Photo Archive Documenting the Work of the National Steel & Shipbuilding Corporation

Item Details

Collection of 23 professional 8" x 10" photographs showing the ships, facilities, and construction processes of the National Steel & Shipbuilding Corporation (NASSCO) in the later 1950s and/or early 1960s. The company traces its roots to 1905, with the founding of the San Diego-based California Iron Company. During World War II, they built cargo barges and industrial gas cooking ranges for the military. After the war, as San Diego's maritime industry flourished, NASSCO began producing small fishing vessels, and in the late 1950s they were contracted to build several large cargo ships. The images in this collection date from that period, and show large vessels under construction, men at work, some of the company's fishing vessels in the harbor, and the newly completed "Lt. Col. John U.D. Page," a "beach discharge Lighter built to transfer vehicles and stores from sea going ships to the beachhead" that was completed in 1957 (WorldNavalShips.com). There is also an aerial view of the harbor area. Together they offer excellent documentation of the company's work during this period. NASSCO remains in business today, operating as General Dynamics NASSCO. 

All photographs are in very good or better condition; several have a NASSCO ink stamp on the verso.