Cap (Khaki), National Organization Masters, Mates, and Pilots unionman
description: Ca. 1944. Manu: cap, Gus Kroesen, San Francisco; cap badge, Vanguard. The cap in context may be found here: http://ianewatts.org/nommp-not-ussb

Insigne, U.S. Maritime Commission, Maritime Eagle, Shipyard worker badge
description: Ca. 1942.

Insigne, U.S. Maritime Commission, Maritime Eagle, Merchant Marine Officer
description: Ca. 1942

Insigne, U.S. Maritime Commission, Maritime Eagle, Labor Merit Badge
description: Ca. 1942. Variation 2.

Insigne, U.S. Maritime Commission, Maritime Eagle, Labor Merit Badge
description: Ca. 1942. Variation 1.

Certificate of Membership, National Maritime Union
description: Ca. 1940. Certificate of Membership of Julia Serafin in National Maritime Union. Ms. Serafin was a Waitress and joined the Union in1936; it appears she left in 1940.

Ephemera, Mess Pass to T. W. Fitzgerald
description: Circa 1944. United States Army Forces Mess Guest Pass to T. W. Fitzgerald, Master of the New Zealand ship M/V Tamatea. On the back of the card are the contacts: Captain J. B. Baker of the 29th Marines (Reinf), Kokumbona (Guadalcanal) Mr. Denlay USSCo (Capt 16½) at 438 Evans Bay Road (Wellington, New Zealand) MV Tamatea ship history: Blenheim The M/V Tamatea was originally the SS Blenheim. She was built to the order of Messrs. W. E. Clouston and Co. at Forster, New South Wales by the shipbuilder Henry Miles. She was launched on July 4, 1905 and christened by Miles’ wife, Annie. Blenheim was a shallow draught wooden steamer of 130 tons and was fitted as a passenger and cargo boat. On the 8th July 8, 1905, she was towed by the steamer Tuncurry to Sydney, Australia for fitting of engines. Details: Official No: 121107 Length: 109.0 ft Breadth: 23.5 ft Depth 6.7 ft Tonnage: Gross: 150.58; Net: 85.04 Construction: wood Engines: surface condensing engines, with cylinders of 13in and 26in, with a stroke of 18in; fitted by Begg and Greig. Boiler: 1201b pressure to the square inch. Accommodation: 24 passengers (including eight ladies) From 1905 to 1907 she operated from the Ōpaoa (formerly Opawa) River, Blenheim, New Zealand for the Wellington-based Marlborough Steamship Co. At Blenheim, she was managed by W.E. Clouston and operated from their wharf. In 1907 she was attached to the Wairau Steamship Company Ltd. (a subsidiary Union Steamship Company of New Zealand) and continued operating between Blenheim and Wellington, New Zealand. On July 1, 1917 The Wairau Steamship Co. was taken over by P & O and, in 1919, Blenheim was re-measured; her tonnage changed: Gross: 153 ; Net: 87 Arawua In 1924, Blenheim was sold to the Fisheries Ltd, Wellington and renamed Awarua. Tamatea In 1928, Awarua was purchased by Captain R. J. Hamilton of Bluff (near Invercargill, New Zealand) and renamed Tamatea. Around this time she was converted from a steamer to diesel power around this time. The MV …

Badge, National Maritime Union, Gold Union Badge and Torpedoed Pin
description: Ca. 1942.

Pamphlet, Heroes Today, Tramps Tomorrow?
description: Pamphlet published in 1943 by the National Maritime Union to call attention to the fact Amercian merchant seaman were without Social Security and adequate financial protections during the Second World War. William Gropper illustrated the pamphlet.