B. Fred Sundstrom Scrapbook, 1898-1899: Finding Aid

History of U.S.S. Philadelphia (Cruiser: C-4)

The fourth U.S.S. Philadelphia (Cruiser: C-4), was laid down March 22, 1888 by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia; launched September 7, 1889; and commissioned on July 28, 1890, Captain B. F. Bradford in command. While fitting out, she was designated on August 18 as flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron. The squadron departed New York on January 11, 1891 to cruise the West Indies until May, then to northern waters as far as Halifax. Early the following year, she called at Montevideo, after which she resumed cruising in the West Indies.

Philadelphia continued operations along the eastern seaboard and in the West Indies until March 1, 1893. She then proceeded to Hampton Roads where she was assigned to the Naval Review Fleet as flagship of Rear Admiral Bancroft Gherardi, who was charged with conducting the International Rendezvous and Review. The fleet steamed to New York on April 24, where it joined additional foreign ships, to be reviewed by President Cleveland on April 27. The fleet disbanded May 31, and Philadelphia departed New York on June 30, bound for the Pacific Station via Rio de Janeiro and Callao.

Philadelphia arrived in San Francisco in August 22, 1893. As the flagship of the Pacific Station, she cruised with the squadron, engaging in drills and visiting various ports on the west coast of the United States, Mexico, and South America, and in the Hawaiian Islands. She arrived at the Mare Island Navy Yard on October 14, 1897 and decommissioned on December 18.

Recommissioned to resume her role as flagship of the Pacific Station, Philadelphia steamed from San Francisco on July 2 to participate in the ceremonies attending the annexation of Hawaii. She arrived at Honolulu on August 3, where her officers, and those of U.S.S. Mohican (Screw sloop-of-war), represented the U.S. Navy at the ceremonies transferring the Hawaiian Islands to the United States on August 12.

In March 1899, Philadelphia steamed to the Samoan Islands for duty in connection with Second Samoan Civil War. Alongside British forces, a landing party of her men took part in the Second Battle of Vailele on April 1, suffering a defeat at the hands of the forces of Chief Mata'afa Iosefo. She remained in the Samoan Islands until May 21, 1899, when she departed for the west coast. Philadelphia continued to serve as flagship of the Pacific Station until February 6, 1900, but continued Pacific operations until 1902, conducting training cruises, drills, target practice, and port visits.

Returning from a six-month cruise off the Panamanian coast, Philadelphia arrived at San Francisco on July 17, 1902 and was ordered to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, where she decommissioned on September 22, 1902. She was then housed over and became a receiving ship at Puget Sound Navy Yard on May 12, 1904. She served the remainder of her career alternately as a receiving ship and a prison ship, until struck from the Navy List on November 24, 1926. Philadelphia was sold at public auction at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in 1927 to Louis Rotherberg.

Description of Contents

The B. Fred Sundstrom Scrapbook, comprising 0.09 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 18 leaves, spans from 1898 to 1899. The scrapbook is the product of the U.S.S. Philadelphia's service as flagship of the Pacific Station, and is composed of newspaper clippings, copies of photographs, and author's notes.

Topical coverage of the scrapbook includes the assumption of sovereignty over Hawaii by the United States and involvement in the Second Samoan Civil War, including the Battle of Vailele and the actions of H.M.S. Porpoise and H.M.S. Royalist. Among the scrapbook's clippings are issues of the Philadelphia's newspaper.

Arrangement

The B. Fred Sundstrom Scrapbook comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The B. Fred Sundstrom Scrapbook is 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

Unknown.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to Philadelphia in this repository can be found in the Watch-, Quarter-, and Station-Bill of the U.S.S. Philadelphia, 1892-1894, MS 112.

Official logbooks of U.S.S. Philadelphia may be available in Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, ca. 1801 - 1940, Record Group 24: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798-2007 at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

B. Fred Sundstrom Scrapbook, MS 188

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

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

"Philadelphia IV (C-4)." Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Naval History and Heritage Command, 2015, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/p/philadelphia-iv.html.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in May 2020.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Hawaii -- Annexation to the United States
• Philadelphia (Cruiser : C-4)
• Samoan Islands -- Foreign relations -- United States
• Samoan Islands -- History

Genre Terms

• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Manuscripts
• Notes (documents)
• Scrapbooks