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2023-06-06On Shipboard by Stephen French Whitman'On Shipboard' is a satirical article about a voyage on board a steamship written by American author Stephen French Whitman (1880–1948). It was published in the 26 August 1911 edition of Harper's Weekly but should resonate with readers in today's age of mega cruise ships. Excerpt: "So quickly, all these strangely assorted folk settle down to live together, perforce, for days and pass the time in their narrow little colony as well as may be until the gang-planks are cleared at last and they are free to go their five hundred ways." (12 MiB, PDF, 2 pages)
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2023-03-30Old Steamboat Days On The Hudson River by David Lear BuckmanThis illustrated book is rich in historical details about the good old days of steamers. The author, whose father was a steamboat pilot, writes in a clear, unadorned style as when he describes the Hudson River pilots: "The captain of a river steamer in the old days and to-day is by far the most important man on the boat. He must be a trusty, experienced man and should be at all times agreeable to the passengers. Those on the Hudson have been for the most part men of this character and many became popular with the traveling public." (7.3 MiB, PDF, 172 pages including covers)1 file(s) 7 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2023-02-08Bicentennial Ship Parade, souvenir programmeThe United States Bicentennial Ship Parade was held to celebrate the 200th anniversary (4th of July 1976) of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. This souvenir programme contains some informative articles and dozens of historic photos of sailing ships. It is courtesy of the Columbia University Libraries via the Internet Archive. (6.4 MiB, PDF, 68 pages)1 file(s) 8 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2023-01-31The Fighting Temeraire by Edward FraserThis article looks into the glorious history of the HMS Temeraire and includes interesting information about how the British artist, J.M.W. Turner, came to immortalise the ship in his famous painting '‘The Fighting Temeraire tugged to her last berth to be broken up, 1838’. It is one of the chapters in the 1907 book Famous Fighters of the Fleet by Edward Fraser. (2.2 MiB, PDF, 76 pages)
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2023-01-26Venice by Beryl de Selincourt and May Sturge HendersonThe authors of 'Venice' were both accomplished British women -- Beryl de Selincourt (Zoete), a ballet dancer, and May Sturge Henderson, a historian and magistrate. Together, they take you on a rare tour of old Venice. A beautiful prose style and 30 splendid illustrations in colour make this 1907 book a literary and historial gem. (15 MiB, PDF, 255 pages)
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2023-01-25A Mariner’s Sketches by Nathaniel AmesPublished in 1830, this book is a personal account of life at sea and the early 19th-century maritime world by Nathaniel Ames (1796–1835), an American author of several books. Ames started his 12-year sea career at the age of 19 as a bluejacket (an enlisted man in the navy). This digital copy is courtesy of the University of California, San Diego. (8 MiB, PDF, 324 pages)
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2022-08-04Nautical Terms, Motor Boats, Marine Gasoline Engines,… (reference book)This illustrated volume offers a wealth of information: Nautical Terms, Motor Boats, Marine Gasoline Engines, Management of Marine Gasoline Engines, Motor Boat Navigation, and Motor Boat Rules and Signals. It was published in 1914 by Scranton, Pennsylvania-based International Textbook Co. for the International Correspondence Schools. The printed volume is from the University of Wisconsin and was digitised by Google. To reduce the file size, Marine Café Blog has removed the index, covers and blank pages. (24.4 MiB, PDF, 583 pages)
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2022-07-25Pilotage in Liverpool during the Second World War (article)This short article casts light on the especially challenging work of Liverpool pilots during Word War II. It was written by R.F. Youde (1936 -1975), a licensed Liverpool pilot. The piece was taken from the July 2004 issue of The Pilot, official organ of the United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’Association. (434 KiB, PDF, single page)
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2022-07-23A Visit to the Eddystone Lighthouse by F. G. Kitton (a rare magazine article)In this vintage magazine article, a journalist pays a visit to England's famous Eddystone Lighthouse and talks about the history and romance surrounding it. Written by F. G. Kitton, the piece is taken from the July-December 1892 edition of the illustrated British monthly, The Strand Magazine. (26.9 MiB, PDF, 12 pages)
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2022-07-24A Dictionary of Sea Terms for the Use of Yachtsmen, Amateur Boatmen, and BeginnersDespite its title, this illustrated dictionary from 1898 is really for anyone with a keen interest in ships and maritime history. There is much to learn from it. "True maritime terms," notes the author in his Preface, "may generally be traced back to very simple derivations. To understand the derivation of a word is to understand it in its fullest meaning. For this reason, wherever the origin of an expression is known, I have taken the opportunity of inserting it." (19.3 MiB, PDF, 352 pages)
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2022-06-16An Universal Dictionary of the Marine by William Falconer (PDF format)The scope of this historic dictionary from 1769 is suggested by its complete title: 'An Universal Dictionary of the Marine: Or, A Copious Explanation of the Technical Terms and Phrases Employed in the Construction, Equipment, Furniture, Machinery, Movements, and Military Operations of a Ship'. The e-book edition produced by Google in EPUB format was converted to PDF by Marine Café Blog. (5.8 MiB, PDF, 752 pages)1 file(s) 63 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-05-20Ida Lewis: The Girl Who Kept Lime Rock Burning; a Heroic Live-SaverThis is a short but engaging account of the life of Ida Lewis, the heroic keeper of Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island. It is an extract from 'Ten American Girls from History', a book written by Kate Dickinson Sweetser and published in 1917. (1 MiB, PDF, 20 pages)
