Boatnerd Discussion Forum

That sounds like a great purchase! Emory Massman was one of the best ship photographers of his era (not to belittle any of the other his fine contemporaries). Perhaps there could be a section in the public galleries for people to post images taken by particular photographers that are no longer with us?

GMiller wrote:A few years back I purchased 700 pictures of freighters off of someone on eBay. They turned out to be photos taken by Emory Massman in the late 1950's and throughout the 1960's mostly on the St Clair River. With the help of a contact on boat nerd, I was able to locate Mr Massman. I had several phone conversations with about the photos. He was a very interesting and knowledgeable . I still have the photos and would share

With that many photos, you should publish a book. It sure would be loaded with great memories for me growing up in the 50's and 60's and spending weekends on Harsens Island and Algonac.

- Don

A few years back I purchased 700 pictures of freighters off of someone on eBay. They turned out to be photos taken by Emory Massman in the late 1950's and throughout the 1960's mostly on the St Clair River. With the help of a contact on boat nerd, I was able to locate Mr Massman. I had several phone conversations with about the photos. He was a very interesting and knowledgeable . I still have the photos and would share

I never met Emory but I did have the opportunity to "work" with him via the Internet over the past few years. He Was a gentleman and a Great Lakes resource that will be sorely missed.

Emory A. Massman Sr. started sailing as a porter on the Sir Thomas Shaughnessy in 1909. He sailed with Mitchell Steamship and Interlake Steamship up until 1922. He then went to Nicholson/ Overlakes and received his first command in 1924 on the Fellowcraft. Emory A. Massman sailed as Captain on the auto carriers (Coralia, Mataffa) until his retirement in the 1960's.

Emory A. Massman Jr. sailed with Nicholson/Overlakes in the early 1940's. He sailed as a deckhand on the Graham C. Woodruff in 1941; wheelsman (at age 18) on the Crescent City in 1943, third mate on the Henry B. Sanford in 1944, and as an AB on the Coralia in 1945.

The family was from the Detroit/St. Clair area. When Emory A. Massman Jr. retired, he relocated to the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg area. Right up to the time of his passing, he was active in the Tugboat Enthusiasts Society (National Membership Chairman) and other tugboat activities along the Florida Gulf coast area.

It was said to read of Emory Massman's passing in today's news. I have always enjoyed his ship photographs. I could usually look at a photograph and tell right off that it was one of his. Does anyone know the history of the photographer? It looks like he took several of his pictures in the St. Clair River.