World War I Collections Guide

Transcription

1 J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library World War I Collections Guide Prepared by Peter Kesselring, Independence Seaport Museum offers a vast collection of records that show the maritime history unique to the city of Philadelphia during the World War 1 era. In 1914, many countries of Europe became engaged in all-out war following the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria. At first, the United States remained neutral throughout the first 3 years of combat as Americans generally viewed this as a European war. However, Germany began sinking multiple U.S. merchant ships that were crossing the Atlantic Ocean so President Woodrow Wilson ended up declaring war on Germany on April 6 th, The war had been a stalemate for years, but with the United States entering the war on the Allied side (Great Britain, France, Russia, etc), Germany and the rest of the Central Powers (Austria-Hungry, Ottoman Empire) were defeated a year and a half later on November 11 th, 1918 which brought World War 1 to a close. In addition to this bloody war in Europe that spanned from , the world was rocked by a devastating influenza pandemic in Origins of the disease are still disputed, but the first reported cases of the outbreak of this disease were reported in the United States. From there, this disease would spread all around the world, claiming many lives. Europe soon became contaminated in 1918 as American soldiers brought the deadly disease overseas with them when they arrived on the battlefields. In the end, more people died from the influenza pandemic in 1918 than people died from the war. The World War 1 era had a profound effect on all Americans at this time and the people of the city of Philadelphia were no exception. The Independence Seaport Museum has a collection of manuscripts, photographs, logbooks, letters, prints, ship models, books, and

2 artifacts that indicate how life was altered for so many people during WWI. The collection here is divided into two different categories; home front/civilians, and military and diaries. Under the home front/civilians category, the museum offers a collection of various primary sources that show what life was like in Philadelphia or the United States in general during WWI. This collection in everything from family records, diaries, newspapers, photographs, drawings, and maps. Meanwhile, the military and diaries collection consists of primary sources that had a direct impact on the war effort. Items in this collection include ship logs, ship plans, military officials diaries, maps and much more. Homefront/civilians: Manuscript records - Penelope Batcheler collection of nautical ephemera and photographs ( ) a. Collection of pictures, postcards, and manuscripts about the ocean liners and naval vessels that existed during WWI. - Bethlehem Steel Corporation records. ( ) a. This is a collection of printed materials from Bethlehem Steel Corporation and its shipbuilding division. These materials include: brochures, newsletters, periodicals ( ), biographical information on Charles Schwab, and memorials to Schwab. Newsletters include the Fore River Log ( ) and the Bethlehem Booster ( ). Also in the collection is approximately 600 black and white photographs from the early 20th century. Images are of ships under construction, ships underway, parts, and launchings. Some of the photos are from Harlan and Hollingsworth and Federal Shipbuilding. - Thomas D. Bowes, M.E., Associates records. ( ) a. This is a collection of plans and records of the naval architecture firm of Thomas D. Bowes, M.E., Associates, Inc. Materials include: rolled design plans, design #1-878 ( ) - Edward O. Clark papers. ( ) a. This is a collection of materials assembled by Edward O. Clark concerning Delaware River steamboats. The bulk of the collection consists of photographs of vessels, engines, and engine components. There are also some photographs of interiors of vessels, passengers, and shipyards.

