Captain Black Family Collection
Title
Captain Black Family Collection
Description
Location: Shelf 1, Row 6
Martin Louis Black was born on January 13, 1866 in Vilna, Russia and emigrated to the United States at the age of thirteen. Black began his seafaring career in 1883 as a cabin boy aboard the Cyrus Wakefield. He married Mary Agnes Noonan in 1894. The couple settled in Berkeley, Alameda County, California and had three children: Martin Louis Jr., Elizabeth A., and Arthur Joseph. Between 1903 and 1906, the family relocated to San Pedro, California. Black had a long career as a steamship pilot and tugboat captain for the Wilmington Transportation Company, founded by Phineas Banning, and later owned by William Wrigley, Jr., who bought the company in 1919. Black was a charter member of the Bilge Club and the San Pedro Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 966. Captain Black, as he was fondly referred to, passed away on January 29, 1936 and is buried in the Historic Wilmington Cemetery.
Martin Louis Black Jr. was born on November 23, 1895 in Berkeley, California. In June of 1917, he registered for the draft and served in the United States Army from June 1918 to January 1919. Following World War I, Martin Louis Black, Jr. worked as a shipyard machinist, and in the early 1920s, became a firefighter with the Los Angeles City Fire Department. He married Catherine Martha Blumer on April 20, 1925, in Santa Ana, California. The couple settled in Wilmington, California and had three children: Martin Louis III, Elizabeth A., and Arthur Raymond. Martin Louis Black, Jr. retired as a Captain from the Los Angeles City Fire Department. He passed away on March 10, 1977 and is buried in the Historic Wilmington Cemetery.
Elizabeth A. Black was born on August 27, 1898 in Berkeley, California and attended public primary and secondary schools in San Pedro, California. Elizabeth passed away on December 19, 1920 at the age of twenty-two due to a heart condition. Memorial services were held at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church and burial took place at the Historic Wilmington Cemetery.
Arthur Joseph Black was born on December 8, 1901 in Berkeley, California and attended public primary and secondary schools in San Pedro, California. After two years of high school, he began working as a fisherman for a local fish market. In 1919, he became a sailor on the Shipping Board steamer, West Cayote, and within a year rose to the position of quartermaster. In 1921, he joined the S.S. Yale as quartermaster and was soon promoted to chief officer. Arthur J. Black married Pauline Meyers on May 23, 1924 in San Pedro, California and the couple settled in Wilmington. In 1926, while working as first officer on the S. S. Calawaii, he passed his master’s examination, qualifying to become a sea captain. Arthur enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve in January, 1942, serving as Lieutenant Port Director at Terminal Island, San Pedro for the duration of World War II. Following military service, he became a foreman for the Metropolitan Stevedore Company. Arthur Joseph Black passed away on June 2, 1980. He is buried at Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County, California.
Martin Louis Black was born on January 13, 1866 in Vilna, Russia and emigrated to the United States at the age of thirteen. Black began his seafaring career in 1883 as a cabin boy aboard the Cyrus Wakefield. He married Mary Agnes Noonan in 1894. The couple settled in Berkeley, Alameda County, California and had three children: Martin Louis Jr., Elizabeth A., and Arthur Joseph. Between 1903 and 1906, the family relocated to San Pedro, California. Black had a long career as a steamship pilot and tugboat captain for the Wilmington Transportation Company, founded by Phineas Banning, and later owned by William Wrigley, Jr., who bought the company in 1919. Black was a charter member of the Bilge Club and the San Pedro Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 966. Captain Black, as he was fondly referred to, passed away on January 29, 1936 and is buried in the Historic Wilmington Cemetery.
