Sailors

Colorized stereograph showing sailors sitting in the mess deck eating a meal. Text on the reverse of the stereograph provides details about capturing the image and opinions of the class of men selected for the United States Navy.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “This view was taken after five separate attempts and considerable trouble had been gone to to get permission to take same by flash-light. It is the only view in existence showing sailors at mess-time enjoying their meal.

By the careful study of this picture you will discover what a magnificent and wonderful picture a Stereoscopic View is. Even the creases of the clothes, the smallest little details of the food and the bolts all stand out in bold relief.

Colorized stereograph showing the USS Puritan. Several sailors and crew can be seen standing on the deck of the ship. Text on the reverse of the stereograph lists the ship measurements and armaments, the number of crew on board, and the cost to build the ship.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “The United States double-turret monitor Puritan is used in coast defense. Its keel was laid in 1875. Its length is 289 feet 6 inches; breadth, 60 feet 1 inch; draft, 18 feet; speed, 12.4 knots; horse power, 3,700. Coal capacity, 410 tons. Thickness of armor plate, 14 inches. Officers and men, 222. Cost, $3,178,046.

This type of warship is of great value. It can be used as a floating battery in coast defense, having 12-inch guns of the modern type.”

Colorized stereograph showing the USS West Virginia with another ship behind it in the background. Two sailors on a small boat can be seen on the water in the foreground. Both of the larger ships are adorned with colorful flags. Text on the reverse of the stereograph lists John B. Milton as the captain of the ship and comments on the speed of the ship.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “This is one of the United States’ fastest cruisers, commanded by Captain John B. Milton, in the armored cruiser fleet in the Pacific December 19th, 1907. This cruiser is the same type as the Colorado and the Maryland, and has a phenomenal record of 22 1/2 knots an hour. It is considered one of the fastest grey-hounds in this magnificent fleet of armored cruisers and should there be any war the West Virginia would give a good account of itself.”

Collection

Duane G. Jundt Theodore Roosevelt Collection

Colorized stereograph of the USS Oregon. Several soldiers, many wearing white uniforms, can be seen on the deck of the ship, and an American flag is raised at the back of the ship. Text on the reverse of the stereograph details the history of the Oregon as a battleship in the Spanish-American War, as well as various features of the ship and the armaments on board.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “Even if we have a magnificent fleet going around the Horn, we must not forget the Oregon that made the phenomenal trip from San Francisco and took part in the battle at Santiago while the nation held its breath, while American learnt what a battleship really meant, nor can we in this generation forget the Oregon even if it has not the first place in our fleet; it has the first place in our hearts, so in presenting the magnificent types of battleships we offer you no apology for giving you a view of the battleship Oregon.

The battleship Oregon is of special interest on account of her trip from the Pacific Coast around Cape Horn to Key West to fight the nation’s battles. Leaving San Francisco March 12th, 1898, she arrived at Jupiter Inlet, Florida, May 24th, covering a distance of 17,000 miles with pauses for coal only, without a break of any sort, and played an important part in the destruction of Cervera’s fleet. After her long journey, without having had any repairs, she gave chase to and aided in defeating the Christobal Colon, one of the fleetest cruisers in the world.

Colorized stereograph showing three sailors in white uniforms writing letters aboard the USS Connecticut, with another sailor standing in the background. Text on the reverse of the stereograph describes the boxes each sailor receives to hold their personal items.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “One of the odd sights that strikes a visitor to a battleship is the curious little tiers of small boxes about a foot square ranged in rows near hammocks. These boxes are made of aluminum or some light metal so that in case of fire or a shot striking or going through and fire taking place the boxes would not ignite. These little boxes are numbered and each box represents a sailor, and all his little belongings are in his box, including his sweetheart’s photograph, letters from home and mother, needles and thread, buttons, stationary, etc. When a sailor joins a ship this little box is given him as his personal private receptacle to hold his knick-knacks, etc. A number is given him and he is allowed to take this box down at certain times and write his letters, as illustrated in the view in front.

This view was taken on board the flagship Connecticut and shows the boys writing their letters to the folks at home.”

Colorized stereograph of the galley on the USS Connecticut. Several sailors are cooking, cleaning, and supervising. Text on the reverse of the stereograph describes the work done in the galley.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “Another wonderful exhibition of Stereoscopic Art. This is the Cooks’ Galley on board the great flagship Connecticut. The sailor boys are told off to help the cook. The sailor in the fore part of the picture is cooking coffee in a monster copper boiler. Further back you will notice a long steel range, and the cook is way in the rear superintending the cooking. Everything is clean and bright and polished in the Cooks’ Galley, and is inspected three times a day by a commissioned officer to see that everything is right.”

