Rare Books

Souvenir piece of oak hull from the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides)

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Description: Wedge shaped piece of oak taken from the hull of the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) prior to the 1927-1931 restoration of the ship. There are traces of grey or white paint on one surface of the object. A portion of a wooden peg remains in the top of the object. The depth ranges from 1 inch to 3 inches, length 8 inches, width 5 1/2 inches. The piece of wood has a small copper plaque affixed to the surface which reads "This material was taken from the original hull of the U.S. Frigate Constitution. Keel laid 1794. Rebuilding 1927." The USS Constitution was originally constructed of wood brought from all over the United States. The frames, or ribs and the outer hull planking was made of white oak primarily sourced from Georgia. White oak from New England formed her backbone or keel. Deck beams were white oak and deck planking of southern pitch pine. The three masts were formed of white pine. (Source for description of materials, the USS Constitution Museum).
Type: Rare Books(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1927-1928

Photographic portrait album of United States Naval Academy personnel and USS Constitution crew

Visual Materials

An album with 15 carte-de-visite studio portraits of officers and midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy and USS Constitution. Among the officers and crew included are Naval Academy Superintendent George Smith Blake, Edward P. Lull, Charles L. Huntington, and USS Constitution boatswain's mate Thomas ("Old Tom") Hunter, midshipmen Bowman H. McCalla (entered the Academy in 1861, graduated November 1864), Charles H. Stockton (entered 1861, graduated October 1865), C.P. Griswold, and L.M. Albright. The album includes handwritten labels loosely inserted into some of the frames, often with the names and hometowns of other midshipmen. The frame on page 2 is empty and contains an inserted paper strip labeled "Henry Ward Beecher, Brooklyn, New York." The album is inscribed on the title page in the same hand as the paper labels "From George to Mary".

photCL 46

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Joseph W. Revere album

Manuscripts

The album, probably written about 1870, is a collection of memories and stories from Revere's life. The majority of the album focuses on two points in Revere's life, his time in California before and during the gold rush, and his experience in the Civil War. The album specifically covers the following subjects: Revere's experiences on the USS Constitution in 1834; Revere's life as a rancho owner in Mexican California before the gold rush; the California Indians; Revere's travels throughout California and Mexico; his time in the Mexican army; his voyage to California through Panama in 1848; Revere's experiences in the gold mines; and Revere's service in the Civil War including his experience in Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. The album also includes eighteen illustrations, watercolors and sketches, done by Revere to illustrate the text. These sketches include California landscapes, and scenes of life in San Francisco, Panama, and the gold mining camps. There are also a few sketches of scenes from Revere's experience in the Civil War. The last few pages of the album are draft pages for the beginning of Revere's book, Keel and saddle. Also included in the album is a carte-de-visite of Revere

mssHM 56913

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Daniel Webster Andrews letters and family papers

Manuscripts

The first series includes correspondence and documents belonging to Daniel Webster Andrews and his family, chiefly his father John Andrews and his mother Susan Masson Andrews. The material is organized alphabetically by family member. In the letters by John Andrews to his brother William Andrews (who apparently was killed on August 23, 1814 in the explosion of Gunboat #146), he talks about the frigates Constitution and Independence, other ships in the Navy Yard in Charleston, and news of battles between the US troops and the British including the Battle of York (April 1813). In the letters of Daniel Webster Andrews, he writes about his experiences as a naval officer on the ship Ino. He also writes about Fort Monroe, Virginia (one of his letters is written on a pictorial lettersheet of "Fortress Monroe") and witnessing the USS Minnesota almost get hit by a torpedo as well as the sinking of the USS Patapsco. Also included is a letter from Frank Hull to Lizzie Blood describing a trip to Central City, Colorado in August 1863, as well as an 1817 commission to George Manners signed by George IV. There are also two letters by Olivia Peyton Murray Cutting, wife of William Bayard Cutting of New York, to her niece Jane Murray; one of her letters states "I feel sure that Professor [Max] Farrand will do everything possible in showing you the treasures of the Huntington Museum." Max Farrand was the Huntington Library's first director.

mssAndrews

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Genealogy and Miscellaneous Material

Manuscripts

mssAndrews

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Correspondence and Documents

Manuscripts

mssAndrews

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Joseph Bassett - Sarah Andrews Turner

Manuscripts

mssAndrews

Souvenir piece of oak hull from the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides)

Opening Hours

Admission Info and Tickets

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Photographic portrait album of United States Naval Academy personnel and USS Constitution crew

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Daniel Webster Andrews letters and family papers

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Joseph Bassett - Sarah Andrews Turner