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.
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.
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.
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.
ALGORAIL; ALGO SOO; ALGO STEEL; ALGOWAY; ALGOWOOD; ALKOR; HARRY L. ALLEN
ALPENA; AMASA STONE; AMAZON; AMERICA; AMVRAKIKOS; ANDROMED; ANGELINE; R. BRUCE ANGUS; ANNA; APOLLONIA; AQUARAMA; ARCTURUS
ARISTAGORAS; ARIZONA; FRANK ARMSTRONG; ASHLAND; J. S. ASHLEY; ATHENE; A. A. AUGUSTUS; C. L. AUSTIN; AVON LAKE; BACK BAY; BALL BROTHERS
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
BEAVER; WILLIAM S. BELL; BENFRI; WILLIAM H. BENNETT; BENNINGTON; NIXON BERRY; EDWARD J. BERWIND; BETHLEHEM; FRANK BILLINGS; BINTANG; L. E. BLOCK
ROGER BLOUGH; JOHN W. BOARDMAN; JOHN J. BOLAND; BOWEAN; WILLIS B. BOYER; BRAMBLE; BRAVADO; BRITAMETTE; BRITANNIA; BROCKTON; BROMALM; FAYETTE BROWN
HARVEY H. BROWN; J. J. H. BROWN; BUCKEYE; BUCKEYE MONITOR; EUGENE J. BUFFINGTON; A. M. BYERS
LORD BYRON; CADILLAC; CALIFORNIA; CALUMET; BEN W. CALVIN; CALYPSO; CAMBRIA; CAMERON II; DANADIANA; CANADOC; CAPE PACIFIC; CARPORT; CAROL LAKE; CARTERET; CARTIERDOC
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
CORNWALL; CORONA; CORTLAND; HARRY COULBY; JOHN B. COWLE; WILLIAM D. CRAWFORD; CRETE; CRISPIN OGLEBAY
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
DERBYSHIRE; DERRICK #56; DETROIT EDISON; GREATER DETROIT; DIAMOND ALKALI
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.
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
A. & J. FAITH; LEON FALK, JR.; MERTON E. FARR; FEDERAL MAAS; FEDERAL SCHELDE; FEDERAL ST. LAURENT; FELLOWCRAFT; FERNDALE; JAMES E. FERRIS
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
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
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
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
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
ELTON HOYT II; CHARLES HUBBARD; Hulls 868, 869, 1173; HUMACONNA; GEORGE M. HUMPHREY; HURON; HURON BELLE; HURON LADY; HURON MAID; CHARLES L. HUTCHINSON
GENE C. HUTCHINSON; JOHN T. HUTCHINSON; HYRDO; HYGRADE #18; IDAHO; IMPERIAL LEDUC; INDIANA
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.
JOHNSTOWN; JOLIET; B.F. JONES; HARRY R. JONES; ROBERT JOYNT; JULIA L.; CARL JULIUS; JUPITER
NORMAN KELLEY; KELLY ISLAND; EDWARD S. KENDRICK; KENNETH H.; KILKENNY; KILLARNEY; WILLIS L. KING; KING COAL; KINKASAN-MARU
KIN MOUNT; A. T. KINNEY; KINSALE; KINSMAN ENTERPRISE; ELLEN KLAUTSCHKE; JOHN A. KLING; KOALKRAFT; KOPER; NORMAN J. KOPMEIER; E.J. KULAS; KYRA; LABELLE
LACKAWANNA; LA CLARE; LA HACIENDA; LAHNSTEIN; LAKEWOOD; HENRY LALIBERTE
LA SALLE; SAM LAUD; JAMES LAUGHLIN; A. T. LAWSON; LEADALE; LEARINA; LEBANON; LEHIGH; LENA; CAPTAIN LEONIDAS; LESCO; JOHN T. LILLIS
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
MURIEL MCALLISTER; NANCY MCALLISTER; REID MCALLISTER; MCB 1552 (barge); MERLE MCCURDY; C. H. MCCULLOUGH, JR.; T. J. MCCARTHY; O.S. MCFARLAND
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
MAIA; MAJOR BASIL; MALIETOA; MANCHESTER CITY; MANICOUAGAN; MANILA; MANITOBA; JOHN S. MANUEL; MARAKI; MARINE FUEL; MARINE FUEL II
MARINE FUEL OIL; MARINE FUELER; MARITIME GARDENIA; PERE MARQUETTE #10; MARSALA; RICHARD M. MARSHALL; MARTHA B. MARY ALICE B.
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
MINNESOTA; RALPH S. MISENER; SCOTT MISENER; MISSISSIPPI; SAMUEL MITCHELL; MO-643 (barge); MOHAWK DEER; MOHICAN
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.
