The University of Arizona Library

USS Arizona - Documents from UA Library collections

To see a large image of any of these documents, select one of the links on this page. To view a page of thumbnail images of the photographs, select the link for one of the topics (Silver service fund raising, etc.). If you have a fast Internet connection, you will probably want to use the pages with thumbnails. If you have a slow (i.e. modem) connection, you will probably want to select items from this page and only retrieve those images you are sure you want to view.

Contents:

Page 1, Launching the Arizona

  • Invitation to the launching of the USS Arizona (front), Invitation (back). donated by CWO3 James R. Lord Sr. USMCR Retired.
  • The launching of the Arizona, from the library's Special Collections, the scrapbooks of Governor of Arizona, George W. P. Hunt. (AZ 80, v. 16) (105K)
  • The use of wine to christen the Arizona was was hotly debated (1915 was the heyday of the prohibition movement and the WCTU). From the Hunt scrapbooks. (AZ 80, v. 16) (124K)
  • Water from Roosevelt Dam arrived with the christening party, ready to be used if needed. From the Hunt scrapbooks. (208K)
  • The decision was referred to Governor Hunt by the Navy, who decided to use both. From the Hunt scrapbooks. (224K)

    • Page 2, Miss Esther Ross, who christened the Arizona

  • The announcement of the selection of Miss Ross to christen the Arizona. From the Hunt scrapbooks. (149K)
  • The selection of Miss Ross to christen the Arizona was not without controversy. From the Hunt scrapbooks. (83K)

    • Page 3, Banquet celebrating the launching

    On June 19th, 1915, the employees of the New York Navy Yard sponsored a banquet to celebrate the launching of the USS Arizona. Here is the program from that occasion. From the Hunt scrapbooks.

  • The cover of the program. (AZ 80, v. 16) (64K)
  • The second page of the program. (22K)
  • The menu of the banquet and a list of speakers. The seventh item on the program is a speech by Governor or Arizona, George Hunt. Note that one of the speakers was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who would be President in 1941 when the Arizona was destroyed. (73K)
  • The final page of the menu. The USS Vestal (the second ship listed) was moored alongside the Arizona on December 7, 1941. (32K)

    • Page 4, Silver service fund raising

    The library's Special Collections holds the papers of John D. Burgess relating to the state-wide fund raising effort to pay for a silver service to present to the Battleship Arizona. The papers were donated by the daughter of Captain Burgess, Mrs. Maud Thomas.

  • A contribution from the Calumet & Arizona Mining Company, of Warren (i.e. Bisbee), Arizona. (79K)
  • A list of contributors to the fund for the silver service for the Arizona. This is from a letter from L. W. Mix, the chairman of the committee, to Captain Burgess. (122K)
  • The certificate sent to contributors thanking them for their donation. This is the one sent to Captain Burgess. (39K)
  • A letter from Allen T. Bird , the secretary of the committee, celebrating the completion of the fund raising effort. (74K)
  • A letter from the governor of Arizona, Thomas E. Campbell, congratulating the Silver Service Committee on their success. (100K)


  • Pearl Harbor : why, how, fleet salvage and final appraisal. From the UA Library Government Documents collection. Selected portions of this document dealing with the USS Arizona have been scanned for this exhibit.


  • Submerged cultural resources study : USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor National Historical Landmark. From the UA Library Government Documents collection.
    During the 1980's, the Park Service conducted a detailed survey of the sunken Arizona and other sites of historical interest related to the Pearl Harbor attack. Selected portions of this document dealing with the USS Arizona have been scanned for this exhibit.

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