George Frederick Jewett Naval History Collection, 1900-1956

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Jewett, George Frederick, 1896-1956.
Title
George Frederick Jewett Naval History Collection
Dates
1900-1956 (inclusive)
Quantity
10 Linear Feet of Shelf Space, (17 boxes), (Approximately 8000 items)
Collection Number
Cage 61 (collection)
Summary
George Frederick Jewett, a Spokane lumber executive and former naval officer, spent approximately 35 years amassing this collection of naval literature, photographs and models. This collection contains photographs and models of ships dated from approximately 1900-1945. The vessels and other naval subjects depicted date from the 1870s to the 1940s (roughly, the battleship period).
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for on-site research use.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

George Frederick Jewett (1896-1956), Spokane lumber executive and former naval officer, spent approximately 35 years amassing this collection of naval literature, photographs and models. While a student at Harvard University, Jewett began acquiring photographs, mostly from commercial sources, of the ships of the world's navies. He also began collecting waterline models, primarily of German ships. When he ended his collecting effort around 1950, he had accumulated approximately 7500 photographs and 200 models. Jewett collected photographs or models of about four-fifths of the major naval craft constructed during this era.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

George Frederick Jewett (1896-1956), Spokane lumber executive and former naval officer, spent approximately 35 years amassing this collection of naval literature, photographs and models. While these photographs and models date from approximately 1900-1945, the vessels and other naval subjects depicted date from the 1870s to the 1940s (roughly, the battleship period). Jewett collected photographs or models of about four-fifths of the major naval craft constructed during this era. He also collected many pictures of crews, shore installations, machinery and naval maneuvers. The definitions used for types of ship are roughly those used in the individual navies and vary somewhat from nation to nation.

This collection is described in "The George F. Jewett Naval Collection," The Record (newsletter of the Friends of the Washington State University Libraries), vol. 19 (1958), pages 6-10.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Selected images and photographs of models in this collection are available in the Jewett Naval History Collection digital exhibit

Restrictions on Use

The items in this collection vary widely in physical condition. Reproduction is available for items in good condition on a case-by-case basis.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description] George Frederick Jewett Naval History Collection, 1900-1956 (Cage 61)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series: 1. Photographs; 2. Correspondence; 3. Models; and 4. Printed Materials.

Series 1, Photographs, consists mainly of images of ships. These include postcards and photographic prints. Subseries 1.1 consists of postcards and small format photographs. These are arranged alphabetically by the nationality of the ship, with the "minor naval powers" grouped together in a separate sequence at the beginning of the subseries. For each of the major naval powers the materials are further categorized by ship type and/or ship name. Subseries 1.2 consists of larger photographs, arranged alphabetically by nationality. Subseries 1.3 includes scrapbooks, maps, and other images.

Series 2, Correspondence, is in Jewett's original arrangement.

Series 3, Models, is arranged by nationality.

Series 4, Printed Material, retains its original arrangement.

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated to the Washington State University Libraries by Mrs. George Jewett after her husband's death in 1956.

Processing Note

This collection was processed in 1973 by Lawrence Stark; additional processing and preservation of the collection were done in 2005 by Mark Gottschalk as a graduate fellowship project funded by the George Frederick Jewett Foundation.

