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The United States departing New York City. Photo courtesy of Charles Anderson.
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Connections Far & Wide
The generous donations from our supporters are what enable us to continue to meet the high cost of keeping our great ship afloat. All amounts -- no matter how large or small -- help. Often, we receive a story along with a donation, especially those made through our crowdfunding site at SaveTheUnitedStates.org, where donors can post a personal story along with their gift. Other stories are sent via email for our Legacy Project, or posted through Facebook. It is these stories, these personal connections to the ship, that encourage us to continue to fervently work to save her. Recently, at the opening for our new SS United States: Charting a Course for America's Flagship exhibit, former passenger David Macaulay shared some of his stories of being a young boy running around the decks of the United States, watching for New York's "floating" skyline that he had seen in a book. Joe Rota transported us back in time while he described his experience as a bellboy, personally greeting and escorting each passenger to his or her cabin as they stepped off the gangway onto the ship. And, Richard O'Leary gave us a look into the life of an officer on-board the SS United States. We've also heard the story of Sonny Fox who, in 1959 as host of the CBS children's travelogue "Let's Take a Trip," took his young travel companions on-board the Big U at Pier 86 in New York. Jan Kopeček from the Czech Republic recently made a generous donation to help save our ship because of the support of Big U's designer, William Francis Gibbs, toward another ship that was near and dear to Kopeček's heart. And with her donation, Emma Neff fondly recalled her voyage on the SS United States when she was chosen to be the Queen at the ceremonial Neptunus Rex equator-crossing party in 1969. Visit our Shipway N� 10 blog to read more stories of how our beloved ship has touched many lives the world over. Some have sailed on her, others found work because of her. Still others have been -- and continue to be -- inspired by her. With so many connections to our great Lady in Waiting, if we join together we have the power to succeed in saving her! Visit SaveTheUnitedStates.org to make your contribution and share your story with us today.
Support our efforts now to
help rescue and restore the SS United States
Also in this Issue:
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 SS United States Exhibit Opening
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 | | David Macaulay speaks during the preview reception at the Independence Seaport Museum. Photo by Kyle Ober. |
As with any successful venture, the exhibit and the day's events came together as a result of the hard work and contributions from many supporters and partners, including exhibit Curator Liz Lewis of Liz Lewis Associates and her incredible team of volunteers. In addition, there would be no exhibit without all of the loaned and donated items, photos, stories and financial contributions from our supporters. To see the complete list of contributors to the exhibit, please click HERE.
In addition to the fantastic staff at the Independence Seaport Museum, the following contributors, donors and Conservancy leaders joined us for the evening's festivities:
- Exhibit Donors and Sponsors: Palmer Beizup and Henderson, KL Gates, Skuld North America, Reeves McEwing LLP, Dan Macey, Carl Weber, Alan Stover, and our anonymous donor. Special thanks to Tee Adams, Carl Wesch, and Al Lawing.
- Blue Riband Council members: Jim Pollin, Marie Prewitt, and Richard and Barbara O'Leary. We also welcomed Rick Biben, President & CEO of Gibbs & Cox.
- Conservancy Board of Directors: Mark Perry, Kevin Billings, Frank DeGiulio, Bill Myhre, Dan McSweeney, Joe Rota, Susan Caccavale, Greg Norris, and Susan Gibbs.
- Artists/contributors: Photographers Jonathan Atkin and Rita Gaudet deVecchis; graphic artists Greg Shutters and Alyse Schulte; Drexel University Professor Glen Muschio and seniors Jessie Wu, John Novak, Tom Welker, James Maguire, and Chris Elliott.
- Conservancy Advisory Council: Rick Bayan, David Lawrence, Roz McPherson, Steve Perry, Richard O'Leary, Alan Stover, Captain Alex Keisch, Jeff Henry, David Macaulay, Dan Carney, Casper Van Hooren, Steven Ujifusa, and Liz Lewis.
