MS 233 San Diego Harbor Pilots Collection

Summary Information

Repository
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Creator
San Diego Harbor Pilots.
Title
San Diego Harbor Pilots Collection
ID
MS 233
Date [inclusive]
1888-1966
Extent
1.0 Linear feet (1 box)
Language
English
Abstract
This collection contains San Diego Harbor Pilots’ logs and receipts, covering harbor activities from 1888 to 1946.

Preferred Citation

San Diego Harbor Pilots Collection, MS 233, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Return to Table of Contents »


Biographical / Historical Notes

San Diego’s harbor was and still is an attractive location for shipping as ships from all over the world move cargo from one port to the next. In the late 19th century, the cargo generally included coal, lumber, ore, grains, or general merchandise. San Diego received mariners from Australia, England, Canada, China, Chile, and all areas of the United States. The vast majority of ships were flagged under Britain or the U.S., but others were flags included Japan, Germany, Italy, and Norway.

During World War II, San Diego was a major military hub. Ships, crews, and pilots conducted training operations off the San Diego coast before heading to the frontline of the war in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. In addition to training, ships came to San Diego for repairs, ammunition, personnel, and supplies. Liberty and victory ships were also seen in San Diego transporting both cargo and personnel. Harbor traffic during this period was undoubtedly relentless, and the harbor pilots were significant in assisting ships in and out of the harbor as well as juggling ships along the piers. A prominent harbor pilot during this period was Capt. H. N. Krog. His co-workers were Captains Hilton C. Johnson, John T. Larsen, F. D. Pennoyer, and K. J. Sorensen. One of the piloting crafts used by Captain Krog and others was the Pilot, serving from 1914 to 1996. She is now restored and part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego where she is used for day tours and to assist historic vessels into the harbor.

Captain Harry N. Krog was born around 1900 and within a few weeks was living on his father’s ship in San Francisco. Christian Krog, Harry’s father, was a ship’s captain and later served as a port pilot in San Pedro. Harry Krog earned his master’s license at age 23 and was the youngest certified skipper on the West coast. He commanded the West Nivaria out of San Francisco and then was an officer on the Dollar Line Ships, circumnavigating the globe. Before coming to San Diego, Harry joined his father as a harbor pilot in San Pedro. At the insistence of Captain Hilton Johnson, Captain Krog joined the piloting forces in San Diego in 1941. He served until his retirement in 1971 and passed away one year later in 1972.

Captain Hilton C. Johnson served as a San Diego harbor pilot for 21 years. He was born in 1891 and later entered into his father’s profession. His father, Peter L. Johnson, was also a harbor pilot and sadly died while boarding a vessel off Point Loma. Captain Johnson retired in 1946 and passed away at the age of 85.

Return to Table of Contents »


Scope and Content

The collection consists of five pilot’s logs, as well as monthly reports and receipts of the San Diego Harbor Pilots. The bulk of the logs in this collection span from 1942 to 1946. These logs generally contain the date, ship name, ship draft or tonnage, pilot, type of ship’s movement (in/out/shift), total charge and payment. Highlights include warships, liberty ships, victory ships, Allied warships, and civilian ships. Monthly reports contain the same information as the corresponding pilot’s log with expenses handwritten on the reverse. The receipts cover supplies, war donations, copies of pilot receipts, and handwritten notes. Also included are a copy of the survey request for the diesel vessel Pilot and a copy of the “Bill of Sale of Enrolled Vessel” for the  Star of India.

Return to Table of Contents »


Arrangement

Arranged by suject.

Return to Table of Contents »


Administrative Information

Publication Information

San Diego History Center Document Collection September 5, 2012

1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Sandra Kirkwood on September 5, 2012.

Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.

Return to Table of Contents »


Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Aquarius (Ship).
  • Arbiter (Ship).
  • Bellatrix (Ship).
  • Bennington (Aircraft carrier).
  • Brastagi (Ship).
  • Casablanca (Aircraft carrier).
  • Colahan (Destroyer).
  • Cowell (Ship).
  • Ewing Young (Ship).
  • General George M. Randall (Ship).
  • Gunston Hall (Ship).
  • Hiyei (Ship).
  • Hornet (Aircraft carrier : CV8).
  • Japara (Ship).
  • Lady Elizabeth (Ship).
  • Lexington (Aircraft carrier : 1943-1991).
  • Long Island (Ship).
  • Middlesex Victory (Ship).
  • New Orleans (Ship).
  • P. J. Carleton (Ship).
  • Pilot (Ship).
  • President Monroe.
  • Rajah (Ship).
  • San Diego (Calif.). Harbor Dept.
  • San Diego Harbor Pilots.
  • Shangri-La (Aircraft carrier : CVS-38).
  • United States. Dept. of the Navy.
  • Waters (Ship).

