Harry Pence Papers
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt3779q493 No online items Harry Pence Papers Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Copyright 2017 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla 92093-0175 [email protected] URL: http://libraries.ucsd.edu/collections/sca/index.html Harry Pence Papers MSS 0144 1 Descriptive Summary Languages: English Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla 92093-0175 Title: Harry Pence Papers Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0144 Physical Description: 23.7 Linear feet(41 archive boxes, 3 shoeboxes, 8 flat boxes, 3 map case folders, 8 art bin items, and 1 tube) Date (inclusive): 1893-1976 (bulk 1901-1945) Abstract: Papers of Captain Harry Langley Pence, U.S. Naval Academy graduate (1906), career United States Navy officer (1902-1945), and Red Cross administrator (1945-1946). The papers contain correspondence, diaries, memorabilia, memoranda, orders, photographs, reports and Pence's scrapbooks. Scope and Content of Collection The papers of Captain Harry Pence (1882-1977) document the career of a United States Naval officer who served during the first half of the twentieth century, beginning with his graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1906 through his retirement in 1945. Pence sailed with the Great White Fleet, witnessed the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet during World War I, served at overseas duty stations including Trieste and Constantinople, was a Navy administrator during World War II, and worked on prisoner of war issues with the Red Cross. He documented his experiences through letters, journals and photographs. The collection contains voluminous personal correspondence, diaries, memorabilia, memoranda, orders, reports, and other documents collected during Pence's military duty assignments. Also included are materials of visual interest, such as Pence's scrapbooks, albums, photographs and souvenir postcards from his world travels. Arranged in eleven series: 1) BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS, 2) MILITARY DUTY POSTS, 3) RED CROSS, 4) DIARIES AND NOTEBOOKS, 5) PHOTOGRAPHS, 6) MAPS, 7) SCRAPBOOKS AND POSTCARDS, 8) CORRESPONDENCE, 9) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS, 10) WRITINGS, and 11) RUTH PENCE. Biography Harry Langley Pence was born on September 23, 1882, in Sardina, Ohio. Pence graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1901, attended the Ohio State University (1901-1902) and graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a bachelor of science degree in 1906. Following his graduation from the Naval Academy, Pence spent the majority of his shipboard assignments serving as either a gunnery officer, executive officer or captain aboard a number of ships including the USS Maryland (1906-1907, 1909-1912), USS Rainbow (1907), USS Kearsarge (1908), USS Illinois (1913), USS Rhode Island (1914-1915), USS Texas (1916-1918), USS McFarland (1921-1924), USS Tennessee (1927-1932), USS Memphis (1932-1934), USS Hopkins (1934), and the USS Moffett (1938). Pence served aboard the USS Kearsarge while it was attached to the Great White Fleet that circumnavigated the world from 1907 to 1909. While aboard the USS Texas, Pence was present during the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet to the British Grand Fleet. In 1919, Pence was appointed port officer in Trieste and was responsible for four additional ports -- Fiume, Spalato, Gravosa (Ragusa), and Gallipoli (Italy). From 1920-1921, he was assigned to the United States Embassy in London, England, where he served as the assistant naval attache and later acting naval attache. Following this assignment, Pence assumed command of the USS McFarland, 1921-1924, in Constantinople. On its first tour, the USS McFarland served as flag tender to the commander of the United States Naval Forces in Europe - Vice Admiral Niblack. On the USS McFarland's second tour, Pence commanded a division of destroyers in the Near East under Admiral Bristol, high commander. Pence held several posts as an instructor, the first at the US Naval Academy in the Department of Navigation (1912-1914) and at the United States Naval War College (1924-1927) in Newport, Rhode Island, as a student, then as an instructor. Pence returned to Naval War College from 1934-1937 as an instructor and head of the Department of Intelligence. From 1939 until his retirement from the Navy on March 31, 1945, Pence's assignments were administrative. From 1939-1941, he served as chief of staff of the 6th, 7th and 8th Naval Districts while serving as captain of the yard, Charleston, South Carolina. From 1941-1944, Pence served as a liaison officer to the General Board of the Navy, which advised the Secretary of the Navy on all matters of naval policy. Collaterally, from 1943-1944, Pence served as the Navy Department liaison officer for matters concerning the military government program - Civil Affairs. From 1944-1945, Pence was a senior member of the Subcommittee on Far Eastern Affairs with the Joint Post War Committee (Joint Chiefs of Staff). Harry Pence Papers MSS 0144 2 After retiring from the Navy, Pence accepted a one year position with the American Red Cross. Pence worked with the relief program responsible for prisoners of war in the Far East and as a member of the general committee to amend the Geneva Conventions of 1929. Pence lived in La Jolla, California, where he worked as a real estate broker until his death on March 5, 1977. Publication Rights Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection. Materials created prior to 1923 are in the public domain. Preferred Citation Harry Pence Papers. MSS 144. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego. Acquisition Information Acquired 1970, 2000 and 2017. Processing Information The papers were originally processed in 2002, with additions in 2013 and 2017. Restrictions Contents of box 46 are restricted for preservation. Permission to access these items is granted at the descretion of the the Program Director. Subjects and Indexing Terms World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, American -- Sources World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, American -- Pictorial works World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American United States -- Armed forces -- Officers -- History -- Sources United States -- Armed forces -- Officers -- Pictorial works United States -- Armed forces -- Officers -- Diaries Pence, H. L. (Harry Langley), 1882-1977 -- Archives American National Red Cross BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS Scope and Content of Series Series 1) BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS. Arranged in three subseries: A) Personal Materials, B) Education and C) Awards and Certificates. A) Personal Materials: Includes career summations, mementos collected by Pence, a driver's license, passports, and newspaper clippings about Pence. Arranged alphabetically. B) Education: Notebooks, yearbooks, assignments, report cards, and exams related to Pence's education at Hillsboro High School, the Ohio State University, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Naval War College. Included in this series are materials related to the United States Naval Academy Association of the Class of 1906, including the planning of a 50th reunion. Arranged chronologically. C) Awards and Certificates: Includes numerous certificates of membership including Pence's Bachelor of Science degree certificate from the United States Naval Academy, his certificate of graduation from the United States Naval War College, and his United States Navy certificates of commission. Arranged alphabetically. Personal Materials Box 1, Folder 1 Career summations 1945-1976 Box 1, Folder 2 Driver's license issued by the Municipalidad de Panama 1932 Box 1, Folder 3 Mementos Box 1, Folder 4 News clippings about Pence Box 1, Folder 5 Passports 1919-1921 Harry Pence Papers MSS 0144 3 BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS Education Education Box 1, Folder 6 Hillsboro High School - Physics notebook and commencement program 1899-1901 Ohio State University Box 1, Folder 7 English Literature: An Outline 1901 Box 1, Folder 8 Report card 1901 Box 1, Folder 9 Roman Roads: A Study of Highways 1902 Box 1, Folder 10 Yearbook 1902 United States Naval Academy Box 1, Folder 11 Entrance examination papers for admission 1896-1902 Box 1, Folder 12 Congressional appointment - Includes correspondence, clippings and an invitation 1902-1906 Oversize FB-318, Department of Marine Engineering and Naval Construction - Technical drawings Folder 7 1903 Box 2, Folder 2 English notebook 1903 Box 2, Folder 3 Physics notebook 1903 Box 2, Folder 4 Seamanship and Ordnance notebook, used while Pence served aboard the U.S.S. Indiana and the U.S.S. Hartford 1903 Box 2, Folder 5 Youngster exams notebook 1903-1904 Box 2, Folder 6 Chemistry notebook 1904 Box 2, Folder 7 Navigation notebook 1904 Box 3, Folder 1 Report cards 1902-1906 Box 3, Folder 2-4 Yearbooks 1904-1906 Box 3, Folder 5 Modern Languages - French and Spanish, final exam 1906 Box 3, Folder 6 Navigation notebook 1906 Box 4, Folder 1-3 USS Maryland papers 1906-1910 General note Includes a cruise journal with list of ports visited, notes, drawings, and a photograph, and gunnery papers. Box 4, Folder 4 Final exams 1907 Box 4, Folder 5 International Law notebook 1907 Box 4, Folder 6-10 United States Naval Academy - Association of the Class of 1906 1937-1956 General note Charts, bulletins, correspondence, and reunion programs and photographs. Naval War College Box 4, Folder 11 "Naval officer taking War College course" cartoon 1921 Box 4, Folder 12 Theses on Command, Policy, and Strategy and Logistics 1924 Box 4, Folder 13 Tactical Problem