Historical Collections of the Great Lakes

Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

This four cubic foot collection was transferred to Bowling Green State University on June 21, 1982 by Paul J. Ranahan. Literary and property rights were dedicated to the public. Photocopying is permitted for purposes of research and conservation.

Biographical Sketch

Paul J. Ranahan was born in 1911 at Buffalo, New York and died at Lakewood, Ohio in March 1986. Ranahan's parents were Frank P. and Eugenia Ranahan. The elder Ranahan began a career in marine construction that led to his son's later interests in marine engineering. Frank Ranahan was president of the Lake Shipbuilding Company and the Buffalo Marine Construction Corporation during his career.

Paul Ranahan developed and pursued his interests in engineering as a student at Canisius College and Case Institute of Applied Science. After college, Ranahan applied his training as a fleet engineer in the Midland Steamship Line fleet for two years. From 1938 to 1945, he worked for the United States Salvage Association, the U. S. Navy and the Todd Shipbuilding Company. In 1945, Ranahan opened his own consulting firm in Cleveland, Ohio.

One estimate placed Ranahan's total number of vessel damage surveys in forty years at over 7,000. This collection contains about ten percent of his survey reports.

Paul Ranahan was a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the International Ship Masters Association and the Propeller Club of the United States. As a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, he supervised canoe and boating trips that led to merit badges for many Cleveland area scouts.

Scope and Content

This four cubic foot collection pertains to the vessel repair and salvage industry on the Great Lakes. Paul J. Ranahan surveyed damage to vessels involved in accidents to assess the cost of repairs. Vessel owners and salvage companies sought Ranahan's marine engineering expertise for several decades in the process of repairing and scrapping damaged vessels. This collection contains files dating from about 1930-1980.

The series of Vessel Inspection Survey Files, 1946-1980, contains 3.25 cubic feet of reports completed during Ranahan's assessments of conditions on vessels. A three-fourths cubic foot subject file for about 1930-1980 provides additional material regarding survey cases.

Salvage work has often kept shipyards in business when new orders were scarce. This collection documents the role surveyors like Paul Ranahan played in identifying potential sources of revenue for such repair and scrapping facilities. The expense to vessel owners resulting from accidents is also clearly identified. Passenger vessels, oil scows, and freighters all appear in files recording damage to 730 Great Lakes vessels over a fifty year period.

Series Description

CASE FILES

VESSEL INSPECTION SURVEY FILES
Boxes 1-4
1946-1980
Arranged alphabetically by vessel name Series contains files maintained by Paul J. Ranahan regarding his inspection of vessels damaged by accidents. Based on Ranahan's findings, repair costs could be calculated by vessel owners and salvage companies. Included are reports stating the structural condition of the vessel, condition of the cargo, past repairs, copies of legal documents related to litigation concerning the vessel and occasional correspondence. These survey reports were frequently written at the request of the United States Salvage Association.

SUBJECT FILES
Box 4
ca. 1930-1980
Arranged alphabetically by subject
Series contains correspondence of Paul J. Ranahan regarding marine salvage operations. Many of these files are related to those in the Vessel Inspection Survey Files.

