John Kirkendale worked as a deckhand on towboats at the early age of 15. During WWII, he was an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy, serving as navigating officer in corvettes and minesweepers in the Atlantic. By the end of the war he was a Lieutenant, RCNR. He later served as first mate on the Estevan and other vessels. John enjoyed building various ships and restoring them, notably the 68 foot D'Arcy Isle. He also compiled a very comprehensive archive of ships in which he gained a vast knowledge of commercial vessels on the Pacific Coast. - See more at: <http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timescolonist/obituary.aspx?n=john-kirkendale&pid=157443334#sthash.hT44n8RI.dpuf>
Published
Fonds consists of a Sons of the Sea initiation certificate for M/V Moveria dated 8 October 1935, and 7 photo albums consisting of photographs of vessels organized into the categories naval vessels, fishing vessels, passenger and freight vessels, ferries and government vessels, tugs, and dockyards around Vancouver Island. Also included are 47 loose album pages.
Fonds also includes an oak box contains mostly photographs from 1963 to 1967 of ships in Victoria. There are a mix of naval vessels, coast guard ships, and various vessels in local shipyards, including Island Tug and Barge.
Fonds has been kept in original order.
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