Historical Collections of the Great Lakes

Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The Brookes Collection was transferred to the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes on December 8, 1987. The Instrument of Gift was signed at the time of transfer. Literary and property rights were dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for purposes of preservation and scholarly researach. Final processing was completed with the assistance of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant in August 1991 by Mark J. Barnes and Monica Manny.

Biographical Sketch

Ivan S. Brookes developed his interest in the Great Lakes region transportation system early in life. Born in Toledo during 1916, Brookes has lived near the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River throughout his life. Service on vessels sailing on the St. Lawrence River from 1937 to 1942 sparked an historian's curiosity that led eventually to a 1974 book entitled The Lower St. Lawrence: A Pictorial History of Shipping and Industrial Development.

Service in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942 to 1945 was followed by a career in engineering. Brookes joined The Steel Company of Canada, Ltd. in 1947 and still resides in Hamilton, Ontario. Interest in Great Lakes vessels and the Hamilton area produced McKay's Wharf: The Story of a Shipowning Enterprise in Hamilton. This work appeared in 1989.

Series Description

REPORTS

GREAT LAKES VESSELS
Boxes 1-3
Ca. 1835-1975

OCEAN/COASTAL VESSELS
Boxes 4-8
Ca. 1822-1975
Series contains copies of data sheets for vessels of the Great Lakes and ocean and coastal trades compiled from official records and published marine directories. Information generally found on each sheet includes the various names a vessel had during its shipping career, where and when the vessel was built, the name of the shipyard or shipbuilder, dimension and tonnage figures, type of engine and boiler, notes on alterations to the vessel, and notes on the destruction of the vessel either by accident or retirement for salvage. Information dates from the period ca. 1822-1975. Arrangement is alphabetical by the earliest known name for each vessel.

Inventory

Box 1: Great Lakes Vessels

Folders

1. A
2. B
3. C-CH
4. CI-CO
5. CR-CY
6. D
7. E
8. F

Box 2: Great Lakes Vessels

Folders

1. G
2. H
3. I
4. J
5. K
6. L-LAKE
7. LAM-LY
8. M-MAR
9. MAS-ME
10. MI-MY
11. N

Box 3: Great Lakes Vessels

Folders

1. O
2. P-PI
3. PL-PY
4. Q
5. R
6. S-SH
7. SI-STA
8. STE-SY
9. T
10. U
11. V
12. W-WA
13. WE-WY
14. Y
15. Z

Box 4: Ocean/Coastal Vessels

Folders

1. A-AL
2. AM-AR
3. AS-AZ
4. BA-BE
5. BI-BO
6. BR-BY
7. C-CAN
8. CAP-CAR
9. CAS-CH
10. CI-CO
11. CR-CZ

Box 5: Ocean/Coastal Vessels

Folders

1. DA-DI
2. DO-DU
3. EA-EM
4. EN-EX
5. FA-FL
6. FO-FORT H
7. FORT I-FORT Y
8. FORTY-FY
9. GA-GL
10. GO-GY
11. HA
12. HE-HY

Box 6: Ocean/Coastal Vessels

Folders

1. I
2. J
3. K
4. LA
5. LE-LL
6. LO-LY
7. M-MAN
8. MAP-MAY
9. Mc-MK
10. MO-MY

Box 7: Ocean/Coastal Vessels

1. NA-NI
2. NO-NY
3. OA-OS
4. OT-OW
5. PA-PL
6. PO-PRIM
7. PRIN-PY
8. Q
9. RA-RE
10. RH-ROM
11. RON-RY

Box 8: Ocean/Coastal Vessels

Folders

1. SAA-SAN
2. SAO-SH
3. SI-STE
4. STI-SY
5. TA-TI
6. TO-TY
7. U
8. V
9. WA
10. WE-WY
11. Y
12. Z

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