Naval History and Heritage Command
The Navy Department Library
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
Documents relating to Admiral Nimitz's naval career in the Navy Department Library.
Note: (os) Oversized document
| United States Naval Academy | ||
| Certificate of Completion, Preparatory Course Afloat | 30 Jan 1905 (os) | |
| Certificate of Graduation | 25 Feb 1907 (os) | |
| Diploma - Bachelor of Science | 8 Sep 1937 | |
| Certificate, Degree | ||
| United States Naval War College, Newport, RI | 1923 | |
| Commission/Appointment, Certificates of | |||
| Appointment | Naval Cadet | 7 Sep 1901 | |
| Appointment | Cadet Lieutenant - United States Naval Academy, | 1 Oct 1904 | |
| Commission | Ensign - copy of original document signed by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt | 11 Mar 1907 | |
| Commission | Ensign - signed by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt | 18 Feb 1908 (os) | |
| Commission | Lieutenant (jg) - signed by Pres. William Howard Taft | 12 Mar 1910 (os) | |
| Commission | Lieutenant Commander - signed by Pres. Woodrow Wilson | 16 Mar 1917 | |
| Commission | Commander - signed by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels | 11 Nov 1920 | |
| Commission | Commander - signed by Pres. Warren G. Harding | 15 Dec 1921 (os) | |
| Commission | Captain - signed by Pres. Calvin Coolidge | 24 Dec 1927 (os) | |
| Appointment | Chief, Bureau of Navigation - signed by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt | 15 Jun 1939 (os) | |
| Commission | Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet - signed by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt | 14 Jan 1942 (os) | |
| Commission | Admiral - signed by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt | 15 Sep 1944 (os) | |
| Commission | Rear Admiral - by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt | (undated) (os) | |
| Commission | Fleet Admiral - signed by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt | 16 Dec 1944 (os) | |
| Commission | Fleet Admiral - signed by Pres. Harry Truman | 2 Apr 1946 (os) | |
| Commendations | ||
| Silver Star - Letter of Commendation | 23 Nov 1920 | |
| Citation Distinguished Service Medal | 1942 | |
| Distinguished Service Medal - citation signed by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt | circa 1942 | |
| Distinguished Service Medal - citation by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt | circa 1942 | |
| Distinguished Service Medal - citation | 1944 | |
| Gold Star - citation signed by Pres. Harry Truman | circa 1945 | |
| Distinguished Service Medal - certificate | 14 Oct 1946 | |
| Distinguished Service Medal - citation signed by Pres. Harry Truman | circa 1947 | |
| Distinguished Service Medal - certificate | 5 Feb 1948 | |
| International Honors | ||
| Territory of Hawaii Resolution | 10 Mar 1943 | |
| Territory of Hawaii Resolution | 24 Feb 1943 | |
| Republica del Ecuador – Diploma | 30 Mar 1944 (os) | |
| Honorary Knight Grand Cross Military Division of the Order of the Bath | 11 Jan 1945 (os) | |
| Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of Bath by First Lord of the Admiralty, Admiralty, Whitehall, England | 10 Aug 1945 | |
| Knight Grand-Cross in the Order of Orange Nassau by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands | 4 Dec 1946 (with translation in English) | |
| Grand Croix De L'orde De La Couronne Avec Palme by Belgium | 28 Apr 1947 | |
| La Cruz de Merito Militar de Primera Clase by Republic of Guatemala | 30 Apr 1947 (os) | |
| Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur by Republique Francais | 19 Nov 1947 (os) | |
| Cavaliere di Gran Croce by Repubblica Italiana | 5 Dec 1947 | |
| Orden del Libertador San Martin by De la Nacion Republica Argentina | 10 Dec 1947 (os) | |
| Citation, Chinese Embassy | 8 Mar 1947 | |