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2022-05-27The Arraignment, Tryal, and Condemnation of Captain William Kidd, for Murther and Piracy, Upon Six Federal Indictments…This is the court transcript of the trial of the English privateer Captain Kidd. which led to his execution on 23rd May 1701. Aside from its historical signifance, the document is an interesting read for lawyers, law students, and those who like pirate history and literature. (5.2 MiB, PDF, 72 pages) See also The Real Captain Kidd: A Vindication.1 file(s) 17 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-05-27The Real Captain Kidd: A Vindication by Sir Cornelius Neale DaltonThis compelling book was written by Cornelius Neale Dalton, a Cambridge-educated barrister, civil servant and author. It starts with the unequivocal statement that "honest and well-meaning men have not infrequently incurred the odium of posterity, not so much by reason of any enormities of which they have themselves been guilty, as because it has been their misfortune to be set to impossible tasks by employers or comrades, to whom they have been only too faithful. Few, if any, of such men have less deserved their fate than Captain Kidd..." The digitised book is courtesy of Columbia University Libraries, New York City. (10.9 MiB, PDF, 341 pages) See the court transcipt of the trial and conviction of Captain Kidd.1 file(s) 17 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-04-26State Pilotage in America, second editionThis is the second edition of 'State Pilotage in America' published in 1979 by the American Pilots' Association. The book is arguably the most comprehensive historical account of pilotage in the United States. It includes information about legislation that left state pilotage to the individual states. (91.3 MiB, PDF, 187 pages)
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2022-04-18The True Account of Captain Kidd by Harriet Elizabeth Prescott SpoffordThis richly detailed narrative sheds light on the life and times of Captain Kidd, the controversial 17th-century privateer-turned-pirate. It is the first chapter of 'New England Legends' which was published in 1872. The book was written by Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford (1835–1921), a prolific American writer of romances, poems and detective stories.(716.8 KiB, PDF, 7 pages)
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2022-04-09The Whale Road: Transitioning from Spiritual Links, to Whaling, to Whale Watching in Aotearoa New Zealand (article)This article by A. Asbjørn Jøn is a good backstory to the popular song, 'The Wellerman'. It delves into the central place of the whale in New culture and history, providing some interesting facts about the whaling station of the Weller brothers which inspired the 1830s song. Originally published in the Australian Folklore journal (29.2014), the article is courtesy of Open Journal Systems website. (645 KiB, PDF, 30 pages)1 file(s) 11 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-03-27Directions to the light-keepers of the United States, 1852This historical document describes in detail the duties of a United States lighthouse keeper. The directions were issued by the Lighthouse Board in 1852. The transcription of the original document is courtesy of Lighthousefriends.com. (87 KiB, PDF, 5 pages)1 file(s) 10 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-03-13North Sea Fishers and Fighters by Walter Wood (non-fiction)'North Sea Fishers and Fighters' is a non-fictional work about trawler fishermen in the North Sea interspersed with stories of naval battles and sea adventures. Says the author In the Introduction to the 1911 illustrated book: "There is no harder, greyer weather than that of the North Sea; there are no harder Englishmen than deep North Sea men." This digitised volume is courtesy of the University of California Libraries, (80 MiB, PDF, 524 pages) For more about North Sea fishing, check out 'The Herring Fishery'.1 file(s) 13 downloadsCategory: Fishermen, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2023-01-25King’s Handbook of Boston Harbor by Moses Forster SweetserPublished in 1882, the book provides an intimate look at the goings-on in 19th-century Boston Harbor and the lives of the local folk. With more than 200 illustrations, it is a classic that those who love Boston Harbor and American maritime history would treasure. This digital edition is courtesy of Boston College Libraries. (24,5 MiB, PDF, 294 pages)
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2022-05-02All About Ships by Lieut. Taprell Dorling, R.N'All About Ships' provides a rich panorama of the history ships — from ancient wooden vessels and British naval ships to merchant clippers and steamships. It includes chapters on propulsion machinery, ship equipment, navigational aids and the like. Published in 1912, the illustrated book was written by Henry Taprell Dorling (1883–1968), a Royal Navy officer who served in World Wars I and II and had a flair for writing. The digitised volume is courtesy of the University of California Berkeley Library. (26 MiB, PDF, 454 pages)1 file(s) 32 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-06-10Illustrated Glossary of Ship and Boat TermsThis is a glossary which, says the explanatory note, "researchers might be required to apply or interpret in their studies of shipwrecks and archives" It is limited to ship and boat construction terminology. The educational material is courtesy of the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. (24.6 MiB, PDF, 30 pages)1 file(s) 70 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-05-27Twenty-four Hours of a Sailor’s Life at Sea (short nonfiction work read orally)'Twenty-four Hours of a Sailor's Life at Sea' is a short nonfiction work by an anonymous British writer. It paints an intimate picture of life and work on board a ship during the Age of Sail. As wonderful as the prose is the oral reading performed by Garth Burton for Librivox. Worth a listen for maritime writers and anyone who loves nautical history. (10 MiB, MP3, 16:12 minutes)
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2022-02-21Fore & Aft Craft and Their Story by E. Keble ChattertonThis book is a real treasure for sailing ship and yacht aficionados. It received rave reviews when it was published in 1922. "Mr Keble Chatterton's work is a labour of love. In this more than usually handsome volume he traces the history of the fore-and-aft in a most engaging manner. A sumptuous volume," wrote the Glasgow Citizen, for example. This is a reproduction of the book as scanned by the Internet Archive, minus the index. (18,1 MiB, PDF, 344 pages)1 file(s) 17 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-18The Pilots and Pilot Boats of New York (a rare Scientific American article)'The Pilots and Pilot Boats of New York' was published in the 22nd October 1898 edition of Scientific American, which was founded in New York City in 1845 as a weekly newspaper. An excerpt from the article: "The history of those early days of pilotage is full of disaster, and the long cruises to the eastward were as costly as they were unnecessary. This was well understood by the pilots, and it was only a question of time before some arrangement would be made by which the work could be carried on systematically and with less risk and expense." (3.6 MiB, PDF, 2 pages) See also 'Pilots and Pilot Boats of Boston Harbor'.1 file(s) 24 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, ShippingDownload |