Inventory

Box 1: Vessel Inspection Survey Files, 1946-1980, A-F

Folders

1. ACBL 1611; ACBL 1616; ACCOMODATION; CUYLER ADAMS; ALCRIS; ALGENIB; ALGOCEN
2. ALGORAIL; ALGO SOO; ALGO STEEL; ALGOWAY; ALGOWOOD; ALKOR; HARRY L. ALLEN
3. ALPENA; AMASA STONE; AMAZON; AMERICA; AMVRAKIKOS; ANDROMED; ANGELINE; R. BRUCE ANGUS; ANNA; APOLLONIA; AQUARAMA; ARCTURUS
4. ARISTAGORAS; ARIZONA; FRANK ARMSTRONG; ASHLAND; J. S. ASHLEY; ATHENE; A. A. AUGUSTUS; C. L. AUSTIN; AVON LAKE; BACK BAY; BALL BROTHERS
5. BANANA; BANDA AZUL; BANIJA; BANTRY BAY; E. B. BARBER; BIG BARGE; BARGES #47, 48, 503, 518-520, 522, 13003; JAMES R. BARKER; BARKHAMSTEAD; BARLOW; JULIUS H. BARNES; RICHARD J. BARNES
6. BEAVER; WILLIAM S. BELL; BENFRI; WILLIAM H. BENNETT; BENNINGTON; NIXON BERRY; EDWARD J. BERWIND; BETHLEHEM; FRANK BILLINGS; BINTANG; L. E. BLOCK
7. ROGER BLOUGH; JOHN W. BOARDMAN; JOHN J. BOLAND; BOWEAN; WILLIS B. BOYER; BRAMBLE; BRAVADO; BRITAMETTE; BRITANNIA; BROCKTON; BROMALM; FAYETTE BROWN
8. HARVEY H. BROWN; J. J. H. BROWN; BUCKEYE; BUCKEYE MONITOR; EUGENE J. BUFFINGTON; A. M. BYERS
9. LORD BYRON; CADILLAC; CALIFORNIA; CALUMET; BEN W. CALVIN; CALYPSO; CAMBRIA; CAMERON II; DANADIANA; CANADOC; CAPE PACIFIC; CARPORT; CAROL LAKE; CARTERET; CARTIERDOC
10. RALPH S. CAULKINS; CEMICO FUEL; CENTAURUS; CHACORNAC; EL CHAMPION; CHAMPLAIN; CHEROKEE; CHICAGO TRADER; ALEX D. CHISHOLM; CITY OF KINGSTON; E.A.S. CLARK; CLEVELAND; IRVING L. CLYMER; THOMAS F. COLE; COLLINGDOC; COLONEL
11. COLORADO; COMET; CONNEAUT; CONNECTICUT; CONSTITUTION; CONSUMERS POWER; CARLE C. CONWAY; CORNELL
12. CORNWALL; CORONA; CORTLAND; HARRY COULBY; JOHN B. COWLE; WILLIAM D. CRAWFORD; CRETE; CRISPIN OGLEBAY
13. HARRY W. CROFT; CROW; CRYSTAL GEM; HENRY G. DALTON; DARIUS; JAMES DAVIDSON; JOAN W. DAVIN; DAWN OF KUWAIH; DEER POOL; WILLIAM J. DE LANCEY; DELAWARE; DENMARK; FRANK R. DENTON; DE PERE
14. DERBYSHIRE; DERRICK #56; DETROIT EDISON; GREATER DETROIT; DIAMOND ALKALI
15. DINNEY BOY; WILLIAM H. DONNER; R. E. DOVILLE; DRILL CRAFT BARGE #1; DUMP SCOW #11; DUMP SCOW #15; DOW CHEMICAL; DUNDEE; CHARLES E. DUNLAP; JOHN DUNN, JR.
16. DUPUIS #12; J. F. DURSTON; E-17 Oil Scow; EASTERN STATES; EDDY; WILLIAM EDENBORN; ISAAC L. ELLWOOD; ELMAR II; ELMBRANCH; JOHN R. EMERY; EMPEROR; ERIE; ERIE QUEEN; ERINDALE; ESPERANCE III; EURO PRINCESS; EVERTTON; EVERLUCKY; SIR WILLIAM FAIRBAIRN
17. A. & J. FAITH; LEON FALK, JR.; MERTON E. FARR; FEDERAL MAAS; FEDERAL SCHELDE; FEDERAL ST. LAURENT; FELLOWCRAFT; FERNDALE; JAMES E. FERRIS
18. HARRY L. FINDLAY; GEORGE R. FINK; FINLAND; W. E. FITZGERALD; FJELLANGER; FLORENCE M.; FLOWERGATE; FONTANA; FOOTLOOSE; BENSON FORD; EMORY L. FORD; E. M. FORD; J. B. FORD; FORT WILLDOC; JOHN A FRANCE; LEON FRASER; FRIEDA; FRONTENAC

