Records in the Great Lakes Region Relating to the Christmas Tree Ships Rouse Simmons and S. Thal.

This list of original and microfilmed records represents only a few of the known references to the Rouse Simmons, the S. Thal, and August and Hermann Schuenemann, in Great Lakes Region records.  Additional research would likely uncover further records relating to these legendary schooners, their crews, and the maritime history of the Great Lakes.  

Record Group 21, Records of District Courts of the United States

	U.S. District Court, Milwaukee

•	Admiralty Case J502, Otto Parker vs. The Schooner S. Thal, August-September 1898.  Admiralty case over wage dispute earned by Parker as a cook on the S. Thal.  The S. Thal, captained by August Schuenemann, brother of Herman, sank two months later with all hands carrying Christmas Trees to Chicago.  Location: 342/365981.

•	Admiralty Docket, Vol. J, Otto Parker vs. The Schooner S. Thal, August-September 1898.  Detailed docket entry for Case J502.  Pages 502-505.  Location: 357/621229.   	

Record Group 26, Records of the U.S. Coast Guard

Life Saving Station Logs, Chicago District

•	Life Saving Station Log, Kewaunee, Wisconsin, log entry for November 23, 1912 describing sighting the Rouse Simmons and reporting her distress to the crew at Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Life Saving Station.  Location: 348/372037.

•	Life Saving Station Log, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, log entry for November 23, 1912 describing the abortive rescue attempt for the Rouse Simmons.  Location: 348/372220.

Record Group 29, Records of the Federal Census Bureau

Microfilm Census, Federal Population Schedules, Illinois, Cook County:
 
•	1900 entry for Herman Schuenemann (Twelfth Census, ED 659, Sheet 1, Line 3).  Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 271.

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•	1910 entry for Herman Schuenemann (Thirteenth Census, ED 982, Sheet 2, Line 63).  Microfilm Publication T624, Roll 266.

Location: Great Lakes Region Microfilm Research Room.

Record Group 36, Records of the U. S. Customs Service

Grand Haven
•	Entrances/Clearances, August 1882-April 1890 Vol.18 (Arrivals) and Vol. 19 (Departures).  Location: 341/911757.

Record Group 41, Records of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation

Milwaukee
•	Licenses of Enrolled Vessels, 1853-1912.  License of Enrolled Vessel for Rouse Simmons, August 27, 1868.  Vol. 87.  Page: 349.  Location: 340/362743.

•	Licenses of Enrolled Vessels, 1853-1912.  License of Enrolled Vessel for Rouse Simmons, July 3, 1871.  Vol. 69.  Page 99.  Location: 340/362743.  

•	Licenses of Enrolled Vessels, 1853-1912.  License of Enrolled Vessel for S. Thal, October 19, 1891.  Vol. 33.  Page 391.  Location: 340/362750.

Printed Materials

•	Forty-Fourth Annual List of Merchant Vessels of the United States for the Year Ended June 30, 1912. (Government Printing Office, Washington, DC), 1912 (and other annual lists).  Entry for Rouse Simmons.  Location: Great Lakes Region Textual Research Room.