- Staff & Chapter Chairs: Allee Berger, Christine Hower, Chelsea Lewis, Eva Benningfield, Tom Basile, Carl Weber, Paul Stipkovich, Sarah Carley, Steve Perry, Chuck Parodi, and Mario Alvarez-Garcill�n.
- Ship Managers: John Reynolds and Nick Manzi from Atlantic Logistics.
We wish to also thank Kyle Ober and Bill Magee for recording the evening's festivities.
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"Tour" Big U, Drexel University Style
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Drexel senior Jessie Wu demonstrates the SS United States
virtual tour app. Photo by Kyle Ober.
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Visitors to the preview reception for our SS United States: Charting a Course for America's Flagship exhibit at Independence Seaport Museum on March 6 were treated to a special advanced look at a project currently underway by Drexel University students. Under the guidance of Digital Media Professor Glen Muschio, students in the Animation & Visualization Effects program are recreating the interior of America's Flagship.
The project started when sophomores Zachary Stockmal and Justin Wu began working on a 3D rendering of the famed Navajo Lounge onboard Big U. Inspired by their work, seniors Jessie Wu, John Novak, Tom Welker, James Maguire, and Chris Elliott began to map out other areas of the ship. Drawing upon photographs of the interior, as well as a visit to the ship this past January, the students are creating a "virtual tour" along a predetermined path through the interior of the United States.
During the preview reception, the students mingled with visitors throughout the exhibit, sharing a look at their work in-progress. In addition, they handed out cards with an invitation to play-test the current version of their work online and submit feedback as they continue development. You can read more about the project HERE.
Attention photographers: Watch for an announcement regarding the opportunity to help us with our curatorial study and visually documenting the ship on April 26! |
America's Flagship in the News
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During the past few weeks, the SS United States has garnered a lot of press, both nationally and internationally.
In a recent Associated Press article, David Macaulay discussed his connection to the SS United States and talked about the importance of saving the ship. The article, titled "Author Makes Pitch for Saving SS United States," can be read HERE.
Canada's The Prince George Citizen also covered David Macaulay's support of the SS United States during his recent visit to Philadelphia in an article titled: "Bestselling author David Macaulay attends Philadelphia events aimed at saving SS United States."
 | | SS United States on the Maritime Reporter cover July 1, 1952. |
To celebrate Maritime Reporter & Engineering News' 75th Anniversary, each edition in 2014 will present a specially-commissioned feature article in which a historical topic is examined. The February issue explored the life of America's Flagship in Patricia Keefe's article titled, "From Leading Lady to Damsel in Distress: SS United States." Read the article HERE.
Peter Crimmins talks with author/illustrator David Macaulay about the ship and his upcoming book in a WHYY/NewsWorks article titled, "Noted children's author to explore the way the SS United States worked." The article can be found HERE.
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 | David Macaulay looks upon the SS United States.
Photo by Emma Lee, NewsWorks. |
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The UK's Daily Mail continues to help us spread the word internationally in this recent story by Lizzie Parry titled "Save our Ship! Campaign launched to restore SS United States, the languishing ocean liner that carried a million passengers - and four presidents - across the Atlantic."
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Jonathan Atkin Introduces Our Lady in Waiting to L.A.
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It's critical that we continue to raise awareness of the ship and her plight as we seek a permanent home for the SS United States. In December, we shared how maritime photographer Captain Jonathan Atkin was increasing awareness of both dance and maritime history by pairing the strength, grace and beauty of historic ships with that of the world's leading dancers in The Hero Project. This week, Atkin and his photography were featured in an article in the Rochester Institute of Technology's Photography blog. In addition, we are thrilled to announce that one of Atkin's photos of internationally-acclaimed dancer Desmond Richardson aboard the SS United States has been selected for APA-LA's Off the Clock 2014 Curated Personal Photography Exhibition!
 | | Photographer Jonathan Atkin captures dancer Desmond Richardson's strength and grace against the backdrop of the United States. |
Only 100 images were selected from over 1,100 submissions for this American Photographic Artists-Los Angeles exhibit. The curator for the exhibit is Britt Salvesen, Curator and Head of Wallis Annenberg Photography Department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. After the opening reception in April, the 100 selected images will hang at three of the country's top advertising agencies for two months each. In addition, the exhibit will be displayed at The 24th Annual International Los Angeles Photographic Art Exposition in January!
