No. 172
SEA HISTORY
AUTUMN 2020
CONTENTS
nantucket historical association collection
10 NMHS Annual Awards Dinner—A Virtual Celebration ! We’re taking a look back at over five decades of excellence in the maritime heritage community, revisiting the people, organizations, and ships recognized with NMHS awards. We hope you can join us in October for this year’s gala. 16 Freedom and Whaling on Nantucket by Skip Finley Nearly a century before the Emancipation Proclamation, Nantucket society was free from slavery due to the influence of its Quaker population and the need for skilled labor in the whaling fishery. 22 Discovering Sea History in the Detroit Publishing Co. Collection in the Library of Congress by Charley Seavey One of the great treasures of the Library of Congress is the collection of more than 40,000 glass plate negatives by photographer William Henry Jackson and others, originally managed by the Detroit Publishing Company. Today, thousands of these very high resolution photographs have been made available online, offering a wealth of information that can be gleaned from these captured moments of our maritime history.
detroit publ. co., library of congress
16
30 Bite of the Devil—Scourge of the Long-Distance Sea Voyager by Dr. Raymond E. Phillips In the Age of Discovery, scurvy was one of the most widespread threats facing sailors at sea, killing more than two million. It would take significant advances in our understanding of disease and nutrition before this misunderstood killer could be brought under control.
22
wikipedia commons
34 Art to the Rescue by Nicolas Fox, American Society of Marine Artists Self-isolation is something artists do well. During this time of mandated alone time in their studios, ASMA artists have been doing some of their best work. While many exhibitions are shut down for the time being, ASMA vice president Nicolas Fox shares some of their efforts here. 38 Reports from the Fleet: Traditional and Historic Ships in the Time of COVID With passenger ships tied to the dock waiting for the pandemic to be brought under control, many programs are adjusting their plans, cranking away on maintenance projects or shipyard work, and planning for the time when people can return to sea aboard their vessels.
Cover: Mayflower II, underway in Long Island Sound for sea trials, 29 July 2020. Photo by John Spinnato, courtesy Plimoth Plantation (see page 38 for more on Mayflower II since her departure from the shipyard at Mystic Seaport Museum).
DEPARTMENTS 4 Deck Log & Letters 8 NMHS: A Cause in Motion 44 Sea History for Kids
48 Ship Notes, Seaport & Museum News 56 Reviews 64 Patrons
Sea History and the National Maritime Historical Society Sea History e-mail: seahistory@gmail.com; NMHS e-mail: nmhs@seahistory.org; Website: www.seahistory.org. Ph: 914 737-7878; 800 221-NMHS MEMBERSHIP is invited. Afterguard $10,000; Benefactor $5,000; Plankowner $2,500; Sponsor $1,000; Donor $500; Patron $250; Friend $100; Regular $45. All members outside the USA please add $20 for postage. Sea History is sent to all members. Individual copies cost $4.95.
by sheri farabaugh, asma
30
34
SEA HISTORY (issn 0146-9312) is published quarterly by the National Maritime Historical Society, 5 John Walsh Blvd., POB 68, Peekskill NY 10566 USA. Periodicals postage paid at Peekskill NY 10566 and add’l mailing offices. COPYRIGHT © 2020 by the National Maritime Historical Society. Tel: 914 737-7878. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sea History, PO Box 68, Peekskill NY 10566.
NATIONAL MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY