Charles Leroy Melson Papers, 1921-1976: Finding Aid
Published in November 2020
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 553
- Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
- Title: Charles Leroy Melson Papers
- Dates: 1921-1976
- Size: 27.35 linear feet
- Container Summary: 11 manuscript boxes, 11 flat boxes, 1 tube
- Creator: Melson, Charles Leroy, 1904-1981
- Language(s) of material: English
- Abstract: Charles Leroy Melson was a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1927. The Charles Leroy Melson Papers span from 1921 to 1976, with an emphasis on Melson's tours of duty in the United States Navy while a Midshipman, Captain and flag officer. The papers pertain to Melson's experiences at the United States Naval Academy as both a Midshipman and Superintendent, as well as his other commands, including the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command, U.S. First Fleet, and Cruiser Division Four.
Biographical Chronology of Charles Leroy Melson
- 1904
- Born on May 25 in Richmond, Virginia.
- 1923
- On July 6, admitted to the United States Naval Academy as a Midshipman.
- 1927
- On June 2, graduates from the United States Naval Academy and is commissioned an Ensign.
- In August, attached to U.S.S. Trenton (Light cruiser: CL-11).
- 1929
- In February, attached to U.S.S. Penguin (Rescue ship: ASR-12) as Executive Officer.
- In May, transfers to U.S.S. Napa (Fleet tug: AT-32) as Executive Officer.
- In June, attached to U.S.S. Canopus (Submarine tender: AS-9) of the Asiatic Fleet.
- In July, attached to U.S.S. McCormick (Destroyer: DD-223).
- 1930
- On June 2, promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade).
- 1931
- In January, attached to U.S.S. Pittsburgh (Cruiser: CA-4) of the Asiatic Fleet.
- In July, transfers to U.S.S. Du Pont (Destroyer: DD-152).
- 1932
- In October, assigned to Naval Training Station, Norfolk, Virginia.
- In December, attached to U.S.S. Dickerson (Destroyer: DD-157).
- 1933
- In June, attached to U.S.S. Northampton (Heavy cruiser: CA-26).
- 1934
- In April, assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School as a student.
- 1936
- In June, attached to U.S.S. Pennsylvania (Battleship: BB-38).
- On June 30, promoted to Lieutenant.
- 1937
- In June, attached to the Thirteenth Naval District.
- In September, attached to U.S.S. Patterson (Destroyer: DD-392).
- 1940
- In May, assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
- 1941
- On August 1, promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
- 1942
- In February, assigned to the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet.
- In July, assigned to the staff of Commander Service Squadron Nine.
- In August, appointed Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Quincy, Massachusetts.
- In September, assumes command of U.S.S. Champlin (Destroyer: DD-601).
- 1943
- On July 16, promoted to Commander for temporary service.
- 1944
- In January, assumes command of Destroyer Division 32.
- In November, attached to the staff of Commander Destroyers, Atlantic Fleet.
- 1945
- On April 19, promoted to Captain for temporary service.
- In August, appointed Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Battleship Division Five.
- In November, assigned to the staff of Commander Sixteenth Fleet.
- 1946
- In August, assigned to the staff of Commander Atlantic Reserve Fleet.
- 1947
- In June, assigned to the Naval War College as a student.
- On August 7, promoted to Commander, to rank from June 22, 1938.
- 1948
- In May, joins the staff of the Naval War College following graduation.
- 1949
- On July 1, promoted to Captain, to rank form March 20, 1945.
- In July, assumes command of Destroyer Squadron Twenty.
- 1950
- In May, attached to the United States Naval Academy as Administrative Aide and Chief of Staff.
- 1952
- In October, assumes command of U.S.S. New Jersey (Battleship: BB-62).
- 1953
- In October, appointed Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Battleship-Cruiser Force, Atlantic Fleet.
- 1955
- In February, assigned to the staff of Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as Assistant Chief of Staff.
- On June 1, promoted to Rear Admiral for temporary service.
- 1957
- In March, assumes command of Cruiser Division Four.
- 1958
- On January 1, promoted to Rear Admiral (lower half), to rank from June 1, 1955.
- In April, attached to the United States Naval Academy as Superintendent.
- 1959
- On October 1, promoted to Rear Admiral (upper half).
- 1960
- On March 16, promoted to Vice Admiral for servicing in billets commensurate with that rank.
- In June, assumes command of the First Fleet.
- 1962
- In May, assumes command of the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command.
