photograph
Artwork
Accession Number
991.017.011Alternate Name
reprintDescription
A black and white photograph of a small, simply furnished bedroom aboard TSSY Dolaura, along the left wall a single bed with sheets, blanket and towel-covered pillow, above the bed a portable electric fan, along the right sloping wall a simple two drawer dressing table with an attached mirror, against the back wall a vertical three-drawer chest with a small electric lamp on the top and above it a framed painting, beside the bed is a simple wooden chair with curved cane back (as in 991.17.10), above the chair a bank of three electric plug receptacles, the walls painted wood paneling, the painted ceiling beamed.Narrative
The TSSY DOLAURA was a private yacht built in 1908 for Hon. James Dunsmuir by the Fleming and Ferguson shipyard of Paisely, Scotland. It was named by combining the names of Dola and Laura Dunsmuir.The next four owners were members of the New York Yacht Club. In 1920, the yacht was sold to Arthur Meeker and renamed the VICTORIA; from 1922 to 1924 the yacht belonged to James Shewan and renamed the PATRICIA; from 1926 to 1928 the yacht belonged to Russell A. Alger and was renamed the LAURENTIAN; from 1929 to 1936 the yacht belonged to George W. Childs Drexel and was renamed the ALCEDO.
From 1937 to 1939 the yacht belonged to John C. Sword of Britain and was renamed the VALENA; at the outbreak of WW2, the yacht was requisitioned by the Admiralty, named HMS VALENA and used to hunt enemy submarines until 1945.
VALENA was returned to Mr. Sword and then sold to Pontos Cia de Nav (J. Lavanos), Panama and used for passenger service in the Mediterranean. The yacht was scrapped at La Spezia, Italy on December 30, 1951.
An aerial photograph of the HMS Valena can be seen here: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205017805
History of Use
In 1937, Englishman John Sword purchased the ALCEDO, had the yacht overhauled, and commissioned the taking of this and other photographs.Date
1937Dimensions
15.6 cm x 20.9 cmPhotograph Type
Gelatin silver processMedium
PhotographicSupport
Paper, Photographic paperRelated Objects
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