James A. Whipple papers, 1846-1862

Summary

Creator:

Whipple, James A., 1826-1861

Abstract:

The James A. Whipple papers contain correspondence, documents, and drawings related to Whipple's career as an engineer during the mid-19th century. Whipple's interests in submarines and naval engineering are documented throughout the collection, which includes correspondence, documents, drawings, and patents.

Extent:

1.75 linear feet

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Meg Hixon, August 2011

Background

Scope and Content:

The James A. Whipple papers contain correspondence, documents, and drawings related to Whipple's career as an engineer during the mid-19th century. Whipple's interests in submarines and naval engineering are documented throughout the collection, which includes correspondence, documents, drawings, and patents.

The Correspondence series contains incoming items to Whipple. Most pertain to business affairs and to Whipple's family and acquaintances. Letters often pertain to submarines, Whipple's salvage business, and Whipple's trips abroad. A few items originally belonged to George L. P. Taylor, a United States consular agent.

The Financial Records series consists of receipts, accounts, and other documents concerning Whipple's business dealings, which reflect his interest in submarines and naval affairs. Many documents relate to his schooner Arcade. The series includes a pocket diary of financial notes and figures for 1855.

The Documents series contains a variety of items related to Whipple's business affairs, personal life, and interests in submarines and naval engineering.

Items of note include:

• An explanation of an illustration (not present) showing improvements in submarine armor (March 2, 1848)
• A document from the council of Charleston, South Carolina, thanking Whipple and his associates for salvaging a statue of John C. Calhoun (November 19, 1850)
• A passport from the Republic of Venezuela (13 December 1852)
• Documents authorizing several journeys of James A. Whipple and his associates
• A receipt from the United States Patent Office for Whipple's application for "pumps for forcing water" (January 18, 1854)
• "Result of experiments on dissolving Scale in Boilers made at Beyrout" (March 31, 1855)
• A patent application for a submarine trumpet, made jointly by William H. James and James A. Whipple (April 30, 1855)
• "Report on the efficiency of the [submarine] armour for the U. S. Navy"
• Documents regarding "Whipple's patent double acting momentum pump," including advertisements, diagrams, and Whipple's patent application (October 21, 1859)
• Diagrams for a "process for driving Piles Posts or Timbers in Earth or other yielding Material" (May 25, 1859)
• 22 contracts made between James A. Whipple and other parties
• Several drawings of mid-19th-century underwater diving suits
• James A. Whipple's United States passport (May 30, 1849)

Two Journals include an "Extract from the Journal of J[eremiah] Murphy whilst working in the Liberty Banks" (April 21-May 24, [1857]) and a journal kept by William A. Dodge, J. R. Wheeler, and James A. Whipple during their time salvaging wrecks off Santo Domingo.

The Essays series contains 2 unattributed items: "Sub Marine Work" and "My Brother Capt. James A. Whipple…"

The Drawings and Sketches series has schematic figures for various inventions, such as a device consisting of a large wheel powered by a horse and a device for making cigars. Several other drawings show views of unlabeled inventions.

Printed Material includes 8 Newspaper Clippings and 6 Other Printed Materials. Newspapers include a full issue of Boston's Evening Gazette (July 2, 1859), as well as several short articles regarding trials for steam-driven fire engines. Other items include Whipple's business card, a "Circular of James A. Whipple. Submarine Engineer, Boston, Mass" (1857), printed descriptions of naval-related inventions, and printed drawings of mechanical inventions.

Biographical / Historical:

James Aldrich Whipple was born on July 22, 1826, and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, where his father worked as a machinist. James showed an early affinity for engineering, which led him to an apprenticeship in a steam engine firm. He developed an interest in submarines and began inventing new mechanical designs. Whipple worked closely with the United States Navy on drafts of several implements, some of which he invented, such as a submarine trumpet and several pump mechanisms. However, he made his living primarily in salvaging shipwrecks. His career allowed him to travel throughout the world in the 1850s to such places as Venezuela, the Turks Islands, and the Middle East. Whipple became ill on a voyage in 1861 and he eventually died from the disease.

Acquisition Information:

1969. M-1478 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into the following series:

• Series I: Correspondence
• Series II: Financial Records
• Series III: Documents
• Series IV: Journals
• Series V: Essays
• Series VI: Drawings and Sketches
• Series VII: Printed Material
  • Subseries I: Newspaper Clippings
  • Subseries II: Other Printed Material

The Correspondence series is arranged chronologically, with undated items placed at the end. The Documents series is arranged chronologically and by theme, with miscellaneous items placed at the end.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related Materials

The Thomas Silver scrapbook is related to a steam engine governor patented by Thomas Silver, a marine engineer who also worked in the 1850s.

Dickman, Howard L. "Captain James A Whipple: Marine Salvor, Engineer, and Inventor." The American Neptune 34.2. 1974, pp. 89-102.

Bibliography

Dickman, Howard L. "Captain James A Whipple: Marine Salvor, Engineer, and Inventor." The American Neptune 34.2. 1974, pp. 89-102.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Deep diving.
Engineers--United States.
Inventors & inventions.
Marine engineering.
Submarines (Ships)--History.
Submarines (Ships)--Salvaging.

Formats:

Clippings (information artifacts)
Contracts.
Essays.
Financial records.
Journals (accounts)
Letters (correspondence)
Patents.
Receipts (financial records)
Sketches.
Technical drawings.

Names:

United States. Navy.
United States. Patent and Trademark Office.
Murphy, Jeremiah.