The Friends are an adjunct to the Fellows of the G.W. Blunt White Library, an organization created in 1981 to strengthen the Library's collections and endowment.

The Friends support the Library with their dues and by raising other funds and soliciting or making donations of materials for the Library's collections.

Friends may also serve as volunteers at the Library, helping us to serve the community of maritime scholars and those with a general interest in maritime history.

Dues and other funds raised by the Friends are used to purchase materials for the Library's collections, and to support activities of the Friends and the Library.

The satisfaction of contributing to a non-profit organization that shares your interests.

25% off the price of Library research publications.

A quarterly Library newsletter.

An advance list of special books to be offered at the annual Fellows Book Auction.

A quarterly "New Title" list (upon request).

Notice of lectures held at the Library.

For additional information about joining click here



The Fellows of the G.W. Blunt White Library hold an annual book sale an early Friday in November. The sale features over 1000 maritime works. Run as a dutch auction the doors for the first round open at 12:00 and the sale continues until 5:00pm


The Fellows of the G.W. Blunt White Library provide various types of support for the Library including prizes and awards for scholarship. Mystic Seaport and the G.W. Blunt White Library are long-time supporters of academic pursuits in maritime fields.


The Fellows of the G.W. Blunt White Library, a Research Library at Mystic Seaport, offer a $1,000 prize for a Maritime History Article.

The Gerald E. Morris Log Article Prize is named for a former Librarian and Director of Publications at Mystic Seaport. The prize was established to encourage scholarship and publication in the field of American maritime history.

Previously unpublished articles should be related to American maritime and naval matters. They may take such forms as biography, literary, musical or scientific discussions, studies of trades or communities, or explanations of forms of maritime technology. Works of fiction are not considered appropriate.

Manuscripts should not exceed 6,000 words and are to be submitted by March 31st each year. Selection is done by the staff of the Log and a committee of the Fellows.

The author of the winning article receives an award of $1,000, and the winning article is published in the Log, a quarterly journal with a circulation of 22,000. The announcement of the winner will be made at the Spring Annual Meeting of the Fellows. The winner will have their name added to a plaque in the Library. In addition, the authors of the three top-rated articles are designated Visiting Fellows for one year.

Articles and nominations should be sent to the address below. Further information on the award can be obtained from:

Paul J. O'Pecko, Library Director
G.W. Blunt White Library
Mystic Seaport
PO Box 6000
Mystic, CT 06355
telephone 860.572.5367, fax 860.572.5394,
email collections@mysticseaport.org


This award is given annually by the Fellows of the G.W. Blunt White Library to a person who, in the eyes of the judges, has made a significant contribution in the maritime research field. It is named for Honorary Fellow John Gardner, who was a well-known maritime historian, author, boatbuilder and designer and frequent user of the Library.

The award will be made for maritime research or publication. Forms of this research might include biography, literary, musical or scientific discussions, studies of trades or communities, fiction, or explanations of forms of maritime technology.

Selection will be made by an awards committee consisting of four Fellows and the Library Director. The recipient of the award will be announced at the annual spring meeting of the Fellows and will receive an award of $500 . The winner will also be named an honorary Fellow for the year and have their name added to a plaque in the Library.

Nominations, including name of nominee and the basis for the nomination, to be sent to:

Paul O'Pecko, Library Director
Mystic Seaport
P.O. Box 6000
Mystic, CT 06355


The Library and Museum also encourage historical research as a member of the New England Regional Fellowship Consortium along with other libraries, museums, and historical societies from around New England. NERFC offers awards for eight weeks of research at participating institutions each year.