Event Title

S.S. Independence, Dinner Menu, Friday, November 24, 1961

Presenter Information

American Export Lines, Inc.

Description

American Export Lines, S.S. Independence. Dinner menu, Friday, November 24, 1961.

Officers: Captain Hugh L. Switzer, Commander; Lawrence W. Rivers, Chief Engineer; John Korista, Staff Captain; Leroy A. Warren, First Officer; Allan F. Wild, Staff Engineer; Francis S. Stone, 1st Assistant Engineer; Charles C. Berger, Chief Radio Officer.

Staff: Gleason T. Marquise, Chief Purser; Joseph H. Boggs, Cabin Class Purser; Charles Regis, Chief Steward; Charles Horak, Cabin Class Steward; Henri Ducluzeau, Chef de Cuisine; Kenneth M. Kahn, Chief Surgeon; Joseph Estin, Surgeon; Miss Ann Dickson, Senior Social Directress; Elise Martin, Asst. Social Directress; Jose Farre, Maitre d'Hotel.

Comments

Cover illustration comments:

One of the most colorful traditions of the sea was that of decorating the bows of ships with carved wooden likeness of a person, animal, bird or serpent. Known as "figureheads," today these colorful carvings are almost extinct on the seas. The figurehead custom started in the days of the enterprising Phoenicians, who adorned their galleys with figures of deities, as a means of protecting them from evil spirits. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Norsemen followed suit and carved figures were prominently displayed on their ships. All were linked with the realm of superstition for the carvings were looked upon as guardians of the vessels. These early adventures set the style and, from those early days, few ships put to sea without some decoration on their prows. The subject varied. Some would represent the person or object after whom the ship had been named, or the owner of the vessel might have a figure carved of his wife or daughter and placed on the stem. Mermaids were familiar subjects as were statesmen, stage celebrities, indians, warriors, eagles and animals. The golden age of ship's figureheads was from 1790 to 1825. There was a decline in the quality of the art after that period and it was not until the clipper ship era that interest was revived in the custom. The graceful bows of these ships presented an opportunity to display them to their greatest advantage. In the late 19th century, when drawing to a close, the figurehead was replaced by a simpler bow decoration. But, before passing from the scene, figureheads had a brief fling on the stems of the early clipper-bowed steamers. Today they are found only on a few yachts and windjammer training ships. The Indian Chief figurehead in the first class foyer on the main deck, was modeled from a drawing made by Joshua Humphreys, designer of the original 74-gun ship-of-the-line, Independence. She was built by Hartt and Baker at Charleston, Massachusetts and launched in July 1814.

One of the most striking figureheads in existence is that of the eagle from the United States steam frigate LANCASTER, built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1858. This work of the noted carver John Haley Bellamy was placed on the vessel in 1880. Original Figurehead at THE MARINERS MUSEUM, Newport News, Virginia.