2022-02-17The Longshoremen by Charles B. Barnes'The Longshoremen' is a compelling book about American longshoremen (dock workers) in the early 1900s. The Preface reads in part: "Mr. Barnes' study of longshoremen and their work was an initimate and careful one. Its aim is to give a picture of the men, of the conditions of labor which affect them, of the relations existing between them and their employers and bosses, and of their own efforts to co-operate with one another in trying to improve their lot in life.". (5.5 MiB, PDF, 335 pages)
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2022-02-13Nautical Dictionary by Arthur YoungArthur Young's authoritative 'Nautical Dictionary' blows similar 19th-century dictionaries out of the water. Richly illustrated, it contains a huge amount of terms related to sailing vessels and steamers, navigation, maritime law and commerce, and other martime affairs. In certain cases, the definition of a term is elaborated on. Mr. Young was an average adjuster from Dundee, Scotland. He was assisted in the preparation of the book by James Brisbane, a local shipyard superintendent. The digitised book is courtesy of Columbia University Libraries, New York, (67 MiB, PDF, 516 pages)
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2022-02-25America’s Merchant Marine: A Presentation of Its History and Development to Date with Chapters on Related SubjectsPublished in 1920, this book is about the history of the U.S. merchant marine from its inception in the 1600s. "It is, as will be seen, an original work, and gives a compact history of our merchant marine...Every statement has been derived from official reports or from other trustworthy sources," says the Foreward by the publishers, Bankers Trust Company. The digitised book is courtesy of the University of Connecticut Libraries. Note: The index was removed by Marine Café Blog to reduce the file size. (11.9 MiB, PDF, 256 pages)
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2022-02-02Ships, Outfits, and Manner of Taking the Whale (illustrated article)This article gives a close-up view of American whale-hunting in the 19th century. It explains in detail the preparations made before the hunt, the equipment and tools used, and the actual killing of the whale. The article was excerpted from the 1874 book '‘The Marine Mammals of the North-western Coast of North American, Described and Illustrated Together with an Account of the American Whale-Fishery’ by Captain Charles M. Scammon. (1.5 MiB, PDF, 25 pages)1 file(s) 17 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, The Ocean & Marine LifeDownload |
2022-05-2718th-century ship of war diagram ( printable image)This enhanced image shows: 1) a diagram of a third-rate ship of war with rigging etc. at anchor; and 2) a cross-section of a first-rate ship of war. The original illustration is from the 1728 two-volume Cyclopaedia compiled and edited by Ephraim Chambers. (10.9 MiB, JPEG, 4270 x 3977 pixels, 300 dpi) Click here to learn more about the Royal Navy rating system for ships of war during the Age of Sail.1 file(s) 61 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-06-10Sailing Ship Diagrams (barque, brig, schooner)This is a useful reference material for sailing ship enthusiasts. It contains the schematic representations of three vessel types: barque, brig and schooner. The illustrations and accompanying texts are from the 1863 Nautical Dictionary written by Arthur Young. (10.9 MiB, PDF, 10 pages)
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2022-01-24Horatio Nelson and the Naval Supremacy of England by W. Clark RussellThis splendidly researched book details the life and career of Horatio Nelson, the famous British naval commander in the wars with Revolutionary and Napoleonic France. Published in 1890, it was written by William Clark Russell (1844–1911), an English writer best known for his nautical novels. The digitised volume is courtesy of the Cornell University Library, New York (the index and some non-essential pages were removed by Marine Café Blog to reduce the file size). (8.9 MiB, PDF, 399 pages)1 file(s) 16 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-14South: The Story of Shackleton’s Last Expedition 1914-1917 by Sir Ernest ShackletonIn this compelling book published in 1920, Ernest Shackleton recounts the feats of endurance of those who took part in his last expedition.The famous British explorer had attempted to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent, but the venture failed. Out of the 56 men who left for the South, three were killed and five wounded. The book contains photographs by the Australian photographer and adventurer, Frank Hurley. The digitised copy is courtesy of the Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive. (14.1 MiB, PDF, 490 pages) See some amazing Antarctic photos by Frank Hurley here .1 file(s) 28 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-08-30Pilots and Pilot Boats of Boston Harbor by Ralph M. Eastman'Pilots and Pilot Boats of Boston Harbor' is about the "men of stout hearts" who "with their trim, weatherly boats" played an important role in the maritime life of Boston. It was published in 1956 by the Second Bank-State Street Trust Company in Boston, Massachusetts, as part of its brochure series. The digital file is courtesy of The Genealogy Center - Allen County Public Library via the Internet Archive. Marine Café Blog understands that the copyright was not renewed, so the publication is in the public domain. (9.1 MiB, PDF, 105 pages)
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2022-01-13Alfred William Venn (article about a Bristol Channel pilot)This short article about Alfred William Venn, last known survivor of the Bristol Channel Sailing Pilots, was written by his son, G. Barrett Venn. More than a bio, it provides glimpses into an interesting chapter of British maritime pilotage. The article is from the July 2006 issue of The Pilot, official organ of the United Kingdom Maritime Pilots' Association. (583 KiB, PDF, 3 pages) See also 'Pilots' by Alfred T. Story, a rare magazine article.1 file(s) 38 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-07-30Captains of Atlantic Liners by Alfred T. Story (a rare magazine article)'Captains of Atlantic Liners' is about 11 captains in the Atlantic liner service whose stories are both highly informative and inspiring. The magazine article was based on interviews by English journalist and author Alfred T. Story (1842–1934). It was published in two parts in the British monthly The Strand Magazine, January-June and July-December editions. (6.8 MiB, PDF, 16 pages) See also 'Pilots' by Alfred T. Story.1 file(s) 31 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-08-30Pilots by Alfred T. Story (a rare magazine article)'Pilots' takes a rare look at the world of 19th–century River Thames pilots: how pilots were chosen, how much they earned, etc. The two–part article was written by Alfred T. Story (1842–1934), an English journalist and author. It was published in the July–December 1894 edition of The Strand Magazine, a monthly magazine published in the UK from January 1891 to March 1950. (8.3 MiB, PDF, 19 pages)
See also 'PILOT LORE: From Sail to Steam' .