Separated Materials

George Frederick Jewett also donated approximately 360 books on naval history and naval affairs including partial sets of Brassy's Naval Annual (1886-1949) and Jane's Fighting Ships (1904-1955). These materials are housed in MASC, and have been designated for separate cataloging.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: PhotographsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Subseries 1.1: Postcards and Small Photographic Prints
Minor Naval Powers
Box Folder
1 1
Argentina
1 2
Brazil
1 3
Chile
1 4
China
1 5
Denmark
1 6
Egypt
1 7
Greece
1 8
Mexico
1 9
Monaco
1 10
Netherlands
1 11
Norway
1 12
Portugal
1 13
Spain
1 14
Sweden
1 15
Turkey
1 16
Yugoslavia
Major Naval Powers
Box Folder
1 17-19
Austria-Hungary
France
Battleships
Box Folder
1 18
A-B
1 19
C
1 20
D-F
1 21
G-I
1 22
J-L
1 23
M
1 24
P-R
1 25
S-V
Cruisers
Box Folder
1 26
A-B
1 27
D-E
1 28
F-I
1 29
J-K
1 30
L-M
1 31
P-W
Box Folder
1 32
Avisos
Destroyers
Box Folder
1 33
A-B
1 34
C-D
1 35
E-F
1 36
G-L
1 37
M-R
1 38
S-Y
Box Folder
1 39
Torpedo Boats
Submarines
Box Folder
1 40
A-B
1 41
C-F
1 42
G-M
1 43
N-S
1 44
T-Z
Box Folder
2 45
Aircraft Carriers
Miscellaneous Ships (Minelayers, tugs, gunboats, etc.)
Box Folder
2 46
A-B
2 47
C-E
2 48
F-L
2 49
M-R
2 50
T-Y
Box Folder
2 51
Sailing Ships, Steam-sail ships
2 52-53
Action, composite images, crews, shores, etc.
Germany
Battleships, Battle Cruisers and other heavy Cruisers
Box Folder
2 54
A-B
2 55
D-F
2 56
G-H
2 57
K-L
2 58
M-O
2 59
P-R
2 60
S-T
2 61
W-Y
Cruisers (medium and small)
Box Folder
2 62
A-C
2 63
D-F
2 64
G-K
2 65
L-N
2 66
P-S
2 67
T-Z
Box Folder
2 68-75
Torpedo Boats and Destroyers
2 76-78
Submarines
3 79
Miscellaneous Ships
3 80-85
Action, shore installations etc.
3 86
Sailing Ships, Steam-sail
3 87
Liners, merchantmen [Note: more German images are included in Box 13]
Italy
Armored Ships
Box Folder
3 88
A-C
3 89
D-E
3 90
F-I
3 91
N-R
3 92
S-V
3 93
Cruisers
Torpedo Boats and Destroyers
Box Folder
3 94
A-B
3 95
C-D
3 96
F-I
3 97
L-N
3 98
O-R
3 99
S-Z
Box Folder
3 100
Submarines
3 101
Miscellaneous Ships, including Sailing
3 102
Action, composite images
Japan
Box Folder
3 103
A-I
3 104
K-Y
Russia
Box Folder
3 105
A
3 106
B-C
3 107
D-E
3 108
G
3 109
I-L
3 110
N-O
3 111
P
3 112
R-S
3 113
T-Y
3 114
Miscellaneous, unidentified, composite images
United Kingdom
Battleships, Battle Cruisers
Box Folder
4 115
A-B
4 116
D
4 117
E-H
4 118
I-L
4 119
M-N
4 120
O-Q
4 121
R
4 122
S-T
4 123
V-Z
Cruisers
Box Folder
4 124
A
4 125
B
4 126
C
4 127
D
4 128
E-F
4 129
G-H
4 130
J-K
4 131
L-M
4 132
N-P
4 133
Q-S
4 134
T-Z
4 135
Miscellaneous
Destroyer-type craft
Box Folder
4 136
A
4 137
B
4 138
C
4 139
D-E
4 140
F
4 141
G
4 142
H
5 143
I-K
5 144
L
5 145
M
5 146
N
5 147
O
5 148
P
5 149
R
5 150
S
5 151
T
5 152
U
5 153
V
5 154
W
5 155
Y-Z
5 156
Composite images
Box Folder
5 157-159
Torpedo Boats
Monitors
Box Folder
5 160
A-Z
5 161
Numbered Monitors
Aircraft Carriers and Seaplane Tenders
Box Folder
5 162
Aircraft Carriers
5 163
Seaplane Tenders
Submarines
Box Folder
5 164
A and B class
5 165
C class
5 166
D and E class
5 167
H class
5 168
J and K class
5 169
L class
6 170
M, R, and U class
6 171
Miscellaneous (including Australian)
Box Folder
6 172
Liners, Merchant Craft
6 173
Sloops and Yachts
6 174
Oilers, Tankers, Colliers
6 175
Troop Ships
Miscellaneous
Box Folder
6 176
A-C
6 177
D-G
6 178
H-K
6 179
L-O
6 180
P-R
6 181
S-T
6 182
U-Z
Box Folder
6 183
Unnamed Sailing Ships, Steam-sail
Box Folder
6 184
A-C
6 185
D-F
6 186
H-L
6 187
M-O
6 188
P-S
6 189
T-Z
6 190
Composite images
6 191-196
Action, composite images, crews, shore
United States
Battleships, Battle Cruisers
Box Folder
6 197
A
6 198
B
6 199
C
6 200
G-I
6 201
K-L
6 202
M
6 203
N
6 204
O
6 205
P-S
7 206
T-V
7 207
W
Cruisers
Box Folder
7 208
A-B
7 209
C-D
7 210
F-H
7 211
I-M
7 212
N-O
7 213
P-R
7 214
S
7 215
T-W
Destroyers
Box Folder
7 216
A-B
7 217
C
7 218
D-E
7 219
F-G
7 220
H-I
7 221
J-K
7 222
L
7 223
M-O
7 224
P
7 225
R
7 226
S
7 227
T-Z
Box Folder
7 228
Miscellaneous
7 229
Torpedo Boats
7 230
Monitors
7 231
Carriers and Seaplane Tenders
Submarines
Box Folder
7 232
A-Z
7 233
Miscellaneous
7 234
Submarines
Box Folder
7 235
Sloops and Yachts
7 236
Miscellaneous and unidentified Supply Ships, Colliers, etc.
7 237
Transports
8 238
Miscellaneous Mineships, Land Craft, Gunboats
8 239
Sailing Ships, Steam-sail
8 240
Action, Composite images
8 241
Rams
Subseries 1.2: Large Photographs
Box Folder
9 1
China
9 2
Spain
9 3
Turkey
9 4
Austria-Hungary
9 5
France, Cruisers
9 6
France, Torpedo Boats
9 7
France, Submarines
9 8
France, Miscellaneous Ships
9 9-10
France, Action (I)
9 11
France, Action, crews
9 12
France, Battleships
9 13
France, Cruisers
9 14
France, Avisos and related craft, torpedo Avisos
10 15
Germany, Linienschiffen, Top Battleships
10 16
Germany, Panzerkreuter "Armed Cruisers" (smaller battleships)
10 17
Germany, Cruisers
10 18
Germany, Torpedo Boats and Destroyers
10 19
Germany, Miscellaneous
11 20
Italy
11 21
Japan
11 22
Russia
12 23
United Kingdom, Older craft
12 24
United Kingdom, Composites
12 25
United States, Battleships and Battle Cruisers
12 26
United States, Cruisers
12 27-28
United States, Destroyers (I)
12 29
United States, Carriers and Seaplane Tenders
12 30
United States, Submarines
12 31
United States, Merchant Craft
12 32
United States, Sloops, Yachts, Gunboats
12 33
United States, Supply Ships
12 34
United States, Transports
12 35
United States, Miscellaneous Mineships, Land Craft, Gunboats
12 36-37
United States, Action, Composite images
12 38
United States, Unidentified
Subseries 1.3: Maps, Scrapbooks, Other Images
Box Folder
13 1
Scrapbook: Erinneungenaus Deutschlands grosser Zeit (Reminiscences of Germany's greater days); scrapbook of photographs of German Navy during the First World War, undated
Maps
Box Folder
13 2-3
World Map, 1943
13 2-3
Germany and its approaches, 1944
13 2-3
The Philippines, 1945
13 2-3
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 1944
13 2-3
Japan and Adjacent Regions of Asia and the Pacific Ocean, 1944
13 2-3
Philippine Islands Pocket Map, undated
Box Folder
13 4-6
U.S. Army-Navy Journal of Recognition; includes photographs of Naval and air craft, military vehicles and similar subjects. 10 issues, September 1943-August 1944 [Note: duplicate issues removed for separate cataloging in 2005]