| Ordem do Merito Naval by Republica dos Estados Unidos do Brasil | 13 Nov 1958 (os) | |
| Governmental Honors | ||
| United States Treasury Department Citation | 8 Mar 1945 | |
| Honorary Citizen of City of New York | 9 Oct 1945 (os) | |
| City of New Orleans, LA - Honorary Citizen of New Orleans | 18 Jun 1946 | |
| State of Texas, Commission - Chief of Naval Operations of the Texas Navy | 15 Dec 1947 | |
| State of Texas - Honorary Texas Ranger | 19 Apr 1948 | |
| Commonwealth of Cape Cod, MA | 4 Jul 1952 (os) | |
| Office of the Mayor, City of New York, NY at Navy League Convention | 2 May 1957 (os) | |
| California Legislature, Resolution on 74th Birthday | 25 Feb 1959 (os) | |
| City of Richmond, CA, Welcome to Richmond | 14 May 1959 | |
| Senate of Texas, Resolution | 21 Feb 1963 | |
| Certificate in Japanese - not translated | (undated) (os) | |
| Certificate in Greek – not translated | (undated) | |
| Civic, Industry Honors | ||
| The Society of the Sigma Xi - Honorary Member of California Chapter | 24 Mar 1928 (os) | |
| Philosophical Society of Texas | 4 Dec 1943 | |
| The Sons of the Republic of Texas - Member | 15 Dec 1943 | |
| Department of Kentucky Veterans of Foreign Wars | 14 Aug 1944 | |
| United Daughters of the Confederacy - Cross of Military Service | 23 Nov 1944 | |
| College of Fishing and Hunting | circa 1945 (os) | |
| Kerryville Junior Chamber of Commerce - Life Membership | 13 Oct 1945 | |
| National Geographic Society - Life Member | 9 Jul 1946 | |
| The Texas State Society | circa 1947 (os) | |
| National Celebrities Golf Tournament, Washington Post - Participation in | 17-18 May 1947 | |
| International Mark Twain Society, St. Louis, MO - Knight of Mark Twain | 12 Aug 1947 | |
| Polish Legion of American Veterans, National Department | 30 Aug - 1 Sep 1947 | |
| Navy League of the United States | 27 Oct 1947 | |
| Pine Ridge Navy | 25 Nov 1947 | |
| Society of American Military Engineers - Certificate of Appreciation | 10 Jun 1948 | |
| Navy Industrial Association, Inc. - Honorary Member | 14 Sep 1948 (os) | |
| Navy League of the United States | 27 Oct 1948 | |
| The War Memorial Museum of Virginia | 30 May 1949 | |
| American War Correspondents Association - Honorary Member | 25 Jan 1950 | |
| Chatterbox Club - Honorary Member | 30 Jul 1950 | |
| The Sons of the Republic of Texas - Knight of San Jacinto | 21 Apr 1953 | |
| Texas Navy, Commission - Admiral | circa 1955 | |
| Boys' Clubs of America - Certificate of Appreciation | 23 May 1956 | |
| Rotary International - Certificate of Appreciation, Castro Valley | 26 Nov 1957 | |
| United States Junior Chamber of Commerce - Certificate of Appreciation | 1960 | |
| Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL - Honorary Alumnus | (undated) | |
| Readers of the Newspaper PM, Society of Red Tape Cutters (artwork by Theodore Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss) | (undated) | |
| Seabee Veterans of America, Michigan Department - Distinguished Service Award | (undated) | |
| Minute Men of America - Honorary Life Member | (undated) | |
| University of California - Certificate of Appreciation | (undated) | |
| Honorary Degrees | ||
| University of California - Doctor of Laws | 6 Jun 1943 (os) | |
| University of Hawaii, Doctor of Science | 9 Jun 1944 | |
| Fordham University (Universitatis Fordhamensis) - Legum Doctoratum | 7 Dec 1944 (os) | |
| University of Texas - Phi Beta Kappa | 22 May 1945 | |
| Tivy High School, Kerrville, Texas - Diploma | 13 Oct 1945 | |
| University of Richmond, Virginia - Doctor of Laws | 28 Mar 1946 (os) | |
| Dominion University (Universitatis Dominae) - Legum Doctor | 15 May 1946 (os) | |
| Northwestern University - Doctor of Laws | 16 May 1946 | |
| Wayne University, Detroit, MI - Doctor of Laws with citation | 24 Oct 1946 | |
| Lafayettense College (Collegii Lafayettense) - Legum Doctoris | 6 Jun 1947 (os) | |
| Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas - Doctor of Laws with citation | 17 Jun 1946 (os) | |
| University of South Carolina - Doctor of Civil Law with citation | 19 Jun 1946 (os) | |
| Tulane University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA - Doctor of Laws | 19 Jun 1946 | |
| University of South Carolina (Universitatis Carolinae Australis) - Legum Civilium Doctoris | 19 Jun 1946 (os) | |
| University of Syracuse, NY (Universitas Syrarusama) - Legum Doctorem | 26 Aug 1946 (os) | |
| Williams College, Williamstown, MA - Legum Doctorem (Doctor of Laws) with citation | 12 Oct 1946 | |
| Columbia University, NY (Vniversitatis Colvmbiae) - Doctoris In Legibvs | 21 Feb 1947 (os) | |
| Seton College (Collegii Setoniensis) - Legum Civilium Doctorem | 30 May 1947 (os) | |
| University of Alabama - Doctor of Laws with citation | 10 Jun 1947 | |
| Princeton University citation - Doctor of Laws honoris causa | 17 Jun 1947 | |
| Princeton University (Vniversitatis - Princetoniensis) - Legum Doctoris | 17 Jun 1947 (os) | |
| Harvard University (Collegium Radclivianum Cantabrigiae) | 20 Jun 1947 (os) | |
| Loras College, Dubuque, IA - Litterarum Doctoris (Doctor of Letters) with citation | 25 Oct 1947 | |
| University of Denver, Denver, CO - Doctor of Public Service, Honaris Causa with citation | 8 Jun 1951 | |
| Photographs | |||
| Fleet Admiral Nimitz, autographed to the Navy Department Library | undated | ||
| Medals, decorations - unidentified | 30 Jun 1948 | ||
| “HMS Duke of York Nears Guam” | 9 Aug 1945 | ||
| Aboard HMS Duke of York at Guam | 9-11 Aug 1945: | ||
| Allied Pacific Naval Chieftains Meet at Guam (Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser - Royal Navy, Fleet Admiral Nimitz) | 9 Aug | ||
| “Up Spirits..!” (Fleet Admiral Nimitz, Cdr. Hodges (Cdr., HMS Duke of York), Niems, Julian Wheeler, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, Angus Nicholl, Gen. Carl Spaatz) | 11 Aug | ||
| Naval and Air Chiefs Salute National Anthems (Fleet Admiral Nimitz, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, Royal Navy, General Carl Spaatz) | 10 Aug | ||
| Naval and Air Chiefs of the Pacific (Fleet Admiral Nimitz, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, General Carl Spaatz) | 10 Aug | ||
| Fleet Admiral Nimitz receives the Order of the Bath | 10 Aug | ||
| Fleet Admiral Nimitz wearing British Award | 10 Aug | ||
| British Officers Chat Aboard HMS Duke of York,” (Vice Admiral C.H. McMorris and Captain G. Norfolk, Commander, HMS Whelp) | 10 Aug | ||
| Fleet Admiral Nimitz inspects Marines Aboard British Flagship | 11 Aug | ||
| Shipboard Rituals | ||
| Domain of Neptunnus Rex - Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep | 6 Jul 1925 (os) | |
| Domain of Neptuneus Rex - Ancient Order of the Deep | 13 Oct 1934 | |
| Imperivm Neptvni Regis - Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep | 14 Oct 1934 (os) | |
| USS Augusta - Domain of Neptune Rex | 14 Oct 1934 | |
| Publications | ||
| En Guardia - color photo of Admiral Nimitz - cover page only | (undated) (os) | |
| New York Sunday News - color photo of Admiral Nimitz, cover page only | 29 Apr 1945 (os) | |
| Fredericksburg's Tribute to Admiral Chester W. Nimitz: October Thirteenth Nineteen Hundred Forty-five, compiled by Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce. | 1945 | |
| Membership | ||
| American Society of Naval Engineers – Member | 1 Nov 1915 | |
| International Assoc. of Machinists, Lodge 556 - Engine Certificate for Fuel ShipMaumee | 9 Dec 1915 (os) | |
| Scabbard and Blade – Member | 23 Sep 1926 | |
| United States Naval Institute - Regular Member | 30 March 1928 | |
| Ephemera | |||
| Invitation from Crew of USS Ohio, | 10 Jan 1905 | ||
| Letter from Acting Secretary of the Navy Burman Winthrop to Lt. Chester Nimitz on his bravery in rescuing Fireman 2nd Class W.J. Walsh who was accidentally knocked off USS Tonopah. | 30 July 1912 | ||
