Register of the Langan Waterman Swent papers
Finding aid prepared by Sarah Ainsworth
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2009, 2022
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: Langan Waterman Swent papers
Date (inclusive): 1918-1990
Collection Number: 93064
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In English
Physical Description:
5 manuscript boxes, 1 videotape
(1.9 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Diaries, 1942-1944, relating to landing craft tank (LCT) operations in the Mediterranean theater during World War II, and
especially to the landings at Anzio, including both original diaries and typed transcripts; and reports and protocols of International
Labour Organisation meetings, 1968-1970, relating to industrial relations in the mining industry.
Creator:
Swent, Langan Waterman, 1916-1992
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1993.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Langan Waterman Swent diaries, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
Lieutenant commander, United States Navy; landing craft tank commander, 1942-1944; subsequently mining company executive.
Langan Waterman Swent 1916-1992
| 1916 November 27 |
Born |
| 1917 |
Moved with his parents to San Dimas, Durango, Mexico for his father's mining engineer job |
| 1938 |
Received B.A. from Stanford University |
| 1940 |
Received Master's degree from the Mining College from University of Berkeley, California |
| 1941 |
Received Master's degree in Geology from Harvard University |
| 1941 |
Joined the U.S. Navy |
| 1941-1942 |
Attended Midshipmen's School, Great Lakes Naval Training Station at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, spending
several months afterward ferrying landing crafts from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to NYC
|
| 1942-1944 |
Served in the naval amphibious forces in the Mediterranean Theater, first as an officer in charge of a landing craft tank
(LCT) and then as a commander of a flotilla of LCTs
|
| 1945 |
Stationed at Fort Pierce, Florida, a naval amphibious training base |
| 1945 |
Released from Navy active duty |
| 1946-1947 |
Worked for Homestake Mining Company in Lead, South Dakota |
| 1947 |
Married Eleanor Martha Herz of Lead, North Dakota |
| 1947-1954 |
Lived in Tayoltita, Mexico and worked for the San Luis Mining Company as a mine foreman and then assistant manager |
| 1957-1959 |
Worked as the Manager of the New Mexico division of Homestake Mining Company in Grants, New Mexico |
| 1966 |
Moved to San Francisco and worked for Homestake as their vice president of operations |
| 1968 |
As President of the California Mining Association, served as the delegate to the International Labour Organisation meeting
in Geneva, Switzerland
|
| 1983 |
Retired from his position at Homestake |
| 1992 April 30 |
Died |
Scope and Content of Collection
The bulk of the collection contains Swent's diaries from 1942-1944, while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. The diaries pertain
to Swent's participation in landing craft tank (LCT) operations in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II; most notably
to the landings at the Battle of Anzio in Italy. The collection includes both original diaries and typed transcripts. After
retiring from the U.S. Navy, Swent worked for the Homestake Mining Company. Included in the collection are reports and protocols
of a 1968 International Labour Organisation meeting, relating to industrial relations in the mining industry.
The Herz Family Correspondence series consists of letters exchanged between the relatives of Swent's wife Eleanor Martha Swent
(née Herz) during WWI and WWII.
The letters have been arranged into two sub-series: Letters from Ellsworth Kimpston (Uncle of Eleanor Swent) to his Sister
(and Mother of Eleanor Swent) Janet Herz (Kimpston), Catherine (Sister to Ellsworth), and Mrs. Frank Kimpston (Mother to Ellsworth).
These letters describe his time at Fort Logan, Camp Mills, and Fort Winfield Scott, as well as his brief time in France, including
Aixe and Chalus during WWI.
Also included in the Herz Family Correspondence series are Letters to Janet Kimpston (Mother of Eleanor Swent) from her Nephew's
John Koontz and Freelan Koontz. The Koontz brothers wrote of their time in Fort Ord, Fort Lewis, and the Army War College
during WWII.
Arrangement Statement
The collection is arranged into five series: Biographical File, Diaries, Herz Family Correspondence, Mining Materials, and
Videorecordings. The Diaries are arranged chronologically into Originals and Transcripts. The Herz Family Correspondence series
is grouped into three files according to the letter writers, reflecting the donor's original order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Italy
Mines and mineral resources
Anzio, Battle of, Anzio, Italy, 1944
World War, 1939-1945 -- Amphibious operations
Landing craft
United States. Navy
International Labour Organisation
Biographical File
1941-1945
box 3, folder 1
Navy Commendations and Awards
1941-1945
box 3, folder 2
U.S. Navy Immunization Record
1944 March-1945 July
box 3, folder 6
1942 October 11-December 31
box 2, folder 1
1943 October 12-December 4
box 2, folder 4
1944 July 17-September 25
Transcripts
1941-1950
Scope and Contents
Transcripts begin in December 1941 without corresponding original diary in our collection
box 2, folder 5
1941 December 7-1942 June 23
box 2, folder 7
1942 August 13-October 17
box 2, folder 8
1942 October 18-Decembe 31
box 1, folder 4
1943 November 15-1944 April 5
Herz and Kimpston family correspondence
1918-1944
Arrangement
Arranged by sender name
Scope and Contents
Letters between the family members of Eleanor Swent (Langan Waterman Swent's wife) during WWI and WWII
box 1, folder 7-8
Letters from Kimpston, Ellsworth
1918 July-1919 March
Scope and Contents
Uncle of Eleanor Swent. Letters sent to Janet, Catherine, and Mrs. Frank Kimpston during WWI.
Letters to Herz, Janet
1941 May-1944 March
Scope and Contents
Mother of Eleanor Swent, aunt of Freelan Koontz and John Koontz. Letters pertaining to WWII.
box 4, folder 1
Koontz, Freelan
1941 May-1943 January
box 4, folder 2-3
Koontz, John
1941 December-1944 March
Mining Materials
1968 November
box 4, folder 4-6
Second Technical Tripartite Meeting on Mines Other Than Coal Mines
1968 November
box 5, folder 1
Second Technical Tripartite Meeting on Mines Other Than Coal Mines
1968 November
Videorecording
1990 March
Conditions Governing Access
Original audiovisual materials are not available until they have been reformatted. If interested in accessing these materials,
please contact us for more information.
box MC31
Landing Craft Tank Reunion
1990 March
Physical Description: 1 VHS videocassette
