Collection Guide:
Album #1
Album contains photographs related to Tod’s time as a Midshipman at the US Naval Academy as well as on training ships such as USS Arkansas (BM-7), USS Santee (1855), and USS Holland (SS-1), circa 1903-1904. The images aboard ships include general activities, interior rooms, under stormy seas, sailing along the Atlantic coast, as well as groups of sailors. Ships seen from the Arkansas include: USS Massachusetts, USS Texas, USS Lawrence, and USS Nevada. The images of the Naval Academy consist of exterior spaces and buildings such as the mess hall, quarters, weapons training, formations and inspections. The album is a good overall view of Midshipman shipboard training.
Album #2
Album contains photographs related to Tod’s service aboard USS Maine (BB-10) circa 1907-1908. Images include stops at Trinidad; Lima, Peru; Rio de Janeiro; Honolulu, HI (villages, natives, and scenic views); San Francisco Bay (in a parade); Guam (villages, buildings, natives, and scenic views), Manila Bay, as well as scenes of Crossing the Line Ceremonies, Admiral Giles B. Harber on the ship’s deck, general exterior images of the ship, target screens, group photos of sailors onboard ship, and an underwater diver. Also seen is USS Alabama, which had crossed the Pacific with USS Maine in 1908 (includes is a photo of USS Alabama with USS Maine at Honolulu in June, 1908).
Album #3
Album contains mostly photos and postcards from international locations, likely taken or purchased while on liberty circa 1919 (it is unknown, however, if Tod actually visited these places or just collected the photographs). Locations include Istanbul, Turkey (buildings, churches, city scenes, the Bosporus Straight; various locations in Ireland; various locations in France; various locations in Spain; Tangier; Morocco; Honolulu, HI; Rainier National Park, Washington; and Panama. Ships seen include USS Scorpion (PY-3), USS Druid (SP-321) in drydock; onboard of USS Wheeling (PG-14); sinking of ex-USS Iowa; USS Wright (AV-1) in the Panama Canal. Also included are large group shots of the members of VP-4 and VP-6 in 1932 of the Pearl Harbor Fleet Airbase
Album #4
Album contains photographs from the mid-1930s related to Tod’s posting as Commander at the Pearl Harbor Fleet Airbase. Images consist of Tod with various military personnel as well as civilians, social events, aircraft crew members, reviews and scenes of Honolulu and Maui. Also included is a view of USS Chester (CA-27) with crew manning the rails. There are also several images of the US Naval Academy class of 1907reunions over the course of several years (1937-1940).
Album #5
Disassembled for preservation purposes, album contains 100+ images similar in nature to album #4. The subject matter mainly related to Commander Tod’s position at the Pearl Harbor Fleet Airbase. Imagery consists mainly of group shots of airbase units and officers; aircraft from VP-1, VP-10, VP-4, and VP-6; overall views of the base; Pan American Clipper aircraft; ceremonies and social events; VIP visitors (including SecNav Swanson); inspections and reviews (including RADM Halligan); aircraft landing at Pearl Harbor; fire at one of the hangars; base buildings and quarters; yacht club races; aerial views of the various Hawaiian Islands (Kekaa, Maui; Diamond Head, Ohau; Napali Coast, Kauai; Honolulu Harbor; Mahukana; Hawaii; fleet at Lahaina; Kilauea Point, Kauai; including eruption of Mauna Loa; Kalaupapa Leper Colony, Molokai; etc.) as well as Midway Island (aircraft and buildings); and a crash water landing of aircraft from USS Chester. Ships seen include USS Houston (CA-30), with President Roosevelt, July 25, 1934; fleet review; USS Wright (AV-1) at Pearl Harbor; USS Oglala (CM-4); and USS Samar (PG-41). Aircraft seen include: SC type torpedo bomber; Boeing F4B4; Curtiss P3A; Douglas RD Dolphin; PM-1; PN-1; F4B-3; and RS-1 transport plane.
Also included with these images are a grouping from earlier dates, 1911-1919. Images consist of USS Hannibal (AG-1) crew and ship at sea; USS South Dakota (ACR-9); USS Pocahontas (ID-3044); USS Helena (PG-9); crew photo of USS Charleston (C-22) at Yokohama, Japan, 1910; as well as training at the rifle range and a camp at Chefoo. There are several unidentified camp and group photos.
