Rear Admrial Schuyler Neilson Pyne (right) shakes hands with Rear Admiral Leslie A. Kniskern (left) on March 31, 1958.

Guide to the Schuyler Neilson Pyne Papers, 1846-1979

MS 277

A collection in the
Special Collections & Archives Department,
Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy
589 McNair Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-5029

Prepared by: David D'Onofrio
(Original Guide by Mary R. Catalfamo)

September 2009

Descriptive Summary

Provenance:

The Schuyler Neilson Pyne Papers were donated to the Special Collection & Archives Department by the United States Naval Institute. Accession Nos. 85-28, 89-12, and 91-65.

Size:

1.75 linear feet.

Access:

Access to the Schuyler Neilson Pyne Papers is unrestricted.

The Schuyler Neilson Pyne Papers are the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

Permission:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information

Preferred Citation:

Schuyler Neilson Pyne Papers, MS 277
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy

Biographical Chronology

1903	On September 24, is born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to parents Rear Admiral Frederick Glover Pyne and Ellen Roosevelt (Jones) Pyne.
1921	Receives appointment to the Unites States Naval Academy.
1925	In June, graduates from the United States Naval Academy.
1927	Attends the Naval Postgraduate School in Annapolis, Maryland, to study naval construction.
1930	In May, receives a Master of Science degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
	Assigned to the Construction Corps, serving until the Corps' dissolution in 1940.
1940	Transfers to the Bureau of Ships, focusing on auxiliary and landing craft design.
1945	In January, is appointed Industrial Manager at the Naval Operating Base in Guam, where he organized the Ship Repair Facility.
1946	Appointed Deputy Director of the David W. Taylor Model Basin in Carderock, Maryland.
1947	Assigned to temporary duty on the U.S. Survey Group to determine aid to Turkey.
	Reassigned to the Bureau of Ships.
1949	In October, is appointed Chief of Staff and Engineer Officer of the Naval Group of the U.S. Mission for Aid to Turkey.
1951	Reassigned to the Bureau of Ships.
1952	Appointed Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Naval Inspector of Ordnance at New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey.
1954	In March, is assigned as commander of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
	In July, is promoted to Rear Admiral.
1956	In August, is assigned to the Bureau of Ships as Assistant Chief for Field Activities.
1958	On March 31, receives command of the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, New York. During his tenure at the Shipyard, Pyne oversees the construction of the aircraft carriers U.S.S. Independence (CV-62) and U.S.S. Constellation (CV-64).
1961	In March, is designated for additional duty as Supervisor of Shipbuilding for the United States Navy.
	On May 31, is relieved as commander of the New York Naval Shipyard.
	In June, retires from the United States Navy.
1987	On June 13, dies in Annapolis, Maryland.

Scope and Content Note

The Schuyler Neilson Pyne Papers, comprising one linear foot of documentation, span from 1846 to 1979. The papers focus primarily on Pyne's studies of aluminum, and his duties as commander of the Pearl Harbor and New York Naval Shipyards.

Included in the collection are scrapbooks (composed of press clippings, photographs, certificates, and correspondence), photographs, certificates, press clippings, newsletters, incoming and outgoing letters, memoranda, blueprints, a plaque, a Naval officers' examination, and a picture book.

The Pyne Papers are arranged alphabetically by document type (or topic in one instance) into a single series with no subdivisions. The papers pertain primarily to Pyne's career in the United States Navy, highlighting specific tours of duty, especially his postgraduate studies at M.I.T. on the properties of aluminum, and commands of the Pearl Harbor and New York Naval Shipyards, as well as several speaking engagements, award cermonies, and social functions. Materials pertaining to Pyne's time as commander of the Naval Yards tend to focus on the general operations of the yards, various ship launchings (especially that of U.S.S. Independence (Attack Aircraft Carrier: CVA-62)), and employee culture.

The collection is also home to a limited amount of correspondence between the families of Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding and Pyne's ancestor, Congressman Churchill C. Cambreleng. Five letters, dating between 1861 and 1865, and received by Cambreleng's wife, Phoebe Glover Cambreleng, were written by Hiram, Rebecca, Mary, and Anna Paulding. The letters pertain to such topics as the christening of the U.S.S. Adirondack and the conclusion of the Civil War. One additional letter (photocopy only), from Hiram Paulding to Churchill Cambreleng, discusses the duties of the U.S.S. Vincennes along the coasts of China and Japan. The collection also houses a picture book of traditional Japanese artwork.

