Alva D. Bernhard and Edward H. Gheen Papers, 1862-1942: Finding Aid
Published in February 2019
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 478
- Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
- Title: Alva D. Bernhard and Edward H. Gheen Papers
- Dates: 1862-1942
- Size: 6.08 linear feet
- Container Summary: 3 manuscript boxes, 4 flat boxes, 1 oversize folder
- Creator: Bernhard, Alva D., 1886-1955
- Language(s) of material: English
- Abstract: The Alva D. Bernhard and Edward H. Gheen Papers span from 1862-1942. The papers document the combined U.S. Navy careers of Alva D. Bernhard, United States Naval Academy Class of 1909, and his father-in-law, Edward H. Gheen, United States Naval Academy Class of 1867, as well as documenting the lives of their wives and the genealogy of the Gheen and Monfort families.
Biographical Chronology of Alva Douglas Bernhard
- 1886
- Born on March 9 in Enterprise, Pennsylvania.
- 1905
- Appointed to the United States Naval Academy by the President.
- 1909
- In June, graduates from the United States Naval Academy.
- Assigned to U.S.S. Kansas (Battleship: BB-21).
- 1914
- Detached from U.S.S. Kansas for service aboard U.S.S. Maine (Battleship: BB-10), U.S.S. Ohio (Battleship: BB-12), and U.S.S. Balch (Destroyer: DD-50).
- On June 5, promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade).
- 1915
- In September, attached to the Washington Navy Yard.
- 1917
- Assigned to additional duty as Aide to Rear Admiral James H. Glennon as part of the Naval Mission to Russia.
- On June 5, promoted to Lieutenant.
- Assigned as Aide to Commander Battleship Force One, Atlantic Fleet aboard U.S.S. Missouri.
- 1918
- In May, attached to U.S.S. Kansas (Battleship: BB-21) as Gunnery Officer.
- 1919
- Attached to U.S.S. New Mexico (Battleship: BB-40).
- 1920
- In December, attached to the Bureau of Ordnance.
- 1921
- On June 3, promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
- 1923
- Assigned to additional duty on the Federal Committee for Coordination of Occupational Terminology and Specification.
- 1924
- In April, receives command of U.S.S. Litchfield (Destroyer: DD-336).
- 1926
- On October 2, promoted to Commander.
- 1927
- On January 1, ordered to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight instruction.
- In September, designated a Naval Aviator.
- In December, receives command of U.S.S. Aroostook (Aircraft tender: (CM-3).
- 1929
- In August, assumes command of Fleet Air Base, Coco Solo, Canal Zone.
- 1931
- In October, ordered to Patrol Squadron 9 as Commanding Officer.
- 1932
- In June, attached to U.S.S. Lexington (Aircraft carrier: CV-2) as Executive Officer.
- 1934
- In July, attached to the Bureau of Aeronautics.
- 1937
- On June 3, promoted to Captain.
- In June, assigned as Chief of Staff, Commander Aircraft Base Force (later redesignated Aircraft Scouting Force).
- 1939
- Assumes command of U.S.S. Lexington.
- 1940
- In June, detached from U.S.S. Lexington for instruction at the Naval War College.
- Assigned to oversee construction of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
- 1941
- On March 12, commissions Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
- 1942
- In April, promoted to Rear Admiral.
- Appointed Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet.
- 1943
- Receives command of Task Force 22, Atlantic Fleet, operating in the North Atlantic with the British Home Fleet.
- 1944
- Ordered to duty in the Pacific, participating in the Gilbert Islands, Marshall Islands, and Saipan Campaigns.
- 1945
- In November, ordered to the Naval Hospital, San Diego.
- Appointed Commander Naval Air Bases, 11th Naval District.
- 1946
- In March, readmitted to Naval Hospital, San Diego.
- On November 1, retired due to physical disability.
- 1955
- Died on July 24 at Coronado, California.
Biographical Chronology of Edward Hickman Gheen
- 1845
- Born on December 11 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania to Edward and Phebe Gheen.
- 1862
- On September 25, receives appointment to the United States Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 1866.
- 1864
- In June, is found deficient and is turned back to the Class of 1867.
- 1867
- In June, graduates from the United States Naval Academy.
