Collection Summary
William H. Schuetze Papers 1881-1903
1881-1903
MSS016071
Schuetze, William H. (William Henry),
1853-1902
50 items
3 containers
2 oversize
1.2 linear feet
English
Russian
German
Collection material in English, Russian, and
German
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
United States naval officer.
Correspondence, certificates, diaries, printed materials, scrapbooks, ledgers, and other
papers related to his Navy experience primarily regarding his involvement in search and
rescue operations for Jeannette (ship) arctic expedition.
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
Schuetze, William H. (William Henry), 1853-1902.
Organizations
Jeannette (Ship)
Jeannette Expedition (1879-1881)
Subjects
Shipwreck survival--Arctic Ocean.
Shipwrecks--Arctic Ocean.
Places
Arctic regions--Discovery and exploration--American.
North Pole--Discovery and exploration--American.
Titles
William Henry Schuetze papers
Occupations
Naval officers.
Provenance
The papers of William H. Schuetze, commander in the United States Navy, were given to
the Library of Congress by Gabrielle T. Hill in 2016.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of William H. Schuetze is
governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of William H. Schuetze Papers 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, William H. Schuetze Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1853, July 18
Born, St. Louis, Mo
1873
Graduated from United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md
1874
Promoted to Ensign
1878
Promoted to Master
1882
Ordered to special duty to search for survivors of the USS
Jeannette
(ship) arctic expedition and transport to the United
States the remains of those who perished
1885
Appointed Midshipman
1885
Promoted to Lieutenant
1885
1886
Mission in Siberia to distribute gifts to individuals who aided survivors in
the USS
Jeanette
(ship) expedition.
1886
Ordered to duty in the Bureau of Navigation
1892
Became Inspector of the Naval Militia
1898
Ordered to the USS
Iowa
(battleship) during the Spanish-American
War
1901
Became superintendent in the Department of Navy Compasses
1902, April 4
Died in Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of William H. Schuetze (1853-1902) span the years 1881-1903 and relate
primarily to his experience as a member of the mission searching for survivors and
remains of the USS
Jeanette
(ship) arctic expedition, an ill-fated attempt in
1879-1881 to reach the North Pole by ship via a theorized warm-water route from the
Pacific Ocean. In addition to activities associated with the rescue mission, the
collection also documents acknowledgements of sympathy and gratitude of the United
States government to survivors of deceased crew members and to Russian officials.
Included in the papers are correspondence, diaries which contain mission stores
information and a daily events log, ledgers, maps of the areas traveled by Schuetze,
scrapbooks, printed materials, and oversize.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm2016086115]
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Correspondence, 1885,
undated
1885,
undated
(2 folders)
1
Certificates, 1882-1886
[
See also
Oversize
](oversize)
1882-1886
1
Diaries, 1884-1886
1884-1886
(2 folders)
2
Ledgers, 1882-1883
1882-1883
(2 folders)
2
Miscellany,
undated
undated
2
Printed materials, 1884-1888,
1895
1884-1888,
1895
(5 folders)
3
Scrapbooks, 1881-1886,
1902-1903
1881-1886,
1902-1903
(2 folders)
OV 1-OV 2
Oversize, 1881-1882,
undated
1881-1882,
undated
(2 folders)
OV 1
Certificates, maps, weather records, and a
passport,
1882-1883, undated
1882-1883, undated
OV 2
Russian certificates,
1882-1886
1882-1886