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Finding Aid for the Admiral William H. Standley papers
0005
0005
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Title: Admiral William H. Standley papers
Collection number: 0005
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
14.0 Linear feet
16 boxes
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1924-1958
Date (inclusive): 1892-1992
Abstract: These papers document both the personal and professional life of Admiral William H. Standley (1872-1963), naval officer, United
States government official and diplomat, and California civic leader.
creator:
Standley, Evelyn Curtis
creator:
Standley, William Harrison , 1872-1963
[Box/folder# or item name], Admiral William H. Standley Papers, Collection no. 0005, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
The Admiral William H. Standley papers contain both professional and personal correspondence, addresses and speeches, genealogical
and biographical material, photographs, memorabilia, and other material documenting Admiral Standley's family, naval career,
and public activities.
William Harrison Standley was born in Ukiah, California, on December 18, 1872, the son of Jeremiah M. "Doc" Standley who was
the Mendocino County Sheriff at the time, and of Sara Jane Clay Standley. After attending school in California and Maryland,
Standley entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1891 and graduated in 1897.
During his long naval career, Standley rose from ensign to the rank of Admiral. He served in a variety of assignments during
this career, the most notable included Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
(1933-1937), Acting Secretary of the Navy (1933-1937), and a member of the United States delegation to the London Naval Conference
(1935-1936). Retiring in January 1937, Admiral Standley returned to active duty in February 1941, first serving as naval representative
on the planning board of the Office of Production Management, then as part of the Beaverbrook-Harriman Special War Supply
Mission to the U.S.S.R. (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), and lastly as a member of the Navy Board for Production Awards.
He also was a member of the first Roberts Commission (1941-1942), a fact-finding commission which investigated the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor. Subsequently recalled to active duty one last time, in March 1944, Standley served in the Office of
Strategic Services throughout the remaining period of the war. He was relieved of all active duty on August 31, 1945.
In addition to his naval career, Admiral Standley was for a time U.S. Ambassador to the U.S.S.R., appointed by President Franklin
D. Roosevelt (1942-1943). He wrote about this period in
Admiral Ambassador to Russia with Admiral Arthur A. Ageton, published in 1955.
Admiral Standley was honored with many awards, citations, and commendations both during his lifetime and posthumously. These
honors included the Distinguished Service Medal (World War II); Commendation Letter Baler Reconnaissance Expedition (1901);
Commendation Letter as Captain of the USS California (1926); Cavaliers Di Gran Groce (Italy, 1934); Star of "Abdon Calderon"
First Class (Ecuador, 1936); Honorary Degree, Doctor of Law, University of California (1944); Honorary Degree, Doctor of Laws,
University of Southern California (1952); Award of Merit, Daughters of the American Revolution (1957); Golden Nurse Award,
American National Red Cross (1963); the USS William Harrison Standley DG 32 (1964); the Admiral William Standley State Recreation
Area in Northern California; and the William H. Standley Middle School, San Diego, CA.
Admiral Standley lived in final retirement in San Diego, California, until his death on October 25, 1963.
William Harrison Standley papers, 1895-1963 (bulk 1940-1960), MSS41178, Manuscripts Division, Library of Congress.
The collection was reprocessed by Michael Hooks in 2013. The original collection was retained as is, but the old archival
folders and document boxes were replaced with new archival folders and 13 new banker's boxes, 2 new document boxes, and 1
film reel storage box. Loose material was incorporated into new folders and boxes.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
The collection is organized by series.
1) General Material, Family Correspondence, Narratives, Biographies, Taxes 2) Narratives, Correspondence, Taxes, Financials,
Financial Information, Genealogy: Autobiography 3) Activities 4) Organizational Memberships 5) Council Against Communist Aggression
& Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings 6) Crime Study Commission 7) Civil Defense and Red Cross 8) Pan American Airways and San
Francisco Bay Bridge 9) Speeches 10) Addresses 11) Invitations 12) Correspondence, Official 13) Visits to Russia and Russian
Material 14) Correspondence 15) Scrolls and Miscellaneous 16) Miscellaneous Papers 17) Naval Thesis, Battle Plans and Instructions
18) Pamphlets, Articles, and Reprints 19) Memorabilia - Books, Pamphlets, Standley Honors
The order of the materials in the boxes is based on the original order of the collection when Marion Wincote Elliott, granddaughter
of Admiral Standley, compiled her
Index to the Papers of William Harrison Standley 1872-1963 Admiral United States Navy 1891-1937 in 1988. An Addendum was made later and added to the Index. Elliott gave a copy of the Index to Special Collections.
Index to the Papers of William Harrison Standley 1872-1963 Admiral United States Navy 1891-1937, compiled by Marion Wincote Elliott in 1988, was transferred to the Admiral William H. Standley Accessions File.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American Red Cross. -- Archives
California. Special Crime Study Commission on Organized Crime. -- Archives
Harriman-Beaverbrook Mission to Moscow. -- Archives
Pan American Airways Corporation. -- Archives
Standley, William Harrison , 1872-1963 -- Archives
Sulzberger, Arthur Hays, 1891-1968 -- Archives
Taussig, Joseph K., (Joseph Knefler), 1877-1947 -- Correspondence
U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association. -- Archives
United States. Navy. Chief of Naval Operations. -- Archives
Willkie, Wendell L. (Wendell Lewis), 1892-1944 -- Archives
Anti-communist movements--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
Armed Forces--History--Archival resources
Civil defense--California--Archival resources
Clippings
Correspondence
Diplomats--United States--Archival resources
Europe, Eastern--History--Archival resources
Financial records
Guided missile ships--Archival resources
Memoirs
Memorabilia
Photographs
Russia--History--Archival resources
San Diego County (Calif.)--History--Archival resources
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Oakland and San Francisco, Calif.)--Archival resources
Speeches, addresses, etc., American--20th century--Archival resources
United States--Biography--Archival resources
United States--History--Archival resources
United States. Navy--Officers--Archival resources