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
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)