U.S. NAVAL HISTORY

ARCHIVAL MATERIALS AT THE LIBRARY

President Truman watches Navy Day celebrations from the U.S.S. Missouri

Prepared by Tracy L. Burgess and Randy Sowell, September, 2003

[ Truman Papers | Other Personal Papers | Federal Records | Oral Histories]


HARRY S. TRUMAN PAPERS

PAPERS AS U.S. SENATOR AND VICE-PRESIDENT - Approximately 12,800 pages, or 6.4 linear feet. In the Correspondence File, relevant materials are filed under these subject headings, among others: Annapolis; Military Conscription; the Navy Department and WAVES. The Speech File includes a copy of Senator Truman's address at the launching of the battleship U.S.S. Missouri on January 29, 1944.

PRESIDENT'S SECRETARY'S FILES- Approximately 3000 pages, or 2.5 linear feet. The General File contains documentation on Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal; the Naval Aide to the President; shipbuilding; maritime strikes, and the U.S.S. Williamsburg. The Subject File includes materials on Army-Navy unification; naval appropriations; World War II; the Defense Production Act; James V. Forrestal; and naval aircraft. The Chronological Name File contains copies of relevant letters from President Truman to Clark M. Clifford, Robert L. Dennison; George M. Elsey; John A. Kennedy, and John L. Sullivan. The Personal File contains information concerning the U.S.S. Missouri and the celebration of Navy Day. The Congressional Medal of Honor Awards File includes citations detailing the heroism of Navy Medal of Honor recipients during the Truman administration.

The U.S.S. Missouri enters the waterWHITE HOUSE CENTRAL FILES: OFFICIAL FILE - Approximately 50,000 pages, or 25 linear feet. The two most important file numbers are OF (Official File) 18 (covering the Department of the Navy and naval affairs from 1945 until the unification of the armed services in 1947) and OF 1285-C (covering the same topic from 1947 to 1953). Other pertinent file numbers include: OF 74 (Office of War Information); OF 109 (Universal Military Training); OF 365 (Historic Naval Vessels); OF 379 (Naval Reserve); OF 386 - B (State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee); OF 386-D (State-Army-Navy-Air Force Coordinating Committee); OF 551 (U.S.S. Potomac-U.S.S. Williamsburg); OF 680 (Army and Navy Munitions Board); OF 736 (U.S.S. Missouri); OF 788 (Defensive Sea Areas); and OF 1085 (Military and Naval Missions to Foreign Governments).

WHITE HOUSE CENTRAL FILES: PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL FILE - Approximately 2000 pages, or one linear foot. These materials include personal correspondence between the President, the Naval Aide to the President, and high-ranking naval officers and Navy Department officials.

WHITE HOUSE CENTRAL FILES: CONFIDENTIAL FILE - Approximately 2400 pages, or 2.2 linear feet. Relevant documents are filed under the following subject headings: Munitions Board; Navy; Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion; Pearl Harbor; Selective Service; Unification of the Armed Services; Universal Training; War Department; and War Production Board.

STAFF MEMBER AND OFFICE FILES: MAP ROOM FILE - Approximately 1600 pages, or less than one linear foot. This file contains correspondence between the White House; the State, War, and Navy Departments; and foreign governments during the latter stages of World War II.

STAFF MEMBER AND OFFICE FILES: NAVAL AIDE TO THE PRESIDENT FILES - Approximately 24,800 pages, or 12.4 linear feet. These materials, which were maintained by the President's Naval Aide, include President Truman's communications with leaders of other government and U.S. diplomats; communications between the White House and Truman's headquarters at Potsdam during the 1945 Potsdam Conference; intelligence summaries from the State and War Departments; documents relating to the Korean War and other foreign policy and national security issues; and information concerning naval personnel.

STAFF MEMBER AND OFFICE FILES: CLARK M. CLIFFORD FILES -Approximately 800 pages, or less than one-half of 1 linear foot. Some of these documents relate to Clifford's duties as Assistant to the Naval Aide to the President (1945-1946) and Naval Aide to the President (1946); these include information concerning reserve officers, the resale of Navy escort carriers, and veterans.

STAFF MEMBER AND OFFICE FILES: ROBERT L. DENNISON FILES - Approximately 4000 pages, or two linear feet. Dennison collected these materials during his tenure as Naval Aide to the President from 1948 to 1953; they mostly consist of documents relating to the Merchant Marine and veterans hospitals.

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OTHER PERSONAL PAPERS

ANDREWS, MARK EDWIN - Officer, Office of Procurement and Material, Department of the Navy, 1945-46. Approximately 10,000 pages, or five linear feet, mostly pertaining to World War II shipbuilding.

CLARK, CLIFFORD M. - Assistant to the White House Naval Aide, 1945-46; Naval Aide to the President, 1946; Special Counsel to the President, 1946-50. Approximately 4000 pages, or two linear feet, concerning the unification of the armed services and the creation of the National Military Establishment.

