Finding Aid for the Admiral William H. Standley papers
0005
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2010
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
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Admiral William H. Standley Papers, Collection no. 0005, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Scope and Content
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.
Biographical note
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.
Related Archival Materials
William Harrison Standley papers, 1895-1963 (bulk 1940-1960), MSS41178, Manuscripts Division, Library of Congress.
Processing information
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.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Organization
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.
Separated materials note
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
General Material, Family Correspondence, Narratives, Biographies, Taxes
1929-1948, 1958, 1992
Box 1, Folder 1, 34-36, Box 14
Genealogical Material
1942, undated
Scope and Content
Includes the following: 1)
Shelton: Genealogy of John/James Shelton, Gentlemen: Principal Allied Families, Marion Wincote Elliott, compiler, 1992 October. 2)
Narrative of the Murder of Mrs. R.G. Strong by Jeremiah 'Doc' Standley 1874, edited and compiled by Mrs. Marion Wincote Elliott 1992 May. 3)
Narrative of the Arrest of Jerry Bailey by Jeremiah 'Doc' Standley 1866, edited and compiled by Mrs. Marion Wincote Elliott 1992.
Box 1, Folder 2
Family Correspondence - Genealogy
1929-1955
Box 1, Folder 3
Narrative of J.M. Standley
1992, undated
Box 1, Folder 4
Biographies
1943-1946, 1958
Box 1, Folder 5
Income Tax 1931-1932
1931-1935
Box 1, Folder 6
Income Tax 1933-1934
1933-1935
Box 1, Folder 7
Income Tax 1935, 1937
1935-1938
Box 1, Folder 8
Income Tax 1940-1941
1940-1943
Box 1, Folder 9
Income Tax 1942-1943
1942-1944
Box 1, Folder 10
Income Tax 1944-1945
1944-1948
Narratives, Correspondence, Taxes, Financials, Financial Information, Genealogy: Autobiography
1927, 1935-1958
Box 1, Folder 12
Family Correspondence - Mrs. Standley Letters 1941-1943
Box 1, Folder 13
Reminiscences and Stories
1927, 1935-1949, 1954-1958
Box 1, Folder 14
Income Tax 1946
1946-1947
Box 1, Folder 18
Stocks and Securities
1937-1950
Box 1, Folder 19
Additional Sources of Income
1941-1949
Box 1, Folder 20
Bank; Army and Navy Club and Hotel Statements
1941-1943
Box 1, Folder 21
Miscellaneous Financial Records
1942-1947
Box 1, Folder 22
Empire Trust Letter
1949-1950
Box 1, Folder 23
Communism in Schools
1944-1948
Box 1, Folder 24
National Concert & Artisits Corp.
1945-1946
Box 1, Folder 25
Burning Tree Golf Club
1942
Box 1, Folder 26
New York World's Fair
1937-1939
Box 1, Folder 28
Episcopal Church
1952-1953
Organizational Memberships
Bulk, 1939-1958
1932-1959
Box 1, Folder 30
White Russia Committee 1952-1953
Box 1, Folder 31
Atlantic Union Committee
1950-1951
Box 1, Folder 32-33
California Proposal 3 - School Taxation 1952
Box 2, Folder 1
Naval Academy Alumni Association
1944-1953
Box 2, Folder 2
Bulletin The Military Order of the World Wars
1932, 1945-1952
Box 2, Folder 4
Citizen's Foreign Relations Committee
1955-1959
Box 2, Folder 5
Conservative Politics
1954-1955
Box 2, Folder 6
Council Against Communist Aggression
1950-1958
Box 2, Folder 7
Congress of Freedom
1955-1958
Box 2, Folder 8
American Friends of Russian Freedom
1954-1956
Box 2, Folder 9
Gehers, Leslie E., Campaign 1950
Box 2, Folder 10-11
Unification Merger Navy vs. B-36
1949
Box 2, Folder 12
Hoover Commission Report and Committee on National Affairs
1947-1950
Box 2, Folder 13
Regular Veterans' Organization
1949-1952
Box 2, Folder 14
California World Progress Exposition - San Diego, CA
1949-1950
Box 14, Folder 1
Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies
1940
Box 14, Folder 2
Helen and Francis Miller Associations
1939-1940
Box 14, Folder 3
Fortune Roundtable
1939-1940
Box 14, Folder 4
American China Policy Association, Inc.
