WoodenBoat Magazine Collection at the Mariners' Museum

01 Dec 23:

We came across a sailor named William Benson who was looking for a new home for his collection of WoodenBoat magazines, which dated back to the first issue in 1974. He also happens to be a fine artist. We checked with the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, VA to see if they needed copies and found that they had gaps in their collection, so we arranged to have the collection shipped down to Virginia. Summer came and went and we finally got the magazines sorted. Here's the first 200 issues. 

And here's 60+ missing issues, starting around issue 219, delivered to the front desk at the Museum. The Museum staff was amazing, they coordinated transfer with the Library staff and the little tubs rolled off happily to their new home.

The magazines will be cataloged and added to nice binders that will protect them from damage. Part of the library collection is in deep storage, with plans underway to expand storage space. Much of the collection can be accessed with prior coordination with the Library staff. The spare issues will be archived in our library, so if you need info you can contact us or find all 50 years of digital copies at WoodenBoat.

Admission to this wonderful Museum is $1 USD, and a membership will help support future growth and expansion. Don't forget to check out the online catalog of archived items.

We are still looking for Issues 219-226, so if you have a lead, please drop me an email at lewis.kent at gmail, we'd be happy to pay shipping plus a few pesos to get them added to the collection. Or send them direct to the Museum.

Huzzah to the Benson family!

FMI: Mariners' Museum