Martin Louis Black Jr. was born on November 23, 1895 in Berkeley, California. In June of 1917, he registered for the draft and served in the United States Army from June 1918 to January 1919. Following World War I, Martin Louis Black, Jr. worked as a shipyard machinist, and in the early 1920s, became a firefighter with the Los Angeles City Fire Department. He married Catherine Martha Blumer on April 20, 1925, in Santa Ana, California. The couple settled in Wilmington, California and had three children: Martin Louis III, Elizabeth A., and Arthur Raymond. Martin Louis Black, Jr. retired as a Captain from the Los Angeles City Fire Department. He passed away on March 10, 1977 and is buried in the Historic Wilmington Cemetery.
Elizabeth A. Black was born on August 27, 1898 in Berkeley, California and attended public primary and secondary schools in San Pedro, California. Elizabeth passed away on December 19, 1920 at the age of twenty-two due to a heart condition. Memorial services were held at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church and burial took place at the Historic Wilmington Cemetery.
Arthur Joseph Black was born on December 8, 1901 in Berkeley, California and attended public primary and secondary schools in San Pedro, California. After two years of high school, he began working as a fisherman for a local fish market. In 1919, he became a sailor on the Shipping Board steamer, West Cayote, and within a year rose to the position of quartermaster. In 1921, he joined the S.S. Yale as quartermaster and was soon promoted to chief officer. Arthur J. Black married Pauline Meyers on May 23, 1924 in San Pedro, California and the couple settled in Wilmington. In 1926, while working as first officer on the S. S. Calawaii, he passed his master’s examination, qualifying to become a sea captain. Arthur enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve in January, 1942, serving as Lieutenant Port Director at Terminal Island, San Pedro for the duration of World War II. Following military service, he became a foreman for the Metropolitan Stevedore Company. Arthur Joseph Black passed away on June 2, 1980. He is buried at Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County, California.
Creator
Martin Louis Black, Sr. Family
Date
1889-1966
Contributor
Wilmington Historical Society
Rights
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Identifier
BFC
Abstract
The Captain Black Family Collection documents the daily lives of family members, their activities, associations, occupations, and interests in and around the Wilmington and San Pedro, California areas, between 1889 and 1966. The collection includes World War II related materials, family and individual photographs, personal records, household receipts, invitations to events, books, and registers related to seafaring. The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Table Of Contents
Box 1
Folder 1: Black, Arthur Joseph, Scrapbook (copies), Mementoes, 1931
Folder 2: Black Family, Cabinet Photographs
Folder 3: Black Family, Carte de Visite Photographs
Folder 4: Black Family, Snapshot
Folder 5: Black Family, Color Transparencies, 1955
Folder 6: Black, Martin Louis, Jr. and Catherine, 1935, 1948-1965
Folder 7: Black, Martin Louis, Jr. and Catherine, World War II Ration Books, 1942-1945
Folder 8: Black, Martin Louis, Jr., Fireman’s Fund Register, 1928
Folder 9: Black, Martin Louis, Jr., Fireman’s Fund Register, 1930
Folder 10: Black, Martin Louis, Sr. and Mary, 1889, 1907, 1920-1931, 1944
Folder 11: Black, Martin Louis, III, 1946, 1949
Folder 12: Notes, 1929-1933, 1966
Folder 1: Black, Arthur Joseph, Scrapbook (copies), Mementoes, 1931
Folder 2: Black Family, Cabinet Photographs
Folder 3: Black Family, Carte de Visite Photographs
Folder 4: Black Family, Snapshot
Folder 5: Black Family, Color Transparencies, 1955
Folder 6: Black, Martin Louis, Jr. and Catherine, 1935, 1948-1965
Folder 7: Black, Martin Louis, Jr. and Catherine, World War II Ration Books, 1942-1945
Folder 8: Black, Martin Louis, Jr., Fireman’s Fund Register, 1928
Folder 9: Black, Martin Louis, Jr., Fireman’s Fund Register, 1930
Folder 10: Black, Martin Louis, Sr. and Mary, 1889, 1907, 1920-1931, 1944
Folder 11: Black, Martin Louis, III, 1946, 1949
Folder 12: Notes, 1929-1933, 1966
Collection Items
Collection Tree
- Captain Black Family Collection
Comments