Geographic Name(s)

  • San Diego (Calif.)

Personal Name(s)

  • Johnson, Hilton C.
  • Krog, Harry N.
  • Larsen, J. T.
  • Pennoyer, F. D.
  • Sorensen, K. J.

Subject(s)

  • Harbors
  • Liberty ships
  • Merchant ships
  • Pilot boats
  • Pilots and pilotage
  • Shipping
  • Victory ships

Return to Table of Contents »


Collection Inventory

Box-folder
Pilot Log, 1888-1907, 1966 January 18

Scope and Content:

The pilot’s log are photostats, as well as preservation copies, ranging from 1888 to 1907. From 1888-1902, the ships are listed according to the ship movement in chronological order. The columns include nation, rig, ship name, tonnage, cargo, from, to, ship’s captain, pilot, date, days out. The columns from and to refer to the ship’s last port of call (when entering the harbor) and her next port of call (when departing). The last pages for 1902 and 1907 are photostats of U.S. Customs boarding books and include the ship’s arrival, rig, ship name, ship’s captain, number of days out, last port of call, and type of cargo. The most common type of rigs present were ship, barks, and barkentines.

Entries of Interest:

Lady Elizabeth (page 1)

P. J. Carleton (page 6)

Hiyei (page 12)

1:1
Pilot Log (bound), 1942 June 28-1943 December 31

Scope and Content:

Entries are organized chronologically. Financial calculations are recorded at the end of each month. The columns include: month, day, ship name, draft and/or tonnage, type of ship’s movement, day of payment, pilot, and total charge.

Entries of Interest:

SS Ewing Young (page 12)

USS Waters (page 48)

MS Brastagi (page 103)

USS New Orleans (pages 116-118)

USS Cowell (page 126)

USS Gunston Hall (pages 164-166, 169-170, 172, 177)

1:2
Pilot Log (bound), loose materials, 1943 October-November and undated

Includes:

Photograph of USS General George M. Randall with harbor pilot

1:3
“Log. San Diego Bar Pilots,” 1943 November 12-1944 May 31

Scope and Content:

Entries are organized chronologically. The date is written across the page with the day’s activities written below. The columns include: type of ship’s movement, ship name, draft, and pilot.

Entries of Interest:

USS Aquarius (November 25, 1943)

USS Gunston Hall (December 2, 3, 6, 15, 17, 22, and 31, 1943; January 1, 4, 12, and 13, 1944)

USS Hornet (February 27 and 29, 1944)

HMS Arbiter (April 9, 13, 14, and 17, 1944)

1:4
“San Diego Pilot Log, CAPT Harry Krog,” 1945 January 1-June 30

Scope and Content:

Entries are grouped by the ship’s name under a particular month and are in general chronological order. The month and year are written at the top of the pages. The columns include: day, pilot, ship name with hull number, date billed, tonnage, draft, type of ship’s movement, total charge, and day of payment.

Entries of Interest:

USS Bennington (page 1)

USS Bellatrix (pages 2, 46, 49, 55, 60, 74-75, 84, 89, 92, 98, 100, 104, 108, 115, 117, 123-124, 133, 136, 140)

HMS Rajah (pages 19, 88, 103, 132)

USS Casablanca (pages 37, 61, 119)

1:5
“San Diego Pilot Log, CAPT Harry Krog,” loose materials, undated 1:6
“Pilot’s Ledger 1946,” 1946 January 1-December 31

Scope and Content:

Entries are grouped by the ship’s name under a particular month and are in general chronological order. The month and year are written at the top of the pages. The columns include: day, pilot, ship name with hull number, date billed, tonnage, draft, type of ship’s movement, total charge, and day of payment.

Entries of Interest:

USS Shangri-La (pages 2, 11, 18, 20, 25, 28, 51, 54, 61, 64, 69, 73, 105, 111, 120, 121)

USS Gunston Hall (pages 16, 47, 121, 128)

USS Lexington (pages 32, 35, 39, 40, 78)

SS Middlesex Victory (pages 42, 85, 116)

USS Colahan (page 103)

1:7
“Pilot’s Ledger 1946,” loose materials, 1946 and undated

Includes:

Monthly Accounts by Jobs (January to June 1946)

Finance Sheets for 1946

1:8
Pilot Monthly Reports, 1942 November-December

Entries of Interest:

USS Long Island in November and December 1942 reports

USS President Monroe in November 1942 report

MS Japara in December 1942 report

1:9
Receipts, 1943-1945 and undated

includes:

San Diego War Chest

1:10
Miscellanea, undated

Includes:

Copy of survey request for the diesel vessel Pilot

Copy of “Bill of Sale of Enrolled Vessel” for the Star of India

1:11

Return to Table of Contents »