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U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks, 1931-1945 (bulk 1931-1934): Finding Aid

Published in 1993

Summary Information

  • Publisher: United States Naval Academy. Special Collections & Archives.
  • Publisher Address:
    589 McNair Road
    Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5029, USA
    Phone: 410-293-6917
    https://www.usna.edu/Library/sca/index.php
  • Call number: MS 281
  • Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
  • Title: U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks
  • Dates: 1931-1945
  • Bulk Dates: 1931-1934
  • Size: 6.51 linear feet
  • Container Summary: 3 flat boxes
  • Creator: Gulliver, Louis Joseph, 1884-1962
  • Language(s) of material: English
  • Abstract: The U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks consist of newspaper clippings, correspondence, event programs, invitations, certificates, photographs, and other ephemera pertaining to Constitution's 1931-1934 national tour. The scrapbooks also include material pertaining to Constitution's tender, U.S.S. Grebe (AM-43), and the ship's captain, Commander Louis J. Gulliver and his family.

U.S.S. Constitution National Tour Itinerary

1931 July 1-2
  • Boston, Massachusetts
1931 July 2-3
  • Gloucester, Massachusetts
1931 July 3-12
  • Portsmouth, New Hampshire
1931 July 13
  • Bar Harbor, Maine
1931 July 14-17
  • Bath, Maine
1931 July 17-23
  • Portland, Maine
1931 July 23-29
  • Gloucester, Massachusetts
1931 July 29-30
  • Marblehead, Massachusetts
1931 July 31-August 6
  • New Bedford, Massachusetts
1931 August 6-10
  • Providence, Rhode Island
1931 August 10-13
  • Newport, Rhode Island
1931 August 13-20
  • New London, Connecticut
1931 August 20-25
  • Ford Pond Bay, Long Island, New York
1931 August 25-28
  • Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York
1931 August 29-September 14
  • New York, New York
1931 September 16-18
  • Wilmington, Delaware
1931 September 18-October 1
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1931 October 2-9
  • Newport News, Virginia
1931 October 9-16
  • Norfolk, Virginia
1931 October 16-23
  • Yorktown, Virginia
1931 October 24-November 2
  • Baltimore, Maryland
1931 November 2-5
  • Annapolis, Maryland
1931 November 7-18
  • Washington, DC
1931 November 21-30
  • Wilmington, North Carolina
1931 December 1-6
  • Charleston, South Carolina
1931 December 7-11
  • Savannah, Georgia
1931 December 12-15
  • Brunswick, Georgia
1931 December 16-21
  • Jacksonville, Florida
1931 December 23-30
  • Miami, Florida
1931 December 31-1932 January 4
  • Key West, Florida
1932 January 6-11
  • Pensacola, Florida
1932 January 11-18
  • Mobile, Alabama
1932 January 20-27
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana
1932 January 27-February 13
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
1932 February 14-23
  • Corpus Christi, Texas
1932 February 24-25
  • Galveston, Texas
1932 February 25-March 1
  • Houston, Texas
1932 March 1-7
  • Galveston, Texas
1932 March 8-12
  • Beaumont, Texas
1932 March 12-17
  • Port Arthur, Texas
1932 March 17-19
  • Orange, Texas
1932 March 19-22
  • Lake Charles, Louisiana
1932 March 25-29
  • Gulfport, Mississippi
1932 March 30-April 1
  • Port St. Joe, Florida
1932 April 3-7
  • Tampa, Florida
1932 April 7-9
  • St. Petersburg, Florida
1932 April 15-16
  • Quantico, Virginia
1932 April 16-May 11
  • Washington, DC
1932 May 11-12
  • Alexandria, Virginia
1932 May 12-December 8
  • Washington, DC
1932 December 14-19
  • Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
1932 December 22-27
  • Cristobal, Canal Zone
1932 December 27-1933 January 7
  • Balboa, Canal Zone
1933 January 21-February 16
  • San Diego, California
1933 February 17-March 10
  • San Pedro, California
1933 March 10-19
  • Long Beach, California
1933 March 20
  • Santa Barbara, California
1933 March 24-April 12
  • San Francisco, California
1933 April 12-26
  • Oakland, California
1933 April 26-May 2
  • Vallejo, California
1933 May 6-15
  • Astoria, Oregon
1933 May 16-26
  • Grays Harbor, Washington
1933 May 27-31
  • Port Angeles, Washington
1933 May 31-June 15
  • Seattle, Washington
1933 June 15-22
  • Tacoma, Washington
1933 June 22-July 1
  • Olympia, Washington
1933 June 1-7
  • Bremerton, Washington
1933 July 7-14
  • Everett, Washington
1933 July 15-19
  • Bellingham, Washington
1933 July 20-26
  • Anacortes, Washington
1933 July 26-30
  • Port Townsend, Washington
1933 July 31-August 2
  • Astoria, Oregon
1933 August 2-22
  • Portland, Oregon
1933 August 22-24
  • Kalama, Washington
1933 August 24-26
  • Longview, Washington
1933 August 31-September 15
  • San Francisco, California
1933 September 15-29
  • Oakland, California
1933 September 29-30
  • Santa Cruz, California
1933 September 30-October 1
  • Monterey, California
1933 October 3-4
  • Santa Barbara, California
1933 October 4-5
  • Ventura, California
1933 October 5
  • Santa Monica, California
1933 October 6-19
  • Long Beach, California
1933 October 19-November 2
  • San Pedro, California
1933 November 2
  • Avalon, Catalina Island, California
1933 November 3-1934 March 20
  • San Diego, California
1934 April 2-7
  • Balboa, Canal Zone
1934 April 7-8
  • Cristobal, Canal Zone
1934 April 14-23
  • St. Petersburg, Florida
1934 April 27-May 3
  • Charleston, South Carolina
1934 May 7
  • Boston, Massachusetts
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Description of Contents

