William Rea Furlong

A Register of His Papers in the Naval Historical Foundation Collection in the Library of Congress

Prepared by Kathleen M. Dondanville

Manuscript Division, Library of Congress

Washington, D.C.

2008

Contact information: http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/mss/address.html

Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division, 2008

Finding aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms008030

Table of Contents

Collection Summary

Selected Search Terms

Personal Names

Organizations

Subjects

Locations

Related Names

Occupations

Administrative Information

Provenance:

Processing History:

Transfers:

Copyright Status:

Preferred Citation:

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement of the Papers

Description of Series

Container List

Collection Summary

Selected Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

Administrative Information

The papers of William Rea Furlong, author and United States Navy rear admiral, were deposited in the Library of Congress by the Naval Historical Foundation in 1989. The deposit was converted to a gift by the foundation in 1998.

The papers of William Rea Furlong were arranged and described in 1991. The finding aid was revised in 2008.

Items have been transferred from the Manuscript Division to other custodial divisions of the Library. Maps have been transferred to the Geography and Map Division. Photographs have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division. All transfers are identified in these divisions as part of the William Rea Furlong Papers.

The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of William Rea Furlong Papers is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, William Rea Furlong Papers, Naval Historical Foundation Collection, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

The papers of William Rea Furlong (1881-1976) span the years 1892-1985, with the majority of items dating from 1930 through 1945. The collection primarily documents Furlong's service in the United States Navy, particularly his activities during World War II as commander of the Navy Yard at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and his interests in writing and American history. The papers consist of the following series: General Correspondence, Military File, Speeches and Writings, and Miscellany.

The General Correspondence series, 1911-1985, contains incoming and outgoing letters, primarily between Furlong and naval officers and colleagues. Most of this correspondence relates to his academic studies at the United States Naval Academy and Columbia University and his military activities and assignments. Correspondence dated after his retirement from the navy concerns personal business and property matters, writing projects, and his membership in various military organizations. A few letters between Furlong's second wife and her relatives, dated after his death in 1976, are included in this series. Frequent correspondents include William A. Moffett, Donald C. Bingham, and Charles B. McVay. Herbert Hoover and Margaret Chase Smith are examples of the more prominent correspondents.

The Military File, 1896-1965, consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, ship diaries, and other materials that document Furlong's significant assignments in the United States Navy. Dominating the series is material relating to his duties as commander of the navy yard at Pearl Harbor during World War II. Of particular interest are reports documenting Furlong's supervision of the salvage and repair of ships sunk by the Japanese during the 7 December 1941 surprise attack at Pearl Harbor.

Furlong's activities during World War I are also represented in this file. Official correspondence and memoranda from the War Department document his experiences as a gunnery observer in the war zone with the British Grand Fleet and his intelligence work on German submarine activities. Also contained in the series are materials concerning the American Samoan Commission, of which Furlong was an appointed member, American, British and German ordnance, and the American occupation in 1914 of Veracruz Llave, Mexico (formerly known as Vera Cruz). Several ship diaries kept by Furlong as an ensign and captain are included.

The Speeches and Writings series, 1914-1961, is mainly comprised of correspondence, lecture and research notes, and drafts of speeches, papers, and articles by Furlong. Because most of his speeches were given in an official military capacity, they concern such matters as the selling of war bonds, naval ordnance, and military holidays. Articles, papers, and research notes in the series reflect Furlong's strong interest in American history. Included are materials relating to his book, So Proudly We Hail: The History of the United States Flag, and the history of Pearl Harbor and American Samoa.

The final series in the collection, Miscellany, 1892-1976, consists of a variety of material. Chiefly relating to Furlong's naval interests, the file contains military journals, naval publications, ship newspapers, and musical scores of old navy songs. Scrapbooks, containing photographs, newspaper clippings, and printed materials, are of special note. They present a visual record of Furlong's more notable military activities and travels, including his experiences during the occupation of Veracruz Llave and his position as gunnery observer with the British Grand Fleet in World War I.

Arrangement of the Papers

This collection is arranged in four series:

• General Correspondence, 1911-1985
• Military File, 1896-1965
• Speeches and Writings, 1914-1961
• Miscellany, 1892-1976

Description of Series

Container List