February 9, 2015
Maiden Voyage (courtesy of Corbis Images / Bettmann Archive)
Maiden Voyage, courtesy of Corbis Images / Bettmann Archive
America's Flagship Receives $250,000 Donation
Inspired by Pollin Challenge Grant, Anonymous Donor Jump-starts 2015 Fundraising with Generous Gift for Curatorial Planning
 
As we enter a new and exciting year for America's Flagship, the Conservancy is proud to announce that we have received of one of our largest ever individual contributions. The gift of $250,000 was made by an anonymous donor who was inspired by the generosity and passion exhibited by cruise industry executive Jim Pollin.  Last year Jim donated an initial $120,000, followed by a generous challenge grant. Supporters from across the country and around the world answered Jim's call to action by donating $120,000, prompting Jim to match this amount. Jim was recently honored with the Conservancy's National Flagship Champion Award.
 
"Jim's donations have now yielded more than half a million dollars for America's Flagship," said our executive director, Susan Gibbs. "This new major donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, is helping us build on the momentum of our encouraging redevelopment agreement announced in December. Feasibility studies for the ship's conversion are ongoing, and many design and engineering challenges must still be overcome. However, this extraordinarily generous donation provides real wind at the sails of our efforts."
 
Funds from the new gift will be used in the near-term for advancing our various curatorial programs, including planning for the SS United States Museum of Design and Discovery. Preliminary designs for the museum include restoring key areas of the ship to create innovative and immersive experiences for visitors.
 
The museum and the Conservancy's curatorial and archival programs will be developed in consultation with our advisory council and other specialists, including maritime historians and experts previously associated with the Smithsonian Institution, Philadelphia's Franklin Institute, and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
 
"While our new development partners continue their due diligence and planning for the repurposing of the SS United States, the Conservancy will use this generous donation to jump-start the exciting process of developing a world-class museum. We will also continue our global search and cataloging of original artifacts, artwork and ephemera from the vessel, as well as compiling and digitizing passenger and crew records, among other important projects," Susan explained.
 
Jim said: "Last year, I asked the world to help save our flagship. I asked people to join me in ensuring this majestic piece of American history had a future. This new gift is an amazing display of confidence in the Conservancy's vision and an acknowledgement of the ship's historic importance for all of us."
 

  

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shipshirt 
David Macaulay T-shirt Campaign Surpasses Goal 

Macaulay tee #2
 
Our "Propelling the SS United States Forward" t-shirt campaign ended last Monday, and thanks to you, it was a huge success! These striking shirts feature renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay's sketch inspired by Jim Pollin's donations and the Conservancy's "Propelled by Champions" Campaign.
 
Many of you bought shirts for yourself, friends, and family, resulting in proceeds of $2,179 from 204 shirts sold. In addition, we were heartened by an extra $1,126 in donations that you made when purchasing your shirts! Overall, the campaign raised a generous $3,305 for America's Flagship.
 
Shirts will ship next week, and we hope you're as excited as we are to see the second t-shirt to feature a David Macaulay SS United States sketch.  Thank you for helping us to exceed our goal and for sharing the reasons why you support the ship and our efforts.  Your support and enthusiasm is why America's Flagship remains afloat!
 
gibbs 
Big U-Inspired "Gibbs" Font Wins Prestigious Award


Gibbs font samples
Gibbs font sample lettering

Typeface designer and former Conservancy staffer Greg Shutters recently released a font inspired by the cast aluminum directional signs that were once on board the SS United States. The font is named "Gibbs" after the ship's designer, William Francis Gibbs, and is used on all of the Conservancy's printed materials.

We have just learned that the design has won the prestigious Type Directors Club award, which is awarded annually to the best examples of typography and graphic design in the world. Starting this summer, posters featuring the Gibbs font will be displayed in a touring exhibition that will visit cities in the United States, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Japan, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

For a limited time, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the SS United States' keel laying in Newport News, VA, on February 8, 1950, Greg is offering "Gibbs" at 65% off its regular sale price of $139 at MyFonts.com! You can take advantage of this discounted price of just $48.65 until February 15. The font is compatible with both Mac and PC computers. 

ftv 
From the Vault

Mervin Meleski, 24, on his honeymoon, courtesy of Mara King
Margita Meleski's photo of her husband, Mervin, on their honeymoon in October 1955, courtesy of Mara King
 
Mara King recently shared this photo of her father, Mervin Meleski, a dapper young man of 24, taken by her mother, Margita, when they were on their honeymoon to New York City in October 1955.
 
