Born in Ohio of 28 February 1833, James Greer served in the Civil War and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi. In 1873 he commanded the steamer Tigress on the Polaris Relief Expedition. On 11 August, one month and our hours after sailing from New York, he found the wreck of Polaris at Littleton Island, North Greenland. He was commissioned as Commodore on 19 May 1886 and promoted to Rear Admiral on 13 April 1892.

This collection consists of papers relating to Rear Admiral Greer's Navy service. It includes correspondence of Greer as commander of USS Tigress on the Polaris Relief Expedition; scrapbooks from his service on USS Independence, Sumpter, Hohongo, Tuscarora, and Benton. A copy of the book My Miss Nancy: Nancy Astor's Virginia "Mammy" Tells Why "Her littl' mistis ain't neber gwin lose her 'sition ober dar in Inglan'" and items on the 1893 Naval Review complete the collection.

Tigress (Ship)
Polaris (Ship)
Independence (Frigate)
Tuscarora (Ship)
Sumpter (Ship)
Hohongo (Ship)
Benton (Ship)
United States. Navy--History--Sources.