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Nimitz Library

Williams C. Wickham Papers, 1903-1944: Finding Aid

Published in May 2010

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 406
  • Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
  • Title: Williams C. Wickham Papers
  • Dates: 1903-1944
  • Size: 0.83 linear feet
  • Container Summary: 2 manuscript boxes
  • Creator: Wickham, Williams C., 1887-1985
  • Language(s) of material: English
  • Abstract: Williams Carter Wickham was member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1909 and an officer in the U.S. Navy who served primarily aboard destroyers and cruisers. The Williams C. Wickham Papers primarily span Wickham's career from 1918 through 1944 and are composed mainly of correspondence between Wickham and his wife Credilla during periods of deployment, treating mainly of personal domestic matters.

Biography of Williams C. Wickham

Williams Carter Wickham was born July 17, 1887 in Hanover County, Virginia and graduated from the Naval Academy with the Class of 1909. Credilla Miller was born April 17, 1890, and married Williams on April 22, 1912. Together they had three children: Williams, known as "Billy," Laurence, known as "Whoppy," and Credilla, known as "Dale" or "The Red Head." Laurence later served as a Marine lieutenant during the Second World War.

Wickham served aboard many ships during his career, including the destroyers, U.S.S. Reid, U.S.S. Shaw, U.S.S. Crowninshield, U.S.S. Litchfield, U.S.S. Dent and U.S.S. Pillsbury, and the heavy cruisers, U.S.S. Chester, U.S.S. Minneapolis and U.S.S. Houston. From 1939 to 1940 he commanded the heavy cruiser, U.S.S. Quincy, and in 1941 was assigned as Commandant of the Georgia Tech Naval ROTC Station in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1944 Captain Wickham was a patient at Fitzsimons General Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

Credilla Wickham died in January 1965 and Williams C. Wickham on July 11, 1985. They are buried together in the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery.

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Description of Contents

The Williams C. Wickham Papers, comprising 0.83 linear feet of documents, primarily spans Wickham's career from 1918 through 1944. It is composed mainly of correspondence between Wickham and his wife Credilla during periods of deployment, and treats mainly of personal domestic matters. The couple discusses the difficulties of moving households and raising children and the loneliness and tedium of long separations. Several of the children's letters to both parents are included, as is a letter to Credilla from her father prior to her marriage. Several letters to Wickham from fellow officers address their endorsement of him for membership in the New York Yacht Club. There is a small collection of business correspondence regarding banking, real estate, taxes and billing for household repairs and services.

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Arrangement

  • Series 1: U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, 1903
  • Series 2: PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1904-1944
  • Series 3: PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1919-1931
  • Series 4: BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE, 1919-1944
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Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Williams C. Wickham 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.

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Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum Rare Manuscripts and Archives in March 2007. Accession No. 07-03.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional materials pertaining to Williams C. Wickham and the Wickham family can be found in the Wickham Family Papers, 1754-1977 (Mss1 W6326 c FA2), Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Va. [http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=vhs/vih00017.xml]

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection.

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Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Williams C. Wickham Papers, MS 406

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Liz Coelho in May 2010. Finding aid written by Liz Coelho in May 2010.

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Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

  • Navy spouses
  • United States. Navy -- Family relationships
  • Wickham, Credilla Miller, 1890-1965
  • Wickham, Williams C., 1887-1985

Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Manuscripts
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Contents List

Series 1: U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, 1903 Box 1

Series Description

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY contains correspondence related to the appointment of Wickham to the Academy by Senator Thomas S. Martin of Virginia.

Box 1 Folder 1

USNA Appointment, 1903

Correspondence related to Wickham's appointment to the Academy by Senator Thomas S. Martin of Virginia.

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Series 2: PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1904-1944 Boxes 1-2

Series Description

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE contains letters between husband and wife, and includes letters from their three children, a letter to Credilla from her father, and a letter to Credilla from her friend "Jane." In cases where other materials were enclosed with the letters, such as business correspondence, they are left in situ.

Series Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Box 1 Folder 2

Letter to Credilla from her Father, 1904

Box 1 Folder 3

U.S.S. Reid, 1908 (approximate)

Box 1 Folder 4

U.S.S. Shaw, 1918

Box 1 Folder 5

U.S.S. Shaw, 1919 January-March

Box 1 Folder 6

U.S.S. Shaw, 1919 April

Also includes U.S.S. Dent and Royal Naval Barracks Portsmouth.

Box 1 Folder 7

U.S.S. Shaw, 1919 May

Also includes U.S.S. Dent and Royal Naval Barracks Portsmouth.

Box 1 Folder 8

U.S.S. Shaw, 1919 July

Also includes U.S.S. Dent and Royal Naval Barracks Portsmouth.

Box 1 Folder 9-10

U.S.S. Shaw, 1919 August

Box 1 Folder 11

U.S.S. Crowninshield, 1920

Box 1 Folder 12

U.S.S. Crowninshield, 1921

Box 1 Folder 13

U.S.S. Pillsbury, 1922

Box 1 Folder 14

U.S.S. Pillsbury, 1925

Box 1 Folder 15

U.S.S. Pillsbury, U.S.S. Litchfield, 1926

Box 1 Folder 16

U.S.S. Litchfield, 1927

Box 1 Folder 17

Newport, Rhode Island, 1928

Box 2 Folder 1

U.S.S. Chester, 1932

Box 2 Folder 2

Letter to Credilla from Dale, 1934

Box 2 Folder 3

U.S.S. Chicago, U.S.S. Minneapolis, 1935

Box 2 Folder 4

U.S.S. Chicago, 1936

Box 2 Folder 5

U.S.S. Houston, 1937

Box 2 Folder 6

U.S.S. Quincy, 1939

Box 2 Folder 7

U.S.S. Quincy, 1940

Box 2 Folder 8

Georgia Tech ROTC, Atlanta, Georgia, 1941

Box 2 Folder 9

Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colorado, 1944

Box 2 Folder 10

Letter from Son Laurence to Credilla, 1944

Box 2 Folder 11

Letter from "Jane" to Credilla, 1944

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Series 3: PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1919-1931 Box 2

Series Description

PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE contains correspondence concerning the recommendation of Wickham for membership in the New York Yacht Club and a Naval Signal telegram.

Series Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Box 2 Folder 12

Naval Signal, 1919

Telegram on luncheon with CINC.

Box 2 Folder 13

New York Yacht Club Membership References, 1931

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Series 4: BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE, 1919-1944 Box 2

Series Description

BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE includes financial documents, bills, tax assessments and real estate transactions.

Box 2 Folder 14

Fuel oil Ration Calendar, 1944

Box 2 Folder 15

Utilities and Services, 1944

Box 2 Folder 16

Real Estate and Banking, 1922-1944

Box 2 Folder 17

Insurance, 1944

Box 2 Folder 18

Tax Assessments, 1943-1944

Box 2 Folder 19

Miscellaneous Family Expenditures, 1919-1944

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