We wish to extend sincere congratulations to Jonathan Atkin, and an enormous thank-you for helping to increase awareness of the SS United States on the West Coast. |
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News From Our Chapters
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To better align with Conservancy projects and goals, the New York/Northern New Jersey Chapter has been split into two separate chapters -- one for New York, and one for New Jersey. Paul Stipkovich and Carl Weber remain co-chairs of our New York Chapter, and we welcome Chuck Parodi as the chairperson of our New Jersey Chapter!
In addition, the Conservancy has had some interest from supporters in New Zealand who would like to start a chapter! If you live in New Zealand and are interested in joining a Conservancy chapter, we'd love to hear from you. Please send a brief email with your name, contact info and how you became interested in the ship to info@ssusc.org.
Wondering what our chapters do? They provide local area support to the Conservancy and raise awareness of the ship in creative ways. Chapters work closely with Conservancy staff to recruit members, fund-raise, and build support for the SS United States. Visit our Chapters page to see if we have a Chapter in your area and get involved! With your continued help, this is the year we can Save Our Ship! |
A Few Words of Thanks
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Photo by Emma Lee, NewsWorks.
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Above is a photo of our new flybridge banner, recently installed on the ship. The banner identifies the United States to passers-by and invites them to our crowdfunding site, SaveTheUnitedStates.org. The Conservancy would like to thank the following visitors to that site, and welcome them to our Leadership Circles:
CURATORS' CIRCLE
Jack & Tammy Chisenhall - $2,500
In addition, we'd like to send a thank-you -- and happy 80th birthday! -- to Jan Kopeček from Pilsen in the Czech Republic for the recent gift of $500. When asked: "Why support a foreign ship?" Kopeček's explained it this way: Many parts for the SS Normandie (later renamed Lafayette) were manufactured in Pilsen. During WW2, she caught fire at Pier 88 in New York, capsized, and faced being sold for scrap. Her designer, Vladimir Yourkevitch, was living in New York at the time and fought for her survival. Since William Francis Gibbs, designer of the SS United States, supported Yourkevitch and saving "their" ship, Kopeček sees this as an opportunity to pay him [Gibbs] back. As we work to repurpose the SS United States, we'd like to thank each of you for your generous support. The costs associated with taking care of a 990-foot-long ship are formidable, and every tax-deductible contribution from you brings us one step closer to saving America's Flagship. |
Dates in SS United States History
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March 24, 1932: The Grace liner SS Santa Rosa is launched. The Gibbs-designed Santa Rosa debuted the unique "Sampan" funnel design later used on the SS United States.
March 26, 1946: General John Franklin of United States Lines formally requests a construction subsidy for "Design 12201" from the US Maritime Commission.
March 30, 1961: Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson departs on the SS United States for a tour of Europe and the Holy Land.
April 5, 1948: A model of "Design 12201", later the SS United States, is unveiled to the press at Gibbs & Cox.
April 7, 1949: After years of negotiation, the US Maritime Commission approves the construction subsidy on the SS United States, which amounted to nearly 60% of the total cost.
April 10, 1922: The SS Leviathan, formerly the German liner Vaterland, arrives at Newport News for her post-war refit. William Francis Gibbs manages the project, his first major commission.
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Keep up-to-date and help us reach more people
in our quest to save America's Flagship.
The support and enthusiasm of our fans is one of the many things that
keeps us in the fight to save the United States. Thank you!
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SS United States Conservancy
P.O. Box 32115
Washington, DC 20007
(888)-488-7787
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