Alaska Steamship Co.

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The Alaska Steamship Company, incorporated in 1894, shipped freight and passengers between Seattle and southeast Alaska, ca. 1901-1950. In 1953 the company expanded into container service, but due to increased fuel and insurance costs, strong competition from other types of container vessels such as barges and tugboats, and union demands, the Alaska Steamship Company ceased operations in 1971.

From the description of Alaska Steamship Company photograph collection, 1939-1971 (bulk 1951-1966) [graphic]. 1939-1971. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 57763095

Established in 1895, the Alaska Steamship Company plied Alaskan waters for many years hauling gold stampeders, supplies, tourists, copper and people and goods for WWII, Korea and Vietnam. In later years their focus shifted to shipping freight exclusively. In January, 1971, after 75 years in business, the company ceased all operations, making it the longest-running shipping firm in history up to that point.

From the description of Alaska Steamship Company Collection, 1900-1980 1950-1970. (University of Alaska, Fairbanks). WorldCat record id: 309456062

The Alaskan shipping industry began to grow in the late 1800s with the expansion of fishing and cannery activities. As a result, there was a dramatic increase in the need for transportation of other products to and from the lower 48 states. In 1894, six men, recognizing this need, incorporated; they gathered $30,000 by selling 300 shares at $100 each, and then set about scouting for a ship to begin hauling. They found and purchased the Willapa, which could carry passengers as well as freight. Their timing could not have been better; soon after the Alaska Steamship Company (ASC) opened for business, Alaska began to experience major economic benefits resulting from the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897. In addition to fish products, ASC began hauling mining equipment, dog sleds, cattle, and miscellaneous supplies.

The company began by servicing Southeast Alaska, running only between Skagway and Seattle. Another shipping company, the Northwest Steamship Company, had organized the northern route as a result of the Nome gold strike in 1900, servicing Valdez, Cook Inlet, and the Bering Sea ports. A third party, the Guggenheim Company, bought out both ASC and the Northern Steamship Co., keeping the ASC name. They expanded the fleet into 18 ships and expanded service to all Alaskan ports from Ketchikan to Kotzebue.

For the next quarter of a century, ASC relied on copper from the Kennecot mines, gold, and salmon for backhauls from northern cities to the lower 48 states. By 1938, the copper mine had closed and the gold rush had subsided. With backhauls now significantly reduced, the Alaskan shipping industry was severely impacted. In addition, the much relied-upon fishing industry was only seasonal. The one-way haul was one of the great problems of the Alaska run; the other problem was the weather. Ships were constantly threatened by fierce Alaskan weather patterns.

Eventually, the Kennecot Company acquired controlling interest from Guggenheim Company. In 1944, G.W. Skinner of Seattle purchased all interests and retained the management identified with the Alaska Steamship Company for the next several years.

The ASC joined the war effort in 1942, losing five ships in various campaigns. In 1953, they expanded into container service. The holds of the vessels were paved to accommodate fork lifts. New masts were engineered to lift massive vans. New generators were installed to provide power for van refers (refrigerated vans) and heater equipment. Containerization was recognized as the most significant development in ocean transport since the steam engine. There was less damage to freight, less pilfering, and labor costs were significantly reduced as there was no more piece by piece handling of cargo.

In 1954, the company ceased passenger operations due to high costs of labor and union standards. By then, ASC had established itself as a pioneer in containerization. At one point, the company pumped $11 million into the economy by employing dockworkers, ship workers, and stevedores, hauling freight, and operating ship and dock facilities. However, because of increased fuel and insurance costs, increased competition from barges, ferries, and tugboats, and continual union demands, the Alaska Steamship Company ceased operations in 1971.

