U. S. Lifesaving Service Wreck Reports and Payroll Records, ORG.5008
Abstract
The United States Lifesaving Service (USLSS) was created by the United States Government
in 1872 in order to protect lives and shipping interests along the coast. In 1874,
the first lifesaving stations were built along the North Carolina coast. These stations
housed a staff that consisted of a keeper and crew of six, manning the stations during
the active storm season from December to March. After the wrecks of the , with 103 lives lost, and the , with 85 lives lost, both off the Outer Banks, the Lifesaving Service added an additional
eleven stations to the North Carolina coast. They also extended the station's season
to September 1-May 1 and then from August 1-May 31. By the time the U.S. Lifesaving
Service merged with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service to form the U. S. Coast Guard
in January 1915, North Carolina was home to 29 stations. Among these was the Pea Island
Lifesaving Station, which housed the nation's only all black crew.
This collection contains wreck reports, payroll records, abstracts of disbursements,
books, journals, leases, letters of application and recommendations, livestock forage
bills, contracts, requisitions for repairs, telegrams, and correspondence of the United
States Lifesaving Service. The majority of these papers relate to the stations along
the North Carolina coast, however, there are wreck reports for selected stations in
Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- U. S. Lifesaving Service Wreck Reports and Payroll Records
- Call Number
- ORG.5008
- Creator
-
United States. Life-Saving Service
- Date
- 1892-1929
- Extent
- 11.600 cubic feet, 29 Box
- Language
-
English
- Repository
-
Outer Banks History Center
Restrictions on Access & Use
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as
stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers
are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well
as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], ORG.5008, U. S. Lifesaving Service Wreck Reports and Payroll
Records, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, N.C., U.S.A.
Collection Overview
These papers contain valuable information pertaining to activities and operations
of the U. S. Lifesaving Service/U. S. Coast Guard, from 1892-1929. The wreck reports
document shipwrecks and rescue efforts along the North Carolina coast, as well as
Virginia and South Carolina coasts. Payroll records, bills, and leases document the
administrative activities of the stations. This collection also has letters of application
and recommendation for the position of keeper. There are also some wreck reports for
several stations and houses of refuge in Florida. Material is processed and foldered
as organized by the donor, David Stick, who used the material to write his book, .
The wreck reports were indexed and cross referenced in 2007 by Kelly R. Grimm. It
searchable by the name of the ship, name of the attending station, date, or box and
folder. It is divided into five categories: Wreck Reports for Ships, Boats, and Seaplanes;
Assistance Rendered to Individuals; All Other Reports (i.e. extinguished fire, towed
cars, animal rescues, etc.); Letters of Recommendation and Application: and Maintenance,
Repairs, and Additions.
Arrangement Note
This collection is divided into five series: Saved Ships, Lost Ships, Undesignated
Outcome of Ships, Correspondence, and Payroll Records.
Historical Note
The foundation for the United States Lifesaving Service was laid as far back as 1785,
when the Massachusetts Humane Society was founded, with the goal of saving human lives
in peril from the sea. The society constructed small huts as "houses of refuge" to
provide shelter for shipwrecked mariners along Massachusetts shore. In 1807, the Humane
Society also launched the first lifeboat and established the first lifeboat station
at Cohasset, Massachusetts. Soon, additional lifeboat stations began popping up along
the Massachussetts coast. In 1848, the government allocated $10,000 for the purchase
of surfboats and other lifesaving equipment, to be used along the New Jersey coast.
Throughout the 1850s, the government continued to provided funds and more stations
were set up along the New Jersey and New England coast lines.
These early stations all depended on volunteer crews, often poorly trained and undependable.
Many of the stations fell into disrepair. Through the years, efforts were made to
improve discipline and operations. Though some progress was made, it was obvious that
direct government involvement was needed. It came in 1871, when Sumner I. Kimball
was appointed Chief of the Treasury Department's Revenue Marine Division. Kimball
was able to convince Congress to allot $200,000 to operate stations and employ full
time crews. Kimball instituted a six man crew, built new stations, and drew up formal
regulations with standards of performance.
