Earl S. Townsend Papers, 1928-1946 (bulk 1929-1932): Finding Aid

Biography of Earl S. Townsend

Earl Stanley Townsend was an enlisted seaman in the United States Navy. After initial training at United States Naval Training Station Great Lakes in 1928, Townsend was attached to U.S.S. West Virginia (Battleship: BB-48), serving aboard that ship during her cruise of 1929-1932.

Description of Contents

The Earl S. Townsend Papers, comprising 0.21 linear feet of documentation, span from 1928 until 1946, with a bulk of the material spanning from 1929 until 1932. The materials are largely the product of and focus on shipboard life during the cruise of U.S.S. West Virginia (Battleship: BB-48) from 1929 until 1932.

Included in the collection are photographs, clippings, schedules, printed ephemera, a booklet, a medal, and a scrapbook.

The Townsend Papers are arranged alphabetically by document type into a single series with no subdivisions. The centerpiece of the collection is a scrapbook that is the product of U.S.S. West Virginia's cruise from the Canal Zone to ports on both U.S. coasts, the Caribbean, and the Territory of Hawaii. Entitled "Our Navy," the scrapbook is composed of newspaper clippings, orders of the day, menus, athletic programs, postcards, comics, and maps. The contents of the scrapbook touch upon shipboard holiday celebrations, daily shipboard life, athletic competitions throughout the fleet, the launching of the V-boat submarines, Great Britain's early aircraft carriers, America's Lexington class aircraft carriers, the officers and command staff of U.S.S. West Virginia, the various ships of the U.S. Navy, the fleet's call at New York City, and views of Trinidad and the Canal Zone. Also included in the scrapbook are hand-drawn maps of the Hawaiian Islands and the course of the U.S.S. West Virginia cruise, as well as a color cartoon map of Maui.

The remainder of the collection consists primarily of various loose photographs, clippings, and printed ephemera covering much the same topics as Townsend's scrapbook. The collection also includes and citation and medallion for Townsend's Good Conduct Medal.

Arrangement

The Earl S. Townsend Papers are arranged alphabetically by document type.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Earl S. Townsend 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 Robert C. Runge in October 1997. Accession No. 97-64.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Official documentation of the U.S. Navy career of Earl S. Townsend may be available at the National Personnel Records Center.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Earl S. Townsend Papers, MS 534

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

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

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Sailors -- United States -- Social life and customs
• Townsend, Earl S.
• United States. Navy -- Sea life
• West Virginia (Battleship : BB-48)

Genre Terms

• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Manuscripts
• Photographs
• Printed ephemera
• Scrapbooks