The Atlantic Works was a major ship- and engine-building and repair plant in East Boston, Massachusetts from 1853 to the early 1950s. In its first two decades, the firm delivered built engines and, occasionally, ships for Russian, Egyptian, Paraguayan, Hawaiian, and American owners, as well as the United States Navy. Starting in 1869, Atlantic Works acquired neighboring properties and built dry docks and marine railways along the waterfront, increasing its capacity to build and repair ships and engines. The firm was acquired by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in 1928, and operated until the early 1950s.

The Atlantic Works Collection consists of a large group of ship plans, along with some limited photographic and archival material. The plans, largely unprocessed, are roughly cataloged by contract number. The archives include indexed tissue-paper notebooks (from 1879 to 1907, with many gaps) that feature weight and cost calculations, sketches of parts, test results, specifications and other material. Products range from steamer propellers and boilers to locomotive engines and engines for running factory belts. Separately, folders include material from about 1892 to 1920, including maritime calculations, engine test results, lists of orders, blueprints and other material, including 1899 cyanotypes of the steamer Ransom B. Fuller. Photographs depict working scenes from the plant.

Title: Atlantic Works Collection

Creator: Atlantic Works

Dates: circa 1853 – circa 1951

Extent: 78 boxes and 7 drawers plans, 2 linear feet archives, and 1 box of photos

Language: English

Repository: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections

Access: Open for research by appointment. Partial index available. Access may be restricted due to fragile condition.

Copyright: No known restrictions

Credit: Hart Nautical Collection, MIT Museum

See more detail in the Atlantic Works Collection Finding Aid [PDF]