3 - William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company collection. ( ) a. Information about the various ships that were built by the William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company. Being one of the premier ship building companies during the 19 th and early 20 th centuries, this company produced many ships. In this collection, there is information about both merchant and naval ships that were produced by this company, many of which served during WWI. The information provided includes what type of boat the vessel is, its dimensions, its tonnage (or carrying capacity), the launch date of the ship, its owner(s), its history, and an overall description. - Edmund A. Crenshaw papers. ( ) a. Papers of Edmund Crenshaw documenting his career in the U.S. Navy. Materials include: a small number of memos related to his commission in the Navy, initially assigned to USS Connecticut in 1912 and then to USS Chester in 1915; memos and correspondence from 1919 regarding Crenshaw's resignation as Lieutenant-Commander of USS Alert (Submarine Base). - Charles B. Edwards diaries. ( ) a. This collection consists of diaries and notebooks kept by Charles B. Edwards, an engineer who worked for the Westinghouse Machine Company (East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and the New York Shipbuilding Company (Camden, New Jersey), among other organizations. The majority of the diaries (v. 1-9) contain short, daily entries about the weather and the activities of his family during R. Howard Eisenbrey scrapbooks. ( ) a. A collection of scrapbooks of R. Howard Eisenbrey ( and ). One scrapbook contains clippings about Penn's rowing program, The collection also includes loose newspaper clippings on Penn oarsmen ( ). - Independence Seaport Museum collection of Pennsylvania Nautical School material. ( ) a. The Independence Seaport Collection of Pennsylvania Nautical School material documents the School and its alumni association the Pennsylvania Nautical Schoolship Association largely through photographs, class yearbooks, alumni newsletters, course materials, postcards, programs, and other ephemera. b. The Alumni Associations series contains materials related to the School s two alumni associations, much of it in the form of newsletters. The first of these to be established was the Pennsylvania Nautical School Association. Its newsletter, The

4 Log of the P.N.S.A. was published for only a few issues (1912), before it was absorbed into The Log of the American Merchant Training Ships, which was published monthly by the Allied Associations of the Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania Merchant Training ships. ( ). - Mount Cloud Lord papers. ( ) a. This collection consists largely of letters, photographs, booklets/pamphlets, and certificates. Also included are four business cards, two newspaper clippings, one drawing, one sheet of letterhead stationery, one application, one ration card, one ID card, and one appointment card. b. The letters are primarily business correspondences received by Mount Cloud Lord. Most are letters of reference from former employers or from Naval commanders. Also included are letters from the managing editor at the Journal of Electricity, Power, and Gas thanking Lord for several articles that he had written for that publication. c. The photographs mostly date from the time when Lord served on Olympia. Many are photos of shipmates and officers, and about half were taken while Olympia was stationed in Hong Kong. d. The certificates consist of two U.S. patents, certificates declaring Lord s appointment to various positions in the U.S. Navy, a Declaration for Navy Invalid Pension, a United States Inspector s License to Chief Engineers, a Dewey Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Associates certificate, and a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Invention from the National Inventor s Congress. - New York Shipbuilding Corporation records. ( ) a. Collection of photographs, photograph albums and specification books from the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, located in Camden, New Jersey, dating from The photographs are mostly of construction, launches, christening ceremonies, and trial trips. The specification books date from , and include specifications for ships such as a triple screw armored battleship for the Argentine Republic (1910), a protected cruiser for the Imperial Chinese Navy (1911), and for revenue cutters, car floats, colliers and passenger ships. - Pennsylvania Railroad records. ( ). a. This collection is scheduled to be arranged and described. Please stay tuned for updated collection information. The collection consists of plans for Pennsylvania Railroad floating equipment numbers 1 through 410, dating from 1893 to Plans include general arrangement, machinery

5 arrangement, boiler arrangement, framing plans, deck plans, section plans, and lettering layouts. There are plans for steamers, covered barges, carfloats, ferryboats, and tugs. - J.H. Perrine Boat Shop records. ( ) a. This is a collection of records of the J. H. Perrine boat shop. Materials include: order and account books, listing customers, boats purchased, and payment information (sometimes including rough sketches of vessels) ( ) - Philadelphia & Reading Transportation Line logbook. ( ) a. This is a bound ledger showing movements of sea tugs operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Transportation Line, , with the following information: name of tug, voyage number, date of arrival in Philadelphia, date of loading and where loaded, consignee and destination, movements east with date, hour, and tow, where reported with date and hour, date and hour of arrival and discharge at destination, sailing for home with date, hour, and tow, where reported with date and hour, arrival with date and hour, and remarks. Pasted inside the front cover is a typewritten list of New England points and anchorages. Pasted inside the back cover is a typewritten memo giving carrying capacity of each class of sea barge, dated David P. Pugh collection of average adjustment statements. ( ) a. This is a collection of printed copies of statements of average adjustments for vessels that had suffered collisions, fires, or other damages, The documents include extracts from ships logs; survey reports; schedules of financial damages to vessels and cargoes and associated costs, such as towage and repairs; and schedules of disbursements and allowances. - Rice, Unruh, Reynolds Co. records. ( ) a. Collection of records of Rice, Unruh, Reynolds Company. Materials include: index of vessels with information on dates of arrival, point of origin, broker, master, remarks, tugs, and carrying capacity, ; booklet with index of vessel names; card file of employees with name, address, nationality, occupation, and age, many of the cards paired with a Water Front Pass which includes a photograph, 1918; and envelopes from Vincent-Mitchell Studios, with identification photographs of employees. - John Roach collection.( ) a. The collection consists of papers of John Roach, John B. Roach, and the Roach family. Records related to Roach and Sons shipyard include: a printed register of contracts for Reaney, Son and Archbold, Roach and Sons, and Merchant

