Biographical/historical information

Francis Hagerty was a naval architect employed by John Eltman at his boatyard in Cohasset, MA. In 1938 Hagerty purchased a company of his own, continuing to collaborate with Eltman. Eltman died in 1942 and Hagerty became responsible for full operations.

Prior to World War II Hagerty concentrated on the manufacturing of racing shells. He developed a unique construction method for producing very durable small boat hulls from sheets of plywood that were held together with a newly introduced adhesive. Also, from 1938 until the late 1940s, he produced thousands of five-foot wooden dinghies known as "Sea Shells", as well as racing sailboats and ice boats.

When World War II began, the U.S. Navy noticed Hagerty's production process. They asked Hagerty to produce a cover for their new radar system being used on bomber aircraft. Hagerty came up with the "radome" which were produced throughout the war. The company also produced the antennas that were used on U.S. Navy PT (Patrol Torpedo) boats.

After the war, Hagerty found his business mostly seasonal. At the request of his wife Mary, the company began constructing furniture in their factory. Their line of furniture proved quite popular, particularly the home kit versions. This popularity was partly a result of the huge market in the post-war building explosion. The company continued on for several years utilizing a sizeable number of employees. However, after approximately a decade, business dwindled down dramatically. The business was sold in the early 1990s.

Sources:

https://www.wickedlocal.com/x531837080/Honoring-Hagerty-s-legacy

https://cohassetcentralcemetery.com/articles/31-history-of-the-hagerty-property-mariners-park-and-the-hagerty-family

Scope and arrangement

The collection contains a letter accompanied by a sketch and blueprint related to a boat design by John G. Alden Yacht Broker of Boston. Also included is a catalog of boat plans produced by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association in Tacoma, WA. There are also several photographs of the production of PT (Patrol Torpedo) boat radar tripods in the Hagerty factory. In addition, there are several oversized boat plans of various types. Among there are yachts, sailboats, skiffs, pram dinghies and plywood outboards. Please see the container list for more specific information.

Administrative information

Custodial History

October 6, 2006 18 items, 0.25 cubic feet; Collection (1940-1946, undated) relating to the Hagerty Company, Cohasset, MA, including its construction of PT (Patrol Torpedo) boats and RADAR tripods, model yachts, sailboats, skiffs, dinghies, and outboards, including correspondence, photographic prints, blueprints and printed materials. Purchase (Special Manuscript Fund), Ten Pound Island Book Co., Gloucester, MA

Source of acquisition

Purchase (Special Manuscript Fund), Ten Pound Island Book Co., Gloucester, MA

Processing information

Encoded by Lindsay Flood, April 4, 2008

Description by Dale Sauter, 2020

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

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