- In October, attached to the Asiatic Station aboard U.S.S. Piscataqua (Screw steamer, later renamed U.S.S. Delaware).
- 1868
- On December 18, commissioned as an Ensign.
- 1870
- On March 21, promoted to Master.
- In November, detached from U.S.S. Delaware.
- 1871
- In March, assigned to signal duty in Washington, DC.
- On March 21, promoted to Lieutenant.
- In July, detached from signal duty.
- 1872
- In January, attached to the North Atlantic Station aboard U.S.S. Mahopac (Monitor).
- In March, detached from U.S.S. Mahopac and attached to the receiving ship U.S.S. New Hampshire at Norfolk.
- In May, attached to the flagship of the South Atlantic Station, U.S.S. Lancaster (Screw sloop).
- 1875
- In July, detached from U.S.S. Lancaster.
- In August, attached to the receiving ship U.S.S. Potomac at Philadelphia.
- 1876
- In December, attached to the training ship U.S.S. Constitution (Frigate).
- 1877
- In January, transferred to the European Station aboard U.S.S. Alliance (Screw gunboat).
- 1880
- In January, detached from U.S.S. Alliance.
- In April, attached to the Navy Yard at League Island, Pennsylvania.
- 1881
- In May, detached from the League Island Navy Yard.
- In June, attached to the Newport Torpedo Station for torpedo instruction.
- In September, detached from the Newport Torpedo Station and returns to duty at the League Island Navy Yard.
- In December, attached to the flagship of the North Atlantic Station, U.S.S. Tennessee (Screw frigate).
- 1883
- In September, attached to the United States Naval Academy as an Assistant to the Commandant.
- On October 17, marries Florence Monfort.
- 1884
- In June, assigned to the practice ship U.S.S. Constellation (Sloop-of-war) in support of the midshipman practice cruise.
- 1887
- In June, detached from United States Naval Academy.
- In July, attached to U.S.S. Yantic (Screw gunboat) as Executive Officer.
- 1890
- In July, detached from U.S.S. Yantic and granted leave of absence.
- In October, appointed inspector of steel at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- 1891
- In January, transfers to steel inspection duty at Thurlow, Pennsylvania.
- In May, attached to the Philadelphia Hydrographic Office as Officer in Charge.
- On October 2, promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
- 1892
- In June, granted leave of absence.
- 1893
- In April, attached to the Navy Yard at League Island, Pennsylvania.
- 1894
- In October, attached to the North Atlantic Station as Executive Officer of U.S.S. Miantonomoh (Monitor).
- In November, detached from U.S.S. Miantonomoh and transferred to the receiving ship U.S.S. Richmond at Philadelphia.
- In December, appointed Executive Officer of U.S.S. Minneapolis (Cruiser: C-13).
- 1896
- In October, granted leave of absence.
- 1897
- In January, assigned to the Hydrographic Office in Washington, DC.
- 1898
- On March 28, promoted to Commander.
- In June, receives command of U.S.S. Frolic (Patrol yacht) on the North Atlantic Station.
- In October, returned to duty at the Hydrographic Office in Washington, DC.
- 1899
- In June, receives command of U.S.S. Marietta (Gunboat: PG-15) on the Asiatic Station.
- 1901
- In May, receives command of U.S.S. Petrel (Gunboat: PG-2) on the Asiatic Station.
- In September, detached from U.S.S. Petrel and waiting orders.
- 1902
- In February, attached to the 11th Lighthouse District as Assistant Inspector, and later, Inspector.
- On June 14, promoted to Captain.
- In September, attached to the Naval Recruiting Office and Hydrographic Office at Chicago as Officer in Charge.
- On December 1, placed on the Retired List.
- 1911
- On April 13, promoted to Rear Admiral on the Retired List, retroactive to December 1, 1902.
- 1920
- Died on August 10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Description of Contents
The Alva D. Bernhard and Edward H. Gheen Papers, comprising 6.08 linear feet of documentation, span from 1862-1942. The papers document the combined U.S. Navy careers of Alva D. Bernhard, United States Naval Academy Class of 1909, and his father-in-law, Edward H. Gheen, United States Naval Academy Class of 1867, as well as documenting the lives of their wives and the genealogy of the Gheen and Monfort families.
