Archives for maritime ministry exist in these locations:

1. Association Collections

Archive of the Lutheran Association for Maritime Mission (LAMM) – Southern Lutheran Seminary, Columbia, SC which is now the School of Theology, Lenoir-Rhyne University, 4201 North Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203. The Library had a LAMM display in the Seminary library for many years. The work of LAMM was folded into that of Seafarers’ International House in 2015.

The Archive of the Center for Migration Studies, 307 East 60th Street, New York, New York, 10022. The CMS Archive consists of more than 100 collections that document the immigrant experience in North America from the mid-19th to the 21st century. Among the papers are a large deposit of papers of the Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) in North America and the personal papers of Rev. Dr. Roald Kverndal (referred to informally as the archive of IASMM).

Hull History Centre, Worship Street, Hull, UK, HU28BG – archive of The Mission to Seafarers, (documents 1837-ca. 1995, 105 linear metres), Stella Maris (The Apostleship of the Sea) (UK), (38 boxes), The International Christian Maritime Association (15 boxes). The Hull History Centre contains the archives of a number of other smaller maritime missions and maritime-related charities as well.

Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey Archive – SCI’s archives consists of seventy boxes (approximately 90 linear feet) of correspondence, ledgers, deeds, articles, memos, financial records, and subject files that date back to the inception of the organization in 1834. Additionally, scrapbooks, lantern slides, annual reports, issues of The Lookout and thousands of photographs can be found in the digital collection here.

Archive of the American Seamen’s Friend Society. G.W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport. This collection is, in effect, the archives of the American Seamen’s Friend Society, based in New York City, circa 1828-1975, divided almost equally between the 19th and 20th centuries. Contained in the 5,000 pieces and 106 volumes are reports on the activities of Sailor’s Homes, Bethel Ships, and Loan Libraries. There are library registers, minutes of annual meetings, legacies, letters from shipmasters, A.S.F.S. publications, and a wealth of other information pertinent to this organization.

Redemptorist Archives, c/o St. Peter the Apostle Rectory, 1019 North Fifth Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19123. (Stella Maris archives)

2. Local Seafarers’ Centers

Thunder Bay Mission to Seafarers. Canada. Engracia De Jesus Matias Archives and Special Collections. Canada. 1980-2008.

Seamen’s Church Institute Philadelphia Archives. United States  Archival material held at the Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described are physically available in the reading room, and not digitally available through the web. This is a finding aid.

Mission to Seafarers Victoria. Australia. Victorian Collections. The collection focus is on the Mission to Seafarers Victoria organisational history and the communities surrounding it – seafarers, the Anglican chaplaincy and philanthropic groups, such as the Ladies Habour Lights Guild. The collection spans from the late 1800s to the present day. It comprises documents, books, photographs and objects.

3. Private Collections

Archive of the Stella Maris international office – The Vatican – by appointment only

Archive of Sailors’ Society – Southampton, UK – by appointment only

Archive of Seafarers’ Friend – Boston, MA – by appointment only

Archive of Mariner’s House – Montreal, QC – by appointment only