Frank Jack Fletcher papers

Frank Jack Fletcher papers, 1811-1973

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Fletcher, Frank Jack
Title: Frank Jack Fletcher papers
Dates: 1811-1973 (inclusive)
18111973
Quantity: 2.92 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Collection Number: 09793
Summary
Repository: American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions: Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
Additional Reference Guides: Additional Information
Finding aid available in repository.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Fletcher (1885-1973) was a career naval officer who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906. In 1914 he participated in the American occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico, and during World War I served aboard several ships in European waters. While stationed on the USS Sacramento, he was involved in suppression of the Colorum insurrection in the Philippines in 1924. Fletcher was commander of the USS New Mexico from 1936-1941 and was commander of Cruiser Division Six at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. In 1942 he commanded American naval forces at the Battle of the Coral Sea and was senior task force commander at the Battle of Midway. From November 1942-1945, Fletcher commanded naval forces in the North Pacific from the Alaskan island of Adak. He retired with the rank of Rear Admiral in 1947.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection contains correspondence chiefly related to his naval service (1897-1960); photographs (1921-1973) including the Coral Sea and Midway battles and the Adak, Alaska area; speeches and statements by Fletcher and others; subject files; 2 diaries (1956-1966); printed materials; maps; newspaper clippings; biographical information; and miscellaneous other materials.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Frank Jack Fletcher at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

The collection was received from the estate of Martha Richards Fletcher (widow) in 1974 through her nephew and co-executor Samuel L. Sawyer.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was organized and described by D. Claudia Thompson in 1990. Finding aid was encoded by Alexandra Cardin in 2020.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Artifacts Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Plaque - "Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, USN. With Best Wishes From His Flagship USS Minneapolis"	undated
1	Ribbon Band - Black with Yellow Letters, "USS New Mexico"	undated

Series II. ArtworkReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
3	Battleship USS Pennsylvania	1942
3	Cartoon - Two Duck Hunters in a Boat	undated
3	Cartoon - "Seems Like Yesterday - Home-Town Echoes - Frank Jack Fletcher...Received His Appointment to the Naval Academy"	circa 1944
3	Citation - Distinguished Cribbage Medal	circa 1945
3	"Happy New Year, (Travels of) Fred and Betty"	undated
3	"A Map of Adak, an Aleutian Island of the Andrean Group"	circa 1940s
3	Portrait of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher	1943

Series III. Biographical Files Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	"The Lucky Bag", vol. XIII, Annual Published by the Graduating Class of the United States Naval Academy, with Photograph of F. J. Fletcher	1906
1	Photocopies of Miscellaneous Obituaries and Personal Documents	1929, undated

Series IV. Correspondence FilesReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Appointment to and Graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy	1897-1906
1	Araby, History of the Araby Estate Near La Plata in Charles County, Maryland	1937-1938
1	Assignment as Aide to Secretary of Navy Claude A. Swanson	1933-1934
1	Assumption of Command of the USS New Mexico	1936
1	Charlotte Hall School	1947-1961
1	Collision of USS Colorado with Passenger Liner Ruth Alexander	1927-1928
1	Colorum Insurrection in the Philippines	1924
1	Commemorative Covers of Building or Launching of Submarines and Other Naval Events	1936-1959
1	Correspondence Relating to Events of World War II	1948-1950
1	Duty at Sea, Promotion to Ensign, and First Command on USS Dale	1907-1910
1	Harriman National Bank, New York	1930-1936
1	Home Owners' Loan Corporation	1936-1938
1	Letter from Belle to Martha Fletcher and Miscellaneous Items	1952-1971, undated
1	Mackubin Legg & Co.	1934-1938
1	Permanent Appointment as Commander	1921-1923
1	Personal and Retrospective Reminiscences on Significance of Coral Sea and Midway Battles	1942-1946
1	Promotion to Captain, Assignment to Asiatic Fleet	1930-1932
1	Promotion to Lieutenant	1907
1	Promotion to Lieutenant Commander	1915-1917
1	Retirement and Promotion to Rear Admiral and Correspondence Regarding Events of Naval Battles in World War II	1947
1	Selection as Vice Admiral	1938
1	Service in the American Occupation of Vera Cruz	1914
1	Service in European Waters During World War I, Command of USS Gridley	1918-1920
1	Settlement of Colorado-Ruth Alexander Affair, Promotion to Captain	1929
1	Shore Duty at the Naval Yard, Washington D.C.	1924-1926
1	Transfer to Duty on Naval Examining Board	1937

