Stevedore Collection

South Street docks in New York City, 1870s
Merchant ships unloading along South Street, New York City, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Riverboats at Shreveport, Louisiana, 1870s
Stevedores loading barrels at the Red River levee at Shreveport, Louisiana, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Ohio River at Cincinnati, Ohio, 1860s
Riverboats loading at the Ohio River levee in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1860s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Eastern States on the ways, Dec. 7, 1901, 1901 Dec 7. Creator: Unknown
Eastern States on the ways, Dec. 7, 1901, 1901 Dec 7

Longshoremen, 1859. Creator: James Abbott McNeill Whistler
Longshoremen, 1859

Pay day for the stevedores, Baltimore, Md. c1905. Creator: Unknown
Pay day for the stevedores, Baltimore, Md. c1905

'The Strike at Sydney; Wool being conveyed by the Owners with the help of Friends and Special Const Creator
'The Strike at Sydney; Wool being conveyed by the Owners with the help of Friends and Special Constables to the Wharves, 1890. From "The Graphic

Interior of the London Docks, 1854. Creator: Unknown
Interior of the London Docks, 1854. From "Cassells Illustrated Family Paper; London Weekly 31/12/1853 - 30/12/1854"

All Things Requisite for a Neat Job of Cargo Lifting" Loading Cars for Export, 1937. Creator: Fox
All Things Requisite for a Neat Job of Cargo Lifting" Loading Cars for Export, 1937. Dockers on the River Thames in London. From "The Said Noble River", by Alan Bell

"Traffic and Merchandise Multiplied Century By Century" A Dock Transit Shed, 1937. Creator: Unknown
"Traffic and Merchandise Multiplied Century By Century" A Dock Transit Shed, 1937. Goods and warehousemen, River Thames, London. From "The Said Noble River", by Alan Bell

'The Strike of Dock Labourers at Melbourne; "Freemen" Escaping in a boat from an attack of the Union Men, 1890. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 42

The Seine, at the Quai d'Austerlitz, snow effect, c1900. Creator: Auguste Lepere
The Seine, at the Quai d'Austerlitz, snow effect, c1900

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

Dock stevedores packing and icing fish at the Fulton fish market, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Dock stevedores packing and icing fish at the Fulton fish market

Possibly: Dock worker, Washington, D. C. 1942. Creator: Gordon Parks
[Untitled photo, possibly related to: Washington, D.C. Dock worker]

Dock worker, Washington, D. C. 1942. Creator: Gordon Parks
Washington, D.C. Dock worker

Loading boxes of fish to be shipped to hotels and restaurants at the Fulton fish... New York, 1943
New York, New York. Loading boxes of fish to be shipped to hotels and restaurants at the Fulton fish market

Many of the Fulton fish market men are in the armed forces, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Many of the Fulton fish market men are in the armed forces. [ Fulton Markets Men in the Armed Forces of our Country - For Victory!

A scene at Fultons fish market, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. A scene at Fultons fish market

Fulton fish market stevedores, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Fulton fish market stevedores

Possibly: Filling a barrel with codfish at the Fulton fish market, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
[Untitled photo, possibly related to: New York, New York. Filling a barrel with codfish at the Fulton fish market]

Filling a barrel with codfish at the Fulton fish market, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Filling a barrel with codfish at the Fulton fish market

Dock stevedore at the Fulton fish market moving a barrel of codfish, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Dock stevedore at the Fulton fish market moving a barrel of codfish

Dock stevedore at the Fulton fish market, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Dock stevedore at the Fulton fish market

Packing fish in barrels at the Fulton fish market, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Packing fish in barrels at the Fulton fish market

Possibly: Fulton fish market dock stevedores unloading and weighing fish in the... New York, 1943
[Untitled photo, possibly related to: New York, New York. Fulton fish market dock stevedores unloading and weighing fish in the early morning]

Fulton fish market dock stevedores unloading and weighing fish in the early morning, New York, 1943
New York, New York. Fulton fish market dock stevedores unloading and weighing fish in the early morning

Fulton fish market stevedores unloading and weighing fish in the early morning, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Fulton fish market stevedores unloading and weighing fish in the early morning

Fulton fish market dock stevedores with lobsters caught in the New England... New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Fulton fish market dock stevedores with lobsters caught in the New England fishing waters

Fish caught off the New England coast is packed in these barrels and boxes and... New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Fish caught off the New England coast is packed in these barrels and boxes and shipped to the retailers

A Fulton fish market stevedore, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. A Fulton fish market stevedore. [Note wooden-handled hook over his shoulder, used for securing and moving loads]

Stevedores at the Fulton fish market unloading fish from boats caught... New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Stevedores at the Fulton fish market unloading fish from boats caught off the New England coast

Dock stevedores at the Fulton fish market sending up baskets of fish... New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Dock stevedores at the Fulton fish market sending up baskets of fish from the holds of the boats to the docks where it is bought

Dock stevedore at the Fulton fish market holding giant lobster claws, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Dock stevedore at the Fulton fish market holding giant lobster claws

Dock worker at the Fulton fish market loading fish that have been caught... New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Dock worker at the Fulton fish market loading fish that have been caught in Gloucester. The fish are cleaned, washed in brine water and iced before being shipped to the retailer

Stevedore who packs and loads crates of fish on the lower east side, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Stevedore who packs and loads crates of fish on the lower east side

Fulton fish market hooker, New York, 1943. Creator: Gordon Parks
New York, New York. Fulton fish market hooker. [Poster: 170 and one WaC (Womens Army Auxiliary Corps) Fulton Markets Men Serving Our Country ]

Workers going about their business in a warehouse, from London, a Pilgrimage
STC377549 Workers going about their business in a warehouse, from London, a Pilgrimage, written by William Blanchard Jerrold (1826-94) & engraved by Pannemaker, pub

Warehousing in the City, from London, a Pilgrimage
STC377534 Warehousing in the City, from London, a Pilgrimage, written by William Blanchard Jerrold (1826-84) & engraved by Adolphe Francois Pannemaker (b.1822) pub

West St. New York, 1870s (sepia photo)
STC306706 West St. New York, 1870s (sepia photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; American, out of copyright

Limehouse Docks (engraving)
XJF444356 Limehouse Docks (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Limehouse, on the north bank of the River Thames in the borough of Tower Hamlets)

Warehousing, from London, a Pilgrimage, written by William Blanchard Jerrold
STC377547 Warehousing, from London, a Pilgrimage, written by William Blanchard Jerrold (1826-94) & engraved by Gauchard, pub

A Riverside Street, from London, a Pilgrimage
STC377532 A Riverside Street, from London, a Pilgrimage, written by William Blanchard Jerrold (1826-84) & engraved by Charles Laplante (d.1903) pub

Corn Barks, 1803 (colour litho)
478343 Corn Barks, 1803 (colour litho) by Atkinson, John Augustus (1775-1831) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Russian dockers loading and unloading corn shipments)

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

CANADA: FRENCH TRADERS. Native Americans trading with the French in eastern Canada, early 17th century. Drawing by C.W. Jefferys

Fishing boats unloading in London, 1800s
Landing fish at Billingsgate Market, London, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Steamboat taking on cargo, Mississippi river, 1800s
Mississippi steamboat loading cattle and corn, New Madrid, Missouri, circa 1880. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

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"Stevedores: The Unsung Heroes of America's Waterfronts" From the bustling South Street docks in New York City during the 1870s to the lively riverboats at Shreveport, Louisiana, and the Ohio River in Cincinnati during the mid-19th century, stevedores played a vital role in shaping America's maritime history. These hardworking individuals were responsible for loading and unloading cargo from ships, ensuring that goods reached their destinations efficiently. In New Orleans, black slaves toiled under harsh conditions as they loaded cotton onto steamboats bound for distant markets. Their labor fueled an industry that thrived on their sweat and tears. Meanwhile, Charleston's cotton wharf buzzed with activity during the 1870s as stevedores meticulously handled bales of this valuable commodity. The success of Garston Stevedores was celebrated by its dedicated workmen who lifted their hats high in acknowledgment. They took pride in contributing to a flourishing company that epitomized diligence and achievement. However, not all stories about stevedoring are filled with triumph. Anne Philiberte Coulet captured the devastating scene of a port engulfed in flames between 1760-80—a stark reminder of how perilous this profession could be. Fast forward to more recent times; Gordon Parks' lens captured dock workers packing fish at New York's Fulton fish market in 1943. With precision and speed, these men ensured fresh seafood made its way into hotels and restaurants across the city. During World War II, many Fulton fish market workers joined the armed forces—leaving behind empty spaces on those once-bustling docks but demonstrating their unwavering patriotism. These snapshots from history remind us of the tireless efforts exerted by stevedores throughout time—those whose strength built nations while often remaining unseen or forgotten amidst towering crates and bustling waterfronts.