Frank H. Schofield Letters, 1931-1933 (bulk 1931): Finding Aid

Biographical Chronology of Frank Herman Schofield

1869

• Born on January 4 in Jerusalem, New York.

1886

• In May, appointed to the United States Naval Academy by Representative Ira Davenport.

1890

• On June 6, graduates from the United States Naval Academy.

1892

• On July 1, commissioned in the United States Navy as an Ensign.

1898

• Attached to U.S.S. Hawk (Patrol yacht) as Executive Officer.

1899

• On March 3, promoted to Lieutenant.
• Attached to U.S.S. Philadelphia (Protected cruiser: C-4) as Watch and Division Officer.

1900

• In March, ordered to duty in Nicaragua.

1901

• On April 2, appointed Inspector of Ordnance at Hartford, Connecticut.

1902

• In July, ordered to U.S.S. Supply (Store ship), operating off Guam.

1904

• Assumes command of U.S.S. Perry (Destroyer: DD-11).

1905

• On July 1, promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
• Attached to the Bureau of Ordnance.

1907

• Assumes command of U.S.S. Supply at Guam.

1909

• In January, assumes command of U.S.S. Concord (Gunboat: PG-3) of the Asiatic Fleet.
• In November, attached to U.S.S. New Hampshire (Battleship: BB-25) as Executive Officer.

1911

• On January 29, promoted to Commander.
• In September, reports to the Naval War College.

1913

• In October, ordered to U.S.S. Arkansas (Battleship: BB-33) as Executive Officer.

1914

• In April, transferred to U.S.S. Delaware (Battleship: BB-28), operating off Veracruz.

1915

• Assumes command of U.S.S. Chester (Light cruiser: CL-1), performing relief work in the Middle East.

1916

• In April, assigned to the Office of Naval Operations.

1917

• On July 1, promoted to Captain.
• In December, attached to U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters as a member of Admiral William S. Sims' staff in London, with additional duty assisting Admiral William S. Benson in deliberations over naval terms for peace with Germany.

1919

• In July, assumes command of U.S.S. Texas (Battleship: BB-35).

1921

• Ordered to duty as a member of the General Board.

1924

• In January, appointed Commander, Destroyer Squadron, Battle Fleet.
• On February 4, promoted to Rear Admiral.

1926

• Attached to the War Plans Division, Office of Naval Operations.

1927

• Serves as a member of the American delegation to the three-power conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

1929

• In March, appointed Commander, Battleship Division Four, Battle Fleet.

1930

• In May, appointed Commander-in-Chief, Battle Fleet.

1931

• On September 15, assumes duty as Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet.

1932

• In August, ordered to duty as a member of the General Board.

1933

• On February 1, transferred to the Retired List.

1942

• On February 20, dies at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Description of Contents

The Frank H. Schofield Letters, comprising 0.21 linear feet of documentation, are primarily the product of 1931, with several letters dating from 1932 and 1933. The collection consists primarily of congratulatory letters received by Admiral Schofield upon his selection and appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the United State Fleet.

Included with the letters are several telegrams and an invitation.

The Schofield Letters are arranged chronologically into a single series with no subdivisions. The collection consists of letters received from other U.S. Navy admirals, California political leaders, motion picture executives, journalists, and civilians, primarily extending congratulations on Schofield's rise to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the United State Fleet. Several other letters extend thanks to Schofield for speaking engagements, fleet visits, and the Navy's work with Hollywood, as well as several letters pursuant to Schofield's retirement in 1933.

Correspondents include Arthur F. Allen of the Sioux City Journal, Marie Cabell Armstrong, Captain Edward L. Beach Sr., Admiral William S. Benson, Commodore R. O. Bitler, Rear Admiral John J. Brady, G. A. Davidson of Bank of America, Ambassador Roy T. Davis, Hungarian tenor Joseph Diskay, Lieutenant C. A. Dittmar, W. L. Guthrie of Warner Bros., Los Angeles County Hostess Peggy Hamilton, John William Hogan of the Pacific & Atlantic Navigation Company, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Ernest Lee Jahncke, Admiral Edward C. Kalbfus, Mark Larkin of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, Los Angeles Mayor John C. Porter, Helen Dwight Reid, Vice Admiral William Ledyard Rodgers, San Francisco Mayor Angelo J. Rossi, Senator Samuel M. Shortridge, James G. Stahlman of the Nashville Banner, and Berlin Hart Wright.

Arrangement

The Frank H. Schofield Letters are arranged chronologically.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Frank H. Schofield Letters 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.

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.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchased from Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc. in July 2011. Accession No. 11-12.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to Frank H. Schofield in this repository include his Alumni Jacket and Midshipman Conduct Record.

Additional correspondence of Schofield's can be found in the Frank H. Schofield collection (1891-1935, bulk 1913-1923) at the University of Michigan's Clements Library

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Frank H. Schofield Letters, MS 21

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

Schofield, Frank Herman Alumni Jacket, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in June 2021. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in June 2021.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Schofield, Frank Herman, 1869-1942

Genre Terms

• Correspondence
• Manuscripts