Collections : [College of William and Mary]

Collection contains letters documenting the life of Seaman First Class George B. Ward Jr. (1915-2008) of Phenix City, Alabama. The letters primarily document Ward's life while he was assigned to the USS Chicago and the Aerology School at Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The collection also includes letters from Hawaii after Ward graduated from Aerology School.A multi page first hand account from Ward of the Hindenburg airship explosion in New Jersey to his mother is also contained in the collection. The Hindenburg, named for German president, Paul von Hindenburg, was the largest German rigid airship, LZ 129. It was designed to provide luxurious transatlantic travel between Germany, the United States and Brazil. It was also used as a propaganda tool for the Nazis as it contained the Swastika on its tail. The airship became engulfed in flames and was destroyed on May 6, 1937, while attempting to land at Lakehurst Naval Station in New Jersey. The fire killed 36 people and marked the end of transatlantic commercial airship travel. Ward was involved in rescuing people from the wreckage, which he described in the letter. Ward was discharged from the Navy in 1939 and later worked as a U.S. Navy civilian employee helping to salvage ships at Pearl Harbor. George Ward passed away in 2008.

Collection contains letters addressed to a George P. Mell during his naval career in World War II. Letters arrive from his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Mell, as well as pastor Evan D. Welch & other family members.

This collection contains the family papers of members of the Grigsby and Galt Families. Mary Blair Grigsby married William W. Galt in 1881. The collection contains papers of various members of the Grigsby family, particulary Hugh Blair Grigsby who was a historian and Chancellor of The College of William and Mary and his son, Hugh Carrington Grigsby who lived his entire life at the family farm, Edgehill, in Charlotte County, Virginia.

Letter from Hugh Nelson, Chamber of the House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., to an unidentified recipient recommending his nephew Thomas N. Carter for admission to the United States Naval Service. March 3, [ca. 1811-1823].

Collection contains letters and postcards mailed between members of the Jenkins family. The post cards are from locations across the United States. The letters were sent between Mr. and Mrs. Robert David Jenkins while he was in the military after the Korean War. The letters are a mix of love letters and family updates.

Letter written April 27, 1854 from Joseph Beale, U.S. Germantown, Montevideo, South America, to his wife, in care of Col. Blow, Norfolk, concerning his fondness for his wife and child and his wish to leave the Navy as a doctor and enter into private practice. ALS

Letter from Mrs. E.E. Moffitt, Richmond, Virginia to Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C. asking him to meet with John Hart who is one of her valued friends. September 10, 1916. Not postmarked, thus probably hand delivered as a letter of introduction by John Hart.

Three letters written by US Navy Corpsman, N. L. Michael, while serving in the Da Nang Run Area of Vietnam.