Charles Oliver Iselin Papers

Manuscripts Collection 85

Overview of the Collection
Repository: G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
Creator: Iselin, C. Oliver (Charles Oliver)
Title: Charles Oliver Iselin Papers
Dates: 1893-1903
Extent: ca. 505 items
Abstract: Correspondence, construction agreements, charter parties, outfitting documents, accounts, operating expenses, logs, journals, and scrapbooks, relating chiefly to America’s Cup races and yachts. Also includes clippings, telegrams, and other items relating to the Lord Dunraven/Charles Iselin controversy. Other topics include the construction, outfitting, and preparation of the COLUMBIA for the 1899 race and the DEFENDER (1895), INTREPID, RELIANCE (1903), and VIGILANT (1893).
Identification: Coll. 85

Biography of Charles Oliver Iselin

An avid yachtsman, Charles Oliver Iselin was a member of the New York Yacht Club.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Available for use in the Manuscripts Division.

Restrictions on Use

Various copying restriction apply. Guidelines are available from the Manuscripts Division.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the G. W. Blunt White Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Dunraven, Windham Thomas Wyndham-Quin. (1841-1926)

Corporate Entities:

Columbia (Yacht)
Defender (Yacht)
Intrepid (Yacht)
New York Yacht Club
Reliance (Yacht)
Vigilant (Yacht)

Subjects:

America’s Cup races
Charter-parties
Yacht building–United States
Yacht racing–United States
Yachts–United States

Document Types:

Accounts–United States
Agreements–United States
Journals (accounts)–United States
Logs (records)–United States
Scrapbooks–United States
Telegrams

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Coll. 85, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.

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Indexes

Index to Personal Names
NOTE: The fraction(s) indicate the Box and Folder numbers where that particular reference can be found. For example, the researcher will find information about F.M Allen in Box 1, Folder 7 of the collection.
Allen, F. M. 1/7
Almy, Albert 1/10
Angrade Jr., Cipriano 1/4
Bacon, Robert 1/5
Bancroft, A. L. 1/8
Barr, Charles 1/5, 1/7, 1/18
Belmont, Auguste 1/3, 1/18
Clarke, ? 1/18
Cook, E. A. F. 1/7
Duncan Jr., W. B. 1/7, 1/17, 1/18
Duthie, John 1/7
Fitzpatrick, John 1/7
Forbes, Mac 1/18
Hammond, W. 1/9
Henning, Charles 1/12
Herreshoff, Nathaniel 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/17, 1/18
Hewson, Thomas A. 1/3
Hoff, H. C. 1/7, 1/9
Huston, A. F. 1/9

Iselin, Adrian

Iselin, Hope Goddard

1/18

2/5
Kelley, A. L. 1/10
Ledyard, ? 1/18
Lippitt, ? 1/6
Lipton, Thomas 1/18
Lovejoy, ? 1/18
Mack, Frank W. 1/10
Morgan, E. D. 1/18
Morgan, J. Pierpont 1/3
Morgan, James 1/10
Morton, William M. 1/7
Oliver, Robert 1/8
Piefgras, Henry 1/7
Postley, ? 1/5
Rossiter, ? 1/7
Sedgewick, Robert 1/11
Smith, A. M. 1/5
Snow, A. S. 1/1, 1/11
Stillman, James F. 1/7, 1/9
Tams, J. Frederick 1/12
Thayer, Bayard 1/9
Travers, Hiram H. 1/7
Vanderbilt, Cornelius 1/18
Watson, David 1/3, 1/9
Weber, Edmund Franklin 1/4
Weed, Fred P. 1/7, 1/10
Whitman, William 1/6

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Index to Corporate Names
NOTE: The fraction(s) indicate the Box and Folder numbers where that particular reference can be found. For example, the researcher will find information about Arlington Mills Corp. in Box 1, Folder 6 of the collection.
Arlington Mills Corp. 1/6
Associated Press 1/10
Frank & Dubois Ins. Co. 1/7
Harding, Whitman & Co. 1/7
Hazzard & Brainard Towing Line 1/10
Herreshoff Mfg. Co. 1/4, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/11
Hirsh & Co. 1/8
Lawrence Duck Co. 1/6, 1/7
Lukens Iron & Steel Co. 1/9
Mechanical Fabric Co. 1/10
Merritt & Chapman Derrick & Wrecking Co. 1/5
National India Rubber Co. 1/11
New York Yacht Club 1/4, 1/18
Phoenix Iron Co. 1/7
Royal Ulster Club 1/18
Tams & Lemoine 1/7, 1/9, 1/10, 1/12