DENNISON, ROBERT LEE - Naval Aide to the President, 1948-53. Approximately 2400 pages, or 2.2 linear feet, including Dennison's correspondence with President Truman and various memoranda, reports, and other documents pertaining to his duties as Truman's Naval Aide.

ELSEY, GEORGE M. - Naval Reserve officer and duty officer, White House Map Room, 1941-46; Assistant to the Special Counsel to the President, 1947-49; Administrative Assistant to the President, 1949-51; Assistant to the Director, Mutual Security Agency, 1951-53. Approximately 10,000 pages, or five linear feet, relating to naval affairs. Included in this total are historical reports and research notes regarding Italian vessels and the U.S.S. Milwaukee, and press clippings concerning unification of the armed services.

President Truman and Admiral Foskett inspect personnelFOSKETT, JAMES - Naval Aide to the President, 1946-48. Approximately 2000 pages, or one linear foot, including correspondence, press clippings, and logs of the President's trips.

KENNEY, W. JOHN - Under Secretary of the Navy, 1947-49. Approximately 5000 pages, or 2.8 linear feet, including correspondence, speeches, and notes on telephone conversations documenting Kenney's service as Under Secretary.

KIMBALL, DAN A. - Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air, 1949; Under Secretary of the Navy, 1949-51; Secretary of the Navy, 1951-53. Approximately 6400 pages, or 3.2 linear feet, including correspondence, speeches, and logs of visitors and telephone calls received by Kimball.

KOEHLER, JOHN T. - Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1949-51. Approximately 300 pages, or less than one-half of linear foot, mostly consisting of speeches delivered by Koehler during his tenure as Assistant Secretary.

MATTHEWS, FRANCIS P. - Secretary of the Navy, 1949-51; Ambassador to Ireland, 1951-52. Approximately 34,000 pages, or 17 linear feet, of correspondence, speeches and other materials documenting his tenure as Navy Secretary and such topics as the controversial development of the B-36.

PARKS, LEWIS S. - U.S Navy Officer; Executive Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1947, and to the Under Secretary of the Navy, 1948-49; Commanding Officer, USS Manchester, 1950-51. Approximately 2000 pages, or one linear foot, mostly related to his service aboard the USS Manchester.

RICHARDS, GEORGE J. - U.S. Army Officer, 1915-53; Army Comptroller, 1948. Approximately 2400 pages, or 1.2 linear feet, mostly pertaining to the National Military Establishment, military budgets, and U.S. and Soviet naval forces.

RIGDON, WILLIAM M. - Assistant Naval Aide to the President, 1945-53. Approximately 1600 pages, or less than one linear foot, including information of the President's travels.

ROBERTS, LEO W. - Supply and Commissary Officer, U.S.S. Williamsburg, 1950-1952; Presidential Mess Officer, 1950-52; White House Aide, 1950-52. Approximately 300 pages, less than one-half of one linear foot, consisting mostly of annotated photographs, printed material, and other items relating to the Williamsburg, President Truman's vacations, and Roberts's career as a naval officer.

SULLIVAN, JOHN L. - Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, 1940 to 1944; Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air, Under Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Navy l945 - l949. Approximately 10,000 pages, or five linear feet, of memoranda, transcripts of telephone calls, correspondence, speeches, and other items pertaining to naval affairs.

WHITEHAIR, FRANCIS P. - General Counsel, Economic Stabilization Agency, 1950-51; Under Secretary of the Navy, 1951-53. Approximately 8000 pages, or four linear feet, relating to his work as Under Secretary of the Navy.

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FEDERAL RECORDS

RG 46: RECORDS OF THE U.S. SENATE. Approximately 1000 pages, or one-half of one linear foot of records of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program (The Truman Committee). Sailors aboard the U.S.S. WashingtonCopied from originals at the National Archives.

RG 80: GENERAL RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY. Approximately 600 pages, or less than one-half on one linear foot, of public statements made by the Secretary of the Navy, 1945-47.

RG 220: RECORDS OF TEMPORARY COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, AND BOARDS. Approximately 46,000 pages, or 23 linear feet, relating to: the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, 1949-50; and the President's Committee on Religion and Welfare in the Armed Forces, 1948-51.

RG 313: RECORDS OF THE NAVAL OPERATING FORCES. The logbook of the USS Missouri, July-December, 1945, on one reel of microfilm, and the logbook of the USS Williamsburg, 1945-52, on one reel of microfilm. Copied from originals at NARA.

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ORAL HISTORIES

ABBOTT, JOHN - Navy liaison to the Special Committee of the Senate to Investigate the National Defense Program (The Truman Committee), 1942-46.

BENDETSEN, KARL R. - General counsel, Department of the Army, 1949; Assistant Secretary of the Army, 1950-52; Under Secretary of the Army, 1952. Approximately 26 pages over three interviews, covering World War II, Selective Service, the U.S. Senate Committee on Military Affairs, James V. Forrestal, the War Department, Naval Intelligence, Pearl Harbor, the Navy, the National Military Establishment, the unification of the armed forces, and Universal Military Training.