Arrangement Note

The contents of three photograph albums, originally separated and cataloged individually at the time of accessioning (as Albums No. 70, 71, and 72), have been repatriated into the collection.

The following four books have been removed from the collection and cataloged separately:

Clinton, DeWitt. An Introductory Discourse: Delivered before the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York on the Fourth of May, 1814. New York: Published by David Longworth, at the Shakspeare-Gallery, N. Van Riper, Print., 1815. (Spec Coll Q171.C72 1815)
Volume is signed on cover "Isaac Concklings 1815" and on front free endpaper, "Isaac Conklings July 12 1815." Dewitt Clinton was Schuyler Neilson Pyne's great-great-grandfather.

A Manual of the Principal Instruments Used in American Engineering and Surveying: Manufactured by W. & L.E. Gurley. Troy, N.Y.: W. & L.E. Gurley (MacArthur), 1855. (Spec Coll TA581.G9 1855)
Volume is signed on cover "DeWitt Clinton Jones."

Smith, Carrie and John Greenleaf Whittier, ed. Jack in the Pulpit. [New York]: R. Worthington, c1884. (Spec Coll PS3259.J33 1884)
Volume is signed M.G. Jones.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Earthly Care a Heavenly Discipline. Boston: American Tract Society, [1850?]. (Spec Coll Undersize BF575.W8 S76 1850z)
Volume is inscribed on title page, "Mother liked this and I hope you will like it and keep it though it is shabby. E.C.G."

