Domain of Neptunus Rex

Subject(s): Equator, Louisiana (Battleship), Manners and customs, Neptune (Roman deity), Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948, Sailors, Shellbacks, Wit and humor

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A humorous certificate, usually issued when sailors cross the Equator for the first time, names Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt “one of our trusty shellbacks” and an honorary member of the Ancient Order of the Deep.

Comments and Context

The U.S.S. Louisiana, a Connecticut-class battleship, was sailing south around South America to reach the west coast of the United States as part of the first leg of the Great White Fleet’s journey around the world.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-06

Creator(s)

United States. Navy

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Repository

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Page Count

1

Production Method

Printed

Record Type

Multi-image

Resource Type

Certificate

Rights

These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.

Citation

Cite this Record

Chicago:

Domain of Neptunus Rex. [January 6, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o271769. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

United States. Navy. Domain of Neptunus Rex. [6 Jan. 1908]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o271769.

APA:

United States. Navy., [1908, January 6]. Domain of Neptunus Rex.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o271769.

Cite this Collection

Chicago:

Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.

APA:

Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.

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This postcard depicts the battleship USS Delaware, the ship that Charles C. Myers sailed on while serving in the United States Navy.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Perhaps it would not be improper for me, at this time, to briefly reply to the many questions that have been put to me concerning life in the naval service. Many and in fact most persons have an erroneous idea as to the conditions as they exist at the present time and are inclined to judge all men by a few that may sometimes be seen under the influence of liquor. Life on one of our great battleships is not all one of pleasure I assure you, but it is one of strict military discipline that cannot help but be beneficial to all men under its influence. Any of our great modern dreadnaughts [sic] may be likened to a small city–a floating city all by itself having a population of about one thousand men.

Here we see the United States Ship Delaware, which during her short life of less that [sic] two years, has carried the stars and stripes to more countries and with greater honor and distinction than any other battleship in the whole world, and I feel honored, Ladies and Gentlemen, that during her remarkable career, my home was on board the Delaware and that I was enrolled as one of the men who had taken that pledge of honor and stood ready at all times to sacrifice his life if need be for the protection of the flag of our country. The Delaware was by far the largest and mightiest battleship in the world until within the last few months when the Florida and the Utah were put into commission, and now they are only a few feet longer than the Delaware and from a distance do not in any way look superior to the mighty Delaware which at the present time holds the worlds record for honor, distinction and efficiency and is the only battleship in existence that has made two trips across the Atlantic without replenishing her coal supply and still have enough fuel left to make a third trip if necessary. she can stow away over 2600 tons of coal at one time besides several hundred tons of oil fuel.

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