World War, 1939-1945

Scope and Contents

This life preserver, constructed of treated canvas over foam, was salvaged from the wreckage of the U.S.S. West Virginia (BB-48) after the surprise December 7, 1941 Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The life preserver measures 25 inches in diameter and includes the phrase, "U.S.S. W. Va. 1st Fire and Rescue Div" painted in red.

Overview Dress white U.S. Navy uniform that belonged to Granville R. Williams, Gunner's Mate 2nd Class, who served aboard the USS West Virginia during the attack at Pearl Harbor. Williams survived the attack and was awarded the Purple Heart. His Purple Heart medal and five campaign and achievement medals adorn the uniform. There is also a photograph of Williams and a copy of the article 'The Horror of Pearl Harbor' from Militaria International magazine (May 2001) which includes a reminiscence by...

Scope and Contents

One folder of letters, photographs, and newspaper clippings relating to the arrangements to bring the mast of the USS West Virginia to the WVU Campus

Scope and Contents Materials concerning the dedication of the bell of the armored cruiser U.S.S. West Virginia, December 7, 1967. Items include program, invitation, diagram of proceedings, and newspaper clippings of dedication. Second accession: Mimeographed copy of essay about dedication. 1968 Oct 31: Xerox copy of 1 loose-leaf notebook containing the material created for the dedication services of the bell from the armored cruiser USS West Virginia. The project was initiated by WVU's...

Overview Artifacts, scrapbook, photographs, clippings, and ephemera related to Pearl Harbor, the USS West Virginia, and World War II. The collection includes a 9' x 14' scrapbook labelled 'Logalbum, USS West Virginia, Aloha Honolulu' with a color illustration of the USS West Virginia on the cover, it contains 27 vintage World War II photographs of mostly naval ships (not including the USS West Virginia). There is an 8' x 14' print of a tinted photograph of the USS West Virginia. There are also four...