Series 2: CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
13 7
Correspondence and accompanying material, 1916-1925
13 8
Correspondence with Washington State University (George and Mary Jewett, Joel Ferris), 1944-1959

Series 3: ModelsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box
14
Germany, heavier ship models
15
Germany, heavier ship models
15
Germany, lighter ship models
16
United Kingdom, models
16
France, United States, and unidentified ship models

Series 4: Printed Material and Related DocumentationReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
17 1-2
Correspondence and related documentation, Maxwell Air University, Alabama, 1956
17 3
Maxwell Air University Pamphlets
17 3
Guide to Air University 1955-1956
17 3
Air War College Manual, Eleventh Edition, 1955
17 3
Air University Tenth Anniversary, 1956
17 4
Air War College Study on the Size and Composition of the AWC Class, 1956
17 5
Outline of Organization and Mission of Air University, undated
17 5
Air University, Quarterly Program Summary, 1956
17 6
United States Air Force Basic Doctrine, 1955
17 6
Information for the Board of Visitors, Twelfth meeting, 1956
17 6
Twelfth Report of the Board of Visitors, 1956
17 7
Air War College Instructional Circulars
17 7
Study 56-1, Fundamentals, 1955
17 7
Study 56-2, Elements of Power, 1955
17 8
Study 56-3, Current World Conflict, 1955
17 9
Study 56-4, Military Tasks and Management of Resources, 1955
17 9
Study 56-5, Home Defense, 1956
17 10
Study 56-6, The National Weapons System in the Attack, 1956
17 10
Study 56-7, The Weapons System in Defense, 1956
17 11
Study 56-8, The Continuing Conflict, 1956
17 11
Study 56-9, Major Factors Affecting Future National Security
17 11
Study 56-10, Thesis Program
17 12
The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Fahey's Second War Edition, 1944
Pamphlets
Box Folder
17 12
Students of Liberty, Leonard E. Read, 1950
17 12
Some Facts About The Foundation for Economic Education, 1950
17 12
Theology of Freedom, Edward A. Opitz, undated
17 12
Christianity and Free Enterprise, Dr. J.D. Bales, undated
Box Folder
17 13
Navy Song Book, 1919

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Naval history, Modern -- 20th century -- Archives.
  • Naval history, Modern -- 20th century -- Photographs.
  • Ship models -- Specimens.

Corporate Names

  • Air University (U.S.)
  • France. Marine -- Photographs.
  • Germany. Kriegsmarine -- Photographs.
  • Germany. Reichsmarine -- Photographs.
  • Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Photographs.
  • Italy. Marina -- Photographs.
  • United States. Navy -- History.

Finding aid prepared by Lawrence Stark.
2016

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