29 April 1854

Gerry, James T., 1797-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge T. Gerry

Says he has been on important missions recently, including a trip to observe construction of the Panama railroad. Advises his nephew to study hard in college, build towards his future, and warns of what befalls those who do not apply themselves. Written on board the U.S.S. "Albany" off Pensacola.

GLC09099.11

12 May 1854

Gerry, James T., 1797-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge T. Gerry

Advises Elbridge to study hard while at college and says this is the best way to assure a bright future. Says he has not been receiving his newspapers, and is having trouble finding good carpenters to repair boats. Written on board the U.S.S. "Albany" at the Navy Yards in Warrington, Florida

GLC09099.12

28 May 1854

Gerry, James T., 1797-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge T. Gerry

Very pleased with praise he has received from the government for his recent actions as a Navy captain. The Navy Department has "sent me a highly complimentary letter approving most fully my official acts during my last cruise, many of which were exceedingly important, involving great responsibility, and requiring prompt decision, and firmness in execution." Says he is having trouble getting his ship fixed, but will sail again as soon as it is ready. Advises his nephew on how best to preserve his health as a young man.

GLC09099.13

20 June 1854

Gerry, James T., 1797-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge T. Gerry

Changing times have led to changes in American ways of life and religion. Marvels at the advances of the era, and how much life is changing and advancing. Worries that the "Romanists," meaning Catholics, are trying to take over the country, though he believes they will fail. His own Episcopal parish is building a new church. Hopes he will soon be able to return to sea.

GLC09099.14

1 March 1844

Sinclair, William, fl. 1844

Document signed

Title: [Check made out to James T. Gerry]

Check made out to James T. Gerry for one hundred and thirty seven dollars and eighty eight cents. Check was attached with a nail to a later note, explaining that the check was a Naval pay receipt.

GLC09099.15.01

12 September 1891

Bannerman, Francis, 1851-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge T. Gerry

Attaching a check from Gerry's uncle. States that the check attached to the letter by a nail is a pay receipt from James T. Gerry.

GLC09099.15.02

1861-1865

Buttre, John Chester, 1821-1893

Engraving

Title: [Engraving of James T. Gerry]

Engraving of United States Navy commander James T. Gerry.

GLC09099.16

23 May 1898

Walker, John G., 1835-1907

Document signed

Title: [Subpoena for John G. Walker to appear before the General Court in the case of A. G. Menocal]

Partially printed document signed by C.H. Lauetler as Judge Advocate. Co-signed by Secretary of the Navy, John D. Long, marking that the document was approved by the Navy Department on 27 May 1898. Summons Walker before a General Court at the Navy Yard in New York on 23 May 1898 to testify in the case of A. G. Menocal, a civil engineer in the U.S. Navy. Docket on verso says Walker reported and was discharged and is signed by Rear Admiral Andrew Benham. Stamp below Benham's signature provides information on the mileage payment given to Walker. He received $36.48 on 28 May 1898 for his trip…

GLC03804.26

28 July 1898

Long, John Davis, 1838-1915

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Typed letter on Navy Department stationery. Signed by Long as Secretary of the Navy. Written to Walker as a retired Rear Admiral. Orders him to report immediately by letter to the Secretary of War for duty "as a Naval Member of a Board organized for the purpose of recommend, to the Secretary of War, the width of draw or pivot spans in a bridge" across the Niagara River. Docket, signed by Walker, says he reported by letter on 29 July 1898. Address of Walker typed at the bottom: 1202 18th Street, Washington, D.C.