- 1964
- In July, appointed President of the Naval War College.
- 1966
- On January 25, retires from the United States Navy.
- 1981
- Dies on September 14 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Description of Contents
The Charles Leroy Melson Papers, comprising 27.35 linear feet of documentation, span from 1921 to 1976, with an emphasis on Melson's tours of duty in the United States Navy while a Midshipman, Captain and flag officer. The papers pertain to Melson's experiences at the United States Naval Academy as both a Midshipman and Superintendent, as well as his other commands, including the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command, U.S. First Fleet, and Cruiser Division Four.
Included in the collection are photographs, postcards, scrapbooks, clippings, orders, letters, certificates, speeches, yearbooks, plaques, paintings, drawings, audio tapes, and motion picture film.
The Melson Papers are organized into four records series by document type. Series 1: General Files consists of general material spanning Melson's career in the Navy, such as orders, health records, and retirement materials, as well as invitations and letters from his time as Naval Academy Superintendent. A far larger proportion of the collection, however, consists of visual representations of Melson's career in the form of photographs and scrapbooks contained in Series 2: Photographs, Albums, and Cruise Books. These materials continue the documentation of many of Melson's commands, including his time as Naval Academy Superintendent and Naval War College President, as well as his commands of Cruiser Division Four, the U.S. First Fleet, and the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command. Series 3: Audiovisual Materials consists of reel-to-reel audio recordings of events from roughly the last fifteen years of Melson's career, as well as motion picture footage of naval maneuvers and life at the Naval Academy. Various certificates marking milestones in Melson's career, namely commissions and diplomas, can be found in Series 4: Certificates, Plaques, and Artwork. The series also contains paintings and sketches of Melson, complementing the photographic portraits found in Series 2.
Arrangement
The Charles Leroy Melson Papers are organized into the following four series:
- Series 1: General Files, 1921-1976
- Series 2: Photographs, Albums, and Cruise Books, 1923-1971
- Subseries 2a: Albums and Cruise Books, 1923-1971
- Subseries 2b: Photographic Prints, 1923-1967
- Series 3: Audiovisual Materials, 1959-1972
- Subseries 3a: Audio Recordings, 1959-1966
- Subseries 3b: Motion Pictures, 1961-1972
- Series 4: Certificates, Plaques, and Artwork, 1921-1966
Access and Use
Access
Access is unrestricted.
Copyright and Permission
The Charles Leroy Melson 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.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Playback of the materials in Series 4: Audiovisual Materials may require the use of a cassette player, reel-to-reel player, or motion picture projector, as applicable.
Acquisition and Appraisal
Provenance and Acquisition
Gift of Gunhild Cummings in March 1994.
Related Materials
Related Archival Material
Official records from Melson's time as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy are available in RG 405.2.1 Entry 39b, Office of the Superintendent/Correspondence: General Correspondence, 1845-1989.
Materials Cataloged Separately
The following two books have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately:
Sweetman, Jack. The U.S. Naval Academy: An Illustrated History. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1979. United States Naval Academy. Class of 1927. 50th Beacon. 1977.
Processing and Other Information
Charles Leroy Melson's papers were previously processed and housed with the Alumni/Memorabilia section of the Naval Academy Archives until November 2020.
Preferred Citation
Charles Leroy Melson Papers, MS 553
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
Processing Information
This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in November 2020. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in November 2020.
Subject Headings
Name and Subject Terms
- China -- Description and travel
- Melson, Charles Leroy, 1904-198l
- Naval War College (U.S.)
- New Jersey (Battleship : BB-62)
- United States -- Foreign relations -- Taiwan
- United States Naval Academy -- History -- 20th century
- United States Naval Academy -- Social life and customs
- United States Naval Academy. Superintendent
- United States. Navy. Cruiser Division 4
- United States. Navy. Fleet, 1st
Genre Terms
- Audiocassettes
- Audiotapes
- Certificates
- Correspondence
- Drawings (visual works)
- Manuscripts
- Motion pictures (visual works)
- Orders (military records)
- Paintings (visual works)
- Photographs
- Plaques (flat objects)
- Postcards
- School yearbooks
- Scrapbooks
- Visitors' books
Contents List
Series 1: General Files, 1921-1976 Boxes 1-3
Series DescriptionPrint documentation, both official and personal, spanning the length of Melson's career in the United States Navy. Specifically, much of the material is the product of Melson's commands of U.S.S. New Jersey, Cruiser Division Four, the First Fleet, and the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command, as well as his tour as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Included in the series are orders, letters, speeches, event programs, forms, leave requests, and health records.
