Sue Fischer Papers, 1843-1996: Finding Aid
Published in October 2018
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 470
- Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
- Title: Sue Fischer Papers
- Dates: 1843-1996
- Size: 3.96 linear feet
- Container Summary: 9 manuscript boxes, 1 half-manuscript box
- Creator: Fischer, Annabelle F.
- Language(s) of material: English, German
- Abstract: Sue Fischer is a literary consultant, researcher, writer, editor, and retired Yeoman in the United States Navy. The Sue Fischer Papers span from 1843 to 1996. The papers focus on the 1844-1846 cruise of the frigate U.S.S. Constitution as recorded in the diary of Frederick C. Fischer and the history of women in the United States Navy.
Biography of Sue Fischer
Annabelle F. "Sue" Fischer enlisted in the United States Navy on May 22, 1951. Following boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois and Yeoman A School in Norfolk, her duty stations included the legal office at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia; the Strategic Plans Division of United States Naval Forces Europe in London, England; Instructor School in Norfolk; Recruit Training Command at Bainbridge, Maryland; Yeoman B School in San Diego, California; the legal office at Naval Air Station North Island, California as Chief-in-Charge; Naval Training Center Bainbridge, Maryland as Chief-in-Charge; the Recruiting Aids and Training Publications Divisions of NAVPERSPROGSUPPACT at the Washington Navy Yard; and the legal office of the Reserve Training Command at Great Lakes, Illinois as Chief-in-Charge. Fischer was transferred to Reserve status on August 24, 1971 and retired from the United States Navy on March 1, 1981.
In 1978, Fischer received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from the College of Notre Dame, Baltimore, embarking upon a second career as a literary consultant, writer, researchers, and editor. In addition to serving as National Secretary of the Navy Women's National Convention Association, she was editor of Experienced and Conquered: Frederick C. Fisher, Musician, U.S. Navy Aboard U.S.S. Constitution 1844-1846 (published 1996 by Peach Originals) and A Pictorial History: Navy Women, 1908-1988 (published 1990 by WAVES National).
Description of Contents
The Sue Fischer Papers, comprising 3.96 linear feet of documentation, span from 1843 to 1996. The papers focus on the 1844-1846 cruise of the frigate U.S.S. Constitution as recorded in the diary of Frederick C. Fischer and the history of women in the United States Navy.
Included in the collection are clippings, letters, notes, manuscripts, newsletters, pamphlets, biographical sketches, logbooks, journals, and a diary.
The Fischer Papers are organized into two series by topic. Series 1: U.S.S. Constitution Files focuses on the diary kept by Fischer's great-grandfather, Frederick C. Fischer, while serving as a musician aboard U.S.S. Constitution during her cruise of 1844 to 1846 under the command of John Percival. In addition to housing the original diary, the series documents the diary's translation and publication as Experienced and Conquered: Frederick C. Fisher, Musician, U.S. Navy Aboard U.S.S. Constitution 1844-1846. Series 2: WAVES/Women in the Navy Files is the product of Fischer's interest in the history of the WAVES and the various issues facing women in the Navy, her involvement in several women's veterans organizations, and the publication of A Pictorial History: Navy Women, 1908-1988, typically referred to throughout the series as Navy Women, 1908-1988: A Pictorial History.
Arrangement
The Sue Fischer Papers are organized into the following two series:
- Series 1: U.S.S. Constitution Files, 1843-1996
- Subseries 1a: Frederick C. Fischer Diary, 1844-1996
- Subseries 1b: Subject and Research Files, 1843-1996
- Series 2: WAVES/Women in the Navy Files, 1918-1994
- Subseries 2a: Subject Files, 1918-1994
- Subseries 2b: Navy Women, 1908-1988: A Pictorial History Files, 1918-1993
Access and Use
Access
Access is unrestricted.
Copyright and Permission
The Sue Fischer 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 Sue Fischer in April 1997. Accession No. 97-25.
Related Materials
Location of Originals
Originals of correspondence by William C. Chaplin held by Library of Congress Manuscripts Division. Originals of correspondence by J. C. Reinhardt held by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Originals of the logbooks of U.S.S. Constitution, as well as the journals of M. Patterson Jones and Colville Terrett held by the National Archives and Records Administration.
Related Archival Material
Additional journals of service aboard U.S.S. Constitution may be found in this repository: MS 125, MS 126, and MS 127, as well as the Thomas W. and Robert H. Wyman Naval Papers, 1817-1855, MS 5.
Materials Cataloged Separately
No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.
Processing and Other Information
Where possible, the collection creator's folder titles have been retained.
