Don Bosworth Letters

Identity elements

Reference code

US TxAM-C 98

Level of description

Collection

Title

Don Bosworth Letters

Date(s)

  • 1919 (Creation)

Extent

1 box

Name of creator

Biographical history

At the age of 24, Don Bosworth was enlisted as an apprentice seaman at the Navy Recruiting Station at Syracuse, New York on June 13, 1917. His service number was 112-59-73. From August 1917 to August 1920, Don Bosworth served as a seaman, second class, on the third U.S.S. Albany, the United States Navy protected cruiser. He was discharged in San Francisco as a quartermaster of the second class on August 26, 1920.

The third U.S.S. Albany, originally named Almirante Abreu, was constructed in Newcastle, England by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., for the Brazilian Government in 1879. She was purchased in 1898 by the United States. As the third U.S.S. Albany, she was launched in 1899 under the sponsorship of Mrs. John C. Colwell, the wife of the American naval attache in London.

In 1919, she joined the Asiatic Fleet. At that time, the Russian Civil War against Bolsheviks continued. The United States sent troops to Vladivostok, one of the ports where the Allied supplies had been stockpiled. The Albany stayed in Vladivostok until early 1920, protecting American troops on shore and evacuating sick and wounded men. She was decommissioned in 1922.

The Albany had a displacement of 3,340 tons, a length of 354 feet, 9.5 inches, and a beam of 43 feet, 9 inches. She was rated at 20.52 knots and was armed with six 6-inch guns, four 4.7-inch guns, ten 6-pounders, four 1-pounders, four machine guns, two field pieces, and three torpedo tubes.

Bibliography
Mooney, James L. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. vol. 1. 1959.
Mooney, James L. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. vol. 1. 1991.
War Service Records provided by New York State Archives.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

This collection consists of twelve letters handwritten in black ink on both sides of thirteen pages of blue-lined paper with an envelope. The letters are arranged into two series. At the center of the top of the paper are printed the words "Nation War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association," each side of which is decorated with an American Flag and the symbol of the YMCA printed in red and dark blue ink. Each page, measuring 27 cm. x 15 cm., is now housed in a transparent plastic folder. On the upper-right side of the envelope are handwritten words "Sailor's Mail". The addressee written on the envelope is Mrs. J.E. Bosworth, who lived on 141 Midland Ave. in Syracuse, New York. However, the letters are addressed to "Dear Folks." Bosworth seems to have bought the envelope before he wrote the letters because his letters begin on June 16, 1919, but the date stamped in blue ink on the envelope is June 14, 1919. In his letters, Bosworth very often does not write the first singular pronoun "I" and uses "&" in preference to the word "and." He crosses out with one or two lines on the words he writes incorrectly. He provides some hand-drawn maps and pictures. He frequently mentions numbers to detail his stories. Of interest is that he comments on the characteristics of the Bolsheviks. He also mentions that he hopes to fight them because he has had no chance to hear gunshots, except in practice.

System of arrangement

This collection is organized into 2 series:
Series 1. Letters, June - July 1919
Series 2. Transcripts

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Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Languages of the material

  • English

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