North Carolina's first seven stations were built in 1874 at Jones Hill (later re-named
Whaleshead, then Currituck Beach), Caffey's Inlet, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Bodie's
Island, Chicamacomico, and Little Kinnakeet. These stations were only manned during
the active season, December-March. The Lifesaving Service was not without its problems
in these early years. The stations were spread too far apart and though many of the
early surfmen went on to have distinguished careers, the stations also had their fair
share of men not suited to the rigors of lifesaving. It would take several years to
weed them all out.
It took two major maritime disasters off the coast of the Outer Banks before the Lifesaving
Service would receive an overhaul. The first was the disaster of the , which wrecked on November 24, 1877, a mere three miles from the Nags Head Lifesaving
Station. Since the station's season hadn't started, it was closed and locked up. A
total of 103 lives were lost in this disaster. The second was the wreck of the on January 31, 1878. Though surfmen from the lifesaving stations responded, the distance
between the stations, as well as errors made by the surfmen, resulted in the loss
of 85 lives. As a result of these disasters, an act was passed by Congress on June
18, 1878, authorizing an additional 30 stations to be built around the country. Eleven
of these stations were designated for the North Carolina. The active season was extended
to September 1-May 1. It was later extended again to August 1-May 31. In hopes of
attracting more qualified people, the keeper's salary was increased and they were
given the power of inspectors of customs. Despite these early growing pains, the Lifesaving
Service became an honored way of life on the Outer Banks, and it is an important part
of the local heritage.
By the time the U. S. Lifesaving Service merged with the U. S. Revenue Cutter Service
to form the U. S. Coast Guard in January 1915, North Carolina was home to a total
of 29 stations. Among these stations was the Pea Island Lifesaving Station, which
housed the nation's only all black crew.
Contents of the Collection
1. Saved Ships
1895 (January-April), 1895 (January-April)
Box 1:2.3
1895 (April-December), 1895 (April-December)
Box 1:2.4
1896 (January-August), 1896 (January-August)
Box 1:2.5
, 1897 (January-December), 1896 (January-November)
Box 1:2.6
1897 (January-December), 1897 (January-December)
Box 1:2.7
1900 (January-April), 1900 (January-April)
Box 1:2.10
1900 (May-December), 1900 (May-December)
Box 2:2.11
1901 (January-June), 1901 (January-June)
Box 2:2.12
1901 (July-December), 1901 (July-December)
Box 2:2.13
1902 (January-June), 1902 (January-June)
Box 2:2.14
1902 (July-December), 1902 (July-December)
Box 2:2.15
1903 (January-June), 1903 (January-June)
Box 2:2.16
1903 (July-December), 1903 (July-December)
Box 2:2.17
1904 (January-April), 1904 (January-April)
Box 2:2.18
1904 (May-November 14), 1904 (May-November 14)
Box 2:2.19
1904 (November 14-December), 1904 (November 14-December)
Box 2:2.20
2. Lost Ships
1894 (January-December), 1894 (January-December)
Box 3:3.2
1894 (October-December), 1894 (October-December)
Box 3:3.3
1896 (September-December), 1896 (September-December)
Box 3:3.5
1903 (January-June), 1903 (January-June)
Box 3:3.10
1903 (August, October, December), 1903 (August, October, December)
Box 3:3.11
1905 (January-June), 1905 (January-June)
Box 3:3.13
1907 (January-October), 1907 (January-October)
Box 3:3.15
3. Undesignated Outcome of Ships
1905 (January-February), 1905 (January-February)
Box 4:4.1
1905 (March-July), 1905 (March-July)
Box 4:4.2
