Collection Summary
John Calvin Leonard Papers 1882-1920
1882-1920
MSS53272
Leonard, John Calvin, 1859-1937
300 items
1 container
.4 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Naval officer. Chiefly diaries relating to
Leonard's naval career and role of the U.S. Navy in the Spanish-American War and in
World War I.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Leonard family.
Leonard, John Calvin, 1859-1937.
Organizations
Juniata (Screw sloop)
United States. Navy.
Subjects
Labor unions.
Ocean travel.
Spanish-American War, 1898--Naval operations, American.
Warships.
World War, 1914-1918--Naval operations, American.
Places
Soviet Union--History--Revolution, 1917-1921.
United States--Economic conditions.
United States--Politics and government--1865-1933.
United States--Social conditions.
Occupations
Naval officers.
Provenance
The papers of John Calvin Leonard, naval officer, were deposited in the Library of
Congress by the Naval Historical Foundation in 1950 and converted to a gift in
1998.
Processing History
The papers of John Calvin Leonard were arranged and described circa 1970. The finding
aid was revised in 2011.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of John Calvin Leonard is
governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of John Calvin Leonard are open to research. Researchers are advised to
contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored
off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, John Calvin Leonard Papers, Naval Historical Foundation Collection, Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1859, June 12
Born, Ohio
1882
Duty in USS
Juniata
1887
Duty in USS
Atlanta
1888
Duty in USS
Mohican,
Pacific Station
1890
Duty in Coast Survey Steamer
McArthur
1893
Duty at Homestead Steel Works
1895
Duty in USS
Charleston,
Asiatic Station
1898
Duty in Navy Yard, New York, N. Y.
1900
Duty in USS
Kentucky,
North Atlantic Station
1902
Duty in USS
Wilmington,
Asiatic Station
1903
Duty in USS
Columbia,
Navy Yard, New York, N. Y.
1904
Duty in USS
Hancock,
Receiving Ship, New York, N. Y.
1905
Duty in USS
Bennington,
Pacific Squadron
1906
Duty in USS
Lawton,
Transport Service to Manila,
Philippines
1907
Duty in USS
Buffalo,
cruiser in Special Service
1908
Inspector duty, Bureau of Ordnance
1910
Duty in USS
South Carolina,
Philadelphia Navy Yard
1912
Promoted to captain, commanding officer, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N. H.
1914
Commanded USS
Virginia,
Atlantic Fleet
Retired from United States Navy
1937, July 26
Died, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of John Calvin Leonard (1859-1937) span the years 1882-1920 and consist
mainly of diaries together with a testimonial and newspaper clippings. The first diary
contains fourteen pages of a journal written on the
Juniata
(screw
sloop), 1882. Other diaries reflect service matters such as cruises, engineering
problems, the use of liquid fuel oil on naval ships, and the navy’s role in the
Spanish-American War and in World War I. They also contain materials on family matters,
sports, plays, and concerts; social, political, and economic matters; the Russian
Revolution; and the rise of labor unions. The collection is organized by type of
material.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Journal,
Juniata
(screw sloop),
1882, pages 1-14, and diary, 1887-1894
1
Diary
1
1895-24 Feb. 1897
1895-24 Feb. 1897
1
1897, Feb.-1898
1897, Feb.-1898
1
1899-1901
1899-1901
1
1902-1903
1902-1903
1
1904-1906, June
1904-1906, June
1
1906, July 1906-1910, June
1906, July 1906-1910, June
1
1910, July-1913
1910, July-1913
1
1914-1915, June
1914-1915, June
1
1915, July-1916
1915, July-1916
1
1917-1918, June
1917-1918, June
1
1918, July-1920
1918, July-1920
1
Letter, Theodore D. Rock, Tampico, Mexico, to
Leonard thanking the officers and crew of the USS
Virginia
for
their kindnesses, 1913, 8 Dec.
1913, 8 Dec.
1
Newspaper clippings, 1898-1899
1898-1899