Frank Jack Fletcher papers - Archives West (original) (raw)
Overview of the Collection
Creator
Fletcher, Frank Jack
Title
Frank Jack Fletcher papers
Dates
1811-1973 (inclusive)
18111973
Quantity
2.92 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Collection Number
09793
Summary
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
Additional Reference Guides
Additional Information
Finding aid available in repository.
Languages
English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Fletcher (1885-1973) was a career naval officer who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906. In 1914 he participated in the American occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico, and during World War I served aboard several ships in European waters. While stationed on the USS Sacramento, he was involved in suppression of the Colorum insurrection in the Philippines in 1924. Fletcher was commander of the USS New Mexico from 1936-1941 and was commander of Cruiser Division Six at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. In 1942 he commanded American naval forces at the Battle of the Coral Sea and was senior task force commander at the Battle of Midway. From November 1942-1945, Fletcher commanded naval forces in the North Pacific from the Alaskan island of Adak. He retired with the rank of Rear Admiral in 1947.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection contains correspondence chiefly related to his naval service (1897-1960); photographs (1921-1973) including the Coral Sea and Midway battles and the Adak, Alaska area; speeches and statements by Fletcher and others; subject files; 2 diaries (1956-1966); printed materials; maps; newspaper clippings; biographical information; and miscellaneous other materials.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Related Materials
There are no known other archival collections created by Frank Jack Fletcher at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition Information
The collection was received from the estate of Martha Richards Fletcher (widow) in 1974 through her nephew and co-executor Samuel L. Sawyer.
Processing Note
Processing Information
The collection was organized and described by D. Claudia Thompson in 1990. Finding aid was encoded by Alexandra Cardin in 2020.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Artifacts Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Plaque - "Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, USN. With Best Wishes From His Flagship USS Minneapolis" | undated |
| 1 | Ribbon Band - Black with Yellow Letters, "USS New Mexico" | undated |
Series II. ArtworkReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 3 | Battleship USS Pennsylvania | 1942 |
| 3 | Cartoon - Two Duck Hunters in a Boat | undated |
| 3 | Cartoon - "Seems Like Yesterday - Home-Town Echoes - Frank Jack Fletcher...Received His Appointment to the Naval Academy" | circa 1944 |
| 3 | Citation - Distinguished Cribbage Medal | circa 1945 |
| 3 | "Happy New Year, (Travels of) Fred and Betty" | undated |
| 3 | "A Map of Adak, an Aleutian Island of the Andrean Group" | circa 1940s |
| 3 | Portrait of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher | 1943 |
Series III. Biographical Files Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | "The Lucky Bag", vol. XIII, Annual Published by the Graduating Class of the United States Naval Academy, with Photograph of F. J. Fletcher | 1906 |
| 1 | Photocopies of Miscellaneous Obituaries and Personal Documents | 1929, undated |
Series IV. Correspondence FilesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Appointment to and Graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy | 1897-1906 |
| 1 | Araby, History of the Araby Estate Near La Plata in Charles County, Maryland | 1937-1938 |
| 1 | Assignment as Aide to Secretary of Navy Claude A. Swanson | 1933-1934 |
| 1 | Assumption of Command of the USS New Mexico | 1936 |
| 1 | Charlotte Hall School | 1947-1961 |
| 1 | Collision of USS Colorado with Passenger Liner Ruth Alexander | 1927-1928 |
| 1 | Colorum Insurrection in the Philippines | 1924 |
| 1 | Commemorative Covers of Building or Launching of Submarines and Other Naval Events | 1936-1959 |
| 1 | Correspondence Relating to Events of World War II | 1948-1950 |
| 1 | Duty at Sea, Promotion to Ensign, and First Command on USS Dale | 1907-1910 |
| 1 | Harriman National Bank, New York | 1930-1936 |
| 1 | Home Owners' Loan Corporation | 1936-1938 |
| 1 | Letter from Belle to Martha Fletcher and Miscellaneous Items | 1952-1971, undated |
| 1 | Mackubin Legg & Co. | 1934-1938 |
| 1 | Permanent Appointment as Commander | 1921-1923 |
| 1 | Personal and Retrospective Reminiscences on Significance of Coral Sea and Midway Battles | 1942-1946 |
| 1 | Promotion to Captain, Assignment to Asiatic Fleet | 1930-1932 |
| 1 | Promotion to Lieutenant | 1907 |
| 1 | Promotion to Lieutenant Commander | 1915-1917 |
| 1 | Retirement and Promotion to Rear Admiral and Correspondence Regarding Events of Naval Battles in World War II | 1947 |
| 1 | Selection as Vice Admiral | 1938 |
