This collection was compiled originally as a collection of fishing in 18th and 19th century America. While compiling this collection it became clear that fishing at the time was dominated by a particular field of fishing called whaling. Whaling is the hunting of whales in order to use their oil for machine lubrication and fuel for oil lamps.

Thankfully the amount of whaling has drastically decreased in much of the world, largely due to the extreme hunting they were subjected to from the early 17th century onward. However, for early Americans this industry was the key for cheap fuel instead of being forced to by whale oil from oversea traders.

The purpose of this collection is to provide a window into an area of early American life that is not always focused on, life by the water. This collection shows Items used for whaling, the products garnered for whaling as well as art depicting life next to the water. We have maintained our relationship with water since life first crawled out of the ocean so many millions of years ago. Wherever your interests towards humanity may lean, water has always been and always will be entwined with our lives.

Citation:  Robert Lloyd Webb (1988). On the Northwest: Commercial Whaling in the Pacific Northwest, 1790-1967. pg 228