The Maull Binoculars Go to War : (WWI), 1994: Finding Aid

History of the "Eyes for the Navy" Campaign

In February 1917, in a campaign known as "Eyes for the Navy," the United States Navy appealed to the general public for the donation of binoculars for use in the war zone. As the Navy could not accept free donations, donors were reimbursed $1.00 per pair. Eligible binoculars were restricted to 6x30 and 7x50 size instruments manufactured by either Zeise or Bausch & Lomb. At the end of the war, any surviving binoculars were returned to their original owner, along with an "Eyes for the Navy" certificate, bearing the signature of Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Description of Contents

Lewis C. Maull's The Maull Binoculars Go to War, comprising 0.1 linear feet of documentation in a single volume, was compiled in 1994. Through a selection of U.S. Navy records, the volume traces the path taken by a pair of binoculars donated by Miss Carrie Maull of Philadelphia to the U.S. Navy during World War I, namely aboard U.S.S. Cummings (Destroyer: DD-44) under the command of Owen Bartlett.

Included in the volume are photocopies of letters, memoranda, action reports, and maps.

The Maull Binoculars Go to War is divided into roughly two sections. The first sixteen pages consist of documents pertaining to the appeal for donations of binoculars to the Navy, the history of the Maull family, and documents regarding the return of the Maull's binoculars. The section also includes career chronologies for the recipient of the binoculars, Commander Owen Bartlett, commanding officer of U.S.S. Cummings; as well as for Bartlett's father, Captain Frank W. Bartlett. The remainder of the volume consists of action reports for U.S.S. Cummings spanning from January 1 through September 22, 1918. During the time in which the Maull binoculars were aboard, U.S.S. Cummings operated out of Queenstown, Ireland, performing convoy and anti-submarine duty; and later escorted troops and supplies out of Brest, France.

Arrangement

The The Maull Binoculars Go to War : (WWI) comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Maull Binoculars Go to War : (WWI) is 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 Lewis C. Maull in February 1995. Accession No. 95-10.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material in this repository pertaining to U.S.S. Cummings can be found in the Andrew Boyd Cummings Papers, MS 268.

Material pertaining to the career of Owen Bartlett, USNA Class of 1906, can be found in his Midshipman Personnel Jacket and Alumni Jacket.

An example of the "Eyes for the Navy" certificate is available in MS VF 65.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

The Maull Binoculars Go to War : (WWI), MS 517

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in August 2019. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in August 2019.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Bartlett, Owen
• Cummings (Destroyer : DD-44)
• Maull family
• World War, 1914-1918 -- Naval operations, American
• World War, 1914-1918 -- United States -- Equipment and supplies

Genre Terms

• Correspondence
• Manuscripts
• Reports