Series V. Diaries Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Two, Five-year Diaries of Frank Jack Fletcher	1956-1966

Series VI. MapsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
3	Halifax to Hispaniola, U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office	1961
3	Northern Pacific, from Bering Strait to Hawaiian Islands, Portion of a Larger Map	undated
3	Potomac River, Lower Cedar Point to Mattawoman Creek, U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey	1935
3	U.S. Shipping Outlines The World, Reprinted from Fortune	1937

Series VII. Motion Picture Film Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Unidentified, 16 mm Color Silent Film	undated

Series VIII. Newspaper and Magazine ClippingsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
3	Araby - Articles Regarding the Fletcher Estate Near La Plata, Maryland	1945-1948
3	Articles Regarding Activities of Adm. Fletcher	1943-1945
3	Articles Regarding Frank Jack Fletcher and Martha Fletcher	1932-1948
3	World War II - Articles Regarding Activities of Adm. Fletcher and Historical Articles on Pacific War	1944-1952

Series IX. Notebook Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Frank Jack Fletcher, U.S. Navy Journal	1906-1910

Series X. PhotographsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
2	Admiral Fletcher Dedicating Junior Athletic Field at Naval Ordnance Station, Indian Head, Maryland	1967 June 17
2	Autographed Portraits	1940-1942, undated
2	Autographed Portraits	1942-1959, undated
2	Battle of the Coral Sea, Official U. S. Navy Photographs (10)	1942 May
2	Battle of Midway, Official U.S. Navy Photographs (10)	1942 June
2	Battleships	1921, circa 1942
2	Ceremony with Officers of the 11th Air Command	circa 1940s
2	Funeral of Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher	1973 April 30
2	Miscellaneous Post World War II, Weddings, Reunions, etc.	1946-1972
2	The James W. Morse Collection of Photographs of the Limitation of Armaments Conference at Washington D.C. and Photographs of Various Delegations and Attendees	1921-1922, undated
2	North Pacific Force, Award Ceremony	1943 October
2	North Pacific Force, Island of Adak, Alaska	1943-1945
2	Presentation of Silver Tray to Ward Room of Attack Carrier Kitty Hawk	1963 October 16
2	Service Medal Being Presented to Frank Jack Fletcher	circa 1945
2	Unidentified Negatives	undated
2	World War II, Miscellaneaous	circa 1940s

Series XI. Speeches and Statements Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
2	Remarks at Presentation of Medals, Whidby Island	1943 March 19
2	Speech to American Legion Commemorating World War I Armistice	cica 1948
2	Speech Dedicating the USS Coral Sea, Aircraft Carrier	circa 1940s
2	Speech Introducing Admiral Robert B. Carney, Chief of Naval Operations	1954 May 26
2	Speech for Navy Day, at Des Moines, Iowa	1946 October 27
2	Speech Presenting Decorations to Officers and Men of Fleet Air Wing Four	circa 1940s
2	Statement by Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson, Under Secretary of State, Before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee	1972 August 8
2	Statement by Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel Before the Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor Attack	undated
2	Statement Made Before the Senate Appropriations Committee by Mr. Frank A. Hecht, President, Navy League of the United States	1952 June 19
2	Statement of Rear Admiral Frank L. Johnson Before the Hose Committee on Armed Services, Special Committee to Inquire into the Pueblo Incident	1969 March 14

Series XII. Subject FilesReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
2	Naval Historical Documents (Photocopies)	1811-1815
2	United States Naval Academy	1957 May 1

Series XIII. Printed MaterialReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
2	Miscellaneous Printed Material	1942-1946
2	Naval Historical Foundation Publications	1966-1971

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Coral Sea, Battle of the, 1942.
Midway, Battle of, 1942.
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Naval operations.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Alaska.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, American.

Geographical Names

Adak Island (Alaska)
Philippines -- History -- 1898-1946.
Veracruz (Veracruz, Mexico) -- History -- American occupation, 1914.

Form or Genre Terms

Diaries.
Maps.
Photographs.

Occupations

Admirals.

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents