Finding Aids - Military Collections

Finding aids contain information on the contents and significance of an archival collection. The finding aid may include descriptive information; repository information; collection history; biographical or historical information on creators of the collection; and in some cases a container or folder list of everything in the collection. The collection is housed at the Park Archives and Records Center and can be viewed during open hours or by appointment. Please visit the Collections page for more information or Contact Us page.

 

Black Point Battery Archaeological Records, 1982-1989 GOGA 16050 (PDF 1.3MB) (RTF 4.83MB)
This collection is comprised records created and collected during the 1982-1984 archaeological excavations at Black Point Battery (also referred to as Battery East and Battery West), Fort Mason in San Francisco, California.Built in 1864, Black Point Battery is the most completely preserved temporary Civil War battery located on the West Coast. The log books, site plans, reports, artifact documentation, and other records show the administrative history, process, and findings of the archaeological excavation project.

Don DeNevi Research and Manuscript Collection GOGA 17975 (PDF 2.7MB) (RTF 42.2MB)
The Don DeNevi Research and Manuscript collection consists of materials compiled by Don DeNevi while researching potential articles and books relative to the U.S. Penitentiary, Alcatraz, aviation history and west coast culture throughout the late 19th- and early 20th-centuries, and World War II, particularly as it relates to California. Focused on the inmate experience on Alcatraz, DeNevi researched seminal events in the history of the prison, such as the 1946 Riot and the 1962 Escape, in addition to lesser known escape attempts. DeNevi amassed a diverse collection of periodical clippings and excerpts, as well as books, from the late 19th- and early 20th-centuries which mainly address World War I, but also document the history of and popular reaction to earlier conflicts such as the Spanish American War and the Russo-Japanese War. Finally, DeNevi gathered a wide array of press and corporate photographs, as well as various source materials which document all aspects of war work on the west coast from U.S. entry into World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 to the return of troops to the San Francisco Port of Embarkation following the end of the Korean War in 1953; subjects include civilian contributions, Red Cross ventures, coastal defenses and military maneuvers, troop transport, and industrial production.

Post Diaries, Presidio of San Francisco GOGA 32427 (PDF 265KB) (RTF 14.1MB)
Two bound ledger books with handwritten entries noting important events at the Presidio of San Francisco. The first ledger is from January 25, 1931-March 2, 1937 and contains many entries about the 30th Infantry. The second ledger is from January 28, 1946-July 1953, beginning with the command of General Joseph Stilwell.

Edwin J. Stotler Photographs GOGA 33760 (PDF 390KB) (RTF 4.47MB)
The collection is comprised of lantern slides and photographs photographs taken by Edwin J. Stotler while serving as a private in Company M, 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Spanish American and then the Philippine American War from 1898 through 1899. Images capture the regiment’s journey to San Francisco from Iowa via train, its residence at the Presidio of San Francisco, and sight-seeing trips around San Francisco. While living at Camp Merritt and then Camp Merriam on post, Stotler and his brother, Harry, saw Mount Tamalpais, Fort Point, Sutro Baths, and Golden Gate Park as well as other landmarks in the city. Also captured is the regiment’s trip overseas and eventual participation in the Philippines. Offered through a first person lens, the sights of a common American volunteer soldier are experienced: everything from intimate shots of company officers and high ranking officials (such as Admiral Dewey), marching through tropical towns and soaking up vistas along the Pasig River, shopping at markets run by native Filipinos, and surveying the enemy dead. Equally thorough are images depicting the regiment’s residence at the Presidio of San Francisco before mustering out in late 1899. In total, the collection offers an in depth look into the life of a soldier at war with Filipino “insurgents” in the late 19th-century.

Presidio of San Francisco Historical Real Estate Files GOGA 35159 (PDF 492KB) (RTF 14.3MB)
Historical real estate documents, maps, and plans for the military lands comprised of the Presidio of San Francisco and surrounding environs such as Fort Baker and Fort Mason. The files contain permits and licenses granted by the Army to individuals and companies for the use of military buildings and lands as well as agreements between the Army and various parties negotiating boundaries, water usage, rights of way, and utilities. A significant portion of the permits and agreements are with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company for use of Presidio lands during the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and with the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District giving them permission to run a state road through the Presidio and Fort Baker. There are also the titles and deeds for the acquisition of Lobos Creek and the Wherry Housing apartment complex.

Roy D. Graves Collection GOGA 35248 (PDF 750KB) (RTF 10.9MB)
Papers relating to the personal history and interests of Roy D. Graves, his wife Ethel, their daughter Jeanne, and her in-laws, the Ferraris. Items include photographs, newsletters, historical ephemera, clippings, scrapbooks, memorabilia, maps and postcards. Topics focus on the San Francisco Bay Area and include transportation, especially streetcars and trains, world fairs and other San Francisco attractions, the effects of World War II on daily life, California missions, shipping, and early San Francisco history.

Nike Missile Manual Collection GOGA 35286 (PDF 205KB) (RTF 10.8MB)
Nike missile technical and maintenance manuals from Nike Site 88L, Fort Barry. Includes both Nike-Hercules and Nike-Ajax missiles, as well as manuals for associated equipment and systems.

Presidio Fire Department Logbooks, 1941-1992 GOGA 35291 (PDF 375KB) (RTF 5.94MB)
The Presidio of San Francisco Fire Department was the main fire department of the military installations associated with the Presidio, such as Forts Baker, Barry, Cronkhite, Funston, Scott, and Angel Island. These materials relate to the daily operations of the Presidio of San Francisco Fire Department, consisting of one hundred and sixty-two [162] volumes of daily logs and run reports, ten [10] fire record journals, twelve [12] National Fire Protection Association Certificates of Merit, and other papers found loose in the logbooks. The logbooks contain information on the daily operations of the Fire Stations, including who was on duty and what were the main activities of the day from vehicle maintenance to runs. They also reveal daily activities of the posts in general, especially incidents like fires and bomb threats.

Charles Wofford Seacoast Artillery Collection GOGA 35315 (PDF 312KB) (RTF 313KB)
This collection consists of the photographs, publications and photocopies of documents relating to seacoast artillery, amassed by Chuck Wofford. While there are copies of many general coast artillery publications, the collection is strong in information relating directly to the San Francisco Bay Area seacoast artillery installations. The general publications include regulations and training manuals, as well as notes on construction. There are also copies of ledgers and journals relating specifically to San Francisco Bay Area fortifications. Contemporary studies of seacoast fortifications include the journal of the Coast Defense Study Group, general studies, and GGNRA and other published materials on GGNRA seacoast artillery resources. There are also numerous contemporary photographs and negatives and photocopies of historic photographs of coastal batteries at Fort Baker, Fort Barry, Fort Cronkhite, Fort Funston, Fort Miley, Fort McDowell, Fort Mason, Fort Miley and Fort Scott.

Nike Ajax & Hercules Plans and Records GOGA 35344 (PDF 1.83MB) (RTF 212MB)
The Nike Ajax and Hercules Plans and Records Collection consists of architectural and infrastructural plans, mechanical and electrical diagrams, and real estate/property maps and records from Sixth Army Air Defense Artillery Division. While Nike was a national system, this collection mostly addresses sites now encompassed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area: SF-51 (Milagra/Sweeney Ridge), SF-59 (Fort Funston), SF-87 (Fort Cronkhite), SF-88 (Fort Barry), SF-89 (Fort Scott), and SF-91 (Angel Island).

Erwin Thompson Research Collection GOGA 35360 (PDF 886KB) (RTF 5.6MB)This is the combined collection of research materials created and amassed by NPS historian Erwin N. "T" Thompson, used for multiple historic resource studies (HRS) on GGNRA properties from the 1970s through the 1990s. The bulk of the collection is Thompson's handwritten and indexed notes, arranged by the specific topics of each study. The largest series, for his Presidio of San Francisco (PSF) HRS, includes copies of primary sources, maps, and post returns. His studies of Alcatraz and PSF are among the most thorough historic studies of those sites.

1st Lieutenant Frances Maude Pleasants Collection, 1943-1947 GOGA 37165 (PDF 313KB) (RTF 4.21MB)
This collection depicts Frances Maude Pleasants’ active duty at Letterman General Hospital in the Presidio of San Francisco, her beginnings with the Women’s Army Corps, and membership to the Presidio Officers’ Clubs during and following World War II in San Francisco and other locations where she trained and served. The collection is comprised of papers, photographs, orders, receipts, letters, booklets, and other ephemera, newspapers, instructions, memorandums, and her honorable discharge papers. It is divided into four series to show the progression of her military career starting when she joined the WAC in 1943 until receiving her honorable discharge papers at Letterman in 1947 and items representing her civilian life

Armand Putz Family Collection GOGA 37169 (PDF 337KB) (RTF 4.16MB)
The collection depicts the musical history of Armand Putz, Third Artillery Bandmaster at the Presidio of San Francisco from 1900s to 1925, his musical performance career with the United States Army, and materials representing his descendants. The collection is comprised of photographs, original music scores, published music, books, war ration books, journals, newspapers, and a scrapbook that has many articles written about Armand Putz’s musical and personal career.

United States Army Project Records, 1910-1999 GOGA 37252 (PDF 14.8MB) (RTF 34.7MB)
The United States Army Project Records, dating from 1910-1999, is organized into five series: Contracts, Work Orders, Post Requests, Project Lists, and Additional Material. The bulk of the material dates from 1964-1995. The project records originated from the various directorates and offices of the U.S. Army stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco and its sub-installations: Fort Baker, Fort Barry, Fort Cronkhite, Fort Funston, Fort Mason, Fort Miley, Fort Point, Fort Winfield Scott, Letterman Army Institute of Research, Letterman Army Medical Center, Letterman General Hospital, Public Health Service Hospital, and various Nike Sites including SF-51 in Pacifica and Nike Site SF-88 at Fort Barry.

Harbor Defenses of San Francisco Photograph Album, 1943 GOGA 38722 (PDF 250KB) (RTF 4.19MB)
The collection consists of a large photograph album the front cover of which reads "H.D.S.F. Photos." The album contains eighty photographs depicting Harbor Defenses of San Francisco activities during World War II from 1941 through 1943. Subjects include the removal of post cannons for salvage;events such as the 6th Coast Artillery Organization Day and festivities surrounding of appointment of Brigadier General Ralph E. Haines to the command of HDSF.;obstacle training at Fort Winfield Scott and Fort Cronkhite;anti-torpedo boat targets towed into the San Francisco Bay;the construction of I Battery Mess Hall, and the Battery mascot—a young lion;and mine planting yawls at Fort Baker, as well as a mine planting crew in action in the San Francisco Bay.

James Family Papers GOGA 40085 (PDF 290KB) (RTF 13.6MB)
Documents and photographs pertaining to the military service of Ernest C. James, Sr., 51st Iowa Regiment, Spanish American War. The photographs consist of copy negatives and depict encampment life in and around the Presidio of San Francisco from 1898-1899 and in the Philippines. The documents are all photocopies and include selections from a scrapbook compiled by Ernest C. James, Sr.