Guide to the Sir Angus Cunninghame Graham Naval History Manuscripts Collection MS.M.001
Processed by Andre Ambrus.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
(cc) 2004
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: Sir Angus Cunninghame Graham naval history manuscripts collection
Creator:
Cunninghame Graham, Angus, Sir
Identifier/Call Number: MS.M.001
Physical Description:
1.4 Linear Feet
(4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1746-1967
Date (bulk): 1746-1913
Abstract: This collection comprises naval documents, correspondence, and other related materials collected and assembled by British
Admiral Sir Angus Cunninghame Graham. The materials provide insights not just into naval history but also day-to-day operations
aboard British ships during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The collection includes ships' logs, navy lists, seamanship
notebooks, and signal books, along with naval literature and notes, and sketches.
Language of Material:
English
.
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.
Preferred Citation
Sir Angus Cunninghame Graham naval history manuscripts collection. MS-M001. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine
Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Acquired, circa 1966.
Custodial History
The collection was initially assembled by Commander Charles Elphinstone Fleeming Cunninghame Graham and it includes materials
created or assembled by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Seymour and Admiral Sir Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson.
Processing Information
Processed by Andre Ambrus, 2004.
Biographies
Angus Cunninghame Graham
Admiral Sir Angus Edward Malise Bontine Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore, son of Commander C. E. F. Cunninghame Graham, was
born in 1893. Cunningham Graham completed his education at Osborne and Dartmouth, served in the Grand Fleet, 1914-1918, and
was Senior Naval Officer at West River, China from 1936 until 1938. He was Captain of H.M.S. (Her Majesty's Ship) Signal School,
1939-1941, and of H.M.S. Kent, 1941-1943. He also served as Commodore of the Royal Navy Barracks in Chatham 1943-1945 and
became a Rear Admiral in 1945. In 1952, after serving as a Vice-Admiral for four years, he was appointed an Admiral. Among
many other titles, Cunninghame Graham was also a Trustee for the National Library of Scotland, Commissioner of the Queen Victoria
School, and Vice-President of the National Trust of Scotland. He died in 1981.
Charles Elphinstone Fleeming Cunninghame Graham
Commander C.E.F. Cunningham Graham, father of Angus Cunninghame Graham and brother of Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, famous
Scottish politician and writer, was born in Edinburgh in 1854. After three years at Harrow he joined the crew of H.M.S. Britannia.
He served the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for twenty-five years first as an Inspector of Lifeboats, and later as a
Deputy Chief Inspector. He died in 1917.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection comprises naval documents, correspondence, and other related materials collected and assembled by British
Admiral Sir Angus Cunninghame Graham. The materials provide insights not just into naval history but also day-to-day operations
aboard British ships during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The collection includes ships' logs, navy lists, seamanship
notebooks, and signal books, along with naval literature and notes, and sketches. Also included are brief biographies, by
Angus Cunningham Graham, of the individuals who were instrumental in assembling this body of work.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into 3 series.
- Series 1. Ephemera files, circa 1830-1967. 0.4 linear ft.
- Series 2. Ships' logs and related documents, 1757-1803. 0.4 linear ft.
- Series 3. Signal books, 1746-1913. 0.6 linear ft.
Separated Material
Collection initially also included the diaries of Anne Elizabeth Bontine and additional materials which now comprise the Anne
Elizabeth Bontine Diaries and Other Materials (MS-M29), Special Collections and Archives.
Ephemera files Series 1.
circa 1830-1969
Physical Description: 0.4 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of personal items, correspondence, lecture notes and sketchbooks including a bound chronology listing
the previous collectors of these materials and their biographies. The materials in this series deal with naval issues, such
as engineering and navigation and include a number of letters from the personal correspondence of Angus Cunninghame Graham.
Arrangement
The items are arranged into categories and chronologically within categories.
box 1, folder 1
Checklist and biography of custodians.
Cunninghame Graham Naval Library
November, 1967
box 1, folder 2
Cunninghame Graham, Angus, letter to Graham's librarian
1969
box 1, folder 3
Cunninghame Graham, C. E. F.
1911-1914.
Physical Description: 2 items.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 1, folder 4-7, box 4, folder 1-3
Lectures, notes, and publications
box 1, folder 4-6, box 4, folder 1
Cunninghame Graham, Angus
box 4, folder 1
H.M.S Achilles, engineering
circa 1912
box 1, folder 4
H.M.S. Cumberland, shipbuilding notes
circa 1926-circa 1946
box 1, folder 5
Navigation, pilotage and compass notes
circa 1910-circa 1930
box 1, folder 6
Notes on charts, flags, signals and various naval subjects
circa 1910- circa 1940
box 1, folder 7
Cunninghame, Graham, C. E. F..
Addenda to Naval Library catalogue
circa 1912
box 4, folder 2
Lieutenant Layman, H.F.H.,
Lecture on the history of naval visual signalling
1926, July
box 4, folder 3
Waters, David Watkin,
Notes on the convoy system of naval warfare, thirteenth to twentieth centuries, part I, 1204 -1874
1957.
Ships' logs and related naval documents Series 2.
1757-1803
Physical Description: 0.4 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of ships' logs and miscellaneous naval documents dating from the middle of the 18th to early 19th centuries.
The materials document naval life during the time period aboard naval vessels, administrative and legal events, ships' locations
and movements, crew data and other related matters.
Arrangement
The series is arranged alphabetically by title and by author within categories of documents.
box 1, folder 8-11, box 4, folder 4
box 4, folder 4
Letter book
1757-1758.
Scope and Contents note
Spine title: Journal De M De Contrepo Capitain Debrulo.
box 1, folder 8
Midshipman's leave book, H.M.S. New Zealand
1910-1911
box 1, folder 9
Seamanship note book
1890
box 1, folder 10
Sketchbook of ships and sailboats
1882
box 1, folder 11
Watch, station, and quarter bill
circa 1811
box 2, folder 1, box 4, folder 5-6
box 4, folder 5-6
Harris, John
1792-1802.
Physical Description: 2 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
The volume, in addition to 4 loose pages of entries, also contains a tintype portrait of an unidentified male.
box 2, folder 1
Moubray, Richard Hussey (Commander of the H.M.S. Maidstone, 1801-1803)
1803
Signal books Series 3.
1746-1913
Physical Description: 0.6 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of 11 signal books that include information on charts, flags, signals and various other subjects including
navigation, tides, sail making, and stowage of holds.
Arrangement
Items in this series are arranged chronologically.
box 2, folder 2
Signals for the Royal Navy and ships under convoy
1746.
Scope and Contents note
Includes the undated publication
Coins weights and measures, ancient and modern for all nations.
box 2, folder 3
Pendant and signals
circa 1746
box 2, folder 4
Telegraph flag of the thousands
circa 1746-circa 1800.
Scope and Contents note
Title taken from item, which is enclosed in buttoned linen envelope.
box 2, folder 5
Signal book
circa 1778-circa 1779
box 2, folder 6
Signaux de jour entre les vaisseaux, fregates and autre batimens de l'etat charges de convoyer, and le convoi qu'ila elcortenz
1793
box 2, folder 7
Signals for ships of war
1795
box 3, folder 1
Signal book with watercolor bookplate of Lieutenant Jacques Dalby
circa 1797
box 4, folder 7
Signal book for Her Majesty's ships and the East India Company
1798
box 3, folder 2
Signal Book for the Ships of War
1808
box 3, folder 3
Signals for prizes, boats, H.M.S. Resistance
circa 1861
box 3, folder 4
Signal book for boats
1913