NANFRI; NAPPER TANDY; NARCOSIS; NASSAU; NEA TYHI; NEGAUNEE; NETTLETON; NEVADA; NEWCASTLE; NEW GRAND HAVEN; NEW JERSEY; NEW MEXICO; NEW ORLEANS; NEW YORK
NEW YORK CITY; NIAGARA; NICOLET; NIPIWAN PARK; NORONIC; NORTH AMERICAN; NORTHCLIFFE HALL; NORTH DAKOTA; NORTH DEVON; NORWAY; NURITH; OCTAVIA
OKLAHOMA; HELGA OLDENDORFF; OLYMPIC PALM; OLYMPIC PIONEER; ORANSFJELL; ORCHID VENTURE; OREGON; ORIENT LINER; ORIENTAL VENUS; ORION; OSBORNE; OSCEOLA; OSSENDRECHT; OSSIPEE; OUANANICHE; WILLIAM A. PAINE
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
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
PRINCETON; PROPELLER; FRANK PURNELL; JOHN PURVES; PUT-IN-BAY; PUTZFRAU; QUEENSGARTH; QUETICO; GEORGE F. RAND; CLARENCE B. RANDALL
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
REISS MARINE; ROBERT Y.; ROBERTA; PETER ROBERTSON; T. W. ROBINSON; ROCKET; ROCKWOOD; ERIC ROLF; ROWLI; SAINT REMI
SANDCRAFT; SANDRA; SARACEN; SATURN; SAUCON; EDWARD N. SAUNDERS, JR.; SAVANNAH; J. F. SCHOELLKOPF, JR.
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
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
EDMUND P. SMITH; HURLBUT W. SMITH; LYMAN C. SMITH; SIDNEY E. SMITH, JR.; HARRIS N. SNYDER; WILLIAM P. SNYDER; SOUTH AMERICAN
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
WALTER STERLING; SULLIVAN BROTHERS; J. J. SULLIVAN; SULTANA; SUNGLEAM; SUMATRA; SUPERIOR; Supply Boat 41-M-526; SWEDEN; SWEETWATER; WILFRED SYKES; SYLVANIA
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
THREE SISTERS; THUNDER BAY QUARRIES; PAUL J. TIETJEN; TIMBERLINE; TIPPERARY; TOLEDO; G. A. TOMLINSON; TORSHOLM
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
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
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
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
WISCONSIN; CARSTEN WITT; WILLIAM H. WOLF; WOLVERINE; WOLVIN; JOSEPH WOOD; WOODBURN; Workboat; WYANDOTTE; WYOMING; YALE; HARRY YATES
YOSEMITE; COL. E. M. YOUNG; JOSEPH S. YOUNG; YOUNGSTOWN; BAYOU ZACHARY; ZAKOPANE; ZENICA
Addresses of surveyors and assistants
Biographical Information Paul J. Ranahan
Buffalo Marine Construction Corporation, 1931
Cargo Materials Report and manifest, 1967, 1970
Cargo Materials Stowage plans, 1970, 1976-1977
Cargo Materials Inward cargo lists, n.d.
Condition inspection BRAVADO and GENERAL, 1596 & 1596A, 1967
Daily telephone log, 1974
Design study and outline specifications: Design 03-MT-A1, Great Lakes Automobile Carrier, May 17, 25, 1962. Drawings included
Great Lakes Steamship Company Vessel Survey 1769 for COVERDALE and COLPITTS, 1957
Injury reports O. J. Lange and Co. for the COMET, 1952-1965
Lake Shipbuilding Company Statement of Partnership Dissolution, 1912
Ledger Sheets for billed cases, 1963
Letterheads, A-W
Miscellaneous correspondence, ca. 1940
Miscellaneous correspondnece, ca. 1940
Personnel Names and Addresses
Personnel Information, 1950-1955
Ranahan and Bureau Veritas Correspondence, ca. 1950
Reconstruction of HENRY LA LIBERTE, 1954
Small boat plans, 1946
Soo River Pilots, Inc., ca. 1960
Specifications for a 149' bunkering vessel by Blount Marine Corporation, 1977
SULLIVAN sinking, 1974
Toth Motorships, Inc., Stock certificates, 1957
USSA, Inc., Approval of Grain Carriage in Lake Vessels, October 1932
USSA, Inc., Winter Mooring Regulations, November 15, 1944
Vessel Survey #1461, Barge RAPHAEL, 7/12/1966
Vessel Survey #1492, MERTON E. FARR, 1966
Vessel Survey #1524, CANADIANA, 1966
Vessel Survey, #1556, ALPENA, 7/6/1967
Vessel Survey, #1596-A, THOMAS F. COLE, Drawing of hull 27, Deck Plans and Pilot House, 1967