| Certificate of Identification - for Commander C.W. Nimitz for visit to Great Britain, France & Italy. | 14 May 1918 | ||
| Sigma XI, California Chapter, Berkley - invitation to new member | 24 Mar 1928 | ||
| Postcard to Captain Nimitz (includes poem about fog) | 20 Dec 1935 | ||
| Typed list "Staff of CINC US Fleet and US Pacific Fleet" | 7 Dec 1941 | ||
| Pacific Fleet Notice 23N-42: Memorandum from King Neptune to Destroyer Screen. | 12 October 1942 | ||
| US Navy Military Government Proclamation Numbers 1-10 to the People of the Islands of Nansei Shoto and Adjacent Waters occupied by United States Forces [in English and Japanese]. | 1945 | ||
| Poem by Gordon Becker, read at luncheon, reprint | Sep 1945 | ||
| Parade and Celebration for Fleet Admiral Nimitz - District of Columbia | 5 Oct 1945 | ||
| Map - Parade Route (os) | |||
| Map - Celebration Area (os) | |||
| Map - Assembly Area (os) | |||
| Testimonial Dinner - place card (with line art likeness) | 5 Oct 1945 | ||
| Booklet - Testimonial Dinner by the City of New York | 9 Oct 1945 | ||
| RECAP Newsletter, “Nimitz Medals on Display,” American Trust Company, San Francisco, CA | Jul 1948 | ||
| Notice under name of Chester Nimitz, Sire, Bohemian Club; Dinner for General Mark Clark | 16 Sep 1948 | ||
| Kiwanis International, Beckley, WV – certificate | 1 Sep 1950 | ||
| Inaugural Committee, Invitation to Inauguration of Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower | 21 Jan 1957 | ||
| Handwritten note from Angus Nicholl | 14 Sep 1958 | ||
| Print with Japanese hand-scribed notations (undated) | |||
| Booklet, with color photo of Admiral Nimitz, cover pages only – French | (undated) | ||
| The Laws of the Navy by Captain Roland A. Hopwood, RN – poem | (undated) | ||
| Color print - Vereins Church, Fredericksburg, Texas, and signed by C.W. Nimitz with notation, "I was christened in this church." | (undated) | ||
| Certificate wishing "Happy Birthday to Admiral Chester W. Nimitz from Headquarters Sixth United States Army" with signatures. | (undated) | ||
| Memorial Service Invitation from the Secretary of the Navy for services held at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California, with RSVP card. | 20 February 1966 | ||
| Scrapbook | ||
| Dinner Honoring The Drake Navigators Guild – booklet | 28 Sep 1960 | |
| Friends of Plymouth Art Gallery and Buckland Abbey - photographs, programs, clippings | 17 Jun 1954 | |
| Correspondence | ||
| Typed letter, signed to Arthur W. Sevens, President, Automobile Safety Association. Admiral Nimitz as Commander in Chief, Pacific, questions the value of increasing downward visibility in aircraft so pilots can see more of the terrain or water. | 20 April 1944 | |
| Letter from Secretary of the Treasury | 8 Mar 1945 | |
| Letter from Executive Department, Austin, Texas to Scovill Mfg. Co. | 8 Nov 1945 | |
| Letter from Scovill Mfg. Co., Waterbury, CT to C.W. Nimitz | 29 Oct 1946 | |
| Letter from Ambassador of France | 3 Dec 1947 | |
| Letter from Pres. Juan Peron, Buenos Aires, Argentina with English translation prepared by the Office of Chief of Naval Operations | 23 Jan 1948 | |
| Letter from Governor Earl Warren, State of California, | 13 Apr 1948 | |
| Letter from Secretary-General, United Nations, Lake Success, NY | 6 Nov 1950 | |
| Letter from Former Pres. Harry Truman | 17 May 1958 | |
| Letter from B.L. Austin, VADM, USN to Admiral Nimitz | 15 Mar 1961 | |
| Memorandum for Vice Admiral Hooper regarding Admiral Nimitz Commission Certificates from J.H.B. Smith, Captain, USN, Head Curator Branch | 17 Jan 1973 | |
| Nancy Nimitz | ||
| Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, MD – Diploma | 16 Jun 1936 (os) | |
| Columbia University, NY - Bachelor of Science | 27 Feb 1946 (os) | |
Published: Thu Jul 19 15:41:13 EDT 2018
