Willard, Norma Collection

SummaryThe collection consists of one reel of film depicting two boys and a girl setting up camp from a car and trailer, cooking and eating a meal, unloading and assembling two small boats and launching them on the water. One boat is a kayak, the other is a rowboat invented by Skene as "the Skene sectional boat," in three sections. The girl paddles the kayak and the boys assemble the rowboat and join her in the water. The donor reports that the film was made in Chatham, Mass.

Biographical/Historical NotesNorman Skene (1882-1932) was a naval architect and author of "Elements of Yacht Design" (1904). WorldCat After L. Francis Herreshoff, Skene is one of the best known 20th century marine architects. His daughter, Norma Skene Bowe, who appears in the film, is the mother of the donor, Norma Willard. Norman Skene adapted South Greenland kayak designs for use in North America and published "Building Plans of Walrus, Esquimo Kayak" in the periodical "Rudder" in 1923. WorldCat The plans appear with a statement on original use of kayaks for hunting and adaptation for sport, "one with which few people are familiar, but which deserves great popularity." Norman Skene disappeared at sea off Marblehead, Mass., in 1932. His kayak was found with a broken paddle and a hole punctured in the bow. The collections file includes a copy of the article in "Rudder" and a copy of an advertising flyer for the sectional boat.

RepositoryNortheast Historic Film

AvailabilityThe Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and UseAuthorization to reuse and/or reproduce must be obtained from Northeast Historic Film. See http://www.oldfilm.org/research for more information.