Collection

Duane G. Jundt Theodore Roosevelt Collection

Colorized stereograph showing a tattooed sailor shaving another sailor as three others watch aboard the USS Missouri. Text on the reverse of the stereograph includes information about shaving on board the ship and praises the physique of the sailors.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “This is another flash-light picture taken after considerable difficulty by our Stereoscopic Artist on board the Missouri. Some of the boys can shave themselves and others are not able, and the sailor who is not able to shave himself has to avail himself of the first opportunity that presents itself to him, and he is now being shaved by a friend or comrade. Thrown together closely and isolated, the sailors have to depend on one another for many comforts in the shape of tailoring, shaving and that sort of thing. We wish to draw your attention again to the fine physique of the men.”

Collection

Duane G. Jundt Theodore Roosevelt Collection

Colorized stereograph showing a tailor on a ship working at a sewing machine. The tailor is wearing a white uniform and is smoking a pipe. A second sailor in a white uniform is sitting in the background. Text on the reverse of the stereograph comments on the importance of tailoring work onboard any navy ship.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “No one is in greater demand on board ship than the ship’s tailor, and he has his hands full all of the time. The repairing end of the business is the heaviest and the strict discipline on board ship makes neatness and cleanliness come next to obedience. Every sailor must keep his clothes in repair and is taught to use the needle and thread almost as soon as he starts in to be a sailor.”

Collection

Duane G. Jundt Theodore Roosevelt Collection

Colorized stereograph of a sailor peeling potatoes on board the USS Connecticut. The sailor has a small tattoo on his forearm. Next to the sailor, a collared goat is seen eating potato peels. Text on the reverse of the stereograph discusses pets on navy ships.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “Every ship in Uncle Sam’s Navy has some animal made a pet of by the sailors, a dog or a goat, a monkey or some other animal. On board the flagship Connecticut a goat was adopted by the boys and was a great pet and much beloved from ‘Fighting Joe’ down to the sailor-boy, but one day poor Billy died and now another goat is religiously disposing of the potato pealings [sic].

As seen in the view the cook is pealing the potatoes and the billy-goat is eating the pealings [sic].”

Colorized stereograph showing many sailors enjoying recreation hour on board the USS Georgia. Text on the reverse of the stereograph discusses recreation time aboard navy ships and various features of the Georgia.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “This view was taken September 17th, 1907, by special permission. The Jackies are allowed on certain hours to disport themselves on the deck, called ‘for’d,’ and enjoy themselves to their heat’s content. This view is taken from the top of the turret and the big 12-inch guns will be noticed, as well as the monster anchor chain. The Georgia is the flagship of the second division of the first squadron and has a displacement of 15,000 tons and a speed of 19 knots an hour. Commander, Rear-Admiral Henory.”

Collection

Duane G. Jundt Theodore Roosevelt Collection

A circular textile featuring embroidered flowers, ships, birds, and a sailor. Below the ships, “At sea. April 15, 1910” is embroidered. Lace decorates the edge. The textile was owned by Charles C. Myers.

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Creation Date

1910-04-15

Postcard showing an illustrated a two-panel cartoon, the first is two soldiers drinking at a bar under the heading “Saturday Night” the second panel shows them in handcuffs and neck chains with bruised eyes under the heading “Sunday Night.” Charles C. Myers notes that this is how Englishmen, and others, view sailors of battleships.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “An Englishmans [sic] idea of a sailor on Sat night and Sun. Morning.

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing people walking down a broad, tree-lined avenue in a park. A stone building and obelisk visible on the right side. Charles C. Myers notes this is a park in Portsmouth, England. He comments that the citizens gave the American sailors preference over those of other nations who were also visiting. 

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Victoria park. You can here see the Town Hall in the background. This is a small park but a very beautiful place. Band concerts are held here every evening during the summer after which the park is closed and no admittance till next day.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Charles C. Myers sits facing the camera, dressed in his sailor’s uniform.

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Creation Date

1911-09-27

A fleet of U.S. Navy submarines is seen entering the harbor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, amid jagged rocks and cliffs. The submarines are safely moored, and then the sailors go ashore. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., then Governor of Puerto Rico, greets and shakes hands with the fleet commander.

Collection

Sherman Grinberg Film Collection

Creation Date

1930-04-19

Stereograph showing President Theodore Roosevelt reviewing sailors in formation at the Jamestown Exposition.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1907

Printed proof of sheet music for “Heroes of Today,” a patriotic song praising sailors and soldiers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911

At what may be the beginning of a parade, Theodore Roosevelt and other men crowd into an open touring car. Roosevelt removes a newspaper from the back seat, acknowledges the camera, sits, talks with men in a car, and shakes hands with a man outside the car. Several sailors crowd around the car as well, and Roosevelt shakes hands with one of them. A brick building or wall fills the immediate background.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

Unknown

Based on the findings of the Court of Inquiry, the author directs the Department of the Navy to nominate Chief Gunner’s Mate Mons Monssen for a Medal of Honor or other appropriate recognition for his heroism during the incident on the battleship Missouri.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-14

The symbolic “Columbia” stands between an American sailor and an American soldier, during the Spanish-American War.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-07-20