From the guide to the Alaska Steamship Company Photographs of Dock and Harbors, 1939-1971, 1951-1966, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Craig Ship Building Company (Toledo, Ohio). Redondo. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
referencedIn Materials concerning the sinking of the S.S. Alaska, 1921. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Goetze, O. D. (Otto D.). O.D. Goetze photographs and other material, 1898-1913. Museum of History and Industry
referencedIn Turrill & Miller (San Francisco, Calif.),. Ship voyage from Seattle to Alaska photograph album [graphic], circa 1900-1905. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Lewis, Margaret A. Margaret Lewis collection [graphic] : images from a cruise to Alaska, 1950. Alaska State Library
creatorOf Alaska Steamship Company Photographs of Dock and Harbors, 1939-1971, 1951-1966 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
creatorOf Dennett, Joseph G. Joseph G. Dennett Papers, 1862-1889. Peabody Essex Museum
referencedIn Peterson, Ralph. Photograph album, 1952-1956. UAA/APU Consortium Library, Consortium Library
referencedIn Zeusler, F. A. (Frederick A.). Frederick A. Zeusler papers, ca. 1900-1981. Alaska State Library
referencedIn Wendt, Florence Carr. Florence Carr Wendt collection, 1935-1967 (bulk 1935). Alaska State Library
referencedIn Ziegler, Eustace Paul, 1881-1969. Menus used on board steamships, in hotels, and other Alaska-related menus, 1899-[ongoing] Alaska State Library
creatorOf Alaska Steamship Co. Brockton. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
creatorOf Alaska Steamship Co. Alaska Steamship Company photograph collection, 1939-1971 (bulk 1951-1966) [graphic]. University of Washington. Libraries
referencedIn Marine Cooks and Stewards Union records, 1954 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn [Pamphlets on Alaska Steamship Company]. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf B.F. Skinner Foundation. Skinner Foundation photograph collection [graphic], ca. 1898-1946. Alaska State Library
creatorOf Alaska Steamship Co. Alaska Steamship Company Collection, 1900-1980 1950-1970. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library
referencedIn O'Brien, Johnny, 1851-1931. Johnny O'Brien papers, 1851-1930. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library
referencedIn Alaska Steamship Company Collection, 1900-1980 University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Polar Regions Collections & Archives
referencedIn Ames, Edwin Gardner, 1856-1935. Papers, 1887-1931. ND Univ of Washington Libraries (OCLC Worldshare ILL Beta)
referencedIn Bradlee, Francis Boardman Crowninshield., 1881-1928. F. B. C. Bradlee Scrapbook Collection, Steamship Lines and Steamships, 1851-1964, n.d. Peabody Essex Museum
referencedIn Little, Lois. Alaska trip photograph album, 1931-1935 1931. UAA/APU Consortium Library, Consortium Library
referencedIn Alaska. Territorial Shipping Board. Performance and traffic statements of the Pacific Steamship Company and Alaska Steamship Company, 1918-1919. Alaska State Library
referencedIn Huntington Free Library. Catalogs and advertisements for Indian traders [ca.1900]. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Erickson, Stanley M. Stanley M. Erickson photograph collection, 1915-1930 [graphic]. Alaska State Library
referencedIn Parisi, Beulah Marrs. Papers, 1938-1995. UAA/APU Consortium Library, Consortium Library
referencedIn Weinberg, Emma Louise. Scrapbook collection includes Alaska travel and other subjects, 1906-1953. Alaska State Library
creatorOf New York Shipbuilding Corporation. Columbia, 1907-[ongoing]. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
referencedIn Materials concerning the sinking of the S.S. Alaska, 1921 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Sullivan, D., Captain. Back Bay. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
referencedIn Feinler, Marie. Alaska scrapbook, 1931. UAA/APU Consortium Library, Consortium Library
creatorOf Steamship company publications and promotional materials, ca. 1887- [ongoing]. Alaska State Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alaska Steamship Company corporateBody
associatedWith Alaska. Territorial Shipping Board. corporateBody
associatedWith Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Ames, Edwin Gardner, 1856-1935. person
associatedWith B.F. Skinner Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Bradlee, Francis Boardman Crowninshield., 1881-1928. person
associatedWith Dennett, Joseph G. person
associatedWith Erickson, Stanley M. person
associatedWith Feinler, Marie. person
associatedWith Goetze, O. D. (Otto D.) person
associatedWith Lewis, Margaret A. person
associatedWith Little, Lois. person
associatedWith Marine Cooks and Stewards Union corporateBody
associatedWith O'Brien, Johnny, 1851-1931. person
associatedWith Parisi, Beulah Marrs. person
associatedWith Peterson, Ralph. person
associatedWith Turrill & Miller (San Francisco, Calif.), corporateBody
associatedWith Wendt, Florence Carr. person
associatedWith Zeusler, F. A. (Frederick A.) person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Alaska
Alaska
Washington (State)
Washington (State)
Kennicott (Alaska)
Alaska
Subject
Alaska
Business, Industry, and Labor
Canneries
Canneries
Copper mines and mining
Docks
Docks
Freight and freightage
Harbors
Harbors
Photographs
Steamboat lines
Steamboats
Steamboats
Tourism
Transportation
Washington (State)
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1900

Active 1980

Information

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