A Guide to the Papers of Admiral Frank F. Fletcher , 1873-1928 #3584, -a, -b

Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Admiral Frank F. Fletcher, Accession #3584, -a, -b, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was acquired in installments. The first group (3584) was deposited by Mrs. Philip B. Payton and Mrs. Robert Barnhart on Dec. 14, 1970 and was subsequently changed to a gift of February 25, 1972. The second group (3584-a) was desposited by the ladies on December 20, 1971, and changed to a gift on February 25, 1972. The third group (3584-b) was given as a gift ot the library on February 25, 1972 by Mrs. Peyton and Mrs. Barnhart.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of ca. 1900 items, 1873-1928, in 11 Hollinger boxes. It comprises the correspondence, official records and reports, scrapbooks, photographs, and other memorabilia of Frank F. Fletcher during his Naval career in which he attained the rank of Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet. Also included in this collection is material of Admiral Fletcher's post-Naval career, specifically, his role on the War Industries Board. These papers form an important addition to the study of United States' intervention in Mexico during Woodrow Wilson's terms of office. Admiral Fletcher was in charge of the United States fleet at Veracruz in 1913 and 1914 and his correspondence, officially with the Navy and State Department and unofficially with his wife an daughters, is very rich in describing the diplomatic, military, and political situation in Mexico. Other fields of interest include Naval History, gunnery, and ballistic inventions, and the world cruise of 1905.

Arrangement

The collection has been generally arranged chronologically within specific areas. Where possible the collection was kept in its original order, such as the division into specific areas of Admiral Fletcher's interests. The correspondence is arranged chronologically in two segments, the personal and official correspondence of Admiral Fletcher and the correspondence with his wife and daughters. Other sections, such as scrapbooks, official orders and documents are chronological within their respective boxes.

Contents List

Personal Correspondence of Admiral Fletcher 1879-1928

Box 1
Correspondence, most concerning Admiral Fletcher's naval inventions and innovations 1879-1910

25 items
Box 1
Correspondence mainly concerned with the Mexican situation. Includes a Dec. 19 letter from President Wilson's personal envoy to Mexico, John Lind. 1913

33 items
Box 1
Correspondence consisting of congratulatory pieces on Fletcher's work in Mexico and his impending elevation to Commander-in-Chief 1914 Jan 5 - 1914 June 15

70 items
Box 1
Correspondence, congratulatory notes to Admiral FLetcher on his elevation to Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic fleet 1914 June 16- Dec
Box 1
Correspondence, mostly congratulatory notes to Admiral Fletcher on his appointment to the rank of Full Admiral 1915

60 items
Box 1
Correspondence, mostly concerned with Admiral Fletcher's ideas on disarmament 1916

17 items
Box 1
Correspondence, many letters concerning Fletcher's role on The War Industries Board 1917-1928

21 items
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife 1891-1894
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and mother-in-law 1895
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and mother-in-law 1896
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his with and mother-in-law 1896
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife 1898
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife 1899
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife 1899
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife 1900
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and daughter 1901
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and mother-in-law 1906
Box 2
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and daughters 1908
Box 3
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and daughters 1912
Box 3
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and daughters 1913 Jan- Feb
Box 3
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and daughters 1913 March- Sept
Box 3
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and daughter 1914
Box 3
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and daughter 1914
Box 3
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and daughter 1915
Box 3
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife and daughter 1915
Box 3
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife 1916
Box 3
Correspondence, Frank F. Fletcher to his wife 1922-1927
Box 3
Postcards n.d.

Official Reports, Broadsides, Photographs re: Mexican Crisis 1913-1914

Box 5
I "nstructions for Naval Vessels in Mexican Gulf Ports " 1913-1914

8 pp.
Box 5
Instruction for Naval Vessels in Mexican Gulf Ports 1914

9 pp.
Box 5
"Naval Operations During the Mexican Crisis Protest of American Refugees " 1913-1914

10 pp., TMs
Box 5
"Naval Operations During the Mexican Crisis 1913-1914 'Copies of Personal Memoranda...' " 1913 Oct. 23- 1913 Dec. 15

ca. 40 pp., TMs
Box 5
"Naval Operations During the Mexican Crisis 'Copies of Reports' " 1913 Feb.- July

50 pp., TMs
Box 5
"Naval Operations During the Mexican Crisis 1913-1914 'Seizure and Occupation of Vera Cruz April 21st-April 30th 1914' " 1914 May 13