GLC03804.27

19 August 1898

Allen, Charles Herbert, 1848-1934

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Typed letter on office letterhead of the Secretary of the Navy John D. Long. Written by Allen as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (on the letter his title is noted as "Acting Secretary") to Walker as a retired Rear Admiral. Asks him to go to Washington D.C. for further instructions in connection with his duties as a "Senior Member of a Board for the location of a bridge across the Niagara River." Docket signed by Walker saying he completed the journey from Wilton, New Hampshire to Washington. Stamp on verso from the U.S. Navy Pay Office says Walker received a mileage payment of $38.64 on 10…

GLC03804.28

3 September 1898

Allen, Charles Herbert, 1848-1934

Typed letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Typed letter on office letterhead of the Secretary of the Navy John D. Long. Written by Allen as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (on the letter his title is noted as "Acting Secretary") to Walker as a retired Rear Admiral. Asks Walker to proceed to Buffalo, New York for special temporary duty in connection to assignment as a Senior Member of the Niagara River Bridge Commission. Is authorized to preform necessary travel around Buffalo. Must keep a memorandum of the travel and submit it for approval to the War Department from time to time. After his duties are up, he is ordered to return to…

GLC03804.29

30 March 1899

Allen, Charles Herbert, 1848-1934

Typed letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Typed letter on office letterhead of the Secretary of the Navy John D. Long. Written by Allen as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (on the letter his title is noted as "Acting Secretary") to Walker as a retired Rear Admiral. Says he is to regard himself as detached from his duties in relation to the bridge over the Niagara River on 31 March. Stamp on recto, in purple ink, says "Received, J.G.W. Mar 31 1899."

GLC03804.33

7 April 1899

Davis, George Breckenridge, 1847–1914

Typed letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Written by Lieutenant Colonel Davis as Deputy Judge Advocate General, Recorder to Walker as a retired Rear Admiral. Says the Court of Inquiry that was convened to investigate the beef supplied to the Army during the Spanish-American War wants to question Walker on his experience with canned roast beef used by the Nicaragua Canal Commission. Asks if he can appear the next day to give the court the benefit of his experience. Asks for a more convenient time if tomorrow is bad.

GLC03804.34

4 August 1899

Adee, Alvey Augustus, 1842-1924

Typed letter signed

Title: to the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the United States

A typed form letter written on the letterhead of the Department of State. Written by Acting Secretary of State Adee to various diplomats and consular officers. Introduces retired Rear Admiral John G. Walker as President of the Isthmian Canal Commission, who is traveling abroad to make investigations to enable him to prepare a report on the feasibility of a canal to the President and Congress. The Department of State wants Walker to be given every proper official courtesy so his mission can succeed. Also includes a small printed map of the proposed canal routes through Nicaragua and Panama (7.…

GLC03804.35

30 December 1899

Hay, John, 1838-1905

Typed letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Typed letter on Department of State letterhead signed by Hay as Secretary of State. Written to retired Rear Admiral Walker as President of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Says that President McKinley wants Senator George Peabody Wetmore's son to accompany the commission on its trip to the Isthmus "in some capacity in which his services may be made available." Leaves the decision of salary and expenses to Walker's discretion. Says Wetmore will call upon Walker to receive his orders. When the letter was folded the wet ink left a mirror impression of the signature at the top of the letter.…

GLC03804.36

January 23, 1904

Letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Letter written in a clerical hand with an illegible signature. Sent to retired Rear Admiral Walker as President of the Isthmian Canal Commission. References Walker's letter of 11 January. Has read his remarks on the canal treaty and says his report is "reassuring." Says "The Convention" -- probably the Constituent Assembly of Panama -- began its proceedings on 15 January. Also sends along a message from "the Junta of the Provisional Government" that was sent to the Convention. Says he sent along Walker's kind wishes to their friends in Panama. Stamp in purple ink on first page says "Received…

GLC03804.37

29 March 1905

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Typed letter

Title: to John G. Walker

Written by Taft as Secretary of War but not signed, to retired Rear Admiral Walker as President of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Typed copy of Taft's letter to Walker. By direction of President Roosevelt, Taft is asking for the resignation of each member of the canal commission. The resignations are to take effect at the pleasure of the president. Says the president asks for the resignations so he can reorganize the board. Wants him to communicate this request to Governor George Whitefield Davis, the first military governor of the Panama Canal Zone.

GLC03804.38

29 March 1905

Burr, William Hubert, 1851-1934

Typed letter

Title: to John G. Walker

Not signed. Written by Burr as a member of the Isthmian Canal Commission to retired Rear Admiral Walker as President of the canal commission. Typed copy of Burr's letter to Walker; written on the letterhead of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Burr is offering his resignation as he knows the president wants to reorganize the commission. Expresses his pleasure of serving on the commission.

GLC03804.39

29 March 1905

Parsons, William Barclay, 1859-1932

Typed letter

Title: to John G. Walker

Not signed. Written by Parsons as a member of the Isthmian Canal Commission to Walker as President of the canal commission. Typed copy of letter sent to Walker; written on Isthmian Canal Commission letterhead. Says that he is resigning to give the president liberty to reorganize the commission. Expresses appreciation for being selected to serve on the commission.

GLC03804.40

1 April 1905

Oliver, Robert Shaw, 1847-1935

Typed letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Typed letter on the letterhead of the War Department. Written by Acting Secretary of War Oliver to retired Rear Admiral Walker as President of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Says he has received Walker's letter of 29 March 1905, offering his resignation to President Roosevelt. The resignation was requested by the president, who accepted it by saying: "Accepted, with hearty thanks to each member of the Commission for the work that has been done." Stamp in purple ink says "Received, J.G.W. Apr 3 1905." The president asked for the resignation of the entire board early in 1905 as the commission…

GLC03804.41

3 April 1905

Armstrong, W.P., fl. 1905

Typed letter signed

Title: to John G. Walker

Typed letter written on letterhead of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Written by Armstrong as the auditor of the commission to retired Rear Admiral Walker. Tells Walker that enclosed with this letter is a message from the Acting Secretary of War accepting his resignation as president of the commission (see GLC03804.41 for this enclosure). Says a copy has been made to assist the auditor's office with the payment of his salary up to 31 March 1905.

GLC03804.42

21 September 1907

Army and Navy Register Publishing Company, 1879-1948

Newspaper

Title: Army and Navy Register [Vol. 42, no. 1449 (September 21, 1907)]

Most of this issue it taken up with an obituary of Rear Admiral John G. Walker titled "Death of Rear Admiral Walker." It includes a large photograph of Walker in his dress uniform with a very large mustache. Obit says his ashes will be buried in Arlington Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and 5 children. Issue also has an article titled "Medal Winners in Markmanship," giving the results of a rifle contest at Fort Niagara, New York. Large masthead on recto has an image of an eagle holding an American flag along with the symbols of each branch of service. Each issue is 15 cents a copy.

GLC03804.43

26 March 1918

Stewart, Charles, 1890-1921

Typed letter signed

Title: to Rebecca Pickering Walker

Written on stationery of the Office of the Naval Records and Library of the Navy Department. Signed by Stewart as Superintendent of the Naval Records and Library to Walker as the wife of the late Rear Admiral John G. Walker. Stewart reports that John G. Walker's name has been selected for one of the new destroyers being built. Would like her to designate a family member to act as a sponsor when the vessel is launched.

GLC03804.44

3 April 1918

Daniels, Josephus, 1862-1948

Typed letter signed

Title: to Francis Pickering Walker Thomas

Written on stationery of the Navy Department. Signed by Daniels as the Secretary of the Navy to the daughter of the late Rear Admiral John G. Walker. Daniels says that he is acting on the suggestion of her mother by nominating her to act as a family sponsor to the launching of the USS "Walker," the newly commissioned destroyer. Says the ship is being built at the Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation in Quincy, Massachusetts. Will be ready to launch sometime in June. Letter has two punch holes at the top.

GLC03804.45

10 May 1920

Staunton, Sidney A., fl. 1867-1920

Typed letter signed

Title: to Rebecca Pickering Walker

1 page cover letter written and signed by Rear Admiral Staunton, a former colleague and friend of the late Rear Admiral John G. Walker, to Walker's widow Rebecca. Followed by 3 pages of typed reminiscences by Staunton. Cover letter says that he is working from his memory with no journal or letters to help him. Hopes the recollections will be of use to her son. The recollections start after 1867 when Walker was at the Naval Academy on the staff of Admiral Porter, go through his service during the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands, and finish with Walker's service on the Isthmian Canal…

GLC03804.49