Box 2: Vessel Inspection Survey Files, 1946-1980, G-MINCH

Folders

1. GAIL; ALBERT A. GAINES; MICHAEL GALLAGHER; CHARLES W. GALLOWAY; GALWAY BAY; JOHN W. GATES; GENE H.; GENERAL; JENNIFER GEORGE; GERMA DOLPHIN; GILBERT; EDWARD E. GILLEN
2. DONALD B. GILLIES; THOMAS M. GIRDLER; G. L. 166 (barge); H. L. GOBIELLE; GEORGE D. GOBLE; GODERICH; R. H. GOOD; GOTHAM; E. G. GRACE; GRAND HAVEN; GRAND ISLAND
3. Great Lakes Steel Company Dock; Great Lakes Towing Company Floating Drydock; GREENWOOD; GULF OIL; LEECLIFFE HALL; HAMP THOMAS; HOWARD M. HANNA, JR.; LEONARD C. HANNA; LEWIS G. HARRIMAN; FRED G. HARTWELL; HARVARD; HASSELT; JOSHUA A. HATFIELD; HEMLOCK
4. HENNEPIN; HENRY L.; HERMINE; HERON BAY; JAMES J. HILL; J.H. HILLMAN, JR.; HOWARD HINDMAN; RUTH HINDMAN; ROBERT HOBSON; W. W. HOLLOWAY; HOLMSIDE; R. W. HOLST; CLIFFORD HOOD; HARRY W. HOSFORD
5. ELTON HOYT II; CHARLES HUBBARD; Hulls 868, 869, 1173; HUMACONNA; GEORGE M. HUMPHREY; HURON; HURON BELLE; HURON LADY; HURON MAID; CHARLES L. HUTCHINSON
6. GENE C. HUTCHINSON; JOHN T. HUTCHINSON; HYRDO; HYGRADE #18; IDAHO; IMPERIAL LEDUC; INDIANA
7. GEORGE H. INGALLS; IONIC COAST; IOWA; ROBERT L. IRELAND; IRISH ROWAN; IRONWOOD; JOHN IRWIN; ADRIAN ISELIN; ISHPEMING; ISLANDER; HERBERT C. JACKSON; JALADHARMA; JESSE JAMES; JANE T.; JEANNETTE S.
8. JOHNSTOWN; JOLIET; B.F. JONES; HARRY R. JONES; ROBERT JOYNT; JULIA L.; CARL JULIUS; JUPITER
9. NORMAN KELLEY; KELLY ISLAND; EDWARD S. KENDRICK; KENNETH H.; KILKENNY; KILLARNEY; WILLIS L. KING; KING COAL; KINKASAN-MARU
10. KIN MOUNT; A. T. KINNEY; KINSALE; KINSMAN ENTERPRISE; ELLEN KLAUTSCHKE; JOHN A. KLING; KOALKRAFT; KOPER; NORMAN J. KOPMEIER; E.J. KULAS; KYRA; LABELLE
11. LACKAWANNA; LA CLARE; LA HACIENDA; LAHNSTEIN; LAKEWOOD; HENRY LALIBERTE
12. LA SALLE; SAM LAUD; JAMES LAUGHLIN; A. T. LAWSON; LEADALE; LEARINA; LEBANON; LEHIGH; LENA; CAPTAIN LEONIDAS; LESCO; JOHN T. LILLIS
13. LIDWINA III; LIL ROCK; LIL TOOT; RICHARD V. LINDABURY; LIONNE; LOMAX; LOVELAND Barge 25; LOVELAND Barge 26; LSC-236 (barge); LTC-104 (barge); WILLIAM A. LYDON; THOMAS LYNCH; BRUCE A. MCALLISTER
14. MURIEL MCALLISTER; NANCY MCALLISTER; REID MCALLISTER; MCB 1552 (barge); MERLE MCCURDY; C. H. MCCULLOUGH, JR.; T. J. MCCARTHY; O.S. MCFARLAND
15. WILLIAM H. MCGEAN; WILLIAM A. MCGONAGLE; JOHN A. MCGUIRE; MCKEE SONS; JOHN M. MCKEACHEY; PRICE MCKINNEY; WILLIAM MCLAUGHLIN; JOHN MCLEAN; J. M. MCWATTERS; J. H. MACOUBREY; MACUTO; CHRISTINA MAE; MAGNA
16. MAIA; MAJOR BASIL; MALIETOA; MANCHESTER CITY; MANICOUAGAN; MANILA; MANITOBA; JOHN S. MANUEL; MARAKI; MARINE FUEL; MARINE FUEL II
17. MARINE FUEL OIL; MARINE FUELER; MARITIME GARDENIA; PERE MARQUETTE #10; MARSALA; RICHARD M. MARSHALL; MARTHA B. MARY ALICE B.
18. MARYSVILLE; MATAAFA; SAMUEL MATHER; WILLIAM G. MATHER; J. L. MAUTHE; GEORGE W. MEAD; MEDUSA CHALLENGER; MEGALOHARI II; MENIHEK LAKE; MERGANSER; MERMAID TRADER; MESSENGER; MEXOIL; MEZADA; MICHELE; MICHIGAN; MIDDLETOWN; MIKAGESAN MARU; THOMAS E. MILLSOP; PHILIP MINCH

