Schuyler Neilson Pyne Papers, 1846-1979 (bulk 1930-1975): Finding Aid

Biographical Chronology of Schuyler Neilson Pyne

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.

Description of Contents

The Schuyler Neilson Pyne Papers, comprising 3.59 linear feet 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 two publications.

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 ceremonies, 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

The Pyne Papers are arranged alphabetically by document type (or topic in one instance) into a single series with no subdivisions.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted. In 1993, any materials in this collection which may have originally borne security restrictions were examined by S. Brewer, USNA Security Manager, and declared unrestricted and declassified.

Copyright and Permission

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.

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

Gift of Rear Admiral and Mrs. Schuyler Neilson Pyne, USN (Ret.) in February 1985 and April 1989. Accession No. 85-28, 89-12. Gift of the United States Naval Institute in November 1991. Accession No. 91-65.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional biographical material pertaining to Schuyler Neilson Pyne may be found in Pyne's oral history The reminiscences of Rear Admiral Schuyler Neilson Pyne, U.S. Navy (Retired), and in his Alumni Jacket in Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Materials Cataloged Separately

The following four books have been removed from this 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."

Processing and Other Information

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.

Preferred Citation

Schuyler Neilson Pyne Papers, MS 277

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was originally processed by Mary R. Catalfamo and reprocessed by David D'Onofrio in September 2009. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in September 2009.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Aluminum construction
• Independence (Attack aircraft carrier : CVA-62)
• Naval architecture
• Navy-yards and naval stations -- United States
• Paulding, Hiram, 1797-1898
• Pyne, Schuyler Neilson, 1903-1987

Genre Terms

• Certificates
• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Correspondence
• Design drawings
• Manuscripts
• Monographs
• Photographs
• Scrapbooks