1905 (August-November), 1905 (August-November)
Box 4:4.3
1905 (October-December), 1905 (October-December)
Box 4:4.4
1906 (January-February), 1906 (January-February)
Box 4:4.5
1906 (March-June), 1906 (March-June)
Box 4:4.6
1906 (June-December), 1906 (June-December)
Box 4:4.7
1907 (January-March), 1907 (January-March)
Box 4:4.8
1907 (March-May), 1907 (March-May)
Box 4:4.9
1907 (June-December), 1907 (June-December)
Box 4:4.10
1908 (January-July), 1908 (January-July)
Box 5:4.11
1908 (August-December), 1908 (August-December)
Box 5:4.12
1908 (January-November), 1908 (January-November)
Box 5:4.13
1909 (January-October), 1909 (January-October)
Box 6:4.21
1909 (October-December), 1909 (October-December)
Box 6:4.22
1910 (January-March), 1910 (January-March)
Box 6:4.23
1910 (April-June), 1910 (April-June)
Box 6:4.24
1910 (July-October), 1910 (July-October)
Box 6:4.25
1910 (November-December), 1910 (November-December)
Box 6:4.26
1911 (January-March), 1911 (January-March)
Box 7:4.27
1911 (April-August), 1911 (April-August)
Box 7:4.28
1911 (September-December), 1911 (September-December)
Box 7:4.29
1912 (January-October), 1912 (January-October)
Box 7:4.30
1912 (October-December), 1912 (October-December)
Box 7:4.31
1913 (January-February), 1913 (January-February)
Box 7:4.32
1913 (March-May), 1913 (March-May)
Box 7:4.33
1913 (June-September), 1913 (June-September)
Box 7:4.34
1913 (October-December), 1913 (October-December)
Box 7:4.35
1914 (January-February), 1914 (January-February)
Box 8:4.36
1914 (March-April 5), 1914 (March-April 5)
Box 8:4.37
1914 (April 9-May), 1914 (April 9-May)
Box 8:4.38
1914 (June-October), 1914 (June-October)
Box 8:4.39
1914 (November-December), 1914 (November-December)
Box 8:4.40
1915 (January-March), 1915 (January-March)
Box 8:4.41
1915 (April-May.), 1915 (April-May.)
Box 8:4.42
1915 (June-September), 1915 (June-September)
Box 8:4.43
1915 (October-December), 1915 (October-December)
Box 8:4.44
1916 (February-July), 1916 (February-July)
Box 9:4.45
1916 (August), 1916 (August)
Box 9:4.46
1916 (September), 1916 (September)
Box 9:4.47
1916 (October), 1916 (October)
Box 9:4.48
1916 (November), 1916 (November)
Box 9:4.49
1916 (December 15-18), 1916 (December 15-18)
Box 9:4.50
1916 (December 16-17), 1916 (December 16-17)
Box 9:4.51
1917 (January), 1917 (January)
Box 10:4.52
1917 (February), 1917 (February)
Box 10:4.53
1917 (March), 1917 (March)
Box 10:4.54
1917 (April), 1917 (April)
Box 10:4.55
1917 (May-June), 1917 (May-June)
Box 10:4.56
1917 (July-August), 1917 (July-August)
Box 10:4.57
1917 (September), 1917 (September)
Box 10:4.58
1917 (October), 1917 (October)
Box 10:4.59
1917 (November), 1917 (November)
Box 10:4.60
1917 (December), 1917 (December)
Box 10:4.61
1918 (January), 1918 (January)
Box 11:4.62
1918 (February-March), 1918 (February-March)
Box 11:4.63
1918 (April), 1918 (April)
Box 11:4.64
1918 (May-June), 1918 (May-June)
Box 11:4.65
1918 (August), 1918 (August)
Box 11:4.67
1918 (September-October), 1918 (September-October)
Box 11:4.68
1918 (November), 1918 (November)
Box 11:4.69
1918 (December), 1918 (December)
Box 11:4.70
1919 (January), 1919 (January)
Box 12:4.71
1919 (February-March), 1919 (February-March)
Box 12:4.72
1919 (April), 1919 (April)
Box 12:4.73
1919 (May-July 11), 1919 (May-July 11)
Box 12:4.74
1919 (July 2-August), 1919 (July 2-August)
Box 12:4.75
1919 (September-October), 1919 (September-October)
Box 12:4.76
1919 (November), 1919 (November)
Box 12:4.77
1919 (December), 1919 (December)
Box 12:4.78
1920 (January), 1920 (January)
Box 13:4.79
1920 (February), 1920 (February)
Box 13:4.80
1920 (March-April), 1920 (March-April)
Box 13:4.81
1920 (May.-June.), 1920 (May.-June.)
