History of the Firm T.H. Franklin
Thomas H. Franklin was a shipbroker of New York. His listings, which comprise a major part of this collection, reveal that he handled all types of vessels, from barges and tugboats to large steamships. He also listed foreign flag vessels, as well as marine equipment and machinery. Although his letterheads indicate that the firm was established in 1857, it probably began under a different name. T.H. Franklin was a partner in the brokerage of Rackett & Co. in 1894, but by the turn of the century the business carried his name only, and was located at 80 Broad Street. In 1930 it moved to 8-10 Bridge Street and Thomas H. Franklin, Jr. seemed to have been managing the operation. Internal evidence indicates that Stephen J. Horkay probably represented the firm during the 1950’s-1960’s.
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.
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:
Franklin, Thomas H.
Horkay, Stephen J.
Subjects:
Ferries
Ship brokers–New York (State)–New York
Steamboats
Towboats
Tugboats
Yachts
Document Types:
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Return to the Table of Contents
Administrative Information
Coll. 187, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
Indexes
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Listings of Tugboats and or Towboats | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
1 | 1 | Tugs, Listing nos. 2001-2313 | |||||||||||
2 | Tugs, Listing nos. 2314-2629 | ||||||||||||
3 | Tugs, Listing nos. 8000-8098 L | ||||||||||||
4 | Tugs, Listing nos. 8098 M-8266 | ||||||||||||
5 | Tugboats, Listing nos. 8001-8059 | ||||||||||||
6 | Tugboats, Listing nos. 8060-8138 | ||||||||||||
7 | Tugboats, Listing nos. 8139-8204 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
2 | 1 | Motor tugs, Listing nos. M 3000-M 3059 | |||||||||||
2 | Motor tugs, Listing nos. M 3060-M 3340 | ||||||||||||
3 | Motor tugs, Listing nos. M 3341-M 3385 | ||||||||||||
4 | Motor tugs, Listing nos. M 3386-M 3472 | ||||||||||||
5 | Motor tugs, Listing nos. M 3473-M 3660 | ||||||||||||
6 | Motor tugs, Listing nos. M 3661-M 3815 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
3 | 1 | Steam Tugs, Listing nos. T. 3500- T 3599 | |||||||||||
2 | Steam Tugs, Listing nos. T. 3600- T 4061 | ||||||||||||
3 | Steam Tugs, Listing nos. T. 4063- T 4142 | ||||||||||||
4 | Steam Tugs, Listing nos. T. 4143- T 4249 | ||||||||||||
5 | Steam Tugs, Listing nos. T. 4250- T 4350 | ||||||||||||
6 | Steam Tugs and Towboats, Listing nos. T. 3501- T 3599 | ||||||||||||
7 | Steam Tugs and Towboats, Listing nos. T. 3600- T 3700 | ||||||||||||
8 | Steam Tugs and Towboats, Listing nos. T. 3701- T 3799 | ||||||||||||
9 | Steam Tugs and Towboats, Listing nos. T. 3800- T 3891 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
4 | 1 | Misc. Tugs, Listing nos. T 3000- T 3022 | |||||||||||
2 | Misc. Tugs, Listing nos. T 2000- T 2197 | ||||||||||||
3 | Misc. Tugs, Listing nos. T 2207- T 430 | ||||||||||||
4 | Misc. Tugs and Towboats, Listing nos. T 2010- T 2311 | ||||||||||||
5 | Misc. Tugs and Towboats, Listing nos. T 3503- T 4178 | ||||||||||||
6 | Misc. Tugs and Towboats, Listing nos. 8001-8263 | ||||||||||||
Listing of Foreign Vessels | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
5 | 1 | Foreign vessels, steamers, Listing nos. 7046-7108 | |||||||||||
2 | Foreign vessels, steamers, Listing nos. 7109-7172 | ||||||||||||
3 | Foreign vessels, steamers, Listing nos. 7173-7217 | ||||||||||||
4 | Foreign vessels, steamers, Listing nos. 7218-7264 | ||||||||||||
5 | Foreign vessels, sailing vessels, Listing nos. FS 1-FS 66 | ||||||||||||
6 | Foreign vessels, steam and motor, Listing nos. 7000-7104 | ||||||||||||
7 | Foreign vessels, steam and motor, Listing nos. 7105-7216 | ||||||||||||
8 | Foreign vessels, steam and motor, Listing nos. 7217-7400 | ||||||||||||
9 | Foreign vessels, steam and motor, Listing nos. 7401-7509 | ||||||||||||
Listings of Yachts and Sailing vessels | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
6 | 1 | Sailing vessels, Listing nos. S. 1-S746 | |||||||||||
2 | Sailing vessels, Listing nos. S. 1-S751 | ||||||||||||
3 | Motor yachts, Listing nos. Y 5500-Y 5926 | ||||||||||||
4 | Steam yachts, Listing nos. 6001-6176 | ||||||||||||
