New Cruiser U.S.S. Houston Honor Roll Registration Book, 1942: Finding Aid

History of New Cruiser Houston Fund

U.S.S. Houston (Heavy cruiser : CA-30), nicknamed the "Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast", was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. Launched on September 7, 1929 and commissioned on June 17, 1930, the heavy cruiser is most widely known for its World War II service at the Battle of Java Sea and the Battle of Sunda Strait, the latter of which she was sunk at by Japanese forces on March 1, 1942.

On October 12, 1942, the light cruiser U.S.S. Vicksburg, then under construction at Newport News Shipbuilding, was renamed U.S.S. Houston (Light cruiser : CL-81) in honor of her fallen predecessor. On December 1, 1942, the New Cruiser Houston Fund, chaired by Charles I. Francis, set out to subscribe $36,100,000 in U.S. War Bonds over a three week span to fund the new cruiser's construction. By December 21, the New Cruiser Houston Fund had raised $85,749,884 for its cause. U.S.S. Houston (Light cruiser : CL-81) launched on June 19, 1943 and was commissioned on December 20, 1943.

Description of Contents

The New Cruiser U.S.S. Houston Honor Roll Registration Book, compiled in 1942 and comprising a single volume, consists of the Honor Roll of individual and organizational donors in the Houston area who purchased U.S. savings bonds in a campaign to raise funds to build a new U.S.S. Houston (CL-81) to replace the previous U.S.S. Houston (CA-30), nicknamed the Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast, which was sunk at the Battle of Sunda Strait in December 1942. The Honor Roll includes an inscription by New Cruiser Houston Fund Chairman Charles I. Francis to the commanding officer of U.S.S. Houston, a certificate presenting the Fund's proceeds ($85,749,884.24) to Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, and a list of men who volunteered to serve on the new cruiser Houston (CL-81). Tucked into a pocket in the back cover of the Honor Roll is an additional 52 leaf honor roll of donors from the Southern Pacific Lines.

Arrangement

The New Cruiser U.S.S. Houston Honor Roll Registration Book comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The New Cruiser U.S.S. Houston Honor Roll Registration Book 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

Materials pertaining to U.S.S. Houston (Heavy cruiser : CA-30) can be found at Houston University Libraries, Special Collections, most notably in the Cruiser Houston Collection, 1917-2008 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/uhsc/00042/hsc-00042.html).

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

The New Cruiser U.S.S. Houston Honor Roll Registration Book, MS 218

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed in June 1986. Finding aid written in June 1986 and revised by David D'Onofrio in February 2014.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Houston (Heavy cruiser : CA-30)
• Houston (Light cruiser : CL-81)
• New Cruiser Houston Fund

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Registers (lists)