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Index to Vessel Names
NOTE: The fraction(s) indicate the Box and Folder numbers where that particular reference can be found. For example, the researcher will find information about the yacht ALISA in Box 1, Folder 6 of the collection.
ALISA (Yacht) 1/6
CHEROKEE (Yacht) 1/18
CITY OF HARTFORD (Steamer) 1/9
COLUMBIA (Yacht) 1/10, 1/11, 1/12, 1/18
CONSTITUTION (Yacht) 1/18
DEFENDER (Yacht) 1/1, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/11
ELAINE (Yacht tender) 1/7
GUIDE (Yacht tender) 1/7
HARLEM (Steamer) 1/9
LONG ISLAND (Steamer) 1/9
NARADA (Yacht) 1/7
OLD GLORY (Steamer) 1/9
ROAMER (Yacht) 1/18
ST. MICHAELS (Steamer) 1/10, 1/12
VALKYRIE (Yacht) 1/6
VIGILANT (Yacht) 1/9
WALLACE B. FLINT (Tug) 1/10

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Papers; 1893-1902. Volumes; 1893-1903.

Box Folder
1 1 Papers pertaining to America’s Cup yacht Defender, including construction contract, letters, and balance sheet. Images
2 Papers pertaining to the schooner yacht Intrepid, including a charter party, and a receipt of payment. Images
3 Letters pertaining to a yachting crew position, and good luck charms. Images
4 Papers pertaining to America’s Cup yacht race, including letters, agreements, memorandum, and wind tables for Sandy Hook, N.J.. Images
5 Papers pertaining to America’s Cup yacht race, including letters, insurance bills, and wind tables for Sandy Hook, N.J.. Images
6 Letters pertaining to outfitting a yacht for America’s Cup race. Images
7 Letters pertaining to construction and outfitting a yacht for America’s Cup race, including mostly sails and crew. Images
8 Papers pertaining to America’s Cup Yacht, including letters, a telegram, and a construction contract. Images
9 Papers pertaining to America’s Cup yacht, including letters on outfitting and crew, and an original poem proposing the name of GOLDEN ROD. Images
10 Letters pertaining to America’s Cup yacht, mostly concerning chartering, construction, crew, outfitting, and press coverage. Images
11 Correspondence pertaining to America’s Cup yacht Columbia, including outfitting, a mooring request, and an original poem. Images
12 Papers including a charter party for the steamer St. Michales, letters, and ship’s documents for the yacht COLUMBIA.. Images
13 Balance sheets for operating expenses charged to the yacht Columbia.. Images
14 Abstract Log for the steamer St. Michaels, used as a tender to the yacht Columbia. Images
15 Papers, pertaining to the yacht Columbia, including N.Y.Y.C. certification of class, resolution of congratulations on race results, and yacht inventories. Images
16 Address to the officers and crew of the yacht Columbia, by S. Oliver Iselin upon disbanding. (9 copies). Images
17 Letter proposing race rule changes for America’s Cup. Images
18 Papers pertaining to forthcoming America’s Cup race, including letters, telegrams, and rough notes.. Images
19 Papers including two inventories, a crew list, and two equipment brochures. Images
20 Volume 1; Ledger for expenses charged to the yacht Columbia. Images
Box Folder
2 1 Volume 2; Scrapbook of letters telegrams, memorandum, clippings, and orders pertaining to the America’s Cup yachts VIGILANT, DEFENDER, and COLUMBIA. Images
2 Volume 3; Scrapbook, of letters, telegrams, notes, clippings, and certificates pertaining to the America’s Cup yacht RELIANCE. Images
3 Volume 4; Journal kept on board the yacht RELIANCE, defender of America’s Cup. Images

4

5

Volume 5; Typescript copy of Journal (Volume 4); 1903 Apr 29 – Sep 3.

Articles and research for articles regarding Hope Goddard Iselin and her time aboard America’s Cup defenders