1927 Boston Floating Hospital Ship Fire Ruins North End Pier Glass Negative OOAK For Sale

1927 Boston Floating Hospital Ship Fire Ruins North End Pier Glass Negative OOAK

Original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate negative captured in June 1927: a pivotal documentary news photograph of Boston medical and maritime history: the charred, ruined hull and collapsed superstructure of the beloved Boston Floating Hospital ship following its catastrophic fire at the North End Park Pier in Boston Harbor.

Accompanied by its original period tan kraft darkroom filing envelope and matching period handwritten blue slip:

• The Outer Envelope Inscription:

  "Hospital Ship Burns / North End Park / 1927"

  With a vintage corner notation reading: "Int" (Interesting)

• The Inner Blue Paper Insert Inscription:

  "Hospital Ship burns / at North End Pier, / June 1927"

Historical & Photographic Analysis:

Founded in 1894, the Boston Floating Hospital was an internationally recognized medical institution dedicated to saving sick children and infants from stifling city tenements by taking them on therapeutic harbor voyages. Equipped with full wards, innovative refrigeration, and infant feeding research facilities, it served thousands of families free of charge. In June 1927, just as the vessel was preparing for its upcoming summer season, a devastating fire broke out at its North End berth, gutting the vessel beyond salvage and leading directly to the establishment of the land-based facility that became Tufts Children's Hospital.

Captured on the waterfront by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photojournalist Leslie Jones:

• The Fire Ruins: The vessel sits listing in Boston Harbor against the pilings of the North End promenade pier. The upper passenger and ward decks are incinerated, with collapsed framing, a tilted smoke funnel, buckled iron fittings, and blackened timber siding boldly displaying the painted ship name: "[FLOAT]ING HOSPITAL".

• Harbor & Pier Setting: In the foreground, the water reflects the charred hull and shoreline debris, while the covered multi-level boardwalk of North End Park extends along the starboard side and naval vessels ride at anchor in the Charlestown Navy Yard across the channel.

• Authentic In-Camera Exposure: A true press field negative displaying razor-sharp textural detail in the burnt wood, mooring hawsers, and dock pilings, with intact unexposed plate rebate margins along the data-path-to-node="16">

• Format: Heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negative, exposed directly in a press camera in June 1927.

• Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original vintage tan kraft filing sleeve and matching period handwritten blue paper insert.

Please Note: This listing is for the original antique glass plate negative, its period paper archive sleeve, and the inner protective paper insert only. Any positive photographic images shown in this listing are modern inverted digital scans provided solely as a visual representation to show what a finished photograph prints like. No physical paper photograph, modern print, or paper product of any kind is included with this purchase.

Condition:

Very Good antique condition. Heavy glass plate is structurally sound with no cracks, breaks, or fractures. The silver gelatin emulsion is clean, sharp, and stable, capturing incredible contrast and fine detail throughout the charred ship, dock structure, and water. Displays only minor authentic edge silvering strictly along the extreme outer borders outside the primary image area. Accompanied by the original period kraft morgue filing sleeve and blue paper insert.

The glass plate negative measures 4 x 5In.
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Combined shipping is available (with other glass negatives)