| 1 | Service in the American Occupation of Vera Cruz | 1914 |
| 1 | Service in European Waters During World War I, Command of USS Gridley | 1918-1920 |
| 1 | Settlement of Colorado-Ruth Alexander Affair, Promotion to Captain | 1929 |
| 1 | Shore Duty at the Naval Yard, Washington D.C. | 1924-1926 |
| 1 | Transfer to Duty on Naval Examining Board | 1937 |
Series V. Diaries Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Two, Five-year Diaries of Frank Jack Fletcher | 1956-1966 |
Series VI. MapsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 3 | Halifax to Hispaniola, U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office | 1961 |
| 3 | Northern Pacific, from Bering Strait to Hawaiian Islands, Portion of a Larger Map | undated |
| 3 | Potomac River, Lower Cedar Point to Mattawoman Creek, U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey | 1935 |
| 3 | U.S. Shipping Outlines The World, Reprinted from Fortune | 1937 |
Series VII. Motion Picture Film Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Unidentified, 16 mm Color Silent Film | undated |
Series VIII. Newspaper and Magazine ClippingsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 3 | Araby - Articles Regarding the Fletcher Estate Near La Plata, Maryland | 1945-1948 |
| 3 | Articles Regarding Activities of Adm. Fletcher | 1943-1945 |
| 3 | Articles Regarding Frank Jack Fletcher and Martha Fletcher | 1932-1948 |
| 3 | World War II - Articles Regarding Activities of Adm. Fletcher and Historical Articles on Pacific War | 1944-1952 |
Series IX. Notebook Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Frank Jack Fletcher, U.S. Navy Journal | 1906-1910 |
Series X. PhotographsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | Admiral Fletcher Dedicating Junior Athletic Field at Naval Ordnance Station, Indian Head, Maryland | 1967 June 17 |
| 2 | Autographed Portraits | 1940-1942, undated |
| 2 | Autographed Portraits | 1942-1959, undated |
| 2 | Battle of the Coral Sea, Official U. S. Navy Photographs (10) | 1942 May |
| 2 | Battle of Midway, Official U.S. Navy Photographs (10) | 1942 June |
| 2 | Battleships | 1921, circa 1942 |
| 2 | Ceremony with Officers of the 11th Air Command | circa 1940s |
| 2 | Funeral of Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher | 1973 April 30 |
| 2 | Miscellaneous Post World War II, Weddings, Reunions, etc. | 1946-1972 |
| 2 | The James W. Morse Collection of Photographs of the Limitation of Armaments Conference at Washington D.C. and Photographs of Various Delegations and Attendees | 1921-1922, undated |
| 2 | North Pacific Force, Award Ceremony | 1943 October |
| 2 | North Pacific Force, Island of Adak, Alaska | 1943-1945 |
| 2 | Presentation of Silver Tray to Ward Room of Attack Carrier Kitty Hawk | 1963 October 16 |
| 2 | Service Medal Being Presented to Frank Jack Fletcher | circa 1945 |
| 2 | Unidentified Negatives | undated |
| 2 | World War II, Miscellaneaous | circa 1940s |
Series XI. Speeches and Statements Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | Remarks at Presentation of Medals, Whidby Island | 1943 March 19 |
| 2 | Speech to American Legion Commemorating World War I Armistice | cica 1948 |
| 2 | Speech Dedicating the USS Coral Sea, Aircraft Carrier | circa 1940s |
| 2 | Speech Introducing Admiral Robert B. Carney, Chief of Naval Operations | 1954 May 26 |
| 2 | Speech for Navy Day, at Des Moines, Iowa | 1946 October 27 |
| 2 | Speech Presenting Decorations to Officers and Men of Fleet Air Wing Four | circa 1940s |
| 2 | Statement by Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson, Under Secretary of State, Before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee | 1972 August 8 |
| 2 | Statement by Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel Before the Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor Attack | undated |
| 2 | Statement Made Before the Senate Appropriations Committee by Mr. Frank A. Hecht, President, Navy League of the United States | 1952 June 19 |
| 2 | Statement of Rear Admiral Frank L. Johnson Before the Hose Committee on Armed Services, Special Committee to Inquire into the Pueblo Incident | 1969 March 14 |
Series XII. Subject FilesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | Naval Historical Documents (Photocopies) | 1811-1815 |
| 2 | United States Naval Academy | 1957 May 1 |
Series XIII. Printed MaterialReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | Miscellaneous Printed Material | 1942-1946 |
| 2 | Naval Historical Foundation Publications | 1966-1971 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Coral Sea, Battle of the, 1942.
- Midway, Battle of, 1942.
- Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.
- World War, 1914-1918 -- Naval operations.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Alaska.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, American.
Geographical Names
- Adak Island (Alaska)
- Philippines -- History -- 1898-1946.
- Veracruz (Veracruz, Mexico) -- History -- American occupation, 1914.
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries.
- Maps.
- Photographs.
Occupations
- Admirals.