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

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

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.

Arrangement

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

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.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Commander Louis J. Gulliver.

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.

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.

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)