These records are found in the online catalog of The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia. Uncurated search results are presented to give researchers and interested readers an idea of whether the museum’s archives contain information about this vessel and whether it may be worthwhile to visit the museum’s catalog search page for further investigation. Uncurated results may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Mariners Museum online catalog search, July 12, 2026. Search phrase: "Ewell". Catalog returned 13 records; this selection table includes 13 records fetched through catalog result pages.
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Headshot portrait of a civilian woman, she is seated in front of a screen. Unfortunately the caption does not provide any information as to her role at HRPE.
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Folk or pop art painting depicting the sinking of the USS Monitor on December 31, 1862. The USS Rhode Island is in the background. NOTES: The original dealer for the painting told the original purchaser that Robert Ewell worked in North Carolina. At the time of the original access we were not able to uncover any information on the artist. In July 2019 we were contacted by the daughter of Robert Ewell, she and her family had visited the Museum and learned that the painting was in our collection. Robert Ewell served in the US Coast Guard in World War II. He was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia. NOTES: (C. Verser 12/30/2008) This depiction of the Monitor and the Rhode Island is very similar to a line engraving that was published January 23, 1863 in Harper's Weekly. See the object file for a copy of the Harper's drawing for comparison.
2 juvenile entertainers of the Navy YMCA Trouper club, Unit 4, doing a novelty act for the Serviceman at NAB. On the left is Ewell Sawyer dressed as a Brig. General, and on the right Glenn Holman does his part as an Ensign. Photo was taken at Recreation Hall April 6, 1943 at 745pm. Official photograph USArmy Signal Corps, HRPE, Newport News, Va.
Ewell Sawyer dressed up as a Brigadier General and Glenn Holman dressed up as an Ensign as they perform on stage in the Recreation Hall at Norfolk Army Base. There are women seated in chairs behind them.
African American sailors–United States.; Shipwreck victims–North Carolina–Atlantic Coast.; Slavery–History–19th century. Virginia; African Americans–Marriage–19th century. Virginia
Photocopy of a one-page affidavit from David Martin and Joseph Collins. They state that they have known Sarah Moore, mother of Daniel Moore who died on Monitor, all their life, and that she and her husband Henry Moore were slaves of Jessie Ewell of Prince William, Loudon Co., Virginia. They also state that she has 4 living children at the time. The original document was dated November 19, 1866. The Library has 2 copies of this photocopy.
L6235 - 1st Lt. Errel Wade, 03539261 (right), Commanding Officer of Unit 9411-A, other Lt. of unit in center and 1st Sgt. Charles Rutlege, 33111241, (left) n/s of pier 2. 2-1-44 Official Photograph, U. S. Army Signal Corps, HRPE, Newport News, Va. "SECRET Authority WD Cir 346 October 15, 1942 Initials WCS Date 31 JAN 1944" stamped in red ink.
Embarkation (Military science).
Rows of men in winter uniform overcoats stand on the deck of the HR 895 (Fitzhugh Lee), as added by the inscription on the 8 x 10.
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Gilt cornucopia holds grapes, leaves and fruit on black background. Gilt wreath at base with red and green piant at center. VESSEL INFORMATION - VESSEL NAME: CATALPA VESSEL TYPE: BARK, AMERICAN VESSEL BUILT: 1844 BUILDER: WATERMAN & EWELL BUILDER LOCATION: MEDFORD HOME PORT: NEW BEDFORD, SAN FRANCISCO SHIP'S CAPTAIN: GEORGE ANTHONY DIMENSIONS: 202 tons, 90 x 25 x 12.2 SHIP'S AGENT: JOHN T. RICHARDSON (in 1875) FATE: The book "Old Ships and Ship-Building Days of Medford 1630-1875" says Catalpa was condemned in July 1883. VESSEL HISTORY: The bark Catalpa, captained by George Anthony, was a three-masted, 90-foot-long, whaler that sailed out of New Bedford Massachusetts, from 1852 to 1879. Catalpa, ex-whaleship, purchased March 13, 1875 to rescue Irish political prisoners who were sentenced to a life time of servitude in the English penal colony in Fremantle, Australia. Catalpa was original built as a freighter in 1844 by Waterman and Elwell of Medford, Massachusetts. She was converted to a whaler in 1852 and used in that capacity until 1871 when she reverted back to a cargo vessel. Purchased in 1875 and refitted as a whaler.
