Guide to the Everett Viez Collection , 1920-1980

Steamship Historical Society of America, Archives
Steamship Historical Society of America
2500 Post Road
Warwick, RI 02886
Tel: 401-463-3570
E-mail: info@sshsa.org

Published in 2023

Collection Overview

Title:	Viez (Everett) Collection
Date range:	1920-1980
Creator:	Viez, Everett
Extent:	22.8 linear feet
Abstract:	Over 4,000 prints and 1,000 negatives documenting the passenger's travel experience on ocean liners and cruise ships over 60 years, starting in the 1920s. This collection offers broadside ship images, but the interior images of passenger and crew spaces are a strength.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Steamship Historical Society of America, Archives
Collection number:	1981.02

Scope & content

The Steamship Historical Society of America purchased Everett Viez's collection of photographic prints and negatives for $9,000 in 1974, including 1,032 negatives; 4,440 photo prints; 1,313 postcard sized prints. The collection documents maritime transportation between the 1920s and 1970s while Everett worked in the travel industry. 1920s and 1930 studio quality images of ocean liner interiors are a strength of this collection. The 8" x 10" and 9" x 12" prints are organized alphabetically, individually sleeved, and in exceptional condition.

Access Points

Subject Names

Viez, Everett

Subject Topics

Document Types

Subject Topics

Maritime

Arrangement

The collection is divided into three series based on the format of the material. Separate indexes for the photographic prints and negatives created by the collector are also part of this collection.

Series 1: Oversized Photographic Prints

Photographic prints documenting transatlantic travel via ocean liners, the bulk between 1920's and 1940's. Of particular interest are several large format, studio quality interior images highlighting ocean liner interiors travel. Index (1981.02.0001) was created by the collector for this series. It is arranged alphabetically by ship, line, and subjects unidentified, harbors, interiors, sailing vessels, and misc.

Series 2: Large Format Photographic Prints

Extensive collection of 8" x 10" and smaller black and white photographs of ships. The collection arranged alphabetically by ship name. The images are note limited to broadsides of ships, but also document the ship building process, interiors, and crew and passengers. Index (1981.02.0001) created by the collector, in the form of a index card catalog, is available by ship, by line, and by subjects unidentified, harbors, interiors, sailing vessels, and misc.

Series 3: Film Negatives

Individually sleeved with descriptive information for each image, including: ship name, date, description, collection name, and object number starting with EV. A limited number of copies are also interfiled in the SSHSA Master Negative Collection located in the Photo Room. Index (1981.02.0002) was created by the collector for this series. It is arranged alphabetically by ship and subjects unidentified, harbors, interiors, sailing vessels, and misc.

Biographical note

Everett E. Viez was a self-proclaimed "steamboat buff" and an avid collector of marine material. He attributed a lifelong interest in ships as "instrumental" in establishing his travel agency in the mid-1930s. He joined SSHSA in 1968 and noted his collection at that time included "over 7,000 actual photographs of passenger ships, large and small, to which [he] was constantly adding new material as [he] acquire[d] it". His pride flowed of his self described "very excellent and some rather rare photographs in my steamship photo collection which exceeds 7,000 prints".

His collection consists of two major parts: the photographic publicity material issued by the ocean-going and coast wise steamship lines of the 1920s and 1930s, comprising well over a thousand photos. In addition to the usual exterior views of ships, there were several hundred rare interior views of the long-gone ships of that period. The second part of the collection included pictures taken by Mr. Viez himself. He worked in the travel industry and took his camera with him. His shots record New York harbor activities in the 1920's and 1930's. He captured everything that floated, from ferries to ocean liners.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	This collection is available to the public by appointment at the Steamship Historical Society. Objects that are fragile, significant, or require additional tools to access may require archivist assistance.
Use of the materials:	Use, reproduction, and/or publication of archival material is prohibited without prior approval of the Steamship Historical Society. Fees and/or restrictions may apply. Please contact the SSHSA archivist, Astrid Drew, at adrew@sshsa.org for more information.
Preferred citation:	Everett Viez Collection (1981.02), Steamship Historical Society of America Archives, www.sshsa.org.
Contact information:	Steamship Historical Society of America, Archives Steamship Historical Society of America 2500 Post Road Warwick, RI 02886 Tel: 401-463-3570 E-mail: info@sshsa.org

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	SSHSA first inquired on March 8th, 1974 letter if Mr. Viez would entertain an offer from SSHSA. A formal agreement between Everett E. Viez of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the Steamship Historical Society of America, Inc. to purchase his collection of photographic prints and negatives for $9,000 was finalized in 1977. The retroactive accession of this collection in 2023 was based on acquisition files and support material.


ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz 2023 November 01
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)