Publications

MHSD 2025 Calendar

Members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit receive the Society's handsome full color calendar of Great Lakes ships, sure to please any ship buff. Each month features a color picture and information relating to the history of the vessel. JOIN the Marine Historical Society of Detroit and get your calendar. The current year's calendar is available to members only, but past calendars are available at a modest cost to all.

The Nicholson Lines and Their Captains

Emory J. Massman Jr.

An excellent historical and photographic account of the ships of the day, from the 1920s-1960s, interlaced with interesting stories of the captains and crews that manned them.

This book chronicles the history of the Detroit-area based Nicholson Transit Company and its subsequent company, the Nicholson Universal Steamship Company. Founded by William (Cap) Nicholson in 1918, the company bought and sold numerous lake freighters and actively engaged in the transport of goods throughout the Great Lakes. Cap Nicholson was a true entrepreneur. Starting with a mere $500, he grew his organization into a major shipping company.

This is the story of men who really were transportation pioneers on the Great Lakes at a time when computers, reliable weather forecasts, GPS navigation and autopilots did not exist. The men and ships of the day faced challenges that would seem harsh and brutal by today's standards. Yet they persevered, and with cunning and nerve, were usually successful.

Emory A. Massman, Jr. was born into a maritime family, and spent much of his youth sailing with his father on Nicholson ships. During World War II, after graduation from the Merchant Marine Officer's Training School, he was 3rd mate, 2nd mate and chief mate on three different Liberty ships sailing in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific war zones. He continued his maritime career as a mate and relief captain with Belcher Oil Company, Gulf Atlantic Transportation Company and St. Philip Towing Company on off shore deep-sea tugs. He is the author of the Ships Scene, Through Massman's Lens and Hospital Ships of World War II.

Historic Lake Vessels in Color:
Collector Photo Series #1

(2003) This is the first of a series of books featuring rare color photographs of ships that sailed the Great Lakes in years gone by. The book features 24 pictures, plus those shown on the front and back covers, from sources previously unpublished. The purpose of this book is to publish rare photographs for those that collect such images and to preserve the different colors that differentiate one fleet from another. The pictures, approximately 7 by 10 inches, were reproduced from slides dating from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. The rarity of these photos was a primary consideration for their selection. A brief history of each vessel is included.

Member $12.95

Non- Member $20.00

Ahoy & Farewell, Revised

(2001) This edition, which took more than six years to produce, greatly expanded and updated information for ships included in an earlier publication of the same name (see Ahoy & Farwell 1970) and Historian supplements spanning 1944 to 1969, the Society's first 25 years. More than 700 vessels of 1,000 gross registered tons or more are included in this completely redesigned book, whereas the 1970 edition (50 pages) only covered closer to 300 vessels of similar size. This 235-page, revised and completely rewritten hardbound book offers an in-depth history of each vessel with statistics and renames, ownership changes and anecdotal information. It also includes over 90 high-quality, and in many cases, very rare photographs. Post-1970 data was included in a brief format where available or referenced to Volume II. This edition includes a dust cover, an extensive index and a photo-engraved hardcover.

Ahoy & Farewell II

NOW SOLD OUT! (1996) Written to commemorate the Society's 50th anniversary (1944-1994), this greatly-expanded work covers over 440 vessels of 1,000 gross registered tons or more that came into service or left service during the 25-year period from 1969-1994. Ahoy & Farewell II offers an in-depth history of each vessel, with statistics and renames, ownership changes and anecdotal information. Hardcover, 244 pages, 65 pictures and an extensive index.

MHSD Historians

Past Historians dating back to 1947 (beginning with volume 1) are available to members at a modest cost.

Complete Volumes: $ 25.00 each postpaid

Single Issues: $ 2.50 each post paid

VOL 1 (1947-1948); VOL 2 (1948-1949); VOL 3 (1949-1950); VOL 4 (1950-1951); VOL 5 (1951-1952); VOL 6 (1952-1953); VOL 7 (1953-1954); VOL 8 (1954-1955); VOL 9 (1955-1956); VOL 10 (1956-1957); VOL 11 (1957-1958); VOL 12 (1958-1959); VOL 13 (1959-1960); VOL 14 (1960-1961); VOL 15 (1961-1962); VOL 16 (1962-1963); VOL 17 (1963-1964); VOL 18 (1964-1965); VOL 19 (1965-1966); VOL 20 (1966-1967); VOL 21 (1967-1968); VOL 22 (1968-1969); VOL 23 (1969-1970); VOL 24 (1970-1971); VOL 25 (1971-1972); VOL 26 (1972-1973); VOL 27 (1973-1974); VOL 28 (1974-1975); VOL 29 (1975-1976); VOL 30 (1976-1977); VOL 31 (1977-1978); VOL 32 (1978-1979); VOL 33 (1979-1980); VOL 34 (1980-1981); VOL 35 (1981-1982); VOL 36 (1982-1983); VOL 37 (1983-1984); VOL 38 (1984-1985); VOL 39 (1985-1986); VOL 40 (1986-1987); VOL 41 (1987-1988); VOL 42 (1988-1989); VOL 43 (1989-1990); VOL 44 (1990-1991); VOL 45 (1991-1992); VOL 46 (1992-1993); VOL 47 (1993-1994); VOL 48 (1994-1995); VOL 49 (1995-1996); VOL 50 (1996-1997); VOL 51 (1997-1998); VOL 52 (1998-1999); VOL 53 (1999-2000); VOL 54 (2000-2001); VOL 55 (2001-2002); VOL 56 (2002-2003); VOL 57 (2003-2004); VOL 58 (2004-2005); VOL 59 (2005-2006); VOL 60 (2006-2007); VOL 61 (2007-2008); VOL 62 (2008-2009); VOL 63 (2009-2010); VOL 64 (2010-2011); VOL 65 (2011-2012); VOL 66 (2012-2013); VOL 67 (2013-2014); VOL 68 (2014-2015); VOL 69 (2015-2016); VOL 70 (2016-2017); VOL 71 (2017-2018); VOL 72 (2018-2019); VOL 73 (2019-2020)

