Beschreibung:

Collection comprising four photograph albums, numerous additional photographs (including celebrity passengers with two signed by Shirley Temple), many letters and documents, passenger guest book signed by notable travelers, a file of documents, (secret and otherwise) compiled by Johnson while commanding a troop transport, ephemera, and more. Fascinating archive surrounding the life and professional service of a notable and accomplished ship captain, Frank Alfred Johnson (1891-1953), who obtained his Mates license at the age of 23, and rose to command large cruise liners plying the Pacific, notably between California and Hawaii. It was at the completion of his last voyage, having docked in San Francisco, that he died of a heart attack, at the top of his profession. Frank A. Johnson born in Oregon, the son of a Danish sea captain, obtained his Mates license in 1914 in San Francisco and served four years as 3rd and 2nd mate on Associated Oil tankers before joining the Matson Navigation Company in 1917. Between 1917 and 1921, he sailed between the east coast and Europe. For the next four years he was skipper of the tow boat Sampson, running between the Umpqua River in Oregon and San Pedro and San Diego. After a brief stint with the Los Angeles Steamship Co. as a 3rd mate of the S.S. Waimea, he was made 2nd mate of the Matson ship S.S. Yale. In 1927-1935 Johnson was Captain of the S.S. Yale. In 1935 he was given command of the liner Matsonia on the Hawaiian Island run. He served this position until WWII when he was made Port Captain at San Francisco. He asked for and was granted his old command on the S.S. Mastonia which was then in military service. When the war ended, the Mastonia kept on with the sailings between the mainland and Hawaii. By 1948, the S.S. Lurline had been refitted for luxury travel to the Islands and the command was given to Captain Frank Johnson. He kept this command until his death in August, 1953. A partial list of material in the archive: Photograph album spanning the years c.1907-1914, primarily relating to the Shore family (Frank A. Johnson was to marry Edna Lydia Shore in 1922), featuring many family members and friends, with Frank making a few appearances toward the end. A scrapbook-style album with numerous captions. Photograph album with approx. 50 photos apparently relating to the Shore family in the early 20th century. Photograph album with approx. 38 photographs, perhaps recording a trip, with many seashore views. c.1900. Photograph album with approx. 130 photos, with many of docks and boats, and burly, Scandinavian-looking men in peacoats, so likely the Johnson family. c.1900-1910. Photographs of celebrities in Hawaii and aboard the Matsonia or Lurline, including: Shirley Temple playing a Ukulele, signed by Temple; Shirley Temple, her mother and father (presumed), signed by Shirley Temple; “Mary Astor and daughter, June 1938, S.S. Matsonia” – captioned in ink on verso. With, apparently, then-husband Manuel de Campo; Color photograph, in presentation folder, of Clark Gable, then-wife Sylvia Ashley, and Captain Frank A. Johnson; Three larger photographs of Clark Gable, Sylvia Ashley, and others (including Santa Claus), plus one of Ashley, Santa and others without Clark. Merchant Marine "Continuous Discharge Book" for Frank A. Johnson c.1940, with photograph, with a seaman’s identification card for him from 1918, also with photograph, laid in. Sheet with three deck plans of the S.S. Yale, express steamer from San Francisco to Los Angeles and San Diego, on which F.A. Johnson served in various capacities up to captain, 1923-1935. Listing, by duties by not by name, of the officers and men of the S.S. Yale, giving their salaries. 1922. Leatherbound passenger guest book for some 42 voyages aboard the S.S. Matsonia on the California-Hawaii run, signed by numerous passengers, with their residences, beginning in November 1935 (the year Frank A. Johnson began his tenure as captain of the ve