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2022-02-24PILOT LORE: From Sail to Steam (historical book)'PILOT LORE: From Sail to Steam' is about the harbour pilots who played an important role in the making of New York and its maritime history. The book was published in 1922 by the United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Associations. Aside from paying tribute to the heroic pilots, it provides historical sketches of the shipping lines and related companies that operated in one of the world's greatest ports. (22.9 MiB, PDF, 347 pages)
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2022-07-24The Seaman’s Friend by R.H. Dana, Jr. (book about ships and seamanship in the Age of Sail)This 1873 book by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., an American lawyer and one-time merchant sailor, is a slim volume (just over 230 pages). But it is rich in content and wide in scope as can be gleaned from the book's complete title: 'The Seaman's Friend: Containing A Treatise on Practical Seamanship, with Plates; A Dictionary of Sea Terms; Customs and Usages of the Merchant Service; Laws Relating to the Practical Duties of Masters and Mariners'. (7.7 MiB, PDF, 238 pages)1 file(s) 51 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-07-24Ships of the Seven Seas by Hawthorne Daniel'Ships of the Seven Seas' provides a sweeping history of ships through many centuries. Published in 1925, it was authored by Hawthorne Daniel, an American maritime writer and U.S. Naval Academy graduate. The introduction is by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who would serve as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in1945. The digitised book is courtesy of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It has nearly 300 illustrations and an abridged nautical dictionary as an appendix. (19 MiB, PDF, 338 pages)1 file(s) 19 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-26Whale Fishery of New England (maritime history book)'Whale Fishery of New England' is a detailed account of the rise and fall of whaling in the storied New England region of the United States. Published in 1915, this slim volume includes some interesting anecdotes and is illustrated with rare prints. It is a compelling read for all who are interested in American maritime history and whaling. (9.2 MiB, PDF, 66 pages including covers) See also 'The sailing ships of New England, 1607-1907' by John Robinson.1 file(s) 15 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, The Ocean & Marine LifeDownload |
2021-12-15USS Constitution: The Legendary Survivor (illustrated historical paper)'USS Constitution: The Legendary Survivor' is about the colourful story behind the famous American frigate. It details why and how the ship came into being and her war exploits, amongst other things. This highly informative paper is courtesy of Veteranresouces.org. (857 KiB, PDF, 15 pages) See also 'Overview of USS Constitution Restorations' (an authoritive paper).1 file(s) 18 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2021-12-15Overview of USS Constitution Restorations (an authoritive paper)This short paper summarises the restorations undergone by the historic frigate USS Constitution from 1803 (six years after her launch) to the present times. It was written by the Historian of the Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment in Boston. "Storms, battle, and accidents all contributed to the general deterioration of the ship, alongside the natural decay of her wooden structure, hemp rigging, and flax sails," the author points out. (264 KiB, PDF, 5 pages) See also 'USS Constitution: The Legendary Survivor' (illustrated historical paper).1 file(s) 9 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-12-13A Christmas at Sea edited by Edward Shippen (real life stories)'A Christmas at Sea' is a collection of stories on board a man-of-war contributed by American naval officers. It was edited by Edward Shippen (1826–1911), who was an admiral, naval surgeon and writer of naval history. This book is from the Cornell University Library, digitised under Microsoft's sponsorship. (3.7 MiB, PDF, 187 pages)1 file(s) 60 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-14The sailing ships of New England, 1607-1907 by John Robinson (with ship illustrations)'The Sailing Ships of New England, 1607–1907' is a worthwhile read for those with a passion for sailing ships and maritime history. It paints a detailed picture of New England's Age of Sail over the course of three centuries. This book is from the University of California and was digitised by Microsoft. (20.5 MiB, PDF, 432 pages) See also 'Sailing Ships: The Story of their Development from the Earliest Times to the Present Day' .1 file(s) 30 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2023-02-04Remember Pearl Harbor! by Blake Clark'Remember Pearl Harbor!' is a first-hand account of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941. Several stories about the people affected by the horrific event are woven into a single narrative. Published in 1942, the original from the University of California was ditigised by Google and compressed by Marine Café Blog to reduce the download size. (6.1 MiB, PDF, 125 pages)1 file(s) 23 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-25Ancient and Moden Ships. Part I. Wooden Sailing-Ships by Sir George C.V. Holmes'Ancient and Modern Ships. Part I' provides a sweeping history of wooden sailing vessels beginning with the ancient ships on the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Published in 1906, it was written by Sir George C.V. Holmes, long-time secretary of the Institution of Naval Architects. The book contains 75 illustrations. NOTE: The original file from the Internet Archive was compressed and thei index removed by Marine Café Blog to reduce its size. (10.2 MiB, PDF, 173 pages)1 file(s) 30 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-27Home from the Sea by Arthur Rostron (a captain’s memoir)'Home from the Sea' is a compelling memoir by Sir Arthur Henry Rostron, best remembered as the captain of the RMS Carpathia that rescued hundreds of Titanic survivors. Describing the moment the Titanic went down, he wrote: "It was right under her stern and from this boy I heard a graphic account of how the Titanic up-ended herself and remained poised like some colossal nightmare of a fish, her tail high in the air, her nose deep in the water, until she dived finally from human sight." This must-read book is part of the Public Library of India collection on the Internet Archive. (9.4 MiB, PDF, 301 pages)
