& MUSEUM NEWS in SH 6 and 7. A member of the Advisory Counci l of the National Society, he plans to con tinu e these int erests o n hi s return to his native England later thi s year. Fair wind s attend him! The papers of John Paul Jones a re bein g co llected for publication by th e US Naval Academy a nd th e National Hi stori cal Publi ca ti ons a nd Record s Commiss ion . A sin gle vo lum e selected. ed ition and mi crofilm edit io n will result. The ed it or seeks inform at ion concernin g lette rs to, from or about J ones, and documents written by him. James C . Bradford, editor, Papers of John Paul Jones, Department of Histo ry, US Naval Academy, Annapolis MD 21402. The $5 Million Maritime Heritage Fund (see SH 12) was reviewed at a December meeting of the National Conference of State Hi storic Preservation Officers in Washin gto n . Leaders of East, Gulf, Pacific and Great Lakes coast and river projects were invited to review philosophy with Interior Department officials responsible for administering the fund. Representati ves of the Ship Trust Committee of NMHS , which proposed the Fund last year, were assured that th e program would focus on historic ship projects of national importance . The program will be run by a Maritim e Heritage Task Force in the Interior Department' s Office of Archaeology and Hi storic Preservation , in coopera ti on with State Hi storic Preserva tion Officers. Announcement of program design a nd administration is expected shortly as we go to press.
The National Endowment for the Humanities, as noted in our last, has made innovative grants to encourage m a ritim e heritage projects . Seventeen grants in 1978, totalling nearly $500,000, reveal th e depth a nd range of maritime culture. Th ese range from a gra nt of $2,000 to the Southeast Missouri Museum to plan a n exhibit o n the role of the Miss issippi River in local hi story , through $17 ,057 to the Jewi sh Mu seum of New York for an exhibit on marine a rchaeology in Biblical waters, to $ 100,000 to the Field Mu seum of Na tural History in Chicago, to implement an exhibit on Marine Hunters and Fishermen. A complete li sting of grants is now avai lable from NMHS . The Nat ional Trust for Historic Preservation h as announced a $1 million fund to preserve endangered properties of nation al significance. Since 1973, the Tru st reports, they have invested an average of under $30,000 a year to save endangered buildings. "As res ult of its success ful track record, " the Trust anno unces, the Interior Department has awarded them $1 million, to be matched by private contribution . The Mellon Foundation has made a grant of $500,000 to this open-end fund, making $1 million immediately avai lable, some of which might go to save imperilled ships .
SEA HISTORY, WINTER 1979
EXPLORE THE MAINE COAST
The Fourth Naval History Symposium wi ll be held at the US Naval Academy, October 25-26 this year . In 1977 the Third Conference attracted 450 sc holars. T he program will be an nounced in May . Naval History Symposium, US Naval Acad. Annapolis MD 21402.
WEEKLY
The USS Constitution Museum conferred on House Speaker John W. McCormack the second ann ua l Samuel Eli ot Mori so n Award for hi s help an d se rvice in estab li shi ng the Boston National Hi stor ic Park and the Mu seum in 1976. The award, given on October 21, was accompan ied by the unveiling of a new painting "USS Constitution Engages HMS Guerriere" by James G. Clary. USS Co nstitution Museum, PO Box 18 12, Boston MA 02129. Friends of Nobska, a non-profi t membership o rga ni zati on dedicated to the prese rvation of the four-cy li nder tripl e-expa nsio n steamboat Nobska, is continuing its effo rt s to maintain the boat's engin es in operating condition. The Nobska, now serving as a restaurant shi p in Baltimore, is the last of the many steamers that used to connect Nantucket wit h the rest of Massachu sett s. Built in 1925 at the Bath Iro n Work s for th e New England Steams hip Company, she was in service until September 18, 1973 . Friends of Nobska maintain the engi ne in mint cond ition look ing forward to the day when the Nobska will stea m aga in in Massachusetts waters, a goal they ho pe to ach ieve in th e near future . Frie nds of Nobska, In c., 128 Ocean Ave ., Cranston RI 02905. Mystic Seaport has a new add iti on to its neet, the 80-year old Noank sloop Breeze, gift from William H . Babcock, J.r . of Groton.
The Breeze is a 24-foot. gaff-r igged well smack, built in Noank by Wayland Morgan in 1898 . As a well smack she cou ld keep her catch a live into port. Lobster fi shing on th e Thames River until three yea rs ago, Breeze has been hauled o ut since her retirement. Plans are to restore her in the duPont Restoration Shipyard at Mystic Seapo rt , as a n oating ex hibit. Mystic Seapor t, Mystic CT 06355.
VACAT ION
Capt. H. S. Hawkins Camden, Maine 04843 Tel. 1-207-236-2750
EAST COAST The Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, closed by the Navy several years ago, may come to life again as a hi storic seaport through the efforts of the Boston Redevelopment Aut hority, the National Park Service, and severa l private organizations. Boston Redevelopment Authority has started the efforts with grou ndbreak ing for a waterfron t park . Several historic buildings, includin g the Navy Yard Rope Wa lk , are being co nsidered for restoration to working ex hibit s by th e Park Service in cooperati o n with loca l historic groups.
SAILING
WINDJAMMER " MARY DAY" For Fo lder Write :
lanterns
ship wheels
sextants
compasses
whaling it ems shark teeth
MARINE ANTIQUES & SEA SHELLS 10 Fulton Street . New York, N.Y. 10038 South Street Seaport & Fulton Fish Market (2 12) 344 ¡2 262
FOR SALE:
SHIP MODEL COLLECTION 18th century ivory models A.M. Underhill, Bellport, L.I. , NY 11713 Tel : 516-286-0057
ANTIQUE SCIENTIFIC & NAUTICAL . INSTRUMENTS & Early Associated Books
Int rod uctory pri ce $2 ($3 overseas) for il lustrated Catalog 117 R
HISTORICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC. 6 Mugford Street Marblehead, Mass. 01945
Springtime on the Hudson River and Long Island Sound The M .V . BLOCK ISLAND will sail from New London to New York on May 25 and will return May 28. On May 26 and 2 7, she will sail from New York to Albany and return. Narration by noted Hudson River Historians. Join us on this, the first springtime excursion between New York and Albany in over 20 years. Our New York landings will be at the South Street Seaport. For information write: The New England St eamship Co. of Massachusetts, Inc. 51 South Street Berlin, MA 01503
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