197 DEVONSHIRE - BOSTON - MASSACHUSETTS - UNITED STATES - Lithographer; WASHINGTON,D.C. - UNITED STATES - Publisher
VESSEL INFORMATION - VESSEL NAME: CATALPA VESSEL TYPE: BARK, AMERICAN VESSEL BUILT: 1844 BUILDER: WATERMAN & EWELL BUILDER LOCATION: MEDFORD HOME PORT: NEW BEDFORD, SAN FRANCISCO SHIP'S CAPTAIN: GEORGE ANTHONY DIMENSIONS: 202 tons, 90 x 25 x 12.2 SHIP'S AGENT: JOHN T. RICHARDSON (in 1875) FATE: The book "Old Ships and Ship-Building Days of Medford 1630-1875" says Catalpa was condemned in July 1883. VESSEL HISTORY: The bark Catalpa, captained by George Anthony, was a three-masted, 90-foot-long, whaler that sailed out of New Bedford Massachusetts, from 1852 to 1879. Catalpa, ex-whaleship, purchased March 13, 1875 to rescue Irish political prisoners who were sentenced to a life time of servitude in the English penal colony in Fremantle, Australia. Catalpa was original built as a freighter in 1844 by Waterman and Elwell of Medford, Massachusetts. She was converted to a whaler in 1852 and used in that capacity until 1871 when she reverted back to a cargo vessel. Purchased in 1875 and refitted as a whaler.
INDIA WHARF - BOSTON - MASSACHUSETTS - UNITED STATES - Artist; CHINA - Related Place
NOTES: [J. Willoz-Egnor, 5/21/2026] The painting shows the ship missing the upper parts of its foremast and sailing under some sort of storm rig with staysails rigged to the yards - or the perspective is off and they are square sails depicted badly. Considering the geography this might show the wreck of Vancouver in May 1859 on the South Bank near Shanghai. The description by the USS Mississippi indicates the ship was "standing off towards the lightship in the Yangtse River, followed by a Dutch ship. At 8PM, the Vancouver struck a reef or point of land about twenty miles from Gatzlaff, knocking off her stern fast. In two hours she sank. The officers and crew took to the boats and were taken on board the Dutch ship." The article also describes the sea state as being poor. See the attached article in The New York Times, August 25, 1859, page 5. The Peabody Essex Museum has sketchbooks of Marshall Johnson, accession number M3255-A-B-C. Might they hold a sketch related this painting? VESSEL INFORMATION - VESSEL NAME: VANCOUVER VESSEL TYPE: SMALL PRE-CLIPPER VESSEL BUILT: 1845 SHIPBUILDERS: WATERMAN & EWELL BUILDER LOCATION: MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS VESSEL WEIGHT: 518 TONS METALLED: 8/1855 OWNERS: DANIEL C. BACON OF Boston WRECKED: May 17, 1859 on the South Bank, five miles inside Gutzlaff Islands, China. [The "Gutzlaff Islands" (historically named after the Prussian missionary Karl Gützlaff) typically refer to Dajishan and its surrounding islets, situated in the East China Sea off the coast of Shanghai. They serve as a critical geographical reference for navigation marking the southern bank and Fairway entrance of the Yangtze River estuary.] - The Manitowoc Pilot, August 19, 1858, page 3: The ship Vancouver, from New York has been totally wrecked on the South Bank near Shanghai. The crew was saved and have arrived in Shanghai. - Boston Post, August 16, 1859, page 3: Shanghae, May 26th, The American ship Vancouver, Wood, from New York, has been totally wrecked on the South Bank, five miles inside Gutzlaff; crew brought here on 17th inst. The Wanderer, King, went down to her on 17th, but could not render any assistance. - China Telegraph, August 1, 1859, page 406: Shanghai, The Vancouver (Am.) was totally wrecked on the south bank of the Yange-tze-Keang on May 15. - SEE The New York Times, August 25, 1859, page 5 for a full report on the wreck from the US Steamship Mississippi.