Box 3: Vessel Inspection Survey Files, 1946-1980, MINNESOTA-TOR

Folders

1. MINNESOTA; RALPH S. MISENER; SCOTT MISENER; MISSISSIPPI; SAMUEL MITCHELL; MO-643 (barge); MOHAWK DEER; MOHICAN
2. MONICA S.; MONTAUK; OLIVE L. MOORE; BEN MOREELL; J. P. MORGAN; JOE S. MORROW; JAY C. MORSE; EDMUND P. MUDGE; MARTIN MULLEN; MUNISING; JOHN G. MUNSON; SIMON J. MURPHY; MURPHY'S LAW; MV #702, 708, 715; MYRNA L.; MYRON K.
3. NANFRI; NAPPER TANDY; NARCOSIS; NASSAU; NEA TYHI; NEGAUNEE; NETTLETON; NEVADA; NEWCASTLE; NEW GRAND HAVEN; NEW JERSEY; NEW MEXICO; NEW ORLEANS; NEW YORK
4. NEW YORK CITY; NIAGARA; NICOLET; NIPIWAN PARK; NORONIC; NORTH AMERICAN; NORTHCLIFFE HALL; NORTH DAKOTA; NORTH DEVON; NORWAY; NURITH; OCTAVIA
5. OKLAHOMA; HELGA OLDENDORFF; OLYMPIC PALM; OLYMPIC PIONEER; ORANSFJELL; ORCHID VENTURE; OREGON; ORIENT LINER; ORIENTAL VENUS; ORION; OSBORNE; OSCEOLA; OSSENDRECHT; OSSIPEE; OUANANICHE; WILLIAM A. PAINE
6. ROBERT J. PAISLEY; PANOIL; EUGENE W. PARGNY; PATHFINDER; THOMAS F. PATTON; CHARLES A PAUL; PEAVEY PIONEER; DAY PECKINPAUGH; B. A. PEERLESS; PENNSYLVANIA; PENOBSCOT; PENQUIR; GEORGE W. PERKINS; PERSEUS
7. R. O. PETMAN; COLONEL JAMES PICKANDS; JUDITH M. PIERSON; PILOT II; PIONEER; PIONEER CHALLENGER; HENRY R. PLATT, JR.; POLAR GLIMT; POLARIS; W. G. POLLOCK; PONTIAC; E. C. POPE; G. G. POST; PRESQUE ISLE
8. PRINCETON; PROPELLER; FRANK PURNELL; JOHN PURVES; PUT-IN-BAY; PUTZFRAU; QUEENSGARTH; QUETICO; GEORGE F. RAND; CLARENCE B. RANDALL
9. RANGER II; RUFUS P. RANNEY; RATNA-JYOTI; RAVENFJELL; RAY F.; RAVINI KOTARI; W. D. REES; CLEMENS A. REISS; J. L. REISS; OTTO M. REISS; PETER REISS; RICHARD J. REISS; WILLIAM A. REISS; REISS BROTHERS
