Scope and Content Note
The papers of William Sowden Sims (1858-1936) span the period 1856-1951, but bulk largest between 1900-1936. The collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, manuscripts, notes, clippings, printed matter, and miscellaneous material arranged in seven series largely as received: Correspondence; Subject File, Speech, Article, and Book file; Miscellany; Clippings and Printed Matter, Addition, and Oversize.
The papers document Sims's career as a naval officer who played a significant role in initiating naval reforms during the early years of the twentieth century and World War I. A subseries of Personal Correspondence documents Sims's career at sea; his strong attachment to his family prompted numerous letters to his parents and, after his marriage in 1905, to his wife. These letters are rich in the details of his life aboard ship at the China Station, as naval attaché at Paris, Madrid, and St. Petersburg, and as commander of naval forces in Europe during World War I.
Sims's concern with reforms in the navy, particularly with gunnery and firing efficiency aboard ship, is manifested in a subseries of Special Correspondence and in the Subject File. The Special Correspondence was kept as a separate entity to reflect the organization of Sims's files and includes subjects such as gunnery, preparedness, and the Bureau of Navigation as well correspondence with individuals. Material concerning target practice, naval reform and the organization of the navy is in the Subject File. Documentation on these topics and Sims's correspondence with President Theodore Roosevelt, also in the Subject File series, describe his experiences as inspector of target practice and naval aide to the president.
During World War I Sims was detached as president of the Naval War College and sent abroad on confidential missions. He later served as commander of United States naval forces operations in the European theater. Much of his correspondence with other naval officers was carried on during the period he was in England. Among these correspondents are Sir Lewis Bayly, William Shepherd Benson, Josephus Daniels, Bradley A. Fiske, William F. Fullam, Herbert Hoover, A. T. Mahan, Ridley McLean, William Veazie Pratt, Joel Roberts Poinsett Pringle, Henry Reuterdahl, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Prominent in the Speech, Article, and Book File is material gathered by Sims for Promotion by Selection, an article published in 1934. Included are letters he solicited voicing reactions to the article. Sims summarized these reactions in the pamphlet Promotion by Selection in the Navy.
The Miscellany series includes a typescript of an unpublished biography of Sims by Tracy B. Kittredge, and Sims's orders to duty dating from 1876 when he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.
The Addition to the collection spans the years 1884-1951, but relates chiefly to 1917-1936. The material represents primarily the later years of Sims's naval career, although it does include his military orders from 1884 to 1925 and some personal correspondence back to 1910. Correspondence, subject files, and social calendars of his wife, Anne Hitchcock Sims, are also in the Addition. There is correspondence with his biographer, Tracy B. Kittredge, and Kenneth Lewis Roberts, who also considered writing a biography of Sims. Personal correspondents include John V. Babcock, W. F. Arnold and W. Atlee Edwards.