EXPERT PANEL ILLUMINATES IMAGES & THEMES IN NEW DIGITAL EXHIBITION
Conservancy Leadership Leads Dialogue About the Connections Between Advertising, American Ideals and America's Flagship
Earlier this month, the Conservancy hosted a first-of-its-kind members-only panel discussion about the ongoing digital exhibition, Advertising the United States: Exploring America's Flagship Through Prints, Posters and Advertisements.

Hosted by Conservancy President Susan Gibbs, the panel discussion included exhibition curator Sydney Sheehan, Conservancy Board members Mark Perry and Marc Shenfield, and New York Chapter Co-Chair Paul Stipkovich - who each brought their own subject matter expertise to the conversation. The panelists shared some of their favorite visualizations of the SS United States and they reflected on how the iconic ship left a profound stamp on the "Ad Age" - as well as her namesake nation.

As Marc Shenfield said as he reminisced about visiting the Big U in 1968: "It was one of the few products and services that lived up to its advertising. It really was a superlative ship in every way."


DESIGNING AMERICA'S FLAGSHIP
The Legacy of Sumner Besse
When Sumner B. Besse (pictured here second from the left) was hired by Newport News Shipyard and Dry Dock Company in the late 1920s, he didn’t know that one day he would help to design the fastest ship the world had ever seen. He still didn’t know it in 1930, when he left the shipyard to become one of the first employees of the new Mariners’ Museum nearby. For the next 10 years, he repaired artifacts, built ship models, and took photographs for the museum. World War II changed all that and started him on a path that would ultimately lead him to the exciting challenge of helping to design America’s Flagship.

Sumner's son, Bradford Besse, recently shared his father's story with the Conservancy, as well as his own special memory from aboard the Big U. 
MORE FROM THE SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCY
During our recent members-only program on the digital exhibition, Mark Perry, who contributed a copy of a United States Lines' "Unrushables" advertisement, shared his deep appreciation for the rare over-head view of America's Flagship featured in the classic ad. Now you can own this special "Unrushables" mug which is available in our Advertising the United States exhibition gift shop.

Save the Date! Our immensely popular virtual gala, hosted last year by the SS United States Conservancy West Coast Chapter, will return this year - as a collaboration of six Conservancy chapters - on June 23 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the United States' christening and launch. This year's event will include rare vintage footage, new entertainment, a special anniversary fundraising auction, and much more. 
 
Would you like to contribute an item to our auction? Please send us an email at info@ssusc.org.
THE BIG U CONTINUES TO INSPIRE...

"Thank you for the wonderful memories of what it was like to sail across the Atlantic and back on a steamship...While the trip is much faster via airliner, the relaxed atmosphere on a sailing vessel cannot be matched."

- Marcy, a recent visitor to the digital exhibition, Advertising the United States