SAN FRANCISCO - CALIFORNIA - UNITED STATES - Printer
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Colored lithograph of the ship Catalpa, pictured in the midst of the rescue of the escaped Feniens off the coast of Australia with several ships in pursuit. Portraits of the escaped men and there rescuers surround the portrait. VESSEL INFORMATION - VESSEL NAME: CATALPA VESSEL TYPE: BARK, AMERICAN VESSEL BUILT: 1844 BUILDER: WATERMAN & EWELL BUILDER LOCATION: MEDFORD HOME PORT: NEW BEDFORD, SAN FRANCISCO SHIP'S CAPTAIN: GEORGE ANTHONY DIMENSIONS: 202 tons, 90 x 25 x 12.2 SHIP'S AGENT: JOHN T. RICHARDSON (in 1875) FATE: The book "Old Ships and Ship-Building Days of Medford 1630-1875" says Catalpa was condemned in July 1883. VESSEL HISTORY: The bark Catalpa, captained by George Anthony, was a three-masted, 90-foot-long, whaler that sailed out of New Bedford Massachusetts, from 1852 to 1879. Catalpa, ex-whaleship, purchased March 13, 1875 to rescue Irish political prisoners who were sentenced to a life time of servitude in the English penal colony in Fremantle, Australia. Catalpa was original built as a freighter in 1844 by Waterman and Elwell of Medford, Massachusetts. She was converted to a whaler in 1852 and used in that capacity until 1871 when she reverted back to a cargo vessel. Purchased in 1875 and refitted as a whaler.
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Small saluting cannon attributed to the bark Catalpa. Manufacturer unknown. NOTES: The expedition in the bark CATALPA to Australia, which set free the Irish political prisioners who were sentenced to a life time of servitude in the English penal colony. Excellent newspaper account of the expedition is filed with LP 4302. NOTES: [D.W Dick, April 7, 1997...] Small Cannon, The catalog page states that AC 32 is an American Howitzer. This item does not seem to follow the normal characteristics for the howitzer, longer tube and larger bore. Based on a picture on page 146 of Bannerman's 1936 catalog (UC460 B160) and the small cannon on page 69 of L.W.Ferdinand's catalog, it would seem that AC 32 is a salute cannon. There would be little use for a true howitzer on the CATALPA but a salute cannon could be expected. See AC 33, AC 37, AC 38, AC 60. See object file for papers telling the story of the CATALPA expedition as a whaler to Australia and the rescue of Irish prisoners that had been transported by the English. VESSEL INFORMATION - VESSEL NAME: CATALPA VESSEL TYPE: BARK, AMERICAN VESSEL BUILT: 1844 BUILDER: WATERMAN & EWELL BUILDER LOCATION: MEDFORD HOME PORT: NEW BEDFORD, SAN FRANCISCO SHIP'S CAPTAIN: GEORGE ANTHONY DIMENSIONS: 202 tons, 90 x 25 x 12.2 SHIP'S AGENT: JOHN T. RICHARDSON (in 1875) FATE: The book "Old Ships and Ship-Building Days of Medford 1630-1875" says Catalpa was condemned in July 1883. VESSEL HISTORY: The bark Catalpa, captained by George Anthony, was a three-masted, 90-foot-long, whaler that sailed out of New Bedford Massachusetts, from 1852 to 1879. Catalpa, ex-whaleship, purchased March 13, 1875 to rescue Irish political prisoners who were sentenced to a life time of servitude in the English penal colony in Fremantle, Australia. Catalpa was original built as a freighter in 1844 by Waterman and Elwell of Medford, Massachusetts. She was converted to a whaler in 1852 and used in that capacity until 1871 when she reverted back to a cargo vessel. Purchased in 1875 and refitted as a whaler.
P0003-01 - E-16337
2007.0010.000001
P0003-01 - J-1456
MS0164-001-01-001-21.06
P0003-01 - L-6235
1934.0495.000001
1934.1350.000001
Loss_of_a_Boston_Ship_ship_Vancouver_Capt_Wood
1950.0445.000001
ac32b