Listing of Trawlers, etc. | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
7 | 1 | Trawlers, Listing nos. M 4500-M4563 | |||||||||||
2 | Trawlers, Listing nos. M 4600-M 4822 | ||||||||||||
3 | Barges | ||||||||||||
4 | Barges (cont.) | ||||||||||||
5 | Dredges, Scows, etc | ||||||||||||
6 | Sub chasers, Listing nos. 1-444 | ||||||||||||
Listing of Steamers | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
8 | 1 | Steamers, Listing nos. 51-233 | |||||||||||
2 | Steamers, Listing nos. 235-257 | ||||||||||||
3 | Steamers, Listing nos. 500-630 | ||||||||||||
4 | Steamers, Listing nos. 700-858 | ||||||||||||
5 | Steamers, Listing nos. 900-959 | ||||||||||||
6 | Steamers, Listing nos. 960-1223 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
9 | 1 | Steamers, Listing nos. 1506-2216 | |||||||||||
2 | Steamers, Listing nos. 2219-2609 | ||||||||||||
3 | Steamers, Listing nos. 2610-2839 | ||||||||||||
4 | Sidewheel Steamers, Listing nos. 300-3127 | ||||||||||||
5 | Sidewheel Steamers, Listing nos. 3018-3244 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
10 | 1 | Sternwheel Steamers and Ferries, Listing nos. 3226-3334 | |||||||||||
2 | Sternwheel Steamers and Ferries, Listing nos. 3335-3431 | ||||||||||||
3 | Steam Canal Boats, Listing nos. 4301-4381 | ||||||||||||
4 | Fishing Steamers, Listing nos. 4514-4611 | ||||||||||||
5 | Steames, Miscellaneous – unidentified | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
11 | 1 | Steam Lighters, Listings nos. 4000-4068 | |||||||||||
2 | Steam Lighters, Listings nos. 4069-4150 | ||||||||||||
3 | Steam Lighters, Listings nos. 4151-4199 | ||||||||||||
4 | Small Freight Steamers, Listings nos. 4002-4252 | ||||||||||||
5 | Small Freight Steamers, Listings nos. 4253-4341 | ||||||||||||
6 | Small Freight Steamers, Listings nos. 4342-4484 | ||||||||||||
Listing of Motor Vessels | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
12 | 1 | Wooden Motor vessels, Listings nos. M 4000-M 4225 | |||||||||||
2 | Wooden Motor vessels, Listings nos. M 4400-M 4447 | ||||||||||||
3 | Motor Ferryboats, Listing nos. 3200-3408 | ||||||||||||
4 | Miscellaneous small motorcraft | ||||||||||||
5 | Miscellaneous small motorcraft (cont.) | ||||||||||||
6 | Motor vessels, Listings nos. 4046-4358 | ||||||||||||
7 | Small Motor Craft, Listing nos. 5544-5622 | ||||||||||||
8 | Small Motor Craft, Listing nos. 5700-5746 | ||||||||||||
9 | Small Motor Craft, Listing nos. 5748-5814 | ||||||||||||
10 | Small Motor Craft, Listing nos. 5815-5879 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
13 | 1 | Motor craft, Listing nos. M 4500-M 4570 | |||||||||||
2 | Motor craft, Listing nos. M 4571-M 4616 | ||||||||||||
3 | Motor craft, Listing nos. M 4617-M 4712 | ||||||||||||
4 | Wood Motor Freight, tug and passenger craft; Listing nos. M 4002-M 4536 | ||||||||||||
5 | Wood Motor Freight, tug and passenger craft; Listing nos. M 4540-M 5053 | ||||||||||||
6 | Motor freight boats, Listings nos. M 4000-M 4105 | ||||||||||||
7 | Motor freight and passenger craft, Listing nos. M 5000-M 5085 | ||||||||||||
8 | Motor freight and passenger craft, Listing nos. M 5500-M 5742 | ||||||||||||
9 | Motor vessels, Listing nos. M. 5800-M 5927 | ||||||||||||
10 | Motor vessels, Listing nos. M. 5928-M 5966 | ||||||||||||
Listing of Tankers and Tank Barges | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
14 | 1 | Tank Steamers, Listing nos. 9000-9079 | |||||||||||
2 | Tank Steamers, Listing nos. 9080-9208 | ||||||||||||
3 | Tank Steamers, Listing nos. 9000-9139 | ||||||||||||
4 | Tank Steamers, Listing nos. 9140-9253 | ||||||||||||
5 | Tank Steamers, Listing nos. 9254-9333 | ||||||||||||
6 | Motor Tankers, Listings nos. 5001-5515 | ||||||||||||
7 | Motor Tankers, Listing nos. MT 6000-MT 7518 | ||||||||||||
8 | Tank Barges, Listing nos. TB 1-TB 650 | ||||||||||||
Scrapbook pages; 1910-1937 | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
15 | 1 | Clippings re: Steamship lines & marine news (vol. 1/1); ca. 1910-1920 | |||||||||||
2 | Clippings re: Steamship lines & marine news (vol. 1/2); ca. 1910-1920 | ||||||||||||
3 | Clippings re: Steamship lines & marine news (vol. 1/3); ca. 1910-1920 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
16 | 1 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 2/1); ca. 1920-1930 | |||||||||||
