Claude Rust Collection

File

Identifier: SC-0034

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Claude Rust Collection contains research materials for his book The Burning of the General Slocum, as well as heirloom artifacts from the day of the General Slocum Disaster and memorial services until 2018.

A facsimile of the original itinerary from the day of the disaster is included along with an original first memorial ceremony pamphlet. Memorial Service pamphlets from 1957-2018 are also included in the collection.

Research materials include maps, photographs, facsimiles of court transcripts, postcards, books, and notes.

Dates

1904 - 2018

Conditions Governing Access

Appointments to examine materials must be made in advance. Please e-mail library@sunymaritime.edu for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproductions may be provided to users to support research and scholarship. However, collection use is subject to all copyright laws. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Bruce Rust and Diane LauKaitis release the materials under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike 4.0 International License option on the deed of gift. This retains their copyright to the materials, but the public may freely copy, modify, and share these items for noncommercial purposes under the same terms, if they include the original source information.

For commercial licensing, email library@sunymaritime.edu for contact information for Bruce Rust and Diane LauKaitis.

Biographical / Historical

Claude Rust, 1916-2002, was the author of The Burning of the General Slocum. Rust was interested in learning about the disaster, being the son of survivor, Anna May Rust, who disembarked the ship shortly before departure, and grandson of victim Charlotte May, who passed away in the tragedy. Through discussion with his family and further interest in the General Slocum Disaster, Rust researched and put together the first minute by minute account of the route which can be seen in notes as well as a map overlay in the collection.

"Claude Rust was born in the South Bronx. Just before WWII his family moved to the Throggs Neck area of the Bronx. He entered the military in 1942 and served in the 10th Field Artillery Battery, landing in Italy during the Battle of Anzio and going up through France and Germany. Following the war, he studied radio announcing and acting. He worked as a radio announcer before being hired as a sound engineer at the United Nations, a position which he held for 30 years until his retirement in 1983." - From biography blurb by Bruce Rust, included with accession materials.

Extent

4.7 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Materials are arranged by artifacts, writings, research, and personal. largely left in the order they were accessioned in as they were previously arranged by the family of Rust.

Physical Location

Stephen B. Luce Library, SUNY Maritime College 6 Pennyfield Avenue Bronx, NY 10465 Telephone:(718) 409-7231 library@sunymaritime.edu

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Bruce Rust and Diane LauKaitis donated the materials to SUNY Maritime College in 2022.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Taliesin Gamache (they/them) in April and May of 2023. Note cards in metal box were filed with rest of collection in folders. Metal box, duplicate postcards, and one book were returned to the family as they were to be deaccessioned.