Glenn B. Davis Papers, 1913-1969

(Manuscript Collection #343)

Title:	Glenn B. Davis Papers
Creator:	Davis, Glenn B.
Repository:	ECU Manuscript Collection
Languages:	English
Abstract:	Papers (1913-1969) consisting of correspondence, official records, citations, photographs, speech, ship publication and newspaper clippings.
Extent:	0.055 Cubic feet, 136 items, consisting of correspondence, official records, citations, photographs, speech, ship publication and newspaper clippings.

Accessions Information

August 1, 1977, 136 items; Papers (1913-1953) of Naval officer; including correspondence, orders, photographs, citations, and miscellaneous. Gift of Vice Admiral Glenn B. Davis, Washington, D.C.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions

Copyright Notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Preferred Citation

Glenn B. Davis Papers (#343), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

Acquisition Information

• Gift of Vice Admiral Glenn B. Davis

Processing Information

• Processed by M. Hart, April 1978

• Encoded by Apex Data Services

Vice Admiral Davis, a 1913 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served aboard the U.S.S. KANSAS during the occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico (1914). During World War I he served aboard the tanker MAUMEE and subsequently saw duty aboard a variety of battleships, destroyers and cruisers. He was aboard the PHILADELPHIA (1937-1939) at the time of President Franklin Roosevelt's cruise and then was assigned as chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. During World War II he commanded the battleship U.S.S. WASHINGTON in the South Pacific and became commander of Battleship Division Eight.

Correspondence contains a recommendation for order of merit from the President of Santo Domingo (1940); a request to transport a gold shipment (1942); citations for service in WWII; and commentaries on the Naval Gun Factory, the Armed Services Police Detachment, and the Armed Forces Day celebration in Washington, D.C. Also included are photographs of the officers aboard the U.S.S. MAUMEE, the U.S.S. TENNESSEE, the U.S.S. WASHINGTON and bombardments of Nauru and Kwajalein atoll. The "Cougar Scream," a publication of the U.S.S. WASHINGTON, and a pamphlet (1945) commemorating the fourth anniversary of the WASHINGTON, contain brief accounts of the ship's activities. A speech written by Davis in 1969 describes the battle of Guadalcanal. The U.S.S. WASHINGTON, under the leadership of Captain Davis, sank a Japanese battleship in the third battle of Savo Island (1942). Copies of two newspaper clippings also pertain to the activities of the WASHINGTON and the career of Admiral Davis.

Also included is a complete file of official orders and memorandums reflecting Davis' assignments and duty stations throughout his career.

For related material see Oral History Collection, O.H. 46.

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Reading Room's card catalog. This system is no longer maintained, but it is left in place to help on-site researchers locate particular topics in the collection.

Autograph Entries :

• Anderson, R[obert] B[ernard] 1953
• Johnson, Louis (2) 1950
• Pastoriza, Andres 1940

Subject Entries :

• MONEY AND BANKING— Federal Reserve System
• U.S.— MILITARY— Navy— 1913-1969
• WAR— WORLD WAR II— Battles— Guadalcanal, 1942
• WAR— WORLD WAR II— Navy
• WAR— WORLD WAR II— Navy— 1942

Images below are listed alphabetically by subject. This list reflects only those portions of the collection for which negatives have been prepared.

U.S.— MILITARY— Navy— Ships— USS MAUMEE
Description: Group photo: Chester Nimitz and Louis Poisson Davis
Location: At sea
Date: 1916
Call Number: p-343/1

WAR— WORLD WAR II— Navy— Personnel— Admirals
Description: Lee, Vice Adm. Willis, coming aboard USS WASHINGTON
Location: At sea
Date: 1942
Call Number: p-343/5

WAR— WORLD WAR II— Navy— Ships— Change of Command
Location: At sea
Date: 1942
Call Number: p-343/4