1945-1947
Council Against Communist Aggression & Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings
1933-1935, 1942, 1951-1953
Box 2, Folder 15, 17
Council Against Communist Aggression
Box 2, Folder 16, 18
Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings
1933-1935, 1942, 1951-1953
Crime Study Commission
1947-1950
General note
Official title: California Special Crime Study Commission on Organized Crime, which Admiral Standley led as chairman.
Box 3, Folder 1-2
Crime Study Commission 1947-1948
Box 3, Folder 3
Crime Study Commission 1948-1950
Box 3, Folder 4
Crime Study Commission 1949-1950
Civil Defense and Red Cross
1948-1954
Box 3, Folder 7
Civil Defense - Highways 1953-1954
Pan American Airways & San Francisco Bay Bridge
1924, 1935, 1942-1953
Box 3, Folder 10-12
Pan American Airways
1945-1952
Box 3, Folder 13
San Francisco Bay Bridge
1924, 1935, 1942, 1953
Box 3, Folder 14
Official Correspondence 1892
1892, 1902-1945
Box 3, Folder 15
Orders 1941-1945
1936,1941-1946
Box 3, Folder 16
Correspondence Retirement
1936,1941-1946
Box 3, Folder 17
Official Correspondence, MIscellaneous 1902-1945
Letters - Family
1932-1933, 1941-1943
Box 5, Folder 1-2
Letters - Mrs. Standley 1941-1943
Box 5, Folder 3
Letters - Family 1932-1933
1932-1933, 1944
Box 3, Folder 18-22
Speeches 1938-1945
1937-1945
Addresses
1924-1936
Scope and Content
Addresses (speeches) given by Admiral Standley.
Visits to Russia & Russian Material
1933-1951, 1960
Box 5, Folder 5
Correspondence - John Young & Will Hayes
1943
Box 5, Folder 6
Harriman-Beaverbrook Commission
1941
Box 5, Folder 7-8
Russian Memorandum 1942 April 25 - 1943 March 13
1941-1943
Box 5, Folder 10
Russian Material
1941-1942
Box 5, Folder 11
Joe Davies' Visit to Russia
1943
Box 5, Folder 13
Wendel Wilkie Visit to Russia
1942
Box 5, Folder 14
Arthur Sulzberger Visit to Russia
1943
Box 5, Folder 15
Telegrams Moscow
1942-1943
Box 5, Folder 16
Russian Duplicates
1941-1943
Box 5, Folder 17
Letters - White House & Others
1933-1951, 1960
Letters (A-Z) 1930-1932
1930-1932
Letters (A-Z) 1933-1934
1933-1934
Box 6, Folder 9, Box 6, Folder 8
Letters (L-Mc) 1933- 1934
Joseph Taussig Letters (1934-1936); Micellaneous Materials; Daily Planner
1934-1936
Box 7, Folder 7-9
Standley - Joseph Taussig Letters (1934-1936) + Miscellaneouus Materials
Box 8, Folder 5, Box 8, Folder 4
Box 9, Folder 1-2
Letters (Official & Personal) 1936
1935-1936
Box 9, Folder 8
Letters (A) 1936
1933, 1936
Letters 1937-1947
1937-1947
Box 10, Folder 12
Letters (1943-1944) Knopf, Alfred. A
Letters (1946-1950)
1941-1955
Box 10, Folder 13
Letters 1946 [America's] Town Meeting
Box 10, Folder 15
Letters 1946 Atomic Energy
1946-1947
Box 10, Folder 16
Letters 1946 Toledo U.N.[United Nations Association]
Box 10, Folder 18
Letters 1946-1947 Electric Boat company
Box 10, Folder 19
Letters Miscellamneous 1949
Box 10, Folder 20
Letters Bert Curtis
1947-1948
Box 10, Folder 21