The U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks, which chronicle her 90 city national tour of 1931-1934, are composed of three oversize scrapbooks compiled by the Constitution's captain, Commander Louis J. Gulliver.

The scrapbooks consist primarily of newspaper clippings, but also include official and non-official correspondence, official telegrams, event programs, invitations, texts of addresses made aboard Constitution, honorary certificates, pamphlets, poetry, periodical articles, photographs, broadsides, and scrip money. The newspaper clippings hail primarily from local newspapers at each of the Constitution's ports of call. Much of the correspondence is addressed directly to Commander Gulliver, and include note of thanks and congratulations on his post. The scrapbooks contain several postcards and Christmas cards bearing the image of Constitution. Among the periodical articles in the scrapbooks are several written by Commander Gulliver about the Constitution and other naval subjects.

In addition to focusing on the Constitution, the scrapbooks contain clippings and other material on the minesweeper U.S.S. Grebe (AM-43). Throughout the Constitution's three-year tour, the Grebe served as the Constitution's tender and tow ship.

A small number of the news clippings and correspondence contain biographical/professional information on Commander Gulliver and his family, including newspaper accounts of the May 17, 1934 wedding of his daughter Grace aboard the Constitution. Scrapbook number 3 contains several post-1934 items on the Constitution, the most recent of which dates to 1945. Some of the collection's correspondence bears the signatures of notable individuals, such as Rear Admiral H.V. Butler, Rear Admiral R.H. Leigh, and Secretary of the Navy Claude Swanson.

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Arrangement

The U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks are arranged chronologically.

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Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks 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.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

The pages of the U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks are brittle and cracking along the spine of the scrapbooks. Many have separated from their post bindings. The post bindings of the first scrapbook have failed entirely.

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Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Commander Louis J. Gulliver.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to the U.S.S. Constitution's 1931-1934 national tour in this repository can be found in the U.S.S. Constitution Collection, MS 283.

Materials Cataloged Separately

The Night Order Book of the U.S.S. Constitution from the 1931-1934 national tour is cataloged as MS 115.

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Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks, MS 281

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1993. Finding aid written by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1993 and revised by David D'Onofrio in January 2014.

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Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

  • Constitution (Frigate)
  • Grebe (Minesweeper : AM-43)
  • Gulliver, Louis Joseph, 1884-1962

Genre Terms

  • Clippings (information artifacts)
  • Correspondence
  • Manuscripts
  • Photographs
  • Programs (documents)
  • Scrapbooks
  • Speeches (documents)
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Contents List

Box 1 Folder 1

Scrapbook 1, 1931 March-1933 January

Box 2 Folder 1

Scrapbook 2, 1933 January-August

Box 3 Folder 1

Scrapbook 3, 1933 September-1945

Bulk of the documents span from September 1933 through May 1934.

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