The Detroit Marine Historian $ 25.00 postpaid
Index: Volumes 1 - 10
(September 1947 through August 1957)

The Detroit Marine Historian $ 25.00 postpaid
Index: Volumes 11 - 20
(September 1957 through August 1967)

The Detroit Marine Historian $ 25.00 postpaid
Index: Volumes 21 - 30
(September 1967 through August 1977)

The Detroit Marine Historian $ 25.00 postpaid
Index: Volumes 31 - 40
(September 1977 through August 1987)

The Detroit Marine Historian $ 25.00 postpaid
Index: Volumes 41 - 50
(September 1987 through August 1997)

The Detroit Marine Historian $ 25.00 postpaid
Index: Volumes 51 - 60
(September 1997 through August 2007)

Past Calendars

2024 MHSD Color Calendar $14.95 postpaid

Features photographs by JAMES BARTKE and JOHN R. WILLIAMS. Read more about how the MHSD recovered this amazing collection.

2023 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Features photographs by Great Lakes marine historian and author William M. Worden. He was honored as Great Lakes Marine Historian of the Year for 2022 by the MHSD and is vice president of the MHSD.

2022 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Features photographs by Daniel J. Cornillie.

2021 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Features photographs by the late Robert Zeleznik, long-time member of the MHSD Advisory Council.

2020 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Features photographs by the late Halstead "Hal" Jackson, long-time member and past president of the MHSD.

2019 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Features photographs by the late Skip Meier, long-time member of the MHSD Advisory Council.

2018 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Features photographs by Edward O. Clark from the Steamship Historical Society of America's archives.

2017 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Features photographs by the late Bill Luke

2016 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Features photographs by Terry Doyen

2015 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Saluting Capt. William Hoey

2014 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Celebrating 70 Years

2013 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Featuring Bob Campbell

2012 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Featuring Jim Kidd

2011 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Featuring Roger LeLievre

2010 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Featuring James R. Hoffman

2009 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Featuring James H. Jackson

2008 MHSD Color Calendar $6.00 postpaid
Featuring Skip Meier

2007 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring James E. Morris

2006 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Gregory S. Rudnick

2005 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Michael J. Nichols

2004 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Gordon Bugbee

2003 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Scott B. Worden, Jr.

2002 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Eugene Onchulenko

2001 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Rev. Peter Van der Linden

2000 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring MHSD Advisory Council

1999 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Edward J. Morris

1998 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Rene Beauchamp

1997 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Wesley R. Harkins

1996 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring William Hoey

1995 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Hal Jackson

1994 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring Emory A. Massman, Jr.

1992 MHSD Color Calendar $ 6.00 postpaid
Featuring John Vournakis

Past publications

Part of the stated mission of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit is the publication of scholarly works exploring the history of Great Lakes ships and shipping. Here's a list of of our past projects. While out of print, copies may be available at your local bookstore or online sites such as eBay.

The Great Lakes Engineering Works:
The Shipyard And Its Vessels

(2009) This popular work explores the history of the Great Lakes Engineering Works, a prominent Detroit-area shipbuilder. More than 500 pages long, this hardcover book was written in two major sections and illustrated with more than 1,000 photographs. The first section depicts GLEW's three shipyards and their development at St. Clair, Ashtabula and the Detroit area. The second section is dedicated to the 300-plus vessels that were built by GLEW's three yards, describing each vessel's history in detail and with most entries accompanied by many previously unpublished photographs. You can read the entire book online in your browser or download it to read offline. (Requires Adobe Acrobat)
To read in your browser, click the section link you want and a new window will open with that section. To download the files, right click and use "Save Link As" option.

Great Lakes Ships We Remember Volumes I, II, III

Volumes I (1979 & Revised 1984), II (1984), III (1994)
These three hardcover volumes recall hundreds of Great Lakes vessels in story and pictures, many of which were briefly discussed in the Detroit Marine Historian's Ships That Never Die series. Many of the photographs that were used in these publications came from private collections and were not available elsewhere.

Ahoy & Farewell

(1970) This softcover first volume of Ahoy & Farewell was originally written in 1969 and published in 1970 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of The Marine Historical Society of Detroit, Inc. It, along with certain supplements to the monthly Marine Historian, briefly chronicled vessels that entered service on the Lakes (Ahoy) or that had left the Lakes (Farewell) since the Society's inception in 1944. It included 50 pages of text and 24 photos.

Ships That Never Die

(1952) Predecessor to Great Lakes Ships We Remember, this softcover booklet briefly portrayed 45 well-known ships of the Great Lakes, reprinted from the Detroit Marine Historian and edited by the Rev. Edward J. Dowling S.J.