Also included in the series are Melson's high school and Naval Academy yearbooks.
Series ArrangementArranged alphabetically by document type and topic.
Change of Command and Retirement Material, 1964-1966
Material from Melson's relief as Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command and as President of the Naval War College upon retirement. Includes sheet music to a march written in Melson's honor, as well as the citation for his Distinguished Service Medal.
Personal File, 1951-1964
Primarily orders, relief of command records, medical records, and social security records. Also includes a "History of the Second Korean Cruise of the Battleship New Jersey" from 1953, "History of USS Boyle (DD 600)," a history of Korean War operations by Jim Scholes, and dispatches regarding Chiang Kai-shek's preference for Melson to extend his tour in Taiwan.
Personal Invitations, Rear Admiral Charles L. Melson, USN, Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy June 1958 - June 1960, 1958-1960
Includes invitations for events hosted by Chiang Kai-shek, Eugene Fluckey, Arleigh Burke, Carlisle Trost, J. Millard Tawes, Robert Carney, Thomas Gates, and numerous foreign ambassadors.
Personal Letters, Rear Admiral Charles L. Melson, USN, Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy June 1958 - June 1960, 1959 February-1961 May
Primarily letters of appreciation and congratulations and invitation responses from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vice President Richard Nixon, Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke, Secretary of Defense Neil McElroy, Secretary of Defense Thomas Gates, Secretary of the Navy William B. Franke, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Representative Henry Cabot Lodge, Marine Corps Commandant David M. Shoup, Vice Chief of Naval Operations James S. Russell, Cardinal Spellman, Milton Eisenhower, Governor Millard Tawes, Admiral James L. Holloway, multiple foreign dignitaries, and Captain Edward L. Beach underway aboard U.S.S. Triton.
Series 2: Photographs, Albums, and Cruise Books, 1923-1971 Boxes 3-9, 21-20
Series DescriptionPhotographs (both loose and in albums), scrapbooks, and cruise books offering a visual record of Melson's career, focusing largely on the latter portion of his career beginning with his promotion to Captain.
Series ArrangementOrganized into two subseries by document type.
Subseries 2a: Albums and Cruise Books, 1923-1971 Boxes 3-8, 12-19
Subseries DescriptionPhotograph albums, scrapbooks, guest books, and cruise books spanning Melson's Navy career. While one early album focuses on Melson's time as a Midshipman at the Naval Academy and early career in Asia, the remainder are the product of Melson's tours with U.S.S. New Jersey, Battleship-Cruiser Force Atlantic Fleet, Cruiser Division Four, U.S. First Fleet, and U.S. Taiwan Defense Command, as well as his time as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy and President of the Naval War College. Included in the albums are photographs, clippings, and ephemera. Events typically depicted include receptions, base tours, and other special events.
Albums from Melson's time as Superintendent of the Naval Academy cover the visits of numerous distinguished visitors, Navy officers, and foreign dignitaries, as well as several sports dinners. Albums from Melson's command of the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command include photographs of many of the highest ranking military commanders of the Republic of China (Taiwan), as well as President Chiang Kai-shek. First Fleet albums pertain to fleet reviews and President Dwight D. Eisenhower's visit, in addition to other distinguished visitors.
Subseries ArrangementArranged chronologically by command/duty station, thereunder alphabetically by document type.
Naval Academy and Early Career - Album/Scrapbook, 1923-1931, 1947-1949
Includes photographs of Naval Academy life and parades, transiting the Panama Canal, officers of U.S.S. DuPont, crossing-the-line ceremonies, Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon, and Halsey Powell receiving Dwight F. Davis aboard U.S.S. Pittsburgh.
Commander Cruiser Division Four - Album, 1949-1957
Primarily photographs of receiving dignitaries at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Gibraltar; Barcelona, Spain; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Naples, Italy; Thessaloniki, Greece; and Izmir, Turkey, as well as a visit from Admiral Cat Brown. Also includes images from a Midshipman cruise to South America, changes of command, dinner parties fro the Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet, and U.S.S. New Jersey.