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2022-02-15On Blue Water by Edmondo De Amicis (a narrative about life on an emigrant ship)On Blue Water' is an account of life on board an emigrant steamship travelling from Genoa, Italy, to Buenos Aires in Argentina. It was written by Edmondo De Amicis (1846–1908), an Italian novelist, journalist, poet and short-story writer. Jacob B. Brown noted in his Translator's Preface to De Amicis' 1897 book: "The writer's observant eye has singled out, his lively imagination has characterized, and his ready pen has described at least twenty different groups and characters taken from both ends of the vessel, all dramatic, saying and doing in every case just what such persons would say and do." This book is courtesy of the University of California Libraries on the Internet Archive. (27.1 MiB, PDF, 399 pages)1 file(s) 21 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2021-09-18The Sailor’s Word-Book by W.H. Smith and Sir Edward Belcher (nautical dictionary)Published in 1867, 'The Sailor's Word-Book' contains a plethora of nautical terms that altogether provide a vivid picture of the old world of shipping. Many of the terms have become obsolete, but some are still in use today. At any rate, this book is a valuable resource for nautical writers, maritime researchers and anyone who has a deep interest in the history of shipping and seafaring. (4.3 MiB, PDF, 1,094 pages)1 file(s) 92 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2021-07-13Captain Cook by Walter Besant'Captain Cook' is an excellent book about the life and voyages of Captain James Cook (1728–1779, the great 18th-century explorer (CLICK HERE for more about him). It was written by the English novelist and historian, Sir Walter Besant (1836–1901). This edition was published in 1894. (4 MiB, PDF, 198 pages)1 file(s) 22 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-08-30Ferdinand Magellan by E.F. Benson'Ferdinand Magellan' is an oustanding book about the great Portuguese explorer. It was written by E.F. Benson (1867 – 1940), a British writer of fiction, reminiscences, and biographies. In his preface, the author underscores Magellan's place in history: "He was the first person in the world who demonstrated not by theory, but in terms of ships actually sailing on the sea, that this world is round (or thereabouts), and that by sailing out beyond the known ultimate of the West, a voyager will arrive at the known ultimate of the East." This book is from the library of York University in Canada and was digitised by the Internet Archive.(15 MiB, PDF, 282 pages)1 file(s) 36 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2021-06-03‘Surfin’ USA’ by Christopher John Stephens (MP3)This is an interesting adaptation of 'Surfin' USA', the 1963 hit song of the American rock band, The Beach Boys. The performer is Christopher John Stephens, an American writer and musician. His version has the laid-back atmosphere of the tropics. This recording, believed to be from 2015, has been publicly shared by Stephens via the Internet Archive. (3.1 MiB, MP3, 3:20 minutes)1 file(s) 206 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2021-05-18A Sailor’s Life: Long Distance Love (pamphlet)This pamphlet from the English Folk Dance and Song Society spotlights long distance love involving the sailors of yore with focus on two traditional songs -- 'Adieu, sweet lovely Nancy' and 'Bold Riley'. An excerpt: "For the wives of low ranking sailors, they lived difficult lives at home in Britain. The sailors were only paid once their ship returned to Britain. Therefore, the wives and children often had to find work to earn money for food and shelter. Sometimes the wives and children would even resort to begging in the streets" The English Folk Dance and Song Society has allowed the copying of this copyrighted material for non-commercial educational purposes. (736 KiB, PDF, 11 pages)1 file(s) 33 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, Maritime Music & Sea ShantiesDownload |
2021-05-07Lighthouse Construction Types (illustrated article in PDF)This illustrated article describes the various types of U.S. lighthouses based on material and construction -- from the stone, brick and wood towers of the 1700s to the Texas Tower, aluminum-clad and fiberglass varieties introduced in the 1960s. It forms part of The Historic Lighthouse Preservation Handbook. The latter was the result of a cooperative effort between the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Defense. (833 KiB, PDF, 8 pages)1 file(s) 45 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2021-05-04Historically Famous Lighthouses (illustrated booklet, for smartphones & tablets)This United States Coast Guard booklet features 56 lighthouses located in 20 states. Backstories are provided with black & white photos to explain the historical significance of each lighthouse. (3.5 MiB, EPUB format) NOTE: You will need an e-book reader to open the file on your smartphone or tablet. One of the most popular is FBReader, a multi-platform e-book reader. Click here to get it. FBReader for iPhone and iPad is downloadable on the AppStore.1 file(s) 14 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-14Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain'Life on the Mississippi' was written by Mark Twain, one of America's most beloved writers. Published in 1883 with more than 300 illustrations, it is the author's memoir of the steamboat era on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War. Mark Twain was a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi (read his short biography here). His familiarity with the river and navigation and his skills as a raconteur make this book a must-read for literature and American history buffs. (40.4 MiB, PDF, 610 pages) NOTE: The scanned book is courtesy of the Boston Public Library. For the convenience of readers, the file was compressed by Marine Café Blog minus unnecessary blank pages and the front and back covers.1 file(s) 112 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2023-07-02Recollections of a Sea Wanderer’s Life by George DavisPublished in 1887, this autobiography is worth reading from beginning to end. It is not only about the life of an old salt but about a bygone age -- when, as author George Davis puts it in his Dedication, "wooden ships were manned and sailed by MEN of iron, and not as now, when iron ships are run by wooden men". Numerous illustrations and a glossary of nautical terms add richness to what is an engaging narrative. (27.6 MiB, PDF, 432 pages)1 file(s) 86 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, Seafaring and ManningDownload |