6 Shipbuilding Corp, , and a 1914 photo album of the Roach family in Cape Cod. The collection also contains newspaper clippings and magazine articles on Roach's Shipyard, launchings and new contracts, and on John Roach and members of the Roach family. - Siebe, Gorman & Co. records. (1917) a. This is a collection of articles written about the Siebe, Gorman and Co. submarine engineers. The articles mostly discussed a new and improved air pump that was just commissioned in Articles range from informational flyers to receipts of somebody purchasing improvements to their diving equipment. - Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company records. ( ) a. This is a collection of records of Sun Shipbuilding plans, photographs, and printed materials. Plans for vessels built by Sun Shipbuilding are arranged in hull number order from #1 to 683. Most of the plans are general arrangements, with a small number of plans for other systems, including shell plating, trusses, and propellers. - Horace Holden Thayer papers. ( ) a. This is a collection of records related to Thayer's work for the U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation during World War I. These records include correspondence and memoranda; general, special, and technical orders to personnel; plans, specifications, and technical data on ships and equipment; a list of ships (wood and steel) built by the U.S. Shipping Board; progress charts for Emergency Fleet ships; and contracts for ships built by the Emergency Fleet Corporation. - Vauclain family papers ( )???? a. This is a collection of papers of the Vauclain family. Materials include: a small collection of correspondence between Matthew Branch, president of American International Shipbuilding Corporation and Samuel M. Vauclain and his daughter Constance regarding her sponsorship of Quaker City, which was launched in Vessel Owners' and Captains' Association records. ( ) a. Constitution and member lists, receipt book, cash book, and dues ledgers of the Vessel Owners' and Captains' Association.

7 - West Philadelphia Boat Club Records. ( ) a. The minute books document discussions held during regular monthly club meetings about business such as the acquisition and naming of crew shells, club uniform specifications and the appointment of various committees. Entries log information on member status, include monthly treasury reports and record steps taken to construct the building located at #12 Boathouse Row. - Port of Wilmington collector of customs. ( ) a. This is a collection of vessel licenses issued by the Collector of Customs, Port of Wilmington, Delaware, (beginning during WWI). Photographs - American International Shipbuilding- ( ) a. This is a collection of 8 x 10 original black and white photographs and some reproduction photographs and 8 x 10 negatives. The images depict the operations at shops of the American International Shipbuilding Corporation in 1917 and A few of the photographs are undated, but appear to come from the same time period. John L. Mahoney was the photographer. - Josef Liener collection of Philadelphia Naval Shipyard photographs and memoranda. ( ) a. This is a collection of approximately 450 black and white photos from the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Images document modeling, construction, and testing of vessels at the yard. Ships represented in the photographs include 40-foot and 50- foot utility boats, personnel and rescue boats, minesweeping launches, a LCVP (landing craft vehicle, personnel), and area command cutters. The collection also includes some photographs of personnel - New York Shipbuilding Corporation records. ( ) a. Collection of photographs, photograph albums and specification books from the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, located in Camden, New Jersey, dating from The photographs are mostly of construction, launches, christening ceremonies, and trial trips. The specification books date from , and include specifications for ships such as a triple screw armored battleship for the Argentine Republic (1910), a protected cruiser for the Imperial Chinese Navy (1911), and for revenue cutters, car floats, colliers and passenger ships