2 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 2/2); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
3 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 2/3); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
4 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 2/4); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
5 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 3/1); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
6 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 3/2); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
17 | 1 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 4/1); ca. 1920-1930 | |||||||||||
2 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 4/2); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
3 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 5/1); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
4 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 5/2); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
5 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 5/3); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
18 | 1 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 6/1); ca. 1920-1930 | |||||||||||
2 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 6/2); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
3 | Clippings, pictures, & photos of various vessels (vol. 6/3); ca. 1920-1930 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
19 | 1 | Clippings of Marine News (vol. 7/1); ca. 1937 | |||||||||||
2 | Clippings of Marine News (vol. 7/2); ca. 1937 | ||||||||||||
3 | Clippings of Marine News (vol. 7/3); ca. 1937 | ||||||||||||
4 | Clipping & photos of vessels – pasted on backsides of T. H. Franklin listing sheets (vol. 8/1); ca. 1932 | ||||||||||||
5 | Clipping & photos of vessels – pasted on backsides of T. H. Franklin listing sheets (vol. 8/2); ca. 1932 | ||||||||||||
6 | Clipping & photos of vessels – pasted on backsides of T. H. Franklin listing sheets (vol. 8/3); ca. 1932 | ||||||||||||
7 | Clipping & photos of vessels – pasted on backsides of T. H. Franklin listing sheets (vol. 8/4); ca. 1932 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
20 | 1 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 9/1); ca. 1930 | |||||||||||
2 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 9/2); ca. 1930 | ||||||||||||
3 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 9/3); ca. 1930 | ||||||||||||
4 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 9/4); ca. 1930 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
21 | 1 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 10/1); ca. 1930 | |||||||||||
2 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 10/2); ca. 1930 | ||||||||||||
3 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 10/3); ca. 1930 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
22 | 1 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 11/1); ca. 1930 | |||||||||||
2 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 11/2); ca. 1930 | ||||||||||||
3 | Clipping & photos of various vessels (vol. 11/3); ca. 1930 | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
23 | 1 | Clipping, pictures & photos of various vessels (vol. 12); ca. 1930 | |||||||||||
2 | Clipping, pictures & photos of various vessels (vol. 13); ca. 1930 | ||||||||||||
Bulletins and correspondence and information related to ship sales; 1940-1950 | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
24 | 1 | Bulletins & correspondence re: vessels offered for sale by other brokers; 1927-1849 | |||||||||||
2 | Bulletins & correspondence re: vessels offered for sale by other brokers; 1950-1953 | ||||||||||||
3 | Bulletins & correspondence re: vessels offered for sale by other brokers; 1954-1955 | ||||||||||||
4 | Bulletins & correspondence re: vessels offered for sale by other brokers; 1956-1957 | ||||||||||||
5 | Bulletins & correspondence re: vessels offered for sale by other brokers; 1958-1960 | ||||||||||||
6 | Bulletins & correspondence re: vessels offered for sale; undated | ||||||||||||
7 | Bulletins & correspondence re: vessels offered for sale; undated | ||||||||||||
8 | Miscellaneous listings for vessels by T. H. Franklin; ca. 1930-1942 | ||||||||||||