Superintendent, United States Naval Academy - Album, 1958 June-1959 May
Photographs and clippings of Melson's assumption of command, receiving guests, the Football Dinner, and reviewing Naval Station men and midshipman dress parades. Featured are Secretary of the Navy William B. Franke, Governor Theodore McKeldin, Mayor Arthur Ellington, W. F. Bringle, Secretary of the Argentine Navy Adolpho B. Estevez, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Richard Jackson, Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gates, General B. R. P. F. Hasselman of the Netherlands, Admiral Walter F. Boone, Admiral Jorge Do Paco Mattoso Maia of Brazil, Crown Prince Constantine of Greece, Admiral Mitsugu Ihara of Japan, King Hussein of Jordan, Governor J. Millard Tawes, Admiral Manuel Zermeno of Mexico, Admiral Chang-chih Sung of Taiwan, Air commodore D. F. Spotswood of England, Pan American Coffee Queen Denise Prado, Rear Admiral Guillermo Haywood of Paraguay, Rear Admiral Vehbi Z. Dumer, Vice Admiral H. Page Smith, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Cecil P. Milne.
Superintendent, United States Naval Academy - Album, 1959 May-December
Photographs and Clippings of the Conference of Service Academy Superintendents, dress parades, Women's Club fundraisers, "Battle of Lake Erie" painting presentation, June Week activities, receiving dignitaries, the "N" Dinner, the Christmas Dance, and the dedication of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Featured are Admiral W. R. Smedberg, Captain William F. Bringle, Midshipman Robert M. Darby, Hisashi Imai of Japan, Thomas C. Hart, Vice Admiral Constantinos Tsatsos of Greece, Color Girl Susan Graham, General Abdullah Hedayat of Iran, Professor Earl Thomson, Rear Admiral Afir Tugrul of Turkey, Rear Admiral Carlos Larrazabal of Venezuela, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Cecil Milne, Air Chief Marshall Dawee Chullasapaya of Thailand, Rear Admiral Alcide Bardi of Italy, Secretary of the Navy William B. Franke, Vice Admiral Hans Alfred Nyholm of Denmark, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Richard Jackson, Vice Admiral H. P. Smith, Admiral Sir Charles Lambe of England, General Pedro Aramburu of Argentina, and Rear Admiral Rolf Johannesson of West Germany.
Superintendent, United States Naval Academy - Album, 1960 January-April
Photographs and clippings of the presentation of the Naval Academy Seal to the Mexican Naval Academy, John Marshall High School cadet graduation, the reception of dignitaries, the fall sports dinner, Melson's selection for First Fleet command, and the receipt of paintings from Ravel Inc. and a portrait of Chester Nimitz. Featured are Midshipman Alton K. Thompson, Admiral Jorge da Silva Leite of Brazil, Vice Admiral Yasumaro Taniguchi of Japan, Admiral Yue-si Ni of Taiwan, Gustavo Diez Delgado of Ecuador, Vice Admiral Refet Arnom of Turkey, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Fernandez of Costa Rica, Admiral J. S. Russell, and Rear Admiral Juan Francisco Torres Matos of Peru. Several clippings date from 1959.
Superintendent, United States Naval Academy - Album, 1960 April-June
Photographs and clippings of the winter sports dinner, dress parades, receiving dignitaries, Melson' visit to Mexico, and June Week. Featured are Admiral Arleigh Burke, General David M. Shoup, Under Secretary of the Navy Bentz, Secretary of the Navy William B. Franke, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Anchor Man George S. Grossman.
Commander U.S. First Fleet - Album, 1959-1961
Photographs of the First Fleet Review, Navy League presentations at the home of Marion Davies, reviewing Marines with General Victor Krulak, President Eisenhower's visit to Coronado, and the 1961 Portland Rose Festival. Also includes photographs of June Week 1959.
Commander U.S. First Fleet - Album, 1960-1962
Clippings covering Melson's assumption of command, Pacific Festival open house, President Eisenhower's visit to California, Naval Postgraduate School graduation, the Portland Rose Festival, the First Fleet's deployment to the Far East, U.S.S. Helena, President Kennedy's address to the Fleet, and the 1961 Fleet Exercises.
