Introduction and Arrangement
The Captain William F. and Betty Streckfus Carroll Collection at the Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library contains papers, photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, river charts, vessel blueprints and scrapbooks which were the personal research of Captain William F. Carroll, with assistance from his wife, Betty Streckfus Carroll. Most of the collection is focused around the Streckfus Steamers Company, an excursion Steamboat business that ran for over 100 years in different incarnations, including the ACME Packet, the Streckfus Steamers Line Company, and Streckfus Steamers Incorporated. In addition, the collection contains records pertaining to post-Streckfus incarnations of the company; the Connelly Group, Gateway Clipper Incorporated, the Mississippi Riverboat Company, and President Associates. The collection further includes photographs, papers, ephemera, blueprints, correspondence, notes and clippings pertaining to the Streckfus and Carroll families, other inland river vessels, river related companies, and general river lore, life and heritage. The materials collected by Captain Carroll and Betty Streckfus Carroll date from before the 1920s to the early 1990s and include many rare items and artifacts from the Streckfus Steamers Company.
The collection consists of 130 half-size Hollinger boxes, 10 oversize boxes, 14 monographs and 18 scrapbooks, totaling 91 linear feet. It is subdivided in to the following series:
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Series 1: Streckfus Steamers Incorporated
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Series 2: Other Businesses
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Series 3: Vessels
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Series 4: Streckfus Family
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Series 5: Carroll Records
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Series 6: Publications
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Series 7: General
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Series 8: Blueprints
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Series 9: Historic Scrapbook Collection
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Series 10: Oversize
Materials in the collection are listed according to their folder title and folder number. The folder number consists of four or five numbers, such as 8-1-1-93-9, which represent: (series #) – (subseries #) – (sub-subseries #) – (box #) – (folder #).
Please contact a curator for assistance accessing the materials in this collection.
This page contains inventories for series 3, 4, and 5. Also see:
Table of Contents
Series 3: Vessels
Series 3 consists of documents related to various inland river vessels, both Streckfus and Non-Streckfus. Most vessels are steamboats, but there is also documentation regarding a few tugs, showboats, barges and wharfboats. The series consists of 14.5 linear feet (29 half-record boxes).
Subseries 3-1 (Admiral) contains documents regarding the Streckfus flagship, the S.S. Admiral. The Admiral was later dieselized. Documents regarding the M/V Admiral, as well as the President Casino on the Admiral can also be found in this sub-series. Correspondence has been included when appropriate.
Subseries 3-2 (Other Streckfus Vessels) contains documents regarding Streckfus Vessels (including antecedent and descendant companies) excepting the Admiral and President. The vessels are arranged alphabetically and records are available for the Albatross, Becky Thatcher, Capitol, Commodore, Dubuque, Freddy, Golden Arrow, Greater New Orleans, Huck Finn, Huck Finn Barge, JS, JS Deluxe, Mark Twain, Mississippi Belle, Quincy, Samuel Clemens, Senator, Sidney, St. Paul, Streckfus Small Boats, Suzie Hazard, Tom Sawyer, Verne Swain, W.W., Washington, and the Streckfus wharfboats.
Subseries 3-3 (President) contains documents regarding the Streckfus vessel the S.S. President. The President was later dieselized; documents regarding the M/V President, as well as the President Casino can be found in this series. Correspondence has been included where appropriate.
Subseries 3-4 (Non-Streckfus Vessels) contains documentation regarding vessels that weren’t owned by Streckfus Steamers Incorporated or any of its related companies, as well as vessels that were later purchased by Streckfus Steamers and underwent a redesign and name change upon purchase. The vessels are arranged alphabetically and records include images, realia, clippings, and operational documents.
Series 4: Streckfus Family
Series 4 consists of records related to the Streckfus family. The series consists of about 1.5 linear feet (half-record boxes 63 and 64, as well as two monographs). Records included in the series are mostly photographs and newspaper clippings (especially obituaries), but there are also other related documents, such as the family bible, tax information, and wedding and birth documentation.