Letters Miscellaneous 1950
Box 10, Folder 23
Letters 1946 United States Federation of Justice
Box 10, Folder 24
Letters Miscellaneous 1946
Box 10, Folder 25
Correspondence Miscellanoeous 1944-1947
1943-1947
Box 10, Folder 26
Red China Clippings
1950-1951
Box 10, Folder 27
Letters of Commendation and Criticism 1945-1954
Box 10, Folder 28
Published Memoirs
1941, 1952-1955
Letters (1949-1952)
1936-1954
Box 10, Folder 29
Letters (A) 1949-1952
1949-1953
Box 10, Folder 31-32
Letters (C) 1949-1952
1948-1952
Box 10, Folder 33-34
Letters Ageton, Arthur 1950-1954
1950-1954
Box 11, Folder 1
Letters (D) 1949-1952
1950-1954
Box 11, Folder 2
Letters (E) 1949-1952
1948-1952
Box 11, Folder 3
Letters (F) 1949-1952
1950-1952
Box 11, Folder 4
Letters (G) 1949-1952
1950-1952
Box 11, Folder 5
Letters (H) 1949-1952
1936, 1949-1952
Box 11, Folder 6
Letters (I-J) 1949-1952
1950-1953
Box 11, Folder 9
Letters (M) 1949-1952
1940, 1943, 1947 1950 1951 1952
Box 11, Folder 11
Letters (O-P) 1949-1952
1950-1952
Box 11, Folder 12
Letters (Q-R) 1949-1952
1948-1952
Box 11, Folder 13
Letters (S) 1949-1952
1948-1952
Box 11, Folder 14
Letters (T) 1949-1952
1948-1953
Box 11, Folder 15
Letters (U-V) 1949-1952
1948-1952
Box 11, Folder 16
Letters (W) 1949-1952
1950-1952
Box 11, Folder 17
Letters (X-Z) 1949-1952
1939, 1950-1952
Letters and Miscellaneous A-Z 1953-1954
1947-1954
Box 12, Folder 2-3
Letters and Miscellaneous (A) 1953-1954
1952-1954
Box 12, Folder 4
Letters and Miscellaneous (B) 1953-1954
1952-1954
Box 12, Folder 5-7
Letters and Miscellaneous (C) 1953-1954
1951-1954
Box 12, Folder 8
Letters and Miscellaneous (D-F) 1953-1954
1952-1954
Box 12, Folder 9
Letters and Miscellaneous (G) 1953-1954
1952-1954
Box 12, Folder 10-11
Letters and Miscellaneous (H) 1953-1954
1951-1954
Box 12, Folder 12
Letters and Miscellaneous (I-J) 1953-1954
Box 12, Folder 13
Letters and Miscellaneous (K) 1953-1954
Box 12, Folder 14
Letters and Miscellaneous (L) 1953-1954
1948-1954
Box 12, Folder 15-16
Letters and Miscellaneous (M) 1953-1954
1952-1954
Box 12, Folder 17-18
Letters and Miscellaneous (N) 1953-1954
1952-1954
Box 12, Folder 19
Letters and Miscellaneous (O-P) 1953-1954
Box 12, Folder 20
Letters and Miscellaneous (Q-R) 1953-1954
1952-1954
Box 13, Folder 1
Letters and Miscellaneous (S) 1953-1954
1953-1954
Box 13, Folder 2
Letters and Miscellaneous (T) 1953-1954
1947-1954
Box 13, Folder 3
Letters and Miscellaneous (U-V) 1953-1954
1952-1953
Box 13, Folder 4
Letters and Miscellaneous (W) 1953-1954
1952-1953
Box 13, Folder 5
Letters and Miscellaneous (X-Z) 1953-1954
1950-1953
Scrolls and Miscellaneous
1935
Map-case 5, Drawer 5
[Officer's] Records of Fitness
Box 16
Order of the Crown of Italy, Rank of Cavaliere di Gran Croce
1935 October 12
Box 16
Regular Veterans Association National Headquarters Appoint William H. Standley ~ National Vice Chairman at Large - Pacific
Coast - Regular Veterans Rehabilitation Comm.