Mara writes:  My father passed away in November 2014 at the age of 84. I had seen this photo a few years ago and found it recently. Everyone who sees it comments on how handsome my Dad looks. "It's very Mad Men," they say. What an amazing backdrop, as well, with the SS United States in all her glory.
 
Fair winds and following seas, Mervin.
 

 
Whats My Line!  Feb 12, 1956 2
Whats My Line! Feb 12, 1956

Supporter and former SS United States passenger Chip Mack recently shared vintage footage of Captain John Anderson's appearances on two Goodson-Todman game shows from the 1950's. On February 12, 1956, Commodore Anderson appeared on What's My Line?, a game show in which contestants have to guess the occupation of the guest. (Click on the video above to watch the segment with Commodore Anderson.)
 
On August 6, 1957, Commodore Anderson also appeared on To Tell the Truth. In this game, a panel of four celebrities try to correctly identify a contestant who has an unusual occupation from among a trio of individuals, all claiming to be that person. The two imposters are allowed to lie in response to the celebrities' questions, but the actual person is sworn "to tell the truth."

Commodore John Anderson was the SS United States' longest-serving master, and his son, Charles, serves as president of the SS United States Conservancy's board.

 
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Floating Tributes to United States Lines Ships


SS United States-themed restaurant aboard Celebrity Infinity, courtesy of Eric Jones, SS United States Conservancy New England Chapter
SS United States restaurant aboard Celebrity Infinity, courtesy of Eric Jones,
SS United States Conservancy New England Chapter
We often receive emails and Facebook posts from supporters who have seen memorabilia and displays of the SS United States during their travels around the world.
 
When supporter Elizabeth O'Brien took a cruise on Celebrity's Infinity, she dined in the SS United States Restaurant, which features original fittings, artifacts and ephemera from America's Flagship. In addition, Elizabeth encouraged Celebrity to share Conservancy brochures and our "Made in America" video with its passengers.
 
Below are some recent photos of the ship's displays, courtesy of Elizabeth O'Brien.

 
 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other cruise lines also have paid homage to the glorious ocean liners of United States Lines. Courtesy of Conservancy New England Chapter chair, Eric Jones, the image below shows the entrance to the America Bar, a tribute to the SS United States's sister ship, the SS America, aboard Carnival's Paradise.

The entrance to the America Bar aboard Carnival Cruise Line's Paradise, courtesy of Eric Jones, SS United States Conservancy New England Chapter
America Bar's entrance on Carnival's Paradise, courtesy of Eric Jones, SS United States Conservancy New England Chapter Chair
 
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Dates in SS United States History


February 8, 1950:  The keel for "Hull 488" (later the SS United States) is laid at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. The SS United States was the first passenger liner to be nearly entirely constructed in dry dock.

 

February 9, 1942:  The French liner Normandie catches fire and later capsizes at her New York pier. The disaster partially fuels William Francis Gibbs' obsession with fire prevention. Among the fireboats at the scene is the Gibbs-designed Fire Fighter.

 

February 10, 2009:  Norwegian Cruise Line, then-owner of the SS United States, announces that it will abandon plans to refit the ship to active cruise service, and lists the vessel for sale.

 

February 12, 1956:  Commodore Anderson appears on television's What's My Line? The game show consisted of four contestants trying to guess the occupation of the guest.

 

February 17, 1950:  Mockup of a SS United States stateroom is tested for its fireproof capability and passes.

 

February 17, 1977:  John Anderson, the longest-serving master of the United States, dies at age 77.

 

February 20, 1965:  The SS United States logs her 2-millionth nautical mile.

 

February 21, 1910:  New York's Chelsea Piers, built to accommodate new liners Lusitania, Mauretania, Olympic, and Titanic, open. New piers were built in 1935 for the larger-still Normandie, Queen Mary, and later, United States.

 


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SS United States Conservancy

P.O. Box 32115

Washington, DC 20007

(888)-488-7787