Included in the collection are incoming and outgoing letters, scrapbooks, press clippings, certificates, diaries, journals, orders, scrapbooks, photographs, and medals.
The Alva D. Bernhard and Edward H. Gheen Papers are organized into three series by family generation and document type. Series 1: Alva D. and Mary (Gheen) Bernhard, pertains to the Navy career of Alva D. Bernhard (with a heavy emphasis on his service during World War I), his courtship of Mary Gheen, and Mary Gheen's personal life and travels. Series 2: Edward H. and Florence (Monfort) Gheen, documents the Navy career of Edward H. Gheen (especially his 1856 midshipman practice cruise and later service aboard U.S.S. Piscataqua (Screw steamer), the civic organization memberships of his wife, Florence (Monfort) Gheen, and the travels of his daughter, Florence Gheen (sister of Mary Gheen). The series also documents, to varying degrees, the lives of Florence (Monfort) Gheen's mother, Mary J. Monfort and the history of the Monfort family. Series 3: Photographs, consists of images, largely portraiture, representing at least three generations of the Bernhard, Gheen, and Monfort families. Also represented are at least two of Alva Bernhard's duty stations: U.S. Fleet Air Base Coco Solo and U.S.S. Lexington (Aircraft carrier: CV-2).
Arrangement
The Alva D. Bernhard and Edward H. Gheen Papers are organized into the following three series:
- Series 1: Alva D. and Mary (Gheen) Bernhard, 1909-1942
- Series 2: Edward H. and Florence (Monfort) Gheen, 1862-1926
- Series 3: Photographs, 1897-1941
Access and Use
Access
Access is unrestricted.
Copyright and Permission
The Alva D. Bernhard and Edward H. Gheen 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 Joan Blaine on behalf of the estate of Edgar A. Hudson in January 2013. Accession No. 13-01.
Related Materials
Related Archival Material
Additional materials pertaining to Alva D. Bernhard and Edward H. Gheen in this repository include Bernhard's Midshipman Personnel Jacket and Alumni Jacket, and Gheen's Midshipman Conduct Record and Alumni Jacket.
Materials Cataloged Separately
The following six books have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately:
- Chapman, Isaac A. Sketch of the History of Wyoming: To Which is Added, an Appendix, Containing a Statistical Account of the Valley, and Adjacent Country. Wilkes-barre, PA: Sharp D. Lewis, 1830. Day, Thomas. Sandford & Merton: A Book for the Young. London: T. Nelson and Sons, 1872. Holmes, U. T. Notes on Experimental Engineering: For the Instruction of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute Press, 1907 Le Duc, W. G. Minnesota Year Book for 1852. St. Paul, MN: W. G. Le Duc, 1852 McGuffey's First Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition. Cincinnati: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co.,1879. The New-England Primer, Improved, For the More Easy Attaining the True Reading of English. To Which is Added, the Assembly of Divines' Catechism. Catskill: M. Croswell, 1799.
The following items were removed from this collection and transferred to the United States Naval Academy Museum: one French Model 1866 Chassepot bayonet, two embroidered sailors' covers (one labeled DOLPHIN and one labeled KULINDA), and three smoking pipes bearing U.S. Navy and Naval Academy Class of 1909 insignia.
Processing and Other Information
Preferred Citation
Alva D. Bernhard and Edward H. Gheen Papers, MS 478
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
Selected Bibliography
The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:
Cogar, William B. Dictionary of Admirals of the U.S. Navy. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1989.
Bernhard, Alva D. Alumni Jacket, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.
Gheen, Edward H. Alumni Jacket, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in February 2019. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in February 2019.