10. REISS MARINE; ROBERT Y.; ROBERTA; PETER ROBERTSON; T. W. ROBINSON; ROCKET; ROCKWOOD; ERIC ROLF; ROWLI; SAINT REMI
11. SANDCRAFT; SANDRA; SARACEN; SATURN; SAUCON; EDWARD N. SAUNDERS, JR.; SAVANNAH; J. F. SCHOELLKOPF, JR.
12. COL. JAMES M. SCHOONMAKER; ESTHER CHARLOTTE SCHULTE; KONSUL SCHULTE; JOSEPH S. SCOBELL; SCOTTISH WASA; SCOW 103; SCOW 225; SCOW 721; SCOW 973; CHARLES M. SCHWAB; SEA CASTLE; SEA KING; GEN. C. B. SEARS; JOSEPH SELLWOOD; SENATOR OF CANADA; J. R. SENSIBAR; SHERMAN H. SERRE
13. SERVICE II; EDWARD G. SEUBERT; SEWELL AVERY; SHANNON; J. H. SHEADLE; SHENANGO; SHENANGO II; JOHN SHERWIN; MACGILVRAY SHIRAS; SIASCONSET; SILVER BAY; SILVER ISLE; ROGER R. SIMONS; SINALOA; SISTINA; SMEATON
14. EDMUND P. SMITH; HURLBUT W. SMITH; LYMAN C. SMITH; SIDNEY E. SMITH, JR.; HARRIS N. SNYDER; WILLIAM P. SNYDER; SOUTH AMERICAN
15. SOUTHERN VENTURE; SPEEDNUT; SPOT DERRICK 5; J. R. SPRANKLE; STANDARD PORTLAND CEMENT; JOHN STANTON; STEEL HOPPER BARGE; GEORGE M. STEINBRENNER; HENRY STEINBRENNER; STEINTOR; STELLA B. ; GEORGE S. STEPHENSON
16. WALTER STERLING; SULLIVAN BROTHERS; J. J. SULLIVAN; SULTANA; SUNGLEAM; SUMATRA; SUPERIOR; Supply Boat 41-M-526; SWEDEN; SWEETWATER; WILFRED SYKES; SYLVANIA
17. FRANK E. TAPLIN; BEN E. TATE; B. H. TAYLOR; MYRON C. TAYLOR; TENNESSEE; TERESA; BAIRD TEWKSBURY; TEXAS; PAUL THAYER; THE HARVESTER; THEODORA; CARMI A. THOMPSON; DAVID P. THOMPSON; JOSEPH H. THOMPSON; SMITH THOMPSON
18. THREE SISTERS; THUNDER BAY QUARRIES; PAUL J. TIETJEN; TIMBERLINE; TIPPERARY; TOLEDO; G. A. TOMLINSON; TORSHOLM

Box 4: Vessel Inspection Survey Files, 1946-1980, TOW-Z; Subject Files, 1912, 1940-1978, A-V

