AHJ_ah09793 Inventory of the Frank Jack Fletcher Papers, 1811-1973 Fletcher (Frank Jack) Papers Processed by D. Claudia Thompson University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2013

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort May 2013 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Fletcher, Frank Jack Frank Jack Fletcher papers 1811-1973 09793 2.92 cubic feet (3 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Biography of Frank Jack Fletcher

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.

 Scope and Content

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.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

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

 Related Materials

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

 Additional Information

Finding aid available in repository.

 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 Information

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

 Preferred Citation

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

 Access Terms World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, American. World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean. World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Alaska. Midway, Battle of, 1942. Coral Sea, Battle of the, 1942. Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941. World War, 1914-1918 -- Naval operations. Philippines -- History -- 1898-1946. Adak Island (Alaska) Veracruz (Veracruz, Mexico) -- History -- American occupation, 1914. Photographs. Maps. Diaries. Admirals. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Politics, Government, and Law Military International Relations Social Life and Customs Container List Series I. Artifacts 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. Artwork 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

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 Files 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

1 Two, Five-year Diaries of Frank Jack Fletcher 1956-1966 Series VI. Maps 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 1 Unidentified, 16 mm Color Silent Film undated Series VIII. Newspaper and Magazine Clippings 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 1 Frank Jack Fletcher, U.S. Navy Journal 1906-1910 Series X. Photographs 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 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 Files 2 Naval Historical Documents (Photocopies) 1811-1815 2 United States Naval Academy 1957 May 1 Series XIII. Printed Material 2 Miscellaneous Printed Material 1942-1946 2 Naval Historical Foundation Publications 1966-1971