8 Drawings, sketches and portraits - Hettinger Engine Company engine plans. ( ) a. 211 original engineer's technical drawings for marine engines manufactured between 1907 and 1916 by the Hettinger Engine Company. The ink drawings are on drafting linen and paper and fully identified as to their use and content. Most of the drawings measure approximately 11 1/2" x 16" with the remainder of varying smaller sizes. - United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation records. ( ) Maps a. Collection of records of the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation. Materials include: bound set of charts of shipyard locations and plans of plant layouts of facilities building vessels for the Emergency Fleet Corporation; information for bidders on the fabrication of the steel work for 7500 ton class A vessels at Hog Island, to be constructed by the American International Shipbuilding Corporation; a wage scale for employees in shipyards; and lists of vessels being built for the Emergency Fleet Corporation, including vessel name, class, hull number, builder, and location. -Independence Seaport Museum charts collection. ( ) a. A collection of approximately 200 rolled charts, dating from the early 19th century to the mid 20th century, with the largest concentration dating from the mid to late 19th century. The charts cover a wide geographical range, including the Atlantic Ocean and North American coast, Florida and the Caribbean, the Delaware River, China and Japan, Great Britain, and other locations Military and diaries Manuscript - City of Lewes (minesweeper). (1917) a. Logbook from the U.S.S. City of Lewes, a minesweeping vessel, during WWI. Also included is a picture of its captain Walter Power.

9 - Leon Clemmer papers. ( ) a. This is a collection of journals, photographs, negatives, and other miscellaneous papers of Leon Clemmer (father), The journals describe Clemmer's experiences with the flotilla of sub chasers that sailed from Bermuda to Corfu in Photos include images of sub chasers (SC134 and SC165) and their crews; photos of Clemmer; and negatives of the ships and their surroundings during the WWI mission. Other papers include: commissions, awards, and honors of Leon Clemmer, ; a map of Corfu; a Yugoslavian broadside announcing the arrival of Mr. Nelson from the U.S., and a concert program. - Harry G. Jacklin papers. ( ) a. This is a collection of personal papers documenting Harry Jacklin's career in the U.S. Navy. Materials include correspondence to and from Jacklin regarding his naval service between 1904 and 1930; continuous service certificates, ; appointment certificates; certificates of discharge, ; Jacklin's baptismal, naturalization, marriage, and death certificates; a photo of Jacklin with two fellow officers; and miscellaneous items of ephemera. - Marvin Rosefield Keck papers. ( ) a. The Marvin Rosefield Keck papers, which date from 1916 to 1972, consists of newspaper clippings, correspondence, diaries, drawings, photographs, scrapbooks, and unpublished writings. The collection covers Keck's experience in World War I as a band member in the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Olympia and his experience in the American Legion band. The majority of the material dates from 1916 to 1919 and documents his war experience. - Albert T. Lang papers.( ) a. This is a collection of papers of Albert Lang. Materials include: correspondence and other documents of Albert Lang and Emilie Lang from the Navy Department related to retirement and veteran's benefits; service records including orders, appointments, changes of duty, and discharges, , including a certificate of appointment to USS Olympia as Oiler. - Philadelphia Naval Home collection. ( ) a. This is a small collection of items related to the Philadelphia Naval Home - Philadelphia Naval Shipyard collection. ( ). a. A collection of papers, personnel records and memorabilia related to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Personnel materials include: employee/telephone directories; employee manuals; instruction manuals for shipriggers, shipfitters,