undated
Box 16
Franklin D. Roosevelt, President's Commission Appointing William H. Standley as a Delegate on the part of the United States
of American to the London Naval Conference of 1935
1935 November 20
Box 14
Rubber Stamp: "Adm. Wm. H. Standley Papers, University of So. Calif. Library"
Miscellaneous Papers
1933-1952
Box 13, Folder 6
Letters Charles Wincote
1933-1934
Box 13, Folder 7
Chamber of Commerce, Coronado, San Diego
1951-1952
Box 13, Folder 8
Efforts on National Level
1948-1949
Box 13, Folder 9
Proposed Reorganization of Navy Department
1939-1940
Box 13, Folder 10
17th - 18th Century Letters Copies
Box 13, Folder 12
Calavo Newsletters
1947-1948
Box 13, Folder 14
Quotations, Sayings, Poems
Box 13, Folder 15
Atlantic Union Committee
1949-1952
Box 13, Folder 17
Speaking Arrangements 1945
1944-1945
Naval Thesis, Battle Plans and Instructions
1916-1925, 1930-1931
Box 13, Folder 18-19
Naval Thesis, Battle Plans and Instructions
1916-1925, 1930-1931
Scope and Content
Folder 13 contains the following: Class of June, 1920 Thesis
Principles of Command Submitted by Captain W.H. Standley, U.S.N. Naval War College Newport, R.I. 1920 December 15 (2 copies)
Folder 14 contains the following: "Discussion of Winter Maneuvers 1923-24" by Captain W.H. Standley, U.S.N, undated.
Pamphlets, Articles, and Reprints
Box 13, Folder 20-23
Pamphlets, Articles, Reprints
Box 12, Folder 1, Box 16
Photographs
1931-1936
Scope and Content
Black and white photographs in Box 12 include the following:
1) 8 portraits of Admiral Standley wearing his uniform, undated 2) 1 photograph of Admiral Standley taken with an unidentified
gentleman, undated 3) 1 photograph taken at flag changing ceremonies on the U.S.S. California, flagship, 1933 May 20 4) 1
photograph with Admiral Standley, Acting Secretary of the Navy; Mrs. Conway Stetson, donor of the Conway Memorial Trophy;
and Lt. A.K. Morehouse, Commanding Officer of the Miami, Florida, Naval Reserve Station, at the awarding of the Conway Trophy
to the Naval Researve Station, 1936 July 24 5) 2 photographs of Admiral Standley taken with other Naval officers and civilians,
Norfolk, VA, undated 6) 4 photographs of unidentified children and adults taken on the U.S.S. Chicago at the Brooklyn Naval
Yard, 1931 7) 1 photograph of Admiral Standley with S.C. Stott (?), 1931 November 23 8) 1 photograph of Admiral and Mrs. Standley
taken with Mayor and Mrs. Rossi of San Francisco, CA, and City Manager A.J. and Mrs. Cleary of San Francisco, CA 9) 6 photographs
with taken of and at the Long Beach Harbor, Long Beach, CA, with Admiral Standley in two of the photographs, undated 10) 1
photo-reproduction taken on the deck of the U.S.S. Pensacola, 1868 11) 1 photograph of Admiral and Mrs. Standley, undated
Black and white photograph in Box 16: 1 photograph taken at the Warrant Officers Association Dinner in Honor of Rear Admiral
Russell R. Waesche, Commandant U.S. Coast Guard, 1936 August 4.
Memorabilia - Books, Pamphlets, Standley Honors
1963-1968, 1975-1976
U.S.S. William H. Standley
1964-1968
Map-case 5, Drawer 5
Photograph of the U.S.S. William H. Standley under way and Track Chart
circa 1966
Box 14, Folder 7
History of U.S.S. William H. Standley
Box 15
"Launching of U.S.S. William H. Standley (D6-32-CG-32) ... at Fath Iron Works, Bath, ME"
1964 December 19
Film Reel
16 mm film on a reel
Box 14, Folder 8
U.S.S. William H. Standley Mediterranean Cruise, 1967-1968
Box 14, Folder 9
The Early Life and Naval Career of William Harrison Standley 1872-1937
1964
General note
Dictated by William Harrison Standley, 1945-1954; Modified, Clarified, Corrected and Typed Under the Direction of William
Harrison Standley, Jr.; Marion Wincote Elliiott, comp.
Box 14, Folder 10
Admiral's House and its Occupants, Navy History Office, Navy Department
1963
Box 14, Folder 11
Admiral William H. Standley Obituary
1963 October 26
Box 14, Folder 12
Honors, Evelyn Curtis Standley Obituaries
1964, 1975-1976
