets of the Pennsylvania State Nautical School.

Personnel File,
1944-1947.
(32 folders)

{series #41.52} [Holdings] [RESTRICTED]

Arranged chronologically by surname of employee.

Correspondence, United States Maritime Service Enrollment forms, Change of Pay Status forms, Special Liberty forms, Cadet Registration Cards, Cadet's Personal Property forms, and Applications for Appointment as Midshipman, Merchant Marine Reserve and United States Naval Reserve that were addressed to the Superintendent or District Merchant Marine Cadet Instructor at the Pennsylvania Maritime Academy. Information provided on the latter forms includes the name of applicant, date and place of birth, educational background, record of previous military service, name and address of next of kin, and a photograph of the applicant. The Maritime Service Enrollment forms generally provide, in addition to the above information, the applicant's citizenship status, race, and marital status. Other documents reveal such types of information as pay rates, a description and valuation of a cadet's personal property, and the dates and duration of any leave granted.

Photographs and Blueprints,
1916-1941, 1946-1947.
(7 folders)

{series #41.53} [Holdings]

Grouped by subject.

Photographs of the school ships Annapolis and Seneca and blueprints are for the proposed academy at Morrisville (1946-1947). Information provided varies with type of record.

Reports and General Correspondence,
1941-1947, 1950.
(38 folders)

{series #41.54} [Holdings] [RESTRICTED, personnel information only]

Arranged chronologically by date of report.

Reports concerning the Special Commission Investigating the Pennsylvania Maritime Academy, also known as the Gordon Case (1944), and of the investigation of the collision of the S.S. Fotini with the ferry boat Lackawanna (1950) and related correspondence. Subjects of the correspondence include arguments concerning the closing of the Academy, material and equipment for the Academy at Morrisville, employment records, inventories, medical reports, and the training vessel U.S.S. Keystone State including repairs and alterations, cruises, dry dock records, plan of the day, circulars, and redelivery of the vessel to the War Shipping Administration at James River Reserve Fleet in 1946.

Yearbooks,
1924, 1926-1935, 1937-1941, 1944-1946.
(19 volumes)

{series #41.55} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically by date issued.

Copies of published graduation yearbooks entitled The Helm. Information provided is names and photographs of all officers and the Navigation Commissioners and the name, a photographic portrait, rank, and a biographical sketch of each graduate. Also present are articles and photographs concerning various Academy activities.

PA State Archives

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