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S-422 E. Ray Coward Photo Collection
S-422 E. Ray Coward Photo Collection

Topic
  • Fleet
  • Boats-Ships--Cruisers
  • Cleaning-Washing
  • People-Places-Things--Russian
  • People-Places-Things--Chinese
  • People-Places-Things--Other Foreign
Document Type
  • Finding Aids Glossaries Guides
  • Photograph
Wars & Conflicts
Navy Communities
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC
Author Name
Place of Event
Recipient Name
Title: E. Ray Coward Photo Collection
Description: Collection of 22 photographs related to the naval service of E. Ray Coward in Asiatic waters aboard USS Albany (CL-23), circa late 1920-1921. The images were originally part of a larger photo album, now no longer available. The collection follow’s the ship’s assignment as part of the Asiatic Fleet between 1919 and 1921 in an effort to provide Allied support in Russian ports. American troops began to withdraw in spring of 1920 and resumed peacetime duty with the Asiatic Fleet. Service included the summers in Chinese waters alternated with winters in the Philippines.
Accession#: S-422
Donor: USS Albany (CG-10)
Copyright Owner: Naval History and Heritage Command
Circa: 1920-1921
Format: Black & white photographs

Collection Guide: 

The subject matter includes: views of USS Albany (CL-23), including crew members, ship’s steam launch, sailors cleaning the ship, sleeping on the deck in the heat, and a landing party (Coward is seen in several views). Locations visited include: Olongapo, Philippines (harbor and shooting at the rifle range); Miki, Japan (sailors in the streets); Shanghai, China (river with Sampans and a British gunboat); Yangtze River (small steamer); Hong Kong (junks in the harbor); Foochow (pagoda on the river); and Vladivostok, Russia (docks with US ships, St. Petersburg Park, and views of the town from the hills). Also included is a view of USS Helena (PG-9) in the docks at Vladivostok. Coward notes in the album that USS Helena is “our relief, February 1921”.

For information about the rest of the collection: nhhcphotoarchives@navy.mil