GLMS 47 - Columbia Transportation Company

This one-half cubic foot collection was donated to the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes on April 22, 1981 by the Columbia Transportation Division of the Oglebay Norton Company. Literary and property rights were dedicated to the public. Photocopying is permitted for purposes of conservation and research.

The Columbia Transportation Company was formed as a division within the Oglebay Norton Company in 1920. The mining industry, of which Oglebay Norton was a leader, faced transportation difficulties in getting ore shipped from Lake Superior ports to the industrial cities of the lower Great Lakes region. Numerous small shipping companies owning one or two ore boats presented inconsistent transportation rates and speeds of delivery to customers.

The Columbia Steamship Company (later known as Columbia Transportation Company) was formed to make Oglebay Norton's iron ore flow in a more efficient and cost-effective manner to customers. The company was named after the brig COLUMBIA that was the first vessel to transit the Soo Locks in 1855.

Columbia purchased eleven freighters from ten smaller operators to start the 1920 fleet. Vessel fleet size fluctuated over the decades after the company was founded. A peak size was reached in the early 1940s when twenty-two vessels were in the fleet to meet war-related demand for ore. The 1995 fleet had ten vessels of much larger capacity than the original fleet. After the 1994 season the fleet name was changed from Columbia to the Oglebay Norton Marine transportation Company.

This one-half cubic foot collection provides information on the operation of the Columbia Transportation Company. Data on vessels and officers is available. A series on the annual meeting of vessel masters held in March provides material covering issues of interest to the captains working for the Columbia fleet in the years 1976-1979.

Rosters for the Columbia vessels and the officers assigned to them appear for 1978 and 1980. Wage scales, accident reports, and company earnings also appear with these rosters.

Labor costs for the operation of the J. BURTON AYERS are recorded in a 1979 report. Wages paid to the officers and crew are recorded as well as overtime, travel allowances and other labor costs.

Scattered printed items related to the J. BURTON AYERS complete the collection. Certificates, cards, charts, and receipts for [1961-1978] are present.

PROCEEDINGS

COLUMBIA FLEET MASTERS' MEETINGS
Box 1, folders 1-4
1976-1979
Arranged chronologically
Series contains agenda, meeting notes, and other information discussed at the Columbia Fleet Masters' Meetings held annually in March.

REPORTS

COLUMBIA FLEET ROSTERS
Box 1, folders 5-6
1978, 1980
Arranged chronologically
Series contains reports listing the vessels in the Columbia Fleet and the officers assigned to them. Statistics on wages, company profits and vessel accidents are also included.

LABOR COSTS FOR THE J. BURTON AYERS
Box 1, folder 7
1979
Arranged chronologically
Series contains a computer printout detailing the wages paid for each position on the J. BURTON AYERS of the Columbia Fleet. Overtime, travel allowances and other labor costs are included.

PRINTED MATERIAL

Printed Material
Box 1, folder 8
[1961-1978]
Arranged chronologically
Series contains scattered certificates, charts, cards, and receipts regarding the J. BURTON AYERS. A condolence card sent by sailors of the Columbia Fleet to the families of the deceased crew members of the EDMUND FITZGERALD is included.

Box 1

Folders

1. Columbia Fleet Masters' Meetings, 1976
2. Columbia Fleet Masters' Meetings, 1977
3. Columbia Fleet Masters' Meetings, 1978
4. Columbia Fleet Masters' Meetings, 1979
5. Columbia Fleet Roster, 1978
6. Columbia Fleet Roster, 1980
7. Labor Costs for the J. BURTON AYERS
8. Printed materials, [1961-1978]