Guide to the David Pearson Collection , 1950-1994
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: | Pearson (David) Collection |
| Date range: | 1950-1994 |
| Creator: | Pearson, David |
| Extent: | 14.5 linear feet |
| Abstract: | The David Pearson collection comprises over 3,000 color transparency slides and the collectors research and reference material documenting the steamship transportation along the East Coast between 1950-1994. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | Steamship Historical Society of America, Archives |
| Collection number: | 2004.04 |
Scope & content
The David A. Pearson Collection documents a range of ships and harbors between 1950 and 1994. The collection comprises almost 3,000 transparency slides with an accompanying index (2004.04.0001), three photo albums, and a reference book collection.The color slide collection was donated in ten metal slide cases and 11 slide presentation carousel rings, which were kept in their original order when rehoused for long-term preservation. An inventory was created during that process, providing the text on each slide. David Pearson's speaker notes and slide index accompany one boxed presentation.
In addition, three photo albums include postcards, photographs, and pen and ink drawings of various ships. An additional 341 books and volumes on maritime history have been incorporated into SSHSA's library and catalog.
Access Points
Subject Names Subject Topics Subject Topics Document TypesArrangement
Series 1: Transparency slide
- Slide library is arranged into two distinct subseries. The collector's index (2004.04.0001), organized by ship type and nation, then by ship name, incorporates both subseries.
Sub-series 1: Slide library
- Ten metal slide storage cases include a slide subject index in each case.
Sub-series 2: Presentations
- 11 slide carousel rings used for presentations were kept in the original order when rehoused for long-term preservation. His speaker notes, and a slide index is available for one presentation. An itemized slide inventory was created data at the time of rehousing.
Series 2: Scrapbooks
- Three photo albums include postcards, photographs, and pen and ink drawings of various ships.
Biographical note
David Adams Pearson, Jr. was born on 16 February 1917 in North Conway, New Hampshire. He was the first of four children by Reverend David A. and Georgiana (Wardwell) Pearson, married 1916, Cambridge, Massachusetts. David enlisted in the US Army in 1940 while studying at Northeastern University. He married Phyllis Alice Pye in 1945. They had one son, David Pearson, III.David retired from IBM where he worked as an Engineer. He was a frequent speaker for the Steamship Historical Society of America, including a November 1978 talk that covered many aspects of New York Harbor for the Southern New England Chapter. A March 1979 presentation was on the paddle steamer WAVERLY. Much of the content in his lectures featured his photography of ships and East Coast harbors taken between 1950-1970.
He passed away on 19 December 2020 in Belmont, Massachusetts at the age of 93. Phyllis died in 2007.
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: | David Pearson Collection (2004.04), 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: | The David A. Pearson Collection comprises over 3,000 color transparency slides, an index, three photo albums, and research and lecture notes documenting United States maritime history, including images taken by collector between 1950 and 1970. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz. |
| Encoding: | Finding aid encoded by Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz 2023 November 14 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |