1937 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT MERCHANT SHIP'S LOG AND SUPERB RELIC OF MERCHANT MARINE COMMERCE FROM ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT SHIPPING COMPANIES

On offer is the log book of the SS President Monroe, a small part of the Robert Dollar Company and part of the history of the third largest shipping line today. The log measuring 14.0 inches by 10.5 inches Notwithstanding the cover has separated from the bound volume, the volume is in otherwise excellent condition. It contains 68 pages and is approximately 90% complete. The handwriting is clear and legible. The SS President Monroe was a ship in the fleet of the Pacific Mail Company. Organized in 1866 to transport mail for the U.S. government, the company's assets were later taken over by the Dollar Shipping Company. Dollar Shipping was founded by Robert Dollar, a Scot who came to Canada to make his fortune in the lumber industry. He eventually moved to California where he built his shipping empire. He acquired the Monroe in 1923 and she remained in service with his firm until it went under in 1937. The firm was taken over by the United States Maritime Commission and renamed the American President Line (APL). American President Lines Ltd. (now simply referred to as APL), along with its parent company CMA CGM, is the world's third-largest container transportation and shipping company, providing more than 80 weekly services S.S. President Monroe was originally named the Panhandle State. She was built for the US Shipping Board. In 1922, she was renamed President Monroe and in 1923 purchased by the Dollar Line. In 1938, she was transferred to the American President Line (APL). In 1940, she was renamed the President Buchanan. During WWII, in 1944, she was converted to hospital ship and renamed the USAHS Emily H. M. Weder. After the war, in 1946, she became the U.S. Army Transport President Buchanan. She was laid up in 1947 and scrapped in 1957. The log book covers the time period July 7th, 1937 to August 5th, 1937. The ship has sailed from Manila, Philippines to Alexandria, Egypt in this period of time. The log carefully notes the ships position each day as well as notations regarding course, winds, barometer readings and state of bilges. Accompanying the notations are daily remarks that reference course changes, weather and any other details considered pertinent to record. Each 2-page daily log entry is signed by the Chief Officer and the ship's Master. Immediately before and after leaving dock, ship's officers and heads of departments searched ship for stowaways and contraband - none found. Chief Officer, prior to leaving harbor inspected all cargo holds, ports and [ ]. "Vessel's ice boxes were inspected". [July 7th ]; "4:34 [ ] off dock. 4:38 1st line to dock 4:36 All fast port side to ... 5:00 Stevedores abd commence rigging gear ... ship and shore watchmen about decks and hatches" [July 14th]; "8:00 - 12:00 watchmen making regular rounds and reports. High rough SW sea and long, heavy swell. Vessel pitching and laboring heavily; shipping green seas over focsle head, decks and hatches. Inspections of deck and quarters made. All secure" [July 27]. This is an excellent example of merchant marine log book and a piece of the history of one of the great maritime shipping companies.; Manuscript; Folio - over 12" - 15" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF; 20TH CENTURY; 1930s; UNITED STATES; AMERICAN SHIPS; AMERICAN VESSELS; SEA TRAVEL; SHIPPING COMPANIES; SS PRESIDENT MONROE; UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD; DOLLAR SHIPPING COMPANY; ROBERT DOLLAR; PACIFIC MAIL COMPANY; UNITED STATES MARITIME COMMISSION; U.S. ARMY TRANSPORT PRESIDENT BUCHANAN; AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINE; APL; CMA CGM; USAHS EMILY H. M. WEDER; MARITIME SHIPPING COMPANIES; MARITIME HISTORY; LOG BOOKS; MERCHANT SHIPPING; NAVIGATION IN INDIAN OCEAN, INDIAN OCEAN PORTS; PORT PROCEDURES IN 1930S; MANILA, PHILIPPINES; ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT; AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNALS, PERSONAL HISTORY, SOCIAL HISTORY, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL