Biographical/historical information

Charles H. Eglee (1894-1973) was born in Flushing, NY, attended Brookline and Boston, MA, schools, and Harvard University (1913-1915), and worked at a shipyard (1916). He enlisted in the United States Navy (January 30, 1918) and was assigned to a patrol boat in Casco Bay, ME. He was accepted into the 4th Reserve Class at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, MD (June 7, 1918). Eglee also belonged to the Connecticut Naval Militia and served as executive officer of the 18th Division. He remained active in the United States Naval Reserve (USNR) until he retired in 1945 with the rank of lieutenant commander.

Scope and arrangement

The collection primarily consists of official USNR correspondence and communications regarding Eglee's active duty and naval career. Included are official correspondences on drills and training cruises, the re-commissioning of destroyers by Reserve naval officers, annual fitness reports, duty status, and promotion notifications (1920, 1932, 1940). Other correspondence pertains to Eglee's enrollment in the Connecticut Naval Militia.

Eglee was first stationed on the battleship USS MICHIGAN (BB-27). Early records pertain to Eglee's assignment on the destroyer USS MCDOUGAL (DD-54) that took part in the first crossing of the Atlantic by Navy seaplanes (1919). Furthercorrespondence concerns Eglee's short-term positions as commanding officer of the subchaser USS SC-271 (1923) and patrol craft USS Eagle No. 27 (PE-27, 1924). Correspondence, roster lists, watch lists, and other information concern Eglee's assignments on the destroyer USS BAINBRIDGE (DD-246; 1926); the battleship USS NEW YORK (BB-34; 1937); the destroyer USS LEARY (DD-158; 1938); and his position as commanding officer of the 18th Division, 5th Battalion stationed on board the USS WYOMING (Battleship No. 32, 1939) and USS THATCHER (Destroyer No. 162, 1940). Other materials pertain to Eglee's service in the National Guard and Naval Militia flood disaster relief.

Further correspondence and records concern Eglee's duties at the section base in San Juan, Puerto Rico (1941), and at the U.S. Naval Personnel Distribution Center, Pleasanton, CA (1942); his treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis (1942, 1944); his USNR discharge (June 30, 1945); his efforts to obtain full government disability benefits (1945-1950); and Naval War College correspondence courses (1946-1947).

Other materials include certificates of award and promotion, including oversized items (1919-1947); newspaper clippings; USNR photographs of Eglee, his USNA class, the BAINBRIDGE, and MICHIGAN; a biographical sketch of Eglee; and other memorabilia. Four publications concerning the Connecticut armed forces, Eglee's USNR class (1918), and the U.S. Naval Training and Distribution Center finish the collection.

Administrative information

Custodial History

October 5, 1994, 446 items; Papers (1918-1957) of U.S. Naval Reserve officer, U.S. Naval Academy (Reserve) Class of 1918, including correspondence, photographs, newsletters, naval activity programs, regulations, memorandums, medical records, clippings, certificates, and naval militia yearbooks. Gift of Mr. Donald R. Eglee, Eastham, MA.

June 21, 2001 (unprocessed addition 1), 1 Container, 281 items, 0.2 cubic feet; Papers (1918-1972) relating to his service in the United States Navy and Naval Reserve, including original manuscript and printed (photocopy) copies of his history, "United States Naval Militia, 1894-1945," (1949), with clippings, related to the Naval Militia Veterans Association (1949-72), and a folder of orders he received (1918-47). Donor: Nancy H. Eglee.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mr. Donald R. Eglee

Gift of Nancy H. Eglee

Processing information

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.

Metadata Rights Declaration

Key terms

Personal Names

Eglee, Charles H., 1894-1973

Corporate Names

Bainbridge (Destroyer : DD-246)
Connecticut. Naval Militia
Leary (Destroyer: DD-158)
McDougal (Destroyer: DD-54)
Michigan (Battleship)
New York (Battleship : BB-34)
Thatcher (Destroyer: DD-162)
United States Naval Academy--Alumni and alumnae
United States. Naval Reserve--Officers
United States. Naval Reserve--Records and correspondence
Wyoming (Battleship : BB-32)

Topical

Disaster relief--United States
Tuberculosis

Container list