Ancil F. Haines (1872-1937) was a leading figure in Pacific Coast shipping in the early 1900s. In 1912, Haines worked as a manager for the Dodwell & Co. shipping company. He then became manager of Border Line Transportation Co., a steamship line organized by Dodwell for the purpose of engaging in the Puget Sound-B.C.-Alaska freight trade.
Beginning around 1916, Haines served a manager of the Admiral Line, a consolidation of the Pacific Alaska Navigation Co. and the Pacific Coast Steamship Co. In the 1920s, Haines also became Vice-President in charge of trans-Pacific services of the Admiral Line, renamed the Admiral Oriental Line, under company president Robert Dollar. During the 1920s, Dollar purchased several "President Type" liners from the US Shipping Board; in 1926 he purchased five of these for use as Admiral Oriental Line passenger liners: the President McKinley, the President Jackson, the President Grant, the President Jefferson and the President Madison .
Haines continued as an executive at Dollar Steamship Line and American Mail Line until 1937. Ancil Haines died in Seattle in May 1937, at age 65.
From the guide to the A.F. Haines photograph album, circa 1921-1933, (Museum of History & Industry Sophie Frye Bass Library)
