USS Oklahoma: 1925 Cruise photo album, the Battle Fleet to Australia and New Zealand.

1925. Sailor's personal album with many original private photographs as well as stock photographs of the 1925 US Navy visit to the Pacific, giving a vivid sense of life on board the USS Oklahoma with many personal photographs of the Crossing the Line celebration. The album also reveals the warm welcome offered to the ships in Australia by the crowds in Melbourne. In 1925, the Oklahoma and ten other battleships, along with their destroyer escorts and support ships, traveled around the Pacific, stopping in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Tahiti, Hawaii, Samoa, and the Panama Canal.

The album contains a total of 194 photographs. The largest number of original photographs is a long series of snap shots taken on board the USS Oklahoma of the sailors celebrating crossing the equator. There are 23 original images of the sailors having a grand time in the Line Crossing celebration, each captioned below the image in white pencil. The stock photographs of the ship itself include bunk beds, the interior; leaving San Pedro harbor, ship in dry dock, and unloading material over the side. 9 original photographs show the USS Chauncy (sic) damaged and badly listing.

Of the total 194 there are 37 of Australia, which include both original images and stock images. The 16 stock images of Australia are: 'Melbourne Victoria' (unidentified street with cars and tram); 'Melbourne' (crowds with American flags at the edge of broad avenue); 'Parade at Melbourne'; 'Reviewing Stand Melbourne' (admirals in plumed hats); 'Passing Review at Melbourne Australia'; Officers of US Fleet Attending a Ball at Melbourne Australia (a group of officers and the Mayor at the entrance to a grand building); Okey Mascot (a young kangaroo); St. Kilda Beach, Melbourne (showing the entrance to the Palais de Dance); Luna Park; At Prince's Pier Biding (sic) good Bye, Melbourne Victoria; Standing By to Leave Australia; Ready to Say good By to Melbourne; Just Left the Docks at Melborne (sic); Visitors Headed for the ships, Melbourne; Going Along Side dock at Melbourne Australia; and Parade at Melbourne, Victoria Australia. The 19 stock images of Australia are captioned inside the