| Box Number | Folder/Item ID | Series | Folder Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | 4-63-1 | Streckfus Family | "The Family of the River" — Clipping, 4 -15-1951 |
| 63 | 4-63-3 | Streckfus Family | Manning Family — Photos |
| 63 | 4-63-4 | Streckfus Family | Manthey, Gus and Family — Photos |
| 63 | 4-63-4b | Streckfus Family | Manthey, Gus — Recollections |
| 63 | 4-63-5 | Streckfus Family | Manthey, Joy — Notice of Vows, 1-17-2000 |
| 63 | 4-63-6 | Streckfus Family | "Masters of the River" — Clipping |
| 63 | 4-63-7 | Streckfus Family | McCarthy, Capt. Robert — Photos |
| 63 | 4-63-8 | Streckfus Family | Odom, Doctor Charles — Clipping |
| 63 | 4-63-9 | Streckfus Family | Polk County, Florida Lumber Co. — Realia |
| 63 | 4-63-10 | Streckfus Family | Schaab, Joseph — Obituary, 8-13-1936 |
| 63 | 4-63-11 | Streckfus Family | Schaab, Wolter — Obituary, 2-12-1996 |
| 63 | 4-63-12 | Streckfus Family | Schaab, Capt. Wolter and Buddy Schaab — Photos |
| 63 | 4-63-13 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus Family and Friends — Photos |
| 63 | 30 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus Family Bible |
| 63 | 4-63-14 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus Family History from Journal of Margaret Ann Streckfus |
| 63 | 31 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus Family Photo Album |
| 63 | 4-63-15 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus Family Reunion — Flyer, July 21, 22 1984 |
| 63 | 4-63-16 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus Family Taxes, 1962 |
| 63 | 4-63-17 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus Rock Island Home — Clipping, 5-1-1991 |
| 63 | 4-63-18 | Streckfus Family | "Streckfus Steamboat Family" — Clipping, 8-16-1911 |
| 63 | 4-63-19 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, B. — Rock Island Directory, 1873 |
| 63 | 4-63-20 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Captain Curran Jr. |
| 63 | 4-63-21 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Captain Curran Jr. — Photos |
| 63 | 4-63-22 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Curran — Record of Inspection |
| 63 | 4-63-23 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Elizabeth Jane — Birth Certificate |
| 63 | 4-63-24 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Captain Joe — Realia |
| 63 | 4-63-25 | Streckfus Family | Joe Streckfus / Carroll Home, 6320 Waterman — Sketch and Measurements |
| 63 | 4-63-26 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. Joseph — Realia |
| 63 | 4-63-27 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. Joseph and Family — Photos |
| 63 | 4-63-28 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. Joseph — Clippings |
| 63 | 4-63-29 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. Joseph — Photos |
| 63 | 4-63-30 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, John — Invoice for Drafting of Will, 7-11-38 |
| 63 | 4-63-31 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. John N — Biography and Letter Read at Funeral |
| 63 | 4-63-32 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. John N and Shirley — Photos |
| 63 | 4-63-33 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. John N and Shirley — Wedding Trip Photos |
| 64 | 4-63-34 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Commodore John and Family — Photos |
| 64 | 4-63-35 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Commodore John — Obituaries, 1925 |
| 64 | 4-63-36 | Streckfus Family | Framed Pilot's License — John N. Streckfus 5-6-1944 |
| 64 | 4-63-37 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Commodore John — Realia |
| 64 | 4-63-38 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Aunt May’s Photo Album, Notes 1919 |
| 64 | 4-63-39 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Mary Theresa (May) and Family — Photos |
| 64 | 4-63-40 | Streckfus Family | Framed Photograph of May Streckfus and John N. Streckfus, San Francisco 11-11-1927 |
| 64 | 4-63-41 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. R.M. Jr. — Photo |
| 64 | 4-63-42 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Captain R.M. — Realia |
| 64 | 4-63-43 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. Roy — Correspondence and Clippings |
| 64 | 4-63-44 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. Roy and Family — Photos |
| 64 | 4-63-45 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Shirley M. — Death Certificate |
| 64 | 4-63-46 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. Verne and Family — Photos |
| 64 | 4-63-47 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. Verne — Obituaries |
| 64 | 4-63-48 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. Verne — Oral History |
| 64 | 4-63-49 | Streckfus Family | Streckfus, Capt. William S. (Bill) — Photos |
| 64 | 4-63-50 | Streckfus Family | Wangan, Captain Carl and May Streckfus — Photo |
| 64 | 4-63-51 | Streckfus Family | Framed Photograph of Streckfus Family |
Series 5: Carroll Records
Series 5 consists of documents related to Captain William F. Carroll and the Carroll family. The series consists of 5 linear feet (10 half-record boxes).
Subseries 5-1 (Carroll Family) contains documents related to the Carroll family. Documents include clippings and photographs, as well as a family tree and personal and professional documentation — certificates, licenses, correspondence and the like.
Subseries 5-2 (Carroll Notes and Writings) contains records written or transcribed by Captain William F. Carroll himself, sometimes with the help of his wife Betty. This series contains typed transcriptions of articles from various river-related sources dating from 1764 to 1971. In addition, this series contains Captain Carroll’s notebooks, which many of the typed transcriptions originate from. A few original writings by Captain Carroll are also included in the series.