Dockworker Collection

Unloading ore at Conneaut, Ohio, Brown conveying hoists, between 1900 and 1906. Creator: Unknown
Unloading ore at Conneaut, Ohio, Brown conveying hoists, between 1900 and 1906

Workmen from Garston Stevedores lifting their hats to the success of their company. The firm was started by three dockers who were made redundant in the late 1980s

The Longshoremens Noon, 1879. Creator: John George Brown
The Longshoremens Noon, 1879

Unloading fresh oranges 1900
Dockers unloading oranges at London Bridge, Wharf in the orange season. Packed in boxes or chests, containing 1, 000 oranges each. Oranges coming from Malta, Sicily, Spain and Portugal and Florida

The Stevedores in Arles, 1888. Artist: Gogh, Vincent, van (1853-1890)
The Stevedores in Arles, 1888. Found in the collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collections

DOCKWORKER, 1938. African American dockworker carrying a sack of oysters on his head in Olga, Louisiana. Photograph by Russell Lee, September 1938

LOADING FREIGHT, c1924. Dockworkers loading cargo onto a steamship. Photograph, c1924

MISSISSIPPI STEAMBOAT. A steamboat landing off the Mississippi River. Oil over a photograph, 1906

LOUISIANA STEAMBOAT, 1876. Loading bags of rice onto a river boat in Louisiana. Wood engraving, American, 1876

Newcastle Quayside (engraving)
XJF466226 Newcastle Quayside (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

DORE: LONDON, 1872. St. Katherines Dock. Wood engraving after Gustave Dore, from the series London: A Pilgrimage, 1872

DORE: LONDON, 1872. The Great Warehouse - St. Katherines Dock. Wood engraving after Gustave Dore, from the series London: A Pilgrimage, 1872

DORE: LONDON, 1872. Inside the Docks. Wood engraving after Gustave Dore, from the series London: A Pilgrimage, 1872

DORE: LONDON, 1872. Limehouse Dock. Wood engraving after Gustave Dore, from the series London: A Pilgrimage, 1872

DORE: LONDON, 1872. Poplar Dock. Wood engraving after Gustave Dore, from the series London: A Pilgrimage, 1872

DORE: LONDON, 1873. The Docks - The Concordia. Wood engraving after Gustave Dore
DORE: LONDON, 1873. The Docks - The " Concordia." Wood engraving after Gustave Dore, from the series London: A Pilgrimage, 1873

CHINA: HONG KONG, c1902. Dock workers on the busy wharfs at Hong Kong, c1902. Stereograph, c1902

CHINA: HONG KONG, c1910. Dock workers pulling loaded carts down the wharf, Hong Kong, China. Photograph, c1910

CHINA: HONG KONG, c1900. The busy commercial landing pier, Hong Kong, China. Stereograph, c1900

CHINA: HONG KONG, c1900. A Chinese worker carrying two heavy sacks on pole across his shoulders on the waterfront in Hong Kong, China. Photograph, c1900

CHINA: HONG KONG, c1903. The busy commercial docks in Hong Kong Harbor, China. Stereograph, c1903

CHINA: COAL BARGES, c1902. Coolies unloading coal barges in Hong Kong, China. Stereograph, c1902

NAGASAKI: NAVAL STATION. Japanese dockworkers on a barge and scaffolding form a bucket brigade in order to pass coal from the barge to the SS Siberia at the naval station at Nagasaki, Japan

LONDON: DOCK STRIKE, 1889. The manifesto issued by the strike committee during the Great London Dock Strike, 15 August-16 September 1889, joined by nearly all of the citys riverside workers

LONDON: DOCK STRIKE, 1889. A worker demonstrating at the Great London Docker s
LONDON: DOCK STRIKE, 1889. A worker demonstrating at the Great London Dockers Strike of 1889 with a placard representing an undernourished dockers child. Contemporary drawing

STEAMBOAT, c1898. The steamboat Rosalie leaving Seattle for the Klondike. Stereograph, c1898

NEW YORK: SHIPYARD, 1833. Smith and Dimon Shipyard on New York Citys East River. Oil on canvas by James Pringle, 1833

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STEAMBOAT LANDING, 1906. A Mississippi River steamboat landing, 1906

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STEAMSHIP: GREAT EASTERN. Crewmen checking the drum of the Great Eastern before its first, abortive launch attempt, November 1857

MISSOURI RIVER STEAMBOAT. The steamboat State of Kansas moored along the levee at Leavenworth, Kansas, on the Missouri River. Photographed c1895

MISSISSIPPI STEAMBOAT, c1880. The steamboat E.C. Carroll, Jr. loaded with bales of cotton along the Mississippi River in Louisiana. Photographed c1880

STEVEDORES IN PORT. Photograph, c1875

SILK TRADE CARD, c1880. American merchants trade card, c1880, for Frears Silk Department

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Dockworkers: The Unsung Heroes of the Waterfront From the humble beginnings of Garston Stevedores to the bustling docks captured in John George Brown's "The Longshoremens Noon, " dockworkers have played a vital role in shaping our maritime history. These hardworking men, often overlooked but never forgotten, dedicated their lives to ensuring the smooth flow of goods and commodities across oceans. In 1900, as fresh oranges were unloaded from ships, these dockworkers showcased their strength and precision. Each crate handled with care represented countless hours spent honing their craft. Just like Vincent van Gogh's masterpiece "The Stevedores in Arles, " they transformed manual labor into an art form. Even amidst adversity, such as depicted in Olga's photograph from 1938 showing an African American dockworker carrying a sack of oysters on his head, these resilient individuals persevered. Their determination knew no bounds as they overcame challenges and contributed to the prosperity of their communities. Whether it was loading freight onto steamships or loading bags of rice onto river boats like those seen in photographs from c1924 and 1876 respectively, dockworkers were at the heart of global trade. They ensured that goods reached their destinations safely and efficiently while connecting distant lands through commerce. The Mississippi River became a stage for these workers' endeavors; its waters witnessed countless steamboats landing off its shores throughout history. As depicted by oil paintings over photographs capturing moments frozen in time, we catch glimpses into this vibrant world where dockworkers orchestrated intricate dances between land and water. Across continents, from Newcastle Quayside to St Katherines Dock captured by Gustave Dore's engravings dating back to 1872 - each image tells a story woven together by sweat-soaked brows and calloused hands working tirelessly day after day. Dockworkers may not be celebrated like captains or shipbuilders.