Scott Misener Steamships Co. Ltd. Records, 1965, 1967, 1972-1977, 1987, n.d.

Ontario Editorial Bureau (O.E.B.)

Robert Scott Misener Steamships began in 1914 when an ambitious Scott Misener turned to the seas as the value of his land investments plummeted with the war. Misener began with the purchase of a share in the ship the Overland in 1917 which could carry a load of 1,000 tons. Two years later Misener sold his share and was able to purchase the Simon Langell, a much larger ship. In 1919 Misener officially had his own steamship company. He and John O. McKellar, an engineer from the Overland, sailed the Langell for three years together. In 1921 the pair purchased their first steamer the Claremont, a turning point for the company. By 1928 the team had the financial backing of John J. Boland of Buffalo, N.Y. This support allowed them to acquire more ships and further establish themselves as a respectable Great Lakes shipping company. As they were building up their company John North McWatters of Sarnia joined them and brought along his financial savvy to carry them through the depression. During the 1940s and 1950s Misener purchased as well as merged with several other shipping companies expanding his fleet into 34 ships. As the company grew so did the draw to the Great Lakes. It had become the world’s most important waterway. After establishing a thriving company Scott Misener died in June of 1963. His oldest son Ralph succeeded him and continued bringing the company success. He joined the Board of Directors for the company when in 1970 J.N. McWatters took over as President. In 1976 the third and final generation of Miseners Scott A. Misener, the oldest son of Ralph Misener, took over the company and remained President until 1981. In 1978 the company name changed to Misener Transportation Limited to reflect the changing dynamics of the company and water transportation. During the early 1980s shipping demands were changing and many Lakers were not seeing a full season of sail. Things picked up again in 1983 when 3 new fleets were added opening up deep sea trading. Once again during the early 1990s things began slowing down for the company. In March 1994 the remaining ships of the Misener fleet were divided between Algoma Central Marine and the Upper Lakes Group Inc.

This archive is a part of the larger Ontario Editorial Bureau fonds (OEB) housed at Brock University. The bulk of the collection is correspondence relating to the Scott Misener Steamship Co. Ltd. Publications and Speeches were also retained. Fonds contain materials related to the rise and eventual dissolving of the Misener Steamship Company. The collection is arranged chronologically by year within each series. Series I, Correspondence contains typed and handwritten letters, clippings, media releases and photographs. Series II, Public Relations, contains any materials that were made available to the public; including publications and speeches and addresses.