Box 13:4.82
1920 (July-August), 1920 (July-August)
Box 13:4.83
1920 (September), 1920 (September)
Box 13:4.84
1920 (October), 1920 (October)
Box 13:4.85
1920 (November), 1920 (November)
Box 13:4.86
1920 (December), 1920 (December)
Box 13:4.87
1909 (April), 1909 (April)
Box 14:4.88
1915 (August), 1915 (August)
Box 14:4.89
1915 (October), 1915 (October)
Box 14:4.90
1915 (December), 1915 (December)
Box 14:4.91
1916 (April), 1916 (April)
Box 14:4.92
1916 (December), 1916 (December)
Box 14.4.94
1923 (January), 1923 (January)
Box 14:4.95
1923 (February), 1923 (February)
Box 14:4.96
1923 (March), 1923 (March)
Box 14:4:97
1923 (April), 1923 (April)
Box 14:4.98
, 1917 (December), 1919 (February, March, December), 1916 (February)
Box 14:4.101
1921 (February-December), 1921 (February-December)
Box 14:4.102
1921 (August-December), 1921 (August-December)
Box 14:4.103
Misc. Lost, Burned, Seized (Booze Yacht)
1922 (January-August), 1922 (January-August)
Box 14:4.104
Misc. Wreck, Rumrunners, Manteo Fires
1922 (August-December), 1922 (August-December)
Box 14:4.105
AU, FL Coast Guard Stations, except New Bern, N.C.
1923 (January-June), 1923 (January-June)
Box 14:4.106
), 1925 (August)-1926 (January
Box 14:4.108
1917 (January-April), 1917 (January-April)
Box 15:4.109
1917 (July-August), 1917 (July-August)
Box 15:4.110
1917 (September-December), 1917 (September-December)
Box 15:4.111
1918 (January-June), 1918 (January-June)
Box 15:4.112
1918 (February-December), 1918 (February-December)
Box 15:4.113
1918 (August-December), 1918 (August-December)
Box 15:4.114
1919 (January-October), 1919 (January-October)
Box 15:4.115
1919 (October-December), 1919 (October-December)
Box 15:4.116
1920 (January-May), 1920 (January-May)
Box 15:4.117
1920 (June-December), 1920 (June-December)
Box 15:4.118
1921 (January-March), 1921 (January-March)
Box 15:4.119
1922 (January-June), 1922 (January-June)
Box 15:4.120
Macerata aground/refloated
Box 16:4.121
Carrol A. Deering,(1920-1921)
1923 (February-December), 1923 (February-December)
Box 16:4.123
Scotia wreck on Elizabeth City Waterfront
1925 (April-December), 1925 (April-December)
Box 16:4.126
1926 (June-December), 1926 (June-December)
Box 16:4.127
1926 (February-April), 1926 (February-April)
Box 16:4.128
1926 (January), 1926 (January)
Box 16:4.129
1921 (January and April), 1921 (January and April)
Box 17:4.132
Carrol A. Deering and Mary J. Haynie
1921 (January-February), 1921 (January-February)
Box 17:4.133
1921 (March), 1921 (March)
Box 17:4.134
1921 (April), 1921 (April)
Box 17:4.135
1921 (May-June), 1921 (May-June)
Box 17:4.136
1921 (July-August), 1921 (July-August)
Box 17:4.137
1921 (September-October), 1921 (September-October)
Box 17:4.138
1921 (November), 1921 (November)
Box 17:4.139
1921 (December), 1921 (December)
Box 17:4.140
1922 (January), 1922 (January)
Box 18:4.141
1922 (February), 1922 (February)
Box 18:4.142
1922 (March), 1922 (March)
Box 18:4.143
1922 (April), 1922 (April)
Box 18:4.144
1922 (June.), 1922 (June.)