2023-01-25Island Stories Retold from St. Nicholas (collection of stories, PDF)Published in 1907, 'Island Stories Retold from St. Nicholas' makes for light and entertaining reading. It is a collection of non-fictional stories reprinted from St. Nicholas Magazine, a popular American monthly for young readers which ran from 1873 to 1943. The articles include Robinson Crusoe's Island (Two hundred years later), Impressions of the Hawaiian Islands' and A Tale of the Cannibal Islands (a true story). (30.9 MiB, PDF, 195 pages)1 file(s) 24 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-11-13Coast Guard History (magazine about the United States Coast Guard, PDF)'Coast Guard History' is a slim magazine that opens a window to the glorious past of the United States Coast Guard. Published in 1958 by the USCG Public Information Division, it features several articles starting with how the first cutter fleet was launched. The succeeding articles examine the role of the Coast Guard in peacetime and war (War of 1812, American Civil War and World Wars I and II). 'Coast Guard History' is courtesy of The Biodiversity Heritage Library. (3.6 MiB, PDF, 36 pages)1 file(s) 33 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-10-26Lighthouses by David Stevenson'Lighthouses' was written by David Stevenson (1815–1886), a Scottish civil engineer and lighthouse designer, and published in 1864. Stevenson describes in detail the construction, illumination and management of the early lighthouses. In the Introduction, he pays tribute to their beauty: "Tall and graceful as the minar of an Eastern mosque, they possess far more solidity and beauty of construction; and, in addition to this, their form is as appropriate to the purpose for which it was designed as anythinig ever done by the Greeks..." (1.4 MiB, PDF, 127 pages)1 file(s) 30 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-11-07“Sung With Gusto by the Men”: A Unique Recording of “The Leaving of Liverpool” (article by Stephen D. Winick)American folklorist Stephen D. Winick tracks the history and various recordings of the traditional folk song, 'The Leaving of Liverpool'. His highly informative article appeared in the Summer/Fall 2008 edition of the Folklife Center News, edited by Winick and published by The American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. (1.1 MiB, PDF, 12 pages)1 file(s) 21 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, Maritime Music & Sea ShantiesDownload |
2021-05-27Drunken Sailor (ringtone for iPhones)Enjoy hearing one of the most popular sea shanties every time your iPhone rings. The ringtone is based on a Glamrock Brothers remix in rock style of Drunken Sailor. (457.2 KiB, M4R, 28 seconds)1 file(s) 72 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, Maritime Music & Sea ShantiesDownload |
2021-07-15Columbus Day by Charles Hervey Townshend'Columbus Day' throws light on the real origin of the name 'America'. Published in 1893, the paper was authored by Captain Charles H. Townshend (1833–1904), an American merchant ship officer. He boldly states: "The whole world has been led into the error that America was named for Vesputius, a Florentine map-maker, who enlightened Europe on the discoveries of Columbus." (544.6 KiB, PDF, 6 pages)1 file(s) 36 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-25Patterson’s Illustrated Nautical Dictionary, UnabridgedThis dictionary written by American maritime author and educator Captain Howard Patterson (1856-1916) can be rightly called a gem of nautical literature. First published in 1891, it contains at least 5,000 nautical terms and hundreds of engravings. (21.6 MiB, PDF, 391 pages)1 file(s) 813 downloadsCategory: Maritime Education and Training, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-09-02Tale of Two Female Pirates: Mary Read and Anne BonnyMary Read and Anne Bonny broke the social and even sexual conventions of the 18th century. Both were pirates who rivalled their male counterparts in courage and ruthlessness. This monograph contains two chapters about Mary and Anne, respectively, which were extracted from Captain Charles Johnson's 1724 book, A General History of the Pyrates, from their First Rise and Settlement in the Island of Providence, to the Present Time. (509 KiB, PDF, 13 pages)1 file(s) 19 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-05-29Ships & Ways of Other Days by E. Keble ChattertonIn the Introduction to Ships & Ways of Other Days, British maritime writer Edward Keble Chatterton (1878 – 1944) writes: "I can promise the reader that if he loves ships, if he has a sympathetic interest in that curious composite creature the seaman—who throughout history has been compelled to endure the greatest hardships and deprivations for the benefit of those whose happy fortune it is to live on shore—he will find in the ensuing pages much that will both surprise him and entertain him." Chatterton delivers big time on that promise. The book is well-reserarched and well-written. More than a historical account, it gives an intimate picture of the life lived on the sailing ships of yore. (22.1 MiB, PDF, 420 pages) See also Chatterton's Sailing Ships: The Story of their Development from the Earliest Times to the Present Day1 file(s) 412 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-07-19Small Guide of Venice: Sites Not to Miss and Unconventional OnesThis small, 10-page guide from the La Porta d'Oriente hotel is a handy reference for those visiting Venice. It includes pointers on how visitors should conduct themselves; the main tourist sites to visit; a restaurant guide; and curiosities and legends about Venice. (2.5 MiB, PDF, 10 pages)1 file(s) 19 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, TravelDownload |
2022-05-01Venice by Gustav PauliThis is a must-read book for anyone who has fallen in love with the famed city. Published in 1904, Venice was written by Gustav Pauli (1866 – 1938), a German art historian who served as museum director of Kunsthalle Bremen and Kunsthalle Hamburg. Pauli starts off with a history of Venice and then zooms in on its rich heritage of architecture, sculpture and painting. Photos fill the pages to take the reader on a wonderful voyage through time. (14.6 MiB, PDF, 170 pages)1 file(s) 31 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, TravelDownload |