Items relative to gasoline and diesel engines, boilers, pumps, generators, dredges, and various other pieces of marine equipment; ca. 1930-1960 | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
25 | 1 | Announcements, circulars, and correspondence relative to the sale of marine equipment; ca. 1950-1960 | |||||||||||
2 | Miscellaneous information and papers relative to the sale of marine engines, boilers, etc.; ca. 1930-1950 | ||||||||||||
3 | Volume “Machinery Book”, used by T. H. Franklin to list machinery transactions and related information; ca. 1930 | ||||||||||||
Miscellaneous papers and records and business cards; ca. 1890-1950 | |||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
26 | 1 | Letterpress copybook, T. H. Franklin; 1895-1896 | |||||||||||
2 | Early business letters and papers; 1894-1932 | ||||||||||||
3 | Information regarding appraisal of equipment for M & J Tracy, Inc; 1945-1946 | ||||||||||||
4 | Appraisal statements for “Floating equipment”, by T. H. Franklin, Jr.; 1936-1938 | ||||||||||||
5 | Vessel indexes for T. H. Franklin’s listings and scrapbooks | ||||||||||||
6 | Listing information for numerous coal barges; ca. 1940 | ||||||||||||
7 | Survey inspection report on three steel hulls, owned by Burham Navigation Co.; 1929 | ||||||||||||
8 | Reports on the bannana and coconut industries; 1917 | ||||||||||||
9 | Miscellaneous marine & shipping brochures, circulars, clippings, articles; ca. 1940-1960 | ||||||||||||
10 | S. S. CHICAGO; plans, descriptions, & data for “hydraulic hopper dredge”; ca. 1950 | ||||||||||||
11 | Misc. unidentified material; undated | ||||||||||||
12 | Misc. unidentified pictures & photographs of vessels | ||||||||||||
Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
27 | 1 | Miscellaneous business cards; ca. 1910-1930 | |||||||||||
Volumes; 1904-1933 | |||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
1 | Order Books (only last quarter is dated); 1904 Sep 6-Dec 6 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
2 | Order Books; 1904 Dec 7-1906 Jan31 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
3 | Order Books; 1906 Feb 2-Oct 29 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
4 | Order Books; 1908 Jul 11-1909 May 29 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
5 | Order Books; 1909 May 29-1910 Aug 23 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
6 | Order Books; 1910 Aug 24-1911 Dec 28 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
7 | Order Books; 1912 Jan 2-1913 Jun 12 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
8 | Order Books; 1913 Jun 14-1916 Jan 20 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
9 | Order Books; 1916 Jan 21-1918 Feb 20 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
10 | Order Books; 1918 Feb 20-1920 Jun 22 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
11 | Order Books (title page reads Aug 9, 1923); 1922 Aug 9-1924 May 24 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
12 | Order Books (dated is incorrect on the cover); 1924 May 24-1925 Aug 12 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
13 | Order Books; 1925 Aug 12-1926 Dec 4 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
14 | Sales Book # 2; 1926-1933 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
15 | Journal # 3; 1926-1933 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
16 | Notes, memos, addresses, etc.; undated | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
17 | Notes, memos, etc.; 1906 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
18 | Notebook; ca. 1920 | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
19 | Misc. lists of motor vessels, subchasers, etc.; undated | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
20 | Unidentified Index (for a letterbook?) | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
21 | Booklet, “Photograph Index Book”; undated | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
22 | Booklet, “Photograph numbers”; undated | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
23 | Booklet, “Plans, Drawer #1 & Drawer #1A”; undated | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
24 | Notebook of telephone numbers; undated | ||||||||||||
Volume | |||||||||||||
25 | Notebook of telephone numbers; undated |