Preferred Citation
Sue Fischer Papers, MS 470
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
Selected Bibliography
The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:
A Pictorial History: Navy Women, 1908-1988. California: WAVES National, 1990.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in October 2018. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in October 2018.
Subject Headings
Name and Subject Terms
- Band musicians -- United States -- Biography
- Constitution (Frigate)
- Fischer, Annabelle F.
- Fischer, Frederick C.
- United States -- History, Naval -- To 1900
- United States. Naval Reserve. Women's Reserve
- United States. Navy -- Biography
- United States. Navy -- Women
- United States. Navy Nurse Corps
- Voyages around the world
- Yeomen (F)
Genre Terms
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Manuscripts
- Newsletters
- Photographs
- Research notes
- Rosters
- Ships' logs
Contents List
Series 1: U.S.S. Constitution Files, 1843-1996 Boxes 1-5
Series DescriptionDocumentation of Fischer's work to publish a translation of the diary of her great-grandfather, Frederick C. Fischer, kept during his two year cruise as a musician aboard the frigate U.S.S. Constitution from 1844 to 1846.
Series ArrangementOrganized into two subseries by document type.
Subseries 1a: Frederick C. Fischer Diary, 1844-1996 Boxes 1-2
Subseries DescriptionOriginal German language manuscript of Frederick C. Fischer's diary of service aboard the frigate U.S.S. Constitution, as well as documentation pertaining to the diary's translation and subsequent publication as Experienced and Conquered: Frederick C. Fisher, Musician, U.S. Navy Aboard U.S.S. Constitution 1844-1846. In addition to the original diary, the subseries includes typescript translations, manuscript and working copies, and an inscribed copy of the published translation of Fischer's diary, as well as the editor's notes and samples of illustrations and photographs for publication.
Subseries ArrangementArranged by document title and type.
Subseries 1b: Subject and Research Files, 1843-1996 Boxes 2-5
Subseries DescriptionDocumentation of Fischer's research in preparation for the publication of Experienced and Conquered: Frederick C. Fisher, Musician, U.S. Navy Aboard U.S.S. Constitution 1844-1846. Specifically, the materials pertain to the logbooks of U.S.S. Constitution, lists of crew members, Fischer family genealogy, and the correspondence and journals of the ship's officers. The subseries consists largely of copies of logbooks, journals, letters, and maps, as well as handwritten notes and research correspondence.
Among the documents in the subseries are copies of correspondence of J. C. Reinhardt, punishment and court martial logs of U.S.S. Constitution, deck logs of U.S.S. Constitution, correspondence of William C. Chaplin to Captain John Percival, and the journals of Midshipman J. Patterson Jones and Colville Terrett. Chaplin's correspondence and Terrett's journal were ultimately included in Experienced and Conquered: Frederick C. Fisher, Musician, U.S. Navy Aboard U.S.S. Constitution 1844-1846 as appendices.
Subseries ArrangementArranged alphabetically by document type and topic.
Series 2: WAVES/Women in the Navy Files, 1918-1994 Boxes 5-10
Series DescriptionDocuments pertaining to and collected in connection with Fischer's interest in and writings on the WAVES and history of women in the United States Navy, including the publication of the two volume A Pictorial History: Navy Women, 1908-1988.
Series ArrangementOrganized into two subseries.
Subseries 2a: Subject Files, 1918-1994 Boxes 5-8
Subseries DescriptionSubject and clipping files pertaining to various topics pertaining to women serving in the WAVES and U.S. Navy at large, as well as documentation produced as a result of Fischer's work with the Navy Women's National Convention Association and WAVES National (later renamed MILWOMEN). More specifically, the files touch upon such topics as WAVES reunions, the easing of restrictions on women in combat duty, women who achieved flag rank, sexual harassment, the Navy Nurse Corps, WAVES training schools, the first women to receive commands, the service of Yeomen (F) in World War I, and the service of WAVES in World War II. Included in the subseries are clippings, letters, newsletters, notes, event programs, pamphlets and brochures, and rosters.
Subseries ArrangementArranged alphabetically by topic.
Subseries 2b: Navy Women, 1908-1988: A Pictorial History Files, 1918-1993 Boxes 8-10
Subseries DescriptionDocumentation of the compiling, editing, and publication of A Pictorial History: Navy Women, 1908-1988, typically referred to throughout the collection as Navy Women, 1908-1988: A Pictorial History. Primarily, the materials in the subseries pertain to biographical submissions by individual Navy women, as well as Fischer's research and writings for the books. Included in the subseries are letters, clippings, biographical sketches, and notes.
Subseries ArrangementArranged alphabetically by document type and topic.