Subject Headings
Name and Subject Terms
- Bernhard, Mary
- Bernhard, Alva D., 1886-1955
- Europe -- Description and travel
- Gheen, Florence
- Gheen, Edward H., 1845-1920
- Kansas (Battleship : BB-21)
- Lexington (Aircraft carrier : CV-2)
- Litchfield (Destroyer : DD-336)
- Monfort family
- Piscataqua (Screw steamer)
- United States -- Foreign relations -- Russia
- United States Naval Academy -- Midshipmen -- Cruises
- World War, 1914-1918
- World War, 1914-1918 -- Naval operations, American
Genre Terms
- Certificates
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Journals (accounts)
- Manuscripts
- Medals
- Orders (military records)
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks
Contents List
Series 1: Alva D. and Mary (Gheen) Bernhard, 1909-1942 Boxes 1-2, 4[OS]-5[OS]
Series DescriptionDocumentation of the U.S. Navy career and personal life of Alva D. Bernhard and the personal life of his wife, Mary (Gheen) Bernhard. Specifically, the aspects of Bernhard's naval career covered in the series include his service in the Navy Yards Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, his commands of U.S.S. Litchfield and U.S.S. Aroostook, the commissioning of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, and his World War I service aboard U.S.S. Kansas and as a member of Elihu Root's Naval Mission to Russia (the topic of World War I is also covered in one of the series' two scrapbooks). Personal topics referred to include Bernhard's courtship of and marriage to Mary Gheen, Mary Gheen's social life on the home front in Washington, DC and Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, Mary Gheen's travels in Europe, the birth of the Bernhards' children, and the construction of their home in Coronado, California. Included in the series are incoming and outgoing letters, diaries and journals, orders, scrapbooks, certificates, and dog tags.
The partial journal kept by Bernhard, which includes notes on French and British naval vessels, is the product of Bernhard's two years of service at sea prior to commissioning as an ensign.
Series ArrangementArranged alphabetically by document type and topic.
Journal, 1910-1911
Notes on French Navy ships at Cherbourg, French torpedo drills, ships of the British Royal Navy, joint search exercises with the British, rifle practice, examinations for promotion to Ensign, and day spotting practice against U.S.S. San Marcos (ex-Texas). Includes photographs of target practice damage to U.S.S. San Marcos.
Personal Correspondence - Letters Sent by Alva D. Bernhard, 1918 May
To Mary Gheen, Edward Gheen, and Florence Gheen from U.S.S. Missouri and U.S.S. Kansas. References to Bernhard's courtship of Gheen, attempts to receive consent to marry, transfer to gunnery duty aboard U.S.S. Kansas, and Captain Hutchinson.
Personal Correspondence - Letters Sent by Alva D. Bernhard, 1918 October
To Mary Gheen from U.S.S. Kansas. References to the Spanish Influenza pandemic, Alan G. Kirk's engagement, poor work done by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and the excitement of sailing in stormy weather during convoy duty. Includes a photograph from the deck of the ship.
Personal File, 1923
Letters sent and received pertaining to the internal operations of the Navy Yards Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, including personnel issues, draftsmen shortages, civilian employee wages, and employee reclassification. Also includes references to the birth of Bernhard's son Edward.
Series 2: Edward H. and Florence (Monfort) Gheen, 1862-1926 Boxes 2-3, 4[OS], 6[OS]
Series DescriptionDocumentation of the U.S. Navy career of Edward H. Gheen, as well as the family history and activities of his wife, Florence (Monfort) Gheen. In addition to statements of service and orders spanning the length of Edward H. Gheen's U.S. Navy career, the series also focuses on Gheen's Naval Academy practice cruise of 1856 and his service aboard U.S.S. Piscataqua in Asian waters. Material from Florence (Monfort) Gheen focuses on her and her mother's membership in patriotic organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames, as well as the history of the Monfort Family of St. Paul, Minnesota. Included in the series are incoming and outgoing letters, orders, newspaper clippings, diaries and journals, certificates, medals, and a notebook.
Several documents in the series, including some correspondence and possibly a diary, are the product of Edward H. and Florence (Monfort) Gheen's daughter, Florence.
Series ArrangementArranged alphabetically by document type.
Series 3: Photographs, 1897-1941 Boxes 3, 4[OS]-5[OS], 7[OS], MSXOS
Series DescriptionPhotographs, mainly black-and-white, depicting various members of and events pertaining to several generations of the Bernhard and Gheen families. In addition to portraits of Alva D. Bernhard, Edward H. Gheen, and their family members, the series includes group portraits of U.S. Navy personnel and aircraft in the Panama Canal Zone, as well as images of U.S. Navy vessels (especially U.S.S. Lexington). Included among the photographs are several pieces of artwork, notably a collection of Currier & Ives prints and a reproduction of a map.
Included in the series are one ambrotype and one daguerreotype.
Series ArrangementArranged alphabetically by topic.