Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records
name: label: Creator
content: United States. Works Progress Administration
label: Names
content: Historic American Merchant Marine Survey
label: Names
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.).  Division of Transportation
label: Names
content: United States. Work Projects Administration
label: Names
content: Jackson, Melvin H.
place: label: Place
content: Great Lakes (North America)
topic: label: Topic
content: Naval architecture -- Designs and plans
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The materials in this collection were turned over to the Smithsonian soon after the completion of the project in 1937.
creator: label: Creator
content: United States. Works Progress Administration
setName: label: See more items in
content: Historic American Merchant Marine Survey Records
abstract: label: Summary
content: Records document the design and technical evolution of vessel types which was important to American commercial maritime history.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: The Historic American Merchant Marine Survey (HAMMS) was one of six projects created by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to provide work for unemployed skilled or "white collar" workers.  These projects were intended to provide work which was both useful and appropriate to the skills and experience of workers who were not suited for more traditional work programs involving manual or outdoor labor.  The specific goal of HAMMS was to undertake a national survey of watercraft, in order to document the design and technical evolution of vessel types significant in America's commercial maritime history.  This was to be accomplished by making measured drawings of existing vessels, ship models, and builders' half models; by making a photographic record of significant vessels; and by compiling written data about vessels.

The HAMMS program was in existence from January 1, 1936 to October 15, 1937.  The Smithsonian Institution served as the official sponsor of the Survey and received all the documentation produced, thus augmenting its already significant National Watercraft Collection.  Unlike other WPA projects, HAMMS was administered directly from Washington by its Director, Eric J. Steinlein, who coordinated the survey work of six regional directors.  Despite its national mandate, the Survey actually was limited to the eastern seaboard, the Great Lakes, and California.  Furthermore, the types of craft surveyed and the level of documentation varied considerably within the six regions.  During the course of its existence, the HAMMS program conducted over 166 surveys and produced over 400 sheets of line drawings of ship's hulls, rigging, and details.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 18.5 Cubic feet (79 volumes, 10 rolls)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1936-1937.
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Transportation (now Division of Work and Industry), October 20, 1986.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0240
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Records
label: Type
content: Tracings
label: Type
content: Notes
label: Type
content: Drawings
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is divided into five series.

Series 1:  H.A.M.M.S. Index

Series 2: H.A.M.M.S. Catalogue

Series 3: Names of Vessels, 1789-

Series 4: Field Notes

Series 5: Drawings
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by NMAH Staff, undated
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Records
label: Genre/Form
content: Tracings
label: Genre/Form
content: Notes
label: Genre/Form
content: Drawings -- 1930-1940
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This collection is comprised of over 18 cubic feet of material generated during the course of the Historic American Merchant Marine Survey.  The bulk of the collection consists of survey books and measured drawings.  Other records include administrative papers relating to the project, an index and catalogue, and a listing of the names of vessels surveyed.