Charles Axel Alexius Modeer notebooks

Collection

Identifier: Mss 390

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a log book, a commonplace book, and a notebook that relate to Charles A. A. Modeer's maritime career. The ship's log, with entries from 1907-1909, documents some of the time he spent aboard the SS City of Panama. The commonplace book, 1930-1934, documents some of his time as commander of the lighthouse tender Manzanita out of Astoria, which was part of the Seventeenth District, U.S. Lighthouse Service, headquartered in Portland, Oregon. It includes copies of district superintendent's orders, primarily from Ralph R. Tinkham. The notebook contains undated notes about navigation by Modeer. Two of the books are stamped "Ex Libris Charles Axel Alexius Modeer" on the first leaves. Also included in the collection is a folder of background biographical material assembled at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in the course of processing the collection.

Dates

1907-1941

Creator

Modeer, Charles Axel Alexius, 1877- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Biographical note

Charles Axel Alexius Modeer, born 1877, was a native of Kalmar, Sweden, and moved to Chicago with his family when he was a baby. Following in the seafaring footsteps of his father, who was a shipmaster on the Great Lakes, Modeer ran away from home at age 17 and spent six years aboard sailing ships. He joined the Pacific Mail Steamship Company out of San Francisco after 1900, rising from fourth officer to first officer. On December 31, 1906, while Modeer was serving as second officer on the SS City of Panama, he and two others rescued three men who were swept overboard. He received a gold medal for bravery from President Theodore Roosevelt.

Modeer entered the U.S. Lighthouse Service on February 19, 1909, as second officer on the lightship Columbia, and served on various lighthouse tenders, including the Manzanita. He commanded the Manzanita from 1929 through 1941, when he retired from the Coast Guard. He was headquartered at Astoria, Oregon. During World War I, Modeer joined the Navy and commanded the former lighthouse tender Rose after it was put into service as a Naval patrol vessel in 1917. Before leaving the Navy, he commanded a cargo ship, the West Compo, for one tour of duty in 1919. Modeer then returned to the Lighthouse Service, which was absorbed by the Coast Guard in 1939.

Extent

0.18 Cubic Feet (1 slim letter document case)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Small collection consisting of a ship's log and two notebooks relating to the maritime career of Charles Axel Alexius Modeer (born 1877), who was an officer on Pacific Mail Steamship Company vessels and in the U.S. Lighthouse Service. He served on various lightouse tenders, including as commander of the tender Manzanita, based in Astoria, Oregon.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Believed to be the gift of Max Scaher (Lib. Acc. 7664).

Related Materials

Photographs of the lighthouse tender Manzanita are included in Photo File #2065, Military-Coast Guard-Ships "M," at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library, including two showing Modeer with his crew.