Series III. ​​General Slocum disaster memorial programs, newspaper clippings, ephemera, 1904-2004, inclusive

Studio cabinet card photograph of the crew of the Massasoit, a Department of Corrections ferryboat. The Massasoit earned four Congressional medals for its rescue and recovery efforts during the General Slocum disaster. Five of the crew are identified: "Todd eng[ineer]," "Jim Duane" [James J. Duane, mate], "Capt. Parkerson" [Fredrick W. Parkinson], "Capt. Wilson," and "Wm. Hatch" [William M. Hatch, chief engineer]. The same image of Hatch appears on a postcard in Box 2, Folder 23, Sleeve 12.

Paul Liebenow's copy of Henry Davenport Northrop's New York's Awful Steamboat Horror (Philadelphia, Pa.: National Pub. Co.?, 1904?), one of several "instant" books of eyewitness accounts published in the wake of the General Slocum disaster. Liebenow or a family member circled the following passage on page 248:

"Paul Liebenow, with his head swathed in bandages and his hands badly burned, said he had tried in vain to pull down life preservers at the time of the disaster. He knew that others had implored the captain to beach the 'Slocum' at the sunken meadows. He heard of the fire when he was between Ninetieth and Ninety-second streets. Among those killed were two of his children, a sister, a sister-in-law, a niece and a nephew."

The complete book may be read online, and the New-York Historical Society has an additional copy under call number F128 VK1257.G4 N8.

Oversize postcard published by the Albertype Co., Brooklyn, N.Y., of the "Slocum Monuments" at Lutheran Cemetery, "Erected on the Plot of the 61 unidentifed dead. In memory of the 1031 who lost their lives on the Steamboat General Slocum in the East River, June 15th, 1904."

Includes obituaries for General Slocum survivors Catherine Connelly (1893-2002), who died at age 109 in 2002, and Adella (Liebenow) Wotherspoon (1903-2004), who was both the youngest survivor and, after the death of Mrs. Connelly, the oldest survivor, when she died at age 100 in 2004. Another obituary details the life of M. Spreen Black, who died in 2002 at the age of 107. Mrs. Black was supposed to attend the St. Mark's Lutheran Church excursion on the General Slocum on June 15, 1904, but her mother asked her not to, thus unwittingly saving her life.

Imagery includes the monument to the unknown dead of the General Slocum disaster at Lutheran Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens, the ship itself, St. Mark's German Evangelical Lutheran Church, funeral processions, memorial services, and William M. Hatch, a crew member of the ferryboat Massasoit, who aided in the rescue.

Rough draft transcription of an interview conducted for the New-York Historical Society.

Programs for the 97th (2001), 98th (2002), and 99th (2003) anniversary services at Trinity Lutheran Church, Middle Village, Queens, New York, and for the commemoration in Tompkins Square Park, Manhattan (2003).