2020-11-07Singing Histories – PlymouthSinging Histories - Plymouth is an illustrated booklet featuring 10 songs, mostly with a sea theme, which are part of the history and culture of the English port city of Plymouth. It contains the lyrics and a brief note for each of the songs. This is part of the Singing Histories project of Sing London, the arts organisation whose mission is to unite the nation in song. (1.3 MiB , PDF, 15 pages)1 file(s) 24 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, Maritime Music & Sea ShantiesDownload |
2022-08-30Sailing Ships: The Story of their Development from the Earliest Times to the Present Day'Sailing Ships: The Story of their Development from the Earliest Times to the Present Day' was first published in 1909 but it remains one of the most comprehensive and well-researched books on the subject. British maritime writer Edward Keble Chatterton (1878 – 1944) provides a huge trove of information plus 130 illustrations. He concludes the book with a beautiful tribute to the sailing ship: "Now that we have shown...her noble and illustrious pedigree, her ancestry reaching back through the centuries into the first blush of the dawn of the world's creation, perhaps we shall regard her with an interest, a respect and affection at once greater and deeper because we have become better acquainted with the reasons that have caused each of these developments." (13.6 MiB, PDF, 438 pages) See also E. Keble Chatterton's 'Ships & Ways of Other Days' .1 file(s) 375 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-11-07The Shanty Book Part I: Sailor Shanties (EPUB format for smartphones and tablets)First published in 1921, The Shanty Book Part I: Sailor Shanties is a great read for those who want to increase their understanding and appreciation of shanties (old sailors' work songs). The 30 shanties in this book were collected by Sir Richard Runciman Terry (1865 – 1938), English organist, choir director and music scholar. They are accompanied by sheet music for piano and some interesting notes on each shanty. (1.4 MiB, EPUB)1 file(s) 77 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and Culture, Maritime Music & Sea ShantiesDownload |
2023-01-26The Shanty Book Part I: Sailor Shanties (PDF)First published in 1921, The Shanty Book Part I: Sailor Shanties is a great read for those who want to increase their understanding and appreciation of shanties (old sailors' work songs). The 30 shanties in this book were collected by Sir Richard Runciman Terry (1865 – 1938), English organist, choir director and music scholar. They are accompanied by sheet music for piano and some interesting notes on each shanty. (7.1 MiB, PDF, 75 pages) See also the EPUB edition of this book (for smartphones and tablets)1 file(s) 441 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-05-25Principal Parts and Sails of 19th-Century Sailing ShipsThis is a valuable reference material for sailing enthusiasts, maritime historians, writers and teachers. It describes the principal parts of a sailing ship in the British or American fleets of the 19th century, as well as the locations and naming protocol of masts, yards, gaffs, stays and booms and the sails they spread. (942 KiB, PDF, 8 pages) See also Introduction to Sail and Rigging Types by Martin Hendry (illustrated)1 file(s) 199 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-08-06Lost Ships and Lonely SeasEnjoy these 17 true stories of shipwrecks and other unfortunate incidents at sea. Published in 1921, Lost Ships and Lonely Seas reads like an adventure book. The author, American journalist Ralph Delahaye Paine, throws light on the perils of 19th century seafaring. An excerpt from Chapter 1: The wild gale smote them in the darkness of night. They tried to heave the vessel to, but she was battered and wrenched without mercy. Stout canvas was whirled away in fragments. The seams of the hull opened as she labored, and six feet of water flooded the hold. Leaking like a sieve, the Polly would never see port again. (9.3 MiB, PDF, 450 pages)1 file(s) 65 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2023-01-26The Old Merchant Marine: A Chronicle of American Ships and SailorsPublished in 1919, The Old Merchant Marine: A Chronicle of American Ships and Sailors describes the glory days of American merchant shipping. It was written by the noted American journalist and author, Ralph Delahaye Paine (1871 – 1925). The first two sentences will make you want to continue reading till the end of the book: The story of American ships and sailors is an epic of blue water which seems regularly remote, almost unreal, to the later generations. A people with a native genius for seafaring won and held a brilliant supremacy through two centuries and then forsook this heritage of theirs. (6.8 MiB, PDF, 230 pages)1 file(s) 70 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-14The Buccaneers and Marooners of America: Being an Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Certain Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish Main (edited by Howard Pyle)This book chronicles the exploits of several 17th-century pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard. It should appeal to anyone who is fascinated with pirates.As American illustrator and author Howard Pyle (1853 –1911) notes in the Introduction: Courage and daring, no matter how mad and ungodly, have always a redundancy of vim and life to recommend them to the nether man that lies within us, and no doubt his desperate courage, his battle against the tremendous odds of all the civilized world of law and order had had much to do in making a popular hero of our friend of the black flag. (20.7 MiB, PDF, 400 pages)1 file(s) 39 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-02-13Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates (PDF)Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates is a collection of eight classic pirate stories written by the American illustrator, painter and author, Howard Pyle (1853–1911). It has been enriched by Pyle's wonderful illustrations, making it a great read for art lovers as well as pirate fans and students of history. Merle Johnson, who compiled the stories, wrote in his Foreword: Pirates, Buccaneers, Marooners, those cruel but picturesque sea wolves who once infested the Spanish Main, all live in present-day conceptions in great degree as drawn by the pen and pencil of Howard Pyle…It is improbable that anyone else will ever bring his combination of interest and talent to the depiction of these old-time Pirates, any