C. Patrick Labadie Collection

Collection

Identifier: TBRC-001

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This is an extensive 19th Century Great Lakes maritime history research collection. The vessel database is accessible through library’s website. See the library’s card catalog to search the book collection. The major components of the collection are: vessels, cargo, biographical, canals, owners, ports, technology / shipbuilding = broken down by vessels types (i.e. sail, tugs, propellers), and machinery. Files include photographs, newspaper accounts, publications, vessel plans, maps and charts, and research notes.

Dates

Event: 1678 - 1950
Event: Majority of material found within 1880 - 1910

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is available for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Biographical / Historical

Charles Patrick Labadie was raised in Detroit, hailing from a family of shipyard workers. He attended the University of Detroit for two years to study naval architecture before embarking on his career in the maritime industry. Throughout his life, he credits Fr. Edward Dowling, SJ., and Howard Chapelle as the main mentors who encouraged Labadie to pursue a career in Great Lakes Maritime history and not naval architecture. Labadie began his journey with the Dossin Great Lakes Museum as exhibits preparator and later became the director of the Saugatuck Marine Museum. After earning his master's license for tugs, he worked for the Gaelic Tugboat Company in Detroit. In 1973, Labadie directed the founding of the Canal Park Museum in Duluth, now known as the Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center. He served as its director until 2001. In 2003, he was appointed historian for the NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan.

Throughout his career, he amassed one of the finest research collections focused primarily on 19th-century Great Lakes Shipping. Collectors, libraries, museums, and enthusiasts all contributed to Labadie's growing collection and frequently looked to him for advice on projects and publications. This impressive collection was used extensively to start the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. Soon after coming to Alpena to work with NOAA, Labadie donated his collection to NOAA who then partnered with the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library to create the Thunder Bay Research Collection. His donation and involvement in processing the collection and input on the future Great Lakes Ships Database made his collection accessible to the diversity of users for future generations. Labadie has since retired from his position with NOAA and resides in Alpena, MI with his wife June Perry.

Extent

385 Linear Feet (Hollinger boxes)

47.5 Linear Feet (15 map drawers) ; 38" w x 25" d

47.5 Linear Feet (15 plans drawer)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection sums up C. Patrick Labadie's career in Great Lakes maritime history field where he spent a good portion of amassing a one of a kind collection of photographs, newspaper clippings, indexes, plans, archaeological studies, and research files relevant to 19th century Great Lakes shipping. This collection contains files on vessels, owners, ports, people, and archaeological studies.

Arrangement

The C. Patrick Labadie Collection is organized into 7 series

Series 1: VESSELS This series contains approximately 13,900 folders relating to 19th-century vessels. Each of these folders can contain index cards created by C. Patrick Labadie, enrollment documents, photographs, archaeological studies, publications, newspaper clippings, postcards, negatives, and vessel plans. To access this list of vessels, use the Great Lakes Ships Database link in the external documents section of this finding aid.

Go to External Documents section to view or Great Lakes Ships Database

Series 2: BIOGRAPHICAL Included in this series are files related to Great Lakes vessel captains, ship modelers, photographers, maritime collectors, and shipbuilders. Arranged alphabetically, each file could contain photographs, scanned images, newspaper clippings, research notes, and copies of articles.

Series 3: CANALS Filed in this series are folders related to Great Lakes canals up until 2003. Arranged alphabetically, each folder can contain newspaper clippings, articles, photographs, manuscripts, research notes, and postcards.

Series 4: OWNERS This series contains alphabetically arranged files to cover Great Lakes vessel owners primarily during the 19th century. Each folder covers either an individual owner or a series of owners. Contained in the folders are copies of registers, scans of images, index cards written by C. Patrick Labadie, articles, and newspaper clippings.

Series 5: PORTS The materials in this series relate to the different ports primarily along the Great Lakes. Organized by name, each folder can contain maps, newspaper articles, publications, photographs, postcards, pamphlets, and reports.

Series 6: CARGO Filed in this series include research files related to cargoes traded in the Great Lakes during the 19th century. These files are arranged alphabetically and contain copies of newspaper clippings, indexes, publications, articles, drawings, and images.

Series 7: TECHNICAL Included in this series are folders related to specific vessel types that operated on the Great Lakes. Contained in this series are newspaper clippings, archaeological studies, and photographs. Within this series are the following subseries:

1. STEAMBARGES 2. SAIL 3. TUGS 4. SIDEWHEEL STEAMERS 5. PACKAGE FREIGHTERS 6. CANAL BOATS AND CAR FERRIES 7. EXCURSION VESSELS 8. GOVERNMENT VESSELS 9. YACHTS AND SMALL CRAFT 10. MISCELLANEOUS AND OCEAN CRAFT 11. PROPELLORS 12. BULK FREIGHTERS 13. MACHINERY

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Collection gathered and researched since early adulthood. Donated by C. Patrick and June Labadie in 2003 to NOAA; housed and managed by the Alpena County Library.