Commander U.S. First Fleet - Album (History of Quarters "D" Naval Station, North Island, San Diego), 1951-1971
Photographs and floor plans of Quarters D, as well as portraits and biographical sketches of Raymond E. Peet, Isaac C. Kidd, Bernard F. Roeder, Lawson P. Ramage, Ephraim P. Holmes, Robert T. S. Keith, Charles L. Melson, Clarence E. Ekstrom, Alfred M. Pride, Harold M. Martin, Thomas L. Sprague, Harold B. Sallada, Frank D. Wagner, and William K. Harrill.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Exercise AUMEE II, Volume I), 1963
Photographs of General Peng inspecting men and equipment, Brigadier General O'Malley, Lieutenant General Liu at Okinawa, inspection by Major General Chu, FCG Operations, an air-drop demonstration, and guerilla forces training.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Exercise AUMEE II, Volume II), 1963
Photographs of Colonel Garrett of the Special Forces Group and Major General Lincoln at SFOB Okinawa, an American weapons exhibition, inspection of Chung Hsing Village, counter-guerilla operations, and briefings.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Presented by Commander-in-Chief, Chinese Navy and Mrs. Ni Yue-si), 1962-1964
Photographs of meetings, receptions, the Chinese Naval Academy, Tsoying Naval Base, Sun Moon Lake trip, the Melson's 31st wedding anniversary, and Melson's farewell. Featured are Chiang Kai-shek and Madame Chiang, Admiral Ni Yue-si, Admiral G. W. Anderson, Vice Admiral W. A. Schoech, Rear Admiral Chang Jen-yao, General Chiang Ching-kuo, Admiral McDonald, Secretary of the Navy Fred Korth, Admiral U. S. G. Sharp, Admiral Claude Ricketts, Ambassador Jerauld Wright, Vice Admiral Tsui Tze-tao, and General Peng Meng-chi.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Unbound Album Pages), 1962 September-December
General Sutterlin's birthday, Admiral W. A. Schoech's farewell tour, Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA) meeting, reception for the Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Composite Company 5-48 (Congressional), and the Marine Corps Anniversary Ball.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Unbound Album Pages), 1962 December-1963 February
Navy-Marine Wives Club Christmas Party, Bob Hope show in Taipei, visit by Rear Admiral R. A. MacPherson, General Peng Meng-chi meeting with Admiral Harry Felt, and reception for Korean Ambassador LT General Kim Shin.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Unbound Album Pages), 1963 February
Reception for Korean Ambassador Kim Shin, American University Club luncheon, dinner in honor of Admiral and Mrs. Ni Yue-si, "Top Brass" golf tournament with General Peng Meng-chi, and paratrooper exercises.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Unbound Album Pages), 1963 February-May
Exercise Tien Bing III, Exercise Silver Blade, National War College Group visit, Scout-O-Rama at the Taipei Guest House, Presidential Tea Party hosted by President Chiang Kai-shek, opening of the Little League season, and visit by Assistant Secretary of the Navy J. H. Wakelin.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Unbound Album Pages), 1963 May-December
Visit by Assistant Secretary of the Navy J. H. Wakelin, NACC Club party, Armed Forces Day, The American School graduation, visit by Admiral Harry Felt, visit by Vice Admiral Holmes with Admiral Ni Yue-si, visit by CNO Admiral David McDonald, and visit by Admiral Claude Ricketts.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Unbound Album Pages), 1963 December-1964 May
Visit by General James F. Collins, visit by Vice Admiral John B. Colwell, meeting with Tsao Sheng-fen, Armed Forces Day reception, launch of The China Lantern newspaper, Melson's 30th wedding anniversary, Melson's appointment as President of the Naval War College, Jerauld Wright presenting the Legion of Merit to Major General S. K. Hu, and the Navy-Marine Corps Officer's Wives Club.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (Unbound Album Pages), 1964 May-July
Armed Forced Day reception, opening of the new science hall at the Chinese Naval Academy, Eagle Scout awards, visit by Admiral Harry Felt, Navy-Marine Corps Officers Wives Club luncheon, and Melson's relief of command by Vice Admiral William Gentner.