CLIFFORD, CLARK M. - Assistant to White House Naval Aide, 1945-46; Special Counsel to the President, 1946-50. Approximately 20 pages in 8 interviews, covering the "Little White House" in Key West, with extensive discussion of his tenure as Naval Aide, his relationship with James V. Forrestal, Universal Military Training, and unification of the armed forces.

DENNISON, ROBERT L. - Naval Aide to the President, 1948-53. Approximately 33 pages in 3 interviews, covering his duties before his service in the White House; Secretaries of the Navy; segregation in the Navy; Adm. Chester Nimitz; the "Revolt of the Admirals"; the War and Navy Coordinating Committee; John L. Sullivan; James V. Forrestal; command of the U.S.S. Missouri; unification of the armed services; Shangri-La; the U.S.S. Williamsburg; Congressman Gordon McDonough; and the Marines.

ELSEY, GEORGE M. - Naval officer assigned to the White House Map Room, 1942-47; Special Assistant in the White House Office, 1947-49; Administrative Assistant to the President, 1949-51; Assistant to the Director, Mutual Security Agency, 1951-53. Approximately 33 pages in 9 interviews, covering: the Navy Department; the Map Room; the creation of the Department of Defense; Clark M. Clifford; Robert L. Dennison; James V. Forrestal; the Forrestal Diaries; James K. Foskett; Adm. William Leahy; unification of the armed forces; Universal Military Training; Commodore Vardaman; White House Sailor; and the U.S.S. Williamsburg.

GILPATRIC, ROSWELL L. - Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, 1951; Under Secretary of the Air Force, 1951-53. Approximately 5 pages, covering unification of the armed forces; the Department of Defense after 1952; the U.S. Navy; the Polaris missile project; Louis Johnson; and the U.S.S. United States.

KENNEDY, JOHN A. - Naval liaison officer with the Special Committee of the Senate to Investigate the National Defense Program (The Truman Committee).

KENNEY, W. JOHN - Under Secretary of the Navy, 1947-49; Chief of Mission, Economic Cooperation Administration, United Kingdom, 1949-50; Deputy Director, Mutual Security Agency, 1952.

The U.S.S. WilliamsburgMCCOLM, GEORGE L. - Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, 1944; Chief of Agriculture, Joint Army-Navy Planning and Training Staff, The Presidio, Monterey, California, 1945, War Department; in charge of Military Government, Ponape Island, 1945-46; Soil Conservation Officer, Navajo Reservation, Bureau of Indian affairs, 1946-52; Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs Nursery, 1952-57.

MACDONALD, DONALD J. - Naval officer; commander of the presidential yacht, U.S.S. Williamsburg, 1948-51.

MCFALL, JOHN K. - Foreign Service officer, 1947-55.

MCNEIL, WILFRED J. Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, 1947-49; Assistant Secretary of Defense and Comptroller, Department of Defense, 1949-59. Approximately 30 pages covering: the U.S. Navy; appropriations; the "Revolt of the Admirals"; conscription; the Department of Defense; James V. Forrestal; unification of the armed services; National Military Establishment; armed forces unification; and the U.S.S. United States.

PULLEY, GERALD PAUL - Commander, U.S. Navy; crewman of the U.S.S. Williamsburg.

RIGDON, WILLIAM M. - Assistant Naval Aide to the President, 1942-53. Approx 25 pages covering his career in the Navy; James V. Forrestal; Clark M. Clifford; the U.S.S. Iowa; the U.S.S. Missouri; duties of the Naval Aide; the U.S.S. Potomac; White House Sailor; and the U.S.S. Williamsburg.

ROBINSON, HAROLD G. - Chief Investigator, Special Committee of the Senate to Investigate the National Defense Program (Truman Committee), 1941-45.

SERVICE, JOHN STEWART - Political adviser to the Commander in Chief of American forces in the China-Burma-India Theater, 1943-45; executive officer to the political adviser to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in the Far East, 1945-46; First Secretary of the American Legation, Wellington, New Zealand, 1946-48.

STUART, HAROLD C. - Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Civil Affairs, 1949-51.

SULLIVAN, JOHN L. - Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air, 1945-46; Under Secretary of the Navy, 1946-47; Secretary of the Navy, 1947-49.

SUNDQUIST, JAMES L. - Administrative analyst, Bureau of the Budget, 1941-47, 1949-51.

SYMINGTON, STUART - Assistant Secretary of War for Air, 1946-47; Secretary of the Air Force, 1947-50; Chairman, National Security Resources Board, 1950-51; Administrator, Reconstruction Finance Corporation, 1951-52; U.S. Senator from Missouri, 1953-77. Approximately 12 pages, covering inter-service rivalry in the U.S. armed forces; U.S. Navy; the "Revolt of the Admirals"; Senate Naval Affairs Committee; Special Committee of the Senate to Investigate the National Defense Program ; unification of the armed services.

TOLAN, JOHN H., JR. - Naval liaison officer with the Special Committee of the Senate to Investigate the National Defense program (The Truman Committee), 1943-45.



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