10 machinists, and welders; trade skills description; glossary of shipbuilding terms; photographs of workers (portraits and candids of people at work and social gatherings); ID badges, stickers, and other ephemera; receipts and notes; and schedules of wages. - Alexander Joseph Poliski papers. ( ) a. Letters written by Alexander Joseph Poliski discussing his time spent in the navy during WWI. One aper is written to a former fellow shipmate in Poliski discusses the importance of adjusting to post-war life following the conclusion of the war. There is also an honorable discharge paper, a certificate from the United States Department of Commerce Steamboat Inspection Service, and a certificate that stated Poliske serve in WWI from April 10 th, 1917 to June 27 th, 1918 aboard the U.S.S. New Hampshire. - Pusey & Jones records ( ) a. This is a collection of papers of Pusey and Jones. Materials in the collection include: photographs and/or specifications for hulls # (not complete); survey of vessels, , listing ships by type, with valuation of vessels when first built and present valuation; preliminary specifications for twin screw and paddlewheel steamers; miscellaneous articles, memos, and technical specifications for WWI-era ships; and two illustrated catalogues of iron and steel ships produced by Pusey and Jones, early 1900s. - Jay S. Rogers papers. ( ) a. Journal of Ensign Jay S. Rogers kept during his service aboard USS Olympia, April 28, October 30, 1918 with 30 photopostcards. Journal entries begin with a description of Olympia's departure from the Charleston (S.C.) Navy Yard. The bulk of the entries date from May 1918, when the ship was docked at Murmansk, Russia. The photopostcards, including ten taken around Murmansk, illustrate many of the places and things described in the journal. - Schuylkill Navy records. ( ) a. This is a collection of papers of the Schuylkill Navy. Materials include: minutes of meetings of the Schuylkill Navy, attended by representatives of each of the Navy's constituent clubs, (missing ) and The minutes discuss routine business, including committee reports and rewriting of the group's constitution and by-laws, preparation for regattas, and activities of member clubs. Correspondence of the Schuylkill Navy s secretaries include incoming and outgoing correspondence to member rowing clubs, individual members, and other Philadelphia area clubs and organizations. Letters discuss planning of regattas and other events, membership, meetings, and equipment and property of the Schuylkill Navy.

11 - Donald Siver collection on destroyers ( ) a. This is a collection of scrapbooks, yearbooks, books, and other materials related to U.S. Navy destroyers, with a small amount of material on the subjects of submarines and aircraft carriers. Included are yearbooks from USS Gearing, USS Wisconsin, and USS Saratoga; a scrapbook on USS Miller, USS Decatur, USS Beatty, and other vessels; a video of USS Forrestal, 1967; slides; newsletters; clippings; and published volumes on various types of vessels. The collection also includes a number of plaques received by Siver; and a 1918 volume of maps of World War I battlefields in Europe. - World War I Naval Signal dispatches (1918) a. This is a collection of Naval Signal dispatches from the 12th through the 16th of November, The dispatches concern the surrender of the German Fleet. The messages were sent in plain language and were intercepted by the radio operator aboard USS Shawmut. Books - Barry, John M. The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plauge in History. New York: Viking LC: RC Cassels, Lavender. The Archduke and the Assassin: Sarajevo, June 28 th New York: Stein and Day, 1985 LC: DB89.F7 - Dos Passos, John. Mr. Wilson s War. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Edition: [1 st ed.] 1962 LC: E766 -Ebbert, Jean and Marie-Beth Hall. Crossed Currents: Navy Women from WWI to Tailhook. Washington: Brassey s (US), LC: VB324.W65 -Gavin, Lettie. American Women in World War 1: They also Served. Niwot, Colo. : University Press of Colorado, Gilbert, Martin. The First World War: a Complete History. New York : H. Holt, Edition: 1st American ed LC: D521 - Hoover, Herbert. The Ordeal of Woodrow Wilson. New York: McGraw-Hill, Edition: 1 st ed LC: E767 - Keegan, John. The First World War. New York : A. Knopf ; Distributed by Random House, Edition: 1st American ed LC: D521

12 -Link, Arthur Stanley. Woodrow Wilson and the Progressive Era: New York, Harper, Edition: [1 st ed] LC: E766 -Massie, Robert K. Dreadnought: Britian, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War. New York : Random House,Edition: 1st ed LC: D517 - Shaara, Jeff. To the Last Man: A novel of the First World War. New York: Ballatine Books, Edition: [1 st ed.] LC: PS3569.H18 - Symonds, Craig l. and William J. Clipson. The Naval Institute Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press LC: G1201.S1 -Toland, John. No Man s Land: 1918, the Last Year of the Great War. Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday, Edition: 1 st ed. LC: D521 -Venzon, Anne Cipriano, The United States in the First World War: an Encyclopedia. New York : Garland Pub LC: D510