Glenn B. Davis Papers

1913-1969
Manuscript Collection #343
Creator(s)
Davis, Glenn B.
Physical description
0.055 Cubic Feet, 136 items, consisting of correspondence, official records, citations, photographs, speech, ship publication and newspaper clippings.
Preferred Citation
Glenn B. Davis Papers (#343), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Papers (1913-1969) consisting of correspondence, official records, citations, photographs, speech, ship publication and newspaper clippings.


Biographical/historical information

Vice Admiral Davis, a 1913 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served aboard the USS 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 USS Washington in the South Pacific and became commander of Battleship Division Eight.


Scope and arrangement

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 USS Maumee, USS Tennessee, USS Washington and bombardments of Nauru and Kwajalein atoll. The "Cougar Scream," a publication of USS 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 USS 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.


Administrative information
Custodial History

August 1, 1977, 136 items; Papers (1913-1969) of Naval officer; including correspondence, orders, photographs, citations, and miscellaneous. Gift of Vice Admiral Glenn B. Davis, Washington, D.C.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Vice Admiral Glenn B. Davis

Processing information

Processed by M. Hart, April 1978

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

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


Related material

Glenn B. Davis Oral History Interview (#OH0046), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.


Key terms
Personal Names
Davis, Glenn B.
Corporate Names
United States. Navy--Officers
Washington (Battleship : BB-56)
Topical
Guadalcanal, Battle of, Solomon Islands, 1942-1943
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American