Table of ContentsBiographical NoteScope and Content NoteInformation for ResearchersSeparations ListAdministrative InformationDescriptionSubject Headings |
Inventory of the Walter E. Channing PapersIn the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library
Biographical NoteWalter Everett Channing was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1901. He worked for forty years as a mechanical and plant engineer for several of the large industrial companies in New Bedford. His employers included Pairpoint Glass Works, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Revere Copper & Brass, Inc. and Tibbetts Engineering Corp. where he worked until his retirement in 1968. Channing, having lived in this area all his life, became interested in the whaling vessels which sailed from local ports. He selected several vessels to research and applied his experience as a draftsman to create ship's plans for each vessel. These plans and his drawings of whaleboats and whaleship fittings helped model makers achieve accurate and detailed renderings of whalers. After his retirement, he spent time further researching and revising many of his ships' plans in the 1970's up until his death in 1980. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Content NotePapers of Walter Channing consist of correspondence, research materials, ship model plans and miscellaneous papers spanning the years 1917-1978. The majority of Channing's papers are his research materials and ship model plans. Channing extensively researched each vessel in order to render an accurate representation in his plans. His research materials, 1910-ca. 1978, include visual representations of the vessels along with historical data. The plans, 1933-1936, 1963-1978, include lines, deck plans, spar, sail and rigging plans, as well as historical notes on the vessels, and details of use to model builders on painting schedules and details of the leading and dimensions of rigging, etc. The vessels from which Channing drew plans are the bark Andrew Hicks, ship Charles W. Morgan, schooner John R. Manta, bark Josephine, bark Lagoda, bark Sunbeam, ship Two Brothers, brig Viola and bark Wanderer. Other plans Channing executed were for a Beetle whaleboat, Friendship sloop, belaying points of New Bedford whalers, details of masts and yards, and of hulls and whaling gear. Channing drew the majority of these plans in the 1930's and revised them in the 1970's. Correspondence for Channing, 1939-1957, 1975-1978, discusses his ships' plans with various model builders and representatives from model making magazines as well as sales of these plans. The majority of this material is incoming correspondence but also contains copies of or notes on Channing's responses. The miscellaneous materials, 1917-1924, 1955-1973, consist of a volume of mechanical drawings completed while at high school and later, the published plans of the brig Viola, New Bedford Port Society by-laws listing Channing as a member of the Society, and general sketches and a newspaper clipping regarding his ships' plans for the Whaling Museum. Arrangement of CollectionReturn to the Table of Contents Information for Researchers
Access to Collections Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.
Preferred Citation New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 90, [sub-group, series, sub-series, folder/volume as appropriate], [item]
Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 United States Code 552a) governs the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction if the document does not infringe the privacy rights of an individual, group, or corporation. These specified conditions of authorized use include: - non-commercial and non-profit study, scholarship, research, or teaching - criticism or commentary - as a NBWM archives preservation or security copy for research use - as a research copy for deposit in another institution
If the researcher later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the researcher is personally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement and agrees to indemnify the New Bedford Whaling Museum from any legal action as a result of the error. Permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document does not indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from the document without permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded. Permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, sell, or otherwise distribute the item must be obtained separately in writing from the holder of the original copyright (or if the creator is dead, from his/her heirs) as well as from any individual(s), groups, or corporations whose name, image, recorded words, or private information (e.g. employment information) may be reproduced in the source material. The holder of the original copyright is not necessarily the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for "fair use." This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order is judged in violation of copyright or federal or state privacy law. This institution also places restrictions on the use of cameras, photocopiers, and scanners in the research room. Return to the Table of Contents Separations ListRemoved to Photographs Collection - A group of 14 glass plate negatives and all copies of other photos of the Charles W. Morgan at a New Bedford dock, showing details of construction, deck layout, rigging and the like, apparently used as references for the plans.
Removed to Printed Collection - Ashley, Clifford W. The Yankee Whaler, 1926 -- autographed by Ashley, New Bedford, Dec. 17, 1930 inscribed to Henry B. Williams. - Rossell, Henry B. and Chapman, Lawrence B. Principles of Naval Architecture, 1942. Vol. 1 and 2.
Return to the Table of Contents Administrative Information
Provenance The materials in this collection were donated to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by Walter E. Channing prior to 1970 and by Mrs. Marion L. Channing on 5 August 1983 and 30 January 1984.
Processing Information Processed by: Judith Downey, 27 October 1988 Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 8 April 2012; box list appended by Mark Procknik, 11 April 2012 Return to the Table of Contents Description
Return to the Table of Contents
Subject Headings Masts and rigging
Mechanical drawing
Modelmakers
Models and modelmaking
Sailing ships--Mass.--New Bedford--Models
Ship models
Ship models--Drawings
Whaleboats
Whalers--Models
Return to the Table of Contents
Vessel Names
Andrew Hicks (Bark)
Charles W. Morgan (Ship)
John R. Manta (Schooner)
Josephine (Bark)
Lagoda (Bark)
Sunbeam (Bark)
Two Brothers (Ship)
Viola (Brig)
Wanderer (Bark)
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