Commander U.S. Taiwan Defense Command - Album (USTDC Memory Album), 1962-1964
Featured are President Chiang Kai-shek, Madame Chiang, Minister of National Defense Yu Ta-wei, General Chiang Ching-kuo, General Peng Meng-chi, Admiral Ni Yue-si, Lieutenant General I Fu-en, General Hu Shu-kuang, Admiral Pei Yu-feng, Ambassador Jerauld Wright, Major General Kenneth O. Sanborn, Brigadier General Charles S. O'Malley, Brigadier General Gladwyn E. Pinkston, Captain Strauss S. Leon, Captain Robert B. Buchan, Captain George H. Whisler, Captain David Bryan, Andrew Headland, the American Embassy in Taipei, the Ministry of National Defense headquarters, the Grand Hotel, Tamsui golf course, Chung Shan Bridge, Taipei street scenes, Taiwan Defense Command headquarters, Brigadier General Boyd Hubbard, Brigadier General Frederick J. Sutterlin, Captain Edward C. McGowan, Colonel Milton M. Kaufman, Captain George Shaw-Corthorn, Lieutenant Colonel Jeff D. Smith, Colonel Arnold E. Rice, Commander James E. Bofenkamp, Captain Burton L. Bikle, Captain Herbert T. Schmidt, Lieutenant Commander Carl T. Hanson, Lieutenant Commander John C. Mackercher, Captain Charles Ward, Lieutenant Larry Wang, Lieutenant Glenn M. Beal, ADRC Alfred Locilento, ADR1 William E. Horstman, ADR2 James R. Henry, ADR1 Harold O. Thomas, YNCS Marvin D. Childers, BM1 Talmadge E. Highsmith, and Melson's quarters. Several photographs are inscribed to Melson.
President U.S. Naval War College/Commander U.S. Naval Base Newport - Album, 1964-1966
Photographs and clippings regarding Melson's assumption of command, opening of the academic year, promotion and award ceremonies, the donation of busts of John Paul Jones and Matthew C. Perry, visiting dignitaries, the Seabee Ball, National Historic Landmark designation, various lectures, and Melson's retirement. Featured are Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Vice Admiral August Sorensson, Assistant Secretary of Defense Norman S. Paul, Senator Leverett Saltonstall, Admiral Ni Yue-si, General Wallace Greene, Admiral David L. McDonald, General Robert J. Wood, Lieutenant General Charles P. de Cumont, Vice Admiral Bernard L. Austin, Dean Acheson, Henry Cabot Lodge, Vice Admiral Lot Ensey, Vice Admiral Ephriam P. Holmes, Vice Admiral Vernon L. Lowrance, Vice Admiral Soong Chang-chih, Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Admiral Tomoharu Nichimura, General Earle Wheeler, Lieutenant General Nguyen Khanh, Vice Admiral Armando Julio de Roboredo, Admiral U. S. Grant Sharp, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer, Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze, Arleigh Burke, Chinese Minister of Defense Chiang Ching-kuo, and Jerauld Wright.
Subseries 2b: Photographic Prints, 1923-1967 Boxes 8-9, 20
Subseries DescriptionPhotographic prints, largely black-and-white, from various tours in Melson's career, with an emphasis on this time as a Midshipman at the Naval Academy and his time in China around 1929. The Naval Academy photographs focus on Academy buildings and grounds, as well as some aspects of training. Photographs from China focus on various temples, the Yangtze River Patrol, and streets scenes in Yantai and Shanghai. Included among the photographs are postcards.
Also included in the subseries are portraits of Melson and his wife Vedah, as well as photographs from Taiwan and the First Fleet.
Subseries ArrangementArranged alphabetically by subject.
Subseries 3a: Audio Recordings, 1959-1966 Boxes 9-11
Subseries DescriptionAudio recordings of various speeches by Melson, Naval War College events, a change of command ceremony, a farewell party, popular songs by Oscar Brand, and the 1962 Bob Hope Christmas Show. Included in the subseries are reel-to-reel magnetic tapes and cassette duplicates for all items with the exception of the Bob Hope Christmas Show, Oscar Brand recordings, and the Naval War College Global Strategy Discussions.
Subseries ArrangementArranged chronologically by recording date.
Subseries 3b: Motion Pictures, 1961-1972 Boxes 11, 21
Subseries Description16mm motion pictures, some black-and-white and some color, of aircraft carrier and battleship maneuvers, as well as a copy of Ring of Valor depicting life at the United States Naval Academy.
Subseries ArrangementArranged alphabetically by title or topic.
Series 4: Certificates, Plaques, and Artwork, 1921-1966 Boxes 11, 18-20, 22-23
Series DescriptionCertificates, plaques, and artwork pertaining to Melson and his career. The certificates and plaques pertain largely to milestones in Melson's Navy career, such as his various commissions, graduations, retirement, and equator crossings, as well as several awards, while the artwork largely consists of various depictions of Melson. Included in the series are appointment certificates, diplomas, citations, membership certificates, paintings, and caricatures.
Series ArrangementArranged alphabetically by document type, thereunder by topic.