48 pp., TMs (carbon)
Box 5
Fleet Order No. 17-14 "Occupation of Vera Cruz "1914 April 26

1 p.
Box 5
Broadsides, Proclaimations by Admiral Fletcher to the people of Vera Cruz 1914 April

17 items
Box 5
Photographs during the Mexican situation 1913-1914

36 items

Records, Diary, Notebooks and genealogical papers of Admiral Fletcher and the Fletcher Family 1873-1919

Box 6
Records of Rear Admiral F.F. Fletcher, U.S.N. 1888-1919

ca. 100 pp.
Box 6
Funeral Sermon on the death of Mr. J.D. Fletcher 1873 Sept.

ca. 50 pp.
Box 6
Diary, "Cruise of 1905- People I Met and Books I have read "1905

150 pp.
Box 6
Notebook containing notes and sundry information, mathematical problems n.d.

200 pp.
Box 6
Application for membership in the Society of Mayflower Descendants n.d.

12 pp.
Box 6
Fletcher Family Genealogy n.d.

22 items
Box 6
Calling cards and postcards n.d.

57 items

Notes, Reports, Lectures and Discussion of Admiral Fletcher

Box 7
Notes on Television Transmission n.d.

37 pp., AMs (carbon)
Box 7
Notes on Disarmament, War and League of Nations ca. 1925

24 pp., AMs
Box 7
two speeches: one before the Banquet of Naval Academy Graduates and the other before a society n.d.

9 pp.,TMs
Box 7
Lecture to the Naval War College, "Recent Improvements in Mines and Torpedoes "1904 July

ca. 28 pp., TMs
Box 7
Lecture prepared for the Naval War College, Torpedo Boat Attack 1896

ca. 30 pp., TMsS
Box 7
Discussion, "The Automobile Torpedo and Its Uses "n.d.

6 pp., TMsS
Box 7
"Record of Medal of Honor Recipients " 1862-1917

125 pp.
Box 7
"Plan to Achieve and Preserve the Peace of the World " n.d.

23 pp., TMs
Box 7
Notes on "The Maritime Conference and Range Lights at Sea "n.d.

8 pp., AMs
Box 7
"International Law Situations calling for decision or action by Naval Officers " n.d.

5 pp., TMs
Box 7
"Memorandum Upon Moving Target Practice " 1909

4 pp., TMs
Box 7
Index to Admiral's Files 1913 June 8- 1915 Dec. 7

2 pp.
Box 7
Lecture, Guns, Armor, and Speed n.d.

6 pp.
Box 7
Photographs n.d.

58 items
Box 7
Fletcher to Baruch, "Report of Navy Representative of the War Industries Board "1918 Nov. 22

8 pp., TMsS
Box 7
Sketchboook from the Cruise of the Ticonderoga ca. 1875

Green scrapbooks, Printed Material, Photographs and Microfilm

Box 11
1910-1912
Box 11
1912-1914
Box 11
1913 Nov. - 1914 May
Box 11
1914 Jan. - 1914 May
Box 11
1914 May - 1914 Sept.
Box 11
1914 June - 1914 Dec
Box 11
1914 Sept. - 1915 May
Box 11
1915 Dec. - 1915 June
Box 11
1916 Jan. - 1916 April
Box 11
1916 May - 1918 July
Box 11
"The United States Navy from the Revolution to Date " 1915

140 pp.
Box 11
Photographs, Admiral Fletcher and Admiral Mayo n.d.

8 items
Box 11
Roll of Microfilm. Copies of photograph of Admiral Fletcher reviewing the troops n.d.

Document Collection 1878-1926

Ensign's Commission 1878 Feb. 8
Physical Location: Oversize
Lieutenant's Commission 1889 April 1
Physical Location: Oversize
Columbian Exposition Citation 1895 May 15
Physical Location: Oversize
Lieutenant Commander's Commission 1899 April 24
Physical Location: Oversize
Commander's Commission 1904 March 30
Physical Location: Oversize
Captain's Commission 1908 May 22
Physical Location: Oversize
Rear Admiral's Commission 1911 Nov. 2
Physical Location: Oversize
Rear Admiral's Commission 1911 Dec. 20
Physical Location: Oversize
Welcome to New Orleans 1912 Dec.
Physical Location: Oversize
War Industries Board Citation 1918 Dec. 30
Physical Location: Oversize
Distinguished Service Medal Citation 1926 Feb. 9
Physical Location: Oversize