Charles B. McVay Jr. Papers
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Charles Butler McVay Jr. (1868-1949) span the years 1896-1950, with the bulk of the material falling between the years 1927 and 1930. The papers consist chiefly of general and official correspondence concerning McVay’s duty as commander-in-chief of the Asiatic Fleet in 1929-1930.
Correspondents include Charles Francis Adams, William R. Castle, Edwin Sheddan Cunningham, Dwight Filley Davis, W. Roderick Dorsey, Lynn Winterdale Franklin, Nelson T. Johnson, and Howard Charles Kelly. Also in the collection are unpublished writings, including McVay’s autobiography, a draft of a speech, “The Navy in China,” and an essay on the Old Testament, as well as printed matter, commissions, and photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1896-1950
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1927-1930
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Charles B. McVay Jr. are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Charles B. McVay Jr. is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1868, Sept. 19
- Born, Edgeworth, Pa.
- 1890
- Graduated, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
- 1898
- Duty in USS Amphitrite , Spanish-American War
- 1905
- Duty in USS Hartford
- 1905 - 1907
- Duty, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
- 1908
- Duty in USS Alabama
- 1908 - 1910
- Commanded USS Yankton
- 1910 - 1912
- Duty, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
- 1912 - 1914
- Chief of staff, Asiatic Fleet
- 1914 - 1916
- Assistant to Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department
- 1917
- Duty, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
- 1917
- Commanded USS New Jersey
- 1918
- Commanded USS Oklahoma
- 1923 - 1925
- Commanded Yangtze Patrol
- 1925 - 1929
- Member, General Board and Budget Office, Navy Department
- 1929
- Promoted to admiral
- 1929
- Commander-in-chief, Asiatic Fleet
- 1932
- Retired from navy
- 1949, Oct. 28
- Died, Washington, D. C.
Extent
900 items
3 containers
1 oversize
1.2 linear feet
Abstract
Naval officer. Official and general correspondence, printed matter, and other material relating to McVay's duties as commander-in-chief of the Asiatic Fleet.
Arrangement of the Papers
The collection is organized by type of material with oversize items filed at the end.
Catalog Record
Acquisition Information
The papers of Charles B. McVay Jr., naval officer, were deposited in the Library of Congress by the Naval Historical Foundation in 1964 and converted to a gift in 1998.
Processing History
The papers of Charles B. McVay Jr. were arranged and described by Ruth S. Nicholson in 1970. The finding aid was revised in 2011.
Source
- McVay, Charles B. (Charles Butler), Jr., 1868-1949 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Adams, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1866-1954--Correspondence. (Person)
- Castle, William R. (William Richards), Jr., 1878-1963--Correspondence. (Person)
- Cunningham, Edwin Sheddan, 1868-1953--Correspondence. (Person)
- Davis, Dwight Filley, 1879-1945--Correspondence. (Person)
- Franklin, Lynn Winterdale, 1888-1952--Correspondence. (Person)
- Johnson, Nelson T. (Nelson Trusler), 1887-1954--Correspondence. (Person)
- Kelly, Howard Charles, 1887-1952--Correspondence. (Person)
- McVay, Charles B. (Charles Butler), Jr., 1868-1949. (Person)
- United States. Navy--Foreign service--Pacific Area. (Organization)
- United States. Navy. Asiatic Fleet. (Organization)
Occupation
- Title
- Charles B. McVay Jr. Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Papers in the Naval Historical Foundation Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Manuscript Division staff
- Date
- 2011
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
Manuscript Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 101
Washington, DC 20540-4683
(202) 707-5387