Box 18:4.146
1922 (August), 1922 (August)
Box 18:4.148
1922 (September), 1922 (September)
Box 18:4.149
1922 (October), 1922 (October)
Box 18:4.150
1922 (November), 1922 (November)
Box 18:4.151
1922 (December), 1922 (December)
Box 18:4.152
1925 (July-August), 1925 (July-August)
Box 19:4:153
1925 (September-November), 1925 (September-November)
Box 19:4.154
1925 (October-November), 1925 (October-November)
Box 19:4.155
Aground/Refloated, Part 1
Aground/Refloated, Part 2
Box 19:4.156
1925 (November-December), 1925 (November-December)
Box 19:4.157
Wreck Location Reports, Form 2629
Box 19:4.158
1926 (January1-22), 1926 (January1-22)
Box 19:4.159
1926 (January 22-31), 1926 (January 22-31)
Box 19:4.160
1926 (February), 1926 (February)
Box 19:4.161
1926 (March), 1926 (March)
Box 19:4.162
1926 (April), 1926 (April)
Box 19:4.163
1926 (May-June), 1926 (May-June)
Box 19:4.164
4. Correspondence
Application for LSS Keeper
Box 20:5.1
Recommendations for Keeper
Envelopes from Applications for LSS Keeper, Stamped/Postmarked, Numbered
Box 20:5.17
Bill, Requisitions for Repairs, and Related Correspondence
Vouchers, etc. P. H. Morgan
Box 20:5.22
Weekly Transcripts of Journals
Box 20:5.24
Orange Grove, Florida House of Refuge
Box 20:5.25
5. United States Life Saving Service Payroll Records,1897-1914
Livestock Forage Bills and Contract, 1910-1915, 1902-1904
Oversize Box 1
Leases of the "Morgan" Office, Shawboro, N.C., 1901-1902, 1904-1905, 1907-1915, 1896
Oversize Box 1
Warehouses, Leases, 7th District, storehouse construction, and lease, warehouse at
Pailin Shipyard,Aug 1, 1911-June 30, 1917
Oversize Box 1
Kill Devil Hills, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 2
Bodie Island, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 2
Creeds Hill, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 2
Whalehead/Currituck Beach, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 3
Poyners Hill, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 3
Caffey's Inlet, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 3
Paul Gamiels Hill, 1914, 1897-1911
Oversize Box 3
Kitty Hawk, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 3
Abstracts of Disbursements, 6th District,1897-1914
Oversize Box 4
Statement showing absences of regular surfman, unidentified station
Oversize Box 4
Cape Henry, Virginia,1897-1912
Oversize Box 4
Seatack, Virginia, 1914, 1897-1912scopecontent:
Name changed to Virginia Beach in 1902
Oversize Box 4
Dam Neck Mills, Virginia, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 4
Little Island, Virginia, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 4
False Cape, Virginia, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 4
Wash Woods, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 4
Currituck Inlet,1897-1901scopecontent:
Includes Penney's Hill, 1914
Oversize Box 4
Penney's Hill, 1914, 1902-1912
Oversize Box 4
Pea Island, 1914, 1897-1912scopecontent:
Includes estate papers and materials related to the death of Richard Etheridge
Oversize Box 5
New Inlet, 1909-1912, 1914, 1897-1907
Oversize Box 5
Chicamicomico, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 5
Cape Hatteras, 1914, 1898-1912
Oversize Box 6
Gull Shoal, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 6
Little Kinnakeet, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 6
Big Kinnakeet, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 6
Hatteras Inlet, 1914, 1902-1912
Oversize Box 6
Ocracoke, 1906-1912, 1914, 1897-1901
Oversize Box 6
Portsmouth Island, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 7
Core Bank, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 7
Cape Lookout, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 7
Fort Macon, 1914, 1905-1912
Oversize Box 8
Bogue Inlet, 1914, 1905-1912
Oversize Box 8
Cape Fear, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 8
Oak Island, 1914, 1897-1912
Oversize Box 8
Subject Headings
Rescues--Florida
Rescues--North Carolina
Rescues--South Carolina
Rescues--Virginia
Shipwrecks--Florida
Shipwrecks--North Carolina
Shipwrecks--South Carolina
Shipwrecks--Virginia
United States. Coast Guard
United States. Coast Guard--Registers
United States. Life-Saving Service
United States. Life-Saving Service--Registers
Acquisitions Information
Processing Information
Processed by Outer Banks History Center Staff prior to 2001.
Encoded by Kelly Grimm, August, 2009