Container List

Box	Folder
1	1	Aluminum Research Materials - Articles and Bulletins, 1933-1940
	2	Aluminum Research Materials - Blueprints, 1933
		Designs for a "Guarded Box for Heat Insulation Tests."
	3	Aluminum Research Materials - Masters Thesis, 1930
		Masters in Naval Architecture thesis entitled, "Investigation of Heat Insulating Qualities of Thin Aluminum Foil at Moderate Temperatures," by Schuyler N. Pyne.
	4	Certificates, 1958-1966 and undated
	5	Correspondence (Paulding-Cambreleng), 1846 and 1861-1865
		Personal letters received by Congressman and Mrs. Churchill C. Cambreleng from Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding and family.
	6	Event Programs, 1952-1972 and undated
	7	Examination in Design and Calculation, 1934
	8	Memoranda - Navy Day, 1957
	9	Newsletters, 1961 and 1979
		Includes issues of the New York Naval Shipyard's The Little Admiral, and the E.D. Newsletter.
	10	Photographs - Admiral Leopoldo Fontaine (Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Navy) Visit to New York Naval Shipyard, June 20, 1958
	11	Photographs - Award Ceremony (Navy League Distinguished Service Award), March 4, 1960
	12	Photographs - Bremerton, Washington Events (Navy League and Chamber of Commerce), 1957
	13	Photographs - Change of Command Ceremonies (New York Naval Shipyard), March 31, 1958
		Image features Rear Admiral Leslie A. Kniskern.
	14	Photographs - Change of Command Ceremonies (New York Naval Shipyard), May 31, 1961
	15	Photographs - Commissioning Ceremony (U.S.S. Topeka (Guided Missile Light Cruiser: CLG-8), March 26, 1960
	16	Photographs - Keel Laying Ceremony (U.S.S. Raleigh (Amphibious Transport Dock: LPD-1)), June 23, 1960
	17	Photographs - Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen's Club Annual Membership Drive, 1957 and undated
		Images feature Mrs. Schuyler N. Pyne (Jane) and Mrs. Arleigh A. Burke.
	18	Photographs - Turkish Independence Day, 1950
	19	Photographs - Unidentified Event, undated
		Images feature Mrs. Schuyler N. Pyne (Jane).
	20	Photographs - Unidentified Event, undated
	21	Photographs - Unidentified Event, undated
	22	Photographs - Unidentified Event, undated
	23	Photographs - Unidentified Events, undated
	24	Photographs [Unbound Album] (1 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of inspections by Pyne and the Shipyard Commanders Conference (1952).
	25	Photographs [Unbound Album] (2 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of Pyne's C.B.E. (Commander, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), the Shipyard Commanders Conference (1956-1957), a visit by the Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, and a Naval War College luncheon for foreign officers.
	26	Photographs [Unbound Album] (3 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of a visit by Admiral Leopoldo Fontaine of the Chilean Navy (1958), graduation of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (1958), the Shipyard Commanders Conference (1958), and the Rotary Navy Day Luncheon (1958).
	27	Photographs [Unbound Album] (4 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of U.S.S. Hoe (Submarine: SS-258), a Brooklyn Cancer Committee award ceremony (1958), opening of the New York Shipyard Rifle Range (1958), U.S.S. Independence (1959), and the opening of the Marine Barracks hobby shop (1959).
	28	Photographs [Unbound Album] (5 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of Assistant Secretary of the Navy Milne's visit to the New York Shipyard (1959), the Rotary Luncheon (1959), and the presentation of a "Minute Man" plaque to the Inspector of Naval Material.
Box	Folder
2	1	Photographs [Unbound Album] (6 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of a Correspondence Course awards ceremony (1959), General Electric turbines, the Shipyard Commanders Conference (1959), the "Salute to Servicemen" luncheon, and H.M.C.S. Cape Scott. Also includes images of then Commander James Calvert.
	2	Photographs [Unbound Album] (7 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of officers and students from Webb Institute (1960), the commissioning of U.S.S. Topeka (Guided Missile Light Cruiser: CLG-8), and the launching of U.S.S. Tullibee (Submarine (Nuclear Powered): SSN-597).
	3	Photographs [Unbound Album] (8 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of a Regimental Review at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (1960), and the Shipyard Commanders Conference (1960).
	4	Photographs [Unbound Album] (9 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of the christening of U.S.S. Constellation (Attack Aircraft Carrier: CVA-64), the keel laying of U.S.S. Vancouver (Amphibious Transport Dock: LPD-2), and a memorial service for construction workers killed aboard U.S.S. Constellation (1960).
	5	Photographs [Unbound Album] (10 of 10), 1946-1975
		Includes images of a Greater New York Fund citation presentation (1961), the New York Naval Shipyard Change of Command (1961), the annual meeting of the Brooklyn Red Cross (1961), and a 1975 U.S. Department of Commerce exhibit on the U.S.S. Monitor (Ironclad).
	6	Press Clippings, 1957
		Newspaper clippings pertaining to Navy Day and the christening of U.S.S. Lorain County (LST 1177).
	7	Publications - "Japanese Picture Book," [1900]
	8	Scrapbook, 1954-1955
		Includes material pertaining to Pyne's assignment as Commander, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, promotion to Rear Admiral, charity efforts and social life at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and General Carlos Romulo of the Philippines.
Box	Folder
3	1	Scrapbook [Volume 1 of 2], 1958-1961
		Includes material pertaining to Pyne's assignment as Commander, New York Naval Shipyard, commissioning of U.S.S. Independence (CV-62), employment levels, service awards, and charity efforts.
	2	Scrapbook, [Volume 2 of 2], 1958-1961
		Includes material pertaining to the keel-laying of U.S.S. Raleigh (LPD-1), christening of and fire aboard U.S.S. Constellation (CV-64), service awards, charity efforts, and Pyne's retirement.
Box	Item
4[OS]	1	Photographs [Album] - Pictorial Events, June 1952 - February 1954
		Includes images of staff members and the 50th Anniversary celebrations during Pyne's tour as Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Naval Inspector of Ordnance at New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey.
	2	Photographs [Album] - U.S.S. Independence (Attack aircraft carrier: CVA-62) Commissioning, January 1959
		Includes images of Secretary of the Navy Thomas S. Gates, Jr., Admiral Arleigh Burke, and Admiral William Halsey.
Box	Item
5[OS]	1	Plaque - U.S.S. Constellation, 1961
Box	Folder
MSOS	1	Certificates, 1956-1961 and undated
	2	Line Drawing - Navy Department Building, undated
	3	Newsletters, 1957 and 1961
		Includes issues of the San Francisco Naval Shipyard's Drydocker, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard's Salute, and the New York Naval Shipyard's Shipworker.

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