Folders

1. EDWARD Y. TOWNSEND; TRANSERIE; TRANS MICHIGAN; RICHARD TRIMBLE; LAURENCE C. TURNER; UNGAVA PRINCE; UNION METROPOLE; UNITED STATES GYPSUM; Unmanned Barge; Unnamed Sand Dredge; ANDREW S. UPSON; J. E. UPSON
2. URANUS; U.S.S. LST 1177; U.S.S. YTL; UTAH; VAL 51; VALHALL; VALLEY CAMP; VALPARAISO; JOE VAN; VENUS; VERMONT; VERONA; VIKING; VILLA FRIA; VILJA; VIRGINIA; VIRGO; VOLUMNIA; JAMES C. WALLACE; WALLSCHIFF
3. JAMES P. WALSH; COL. WARD; WASHINGTON; WATER E. WATSON; WAYNE; RUTH E. WEBSTER; INGRID WEIDE; DAVID M. WEIR; ERNEST T. WEIR; WELDCRAFT II; J. P. WELLS; WENNY; WESCOAT; B.E. WEST
4. CHARLES C. WEST; WESTMOUNT; WEST RIVER; WEST SHORE; WHIRLEY #4; WHIRLEY #5; CHARLES M. WHITE; H. LEE WHITE; PETER WHITE; WHITE RIVER; W. F. WHITE; WILLIAM A. WHITNEY; PETER A. B. WIDENER; HORACE S. WILKINSON; JOHN C. WILLIAMS; CHARLES E. WILSON; THOMAS WILSON; WINDOC; JACK WIRT
5. WISCONSIN; CARSTEN WITT; WILLIAM H. WOLF; WOLVERINE; WOLVIN; JOSEPH WOOD; WOODBURN; Workboat; WYANDOTTE; WYOMING; YALE; HARRY YATES
6. YOSEMITE; COL. E. M. YOUNG; JOSEPH S. YOUNG; YOUNGSTOWN; BAYOU ZACHARY; ZAKOPANE; ZENICA
7. Addresses of surveyors and assistants
8. Biographical Information Paul J. Ranahan
9. Buffalo Marine Construction Corporation, 1931
10. Cargo Materials Report and manifest, 1967, 1970
11. Cargo Materials Stowage plans, 1970, 1976-1977
12. Cargo Materials Inward cargo lists, n.d.
13. Condition inspection BRAVADO and GENERAL, 1596 & 1596A, 1967
14. Daily telephone log, 1974
15. Design study and outline specifications: Design 03-MT-A1, Great Lakes Automobile Carrier, May 17, 25, 1962. Drawings included
16. Great Lakes Steamship Company Vessel Survey 1769 for COVERDALE and COLPITTS, 1957
17. Injury reports O. J. Lange and Co. for the COMET, 1952-1965
18. Lake Shipbuilding Company Statement of Partnership Dissolution, 1912
19. Ledger Sheets for billed cases, 1963
20. Letterheads, A-W
21. Miscellaneous correspondence, ca. 1940
22. Miscellaneous correspondnece, ca. 1940
23. Personnel Names and Addresses
24. Personnel Information, 1950-1955
25. Ranahan and Bureau Veritas Correspondence, ca. 1950
26. Reconstruction of HENRY LA LIBERTE, 1954
27. Small boat plans, 1946
28. Soo River Pilots, Inc., ca. 1960
29. Specifications for a 149' bunkering vessel by Blount Marine Corporation, 1977
30. SULLIVAN sinking, 1974
31. Toth Motorships, Inc., Stock certificates, 1957
32. USSA, Inc., Approval of Grain Carriage in Lake Vessels, October 1932
33. USSA, Inc., Winter Mooring Regulations, November 15, 1944
34. Vessel Survey #1461, Barge RAPHAEL, 7/12/1966
35. Vessel Survey #1492, MERTON E. FARR, 1966
36. Vessel Survey #1524, CANADIANA, 1966
37. Vessel Survey, #1556, ALPENA, 7/6/1967
38. Vessel Survey, #1596-A, THOMAS F. COLE, Drawing of hull 27, Deck Plans and Pilot House, 1967
39. Vessel Survey, #1612, GRAND HAVEN, 1967
40. Vessel Survey, #2063, Barge V.A.L. #51, 1964

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