more than there could be a second Remington to paint the now extinct Indians and gun-fighters of the Great West. (16.6 MiB, PDF, 335 pages)1 file(s) 249 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-03-08Two Years Before the Mast (an American classic for smartphones and tablets)Two Years Before the Mast is a memoir by American lawyer Richard Henry Dana Jr. of his two-year voyage from Boston to California as a common sailor on board a merchant ship. The term "before the mast" refers to the sailors' quarters located in the forecastle (the ship's bow). This book was first published in 1840 when Dana was still a law student at Harvard Universiy. In his Introduction, Prof. Homer Eaton Keyes explains why it is an American classic: We read it to-day not merely for its simple, unpretentious style; but for its clear picture of sea life previous to the era of steam navigation, and for its graphic description of conditions in California before visions of gold sent the long lines of "prairie schooners" drifting across the plains to unfold the hidden destiny of the West. (381.3 KiB, EPUB format)1 file(s) 24 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and Culture, Seafaring and ManningDownload |
2023-03-28The Lusitania’s Last VoyageThe 31,550-tonne RMS Lusitania, an ocean liner owned by Cunard Line, was sunk by a German U-boat on 7th May 1915. This book is a first-hand account of her last fateful voyage by Charles E. Lauriat, Jr., one of the survivors. (4.9 MiB, PDF, 175 pages including cover)1 file(s) 28 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2023-07-14The Truth About the Titanic by Colonel Archibald GracieThe Truth About the Titanic is considered one of the most accurate firsthand accounts of the tragedy. It was written by Colonel Archibald Gracie, a passenger on the RMS Titanic who was part of the heroic efforts to put other passengers onto the lifeboats. Published posthumously in 1913, the book sets the record straight on what really happened. Gracie describes, for instance, the moment immediately after the iceberg struck: It was now that the band began to play, and continued while the boats were being lowered.We considered this a wise provision tending to allay excitement. I did not recognize any of the tunes, but I know they were cheerful and were not hymns. If, as has been reported, ''Nearer My God to Thee'' was one of the selections, I assuredly should have noticed it and regarded it as a tactless warning of immediate death to us all and one likely to create a panic that our special efforts were directed towards avoiding... (File size: 13 MiB, PDF, 366 pages)1 file(s) 191 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2019-11-11The Wreck of the Titan: Or, Futility (a novella, for smartphones)The Wreck of the Titan: Or, Futility by American author Morgan Robertson is said by some to have foretold the RMS Titanic disaster. The similarities between fiction and reality are eerie indeed. The ocean liner in Roberton's novella was named Titan. It also sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg in the same month of April. And to think that this book was published in 1898 — 14 years before the RMS Titanic met its doom. (File size: 119.6 KiB, EPUB format)1 file(s) 25 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-05-29SHIPS, SEA SONGS AND SHANTIESFirst published in 1910, Ships, Sea Songs and Shanties is a real treasure trove. This 1913 edition contains some 80 songs compiled and annotated by an English master mariner, William Boultbee Whall (1847–1917). The illustrations by his niece, stainglass artist Veronica Whall (1887–1967), are in themselves a prize art collection. Anyone who wants to learn more about shanties and sea songs should have a copy of this book. (File size: 8.3 MiB, PDF, 143 pages)1 file(s) 93 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2019-11-07The Story of TitanicThe Story of Titanic provides essential facts about the ship, its technical features, and the characteristics of icebergs like the one that sank the ocean liner. It explains, amongst other things, why not more lives were saved during the rescue. This illustrated reference material was published by The Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, Maryland, as an activity guide for teachers and has some suggested science exercises for students to try out. However, the information is so well presented that this guide should interest all Titanic history buffs. (File size: 1.1 MiB ,PDF, 48 pages)1 file(s) 28 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-05-25Introduction to Sail and Rigging Types by Martin Hendry (illustrated)Introduction to Sail and Rigging Types is a 28-page iillustrated guide to the world of sailing vessels courtesy of National Historic Ships UK. It provides a brief description for each sail and rig type and some colour photos. This is a useful reference for sailing enthusiasts and those who love marine art and photography but don't know the difference between a sloop and a catboat. (File size: 2.2 MiB, PDF, 28 pages) See also Principal Parts and Sails of 19th-Century Sailing Ships.1 file(s) 121 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2023-06-12The First Voyage Round the World, by MagellanThis is a must-read for all maritime history aficionados. 'The First Voyage Round the World, by Magellan' is about Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan's westward voyage from Spain in 1519 round South America to the East Indies. Although Magellan was killed in Cebu, the Philippines, one of his ships sailed back to Spain to complete the first circumnavigation of the Earth. This book was translated by Lord Stanley of Alderley from the accounts of the Italian chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, and other contemporary writers. (File size: 13 MiB, PDF, 334 pages)
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2023-04-12Sinking of the Titanic by Thomas H. RussellThis is a gem of a book. Published in 1912 shortly after the RMS Titanic sank, it is a riveting account of what really happened. The horror the survivors went through is described in chilling detail, as in this excerpt from the book: The women in the lifeboats saw their loved ones plunge to death. The survivors' boats were bobbing along in the waves all within a radius of half a mile of the great Titanic, when, with a roar and burst of spray, it settled and passed out of sight for the last time. (File size: 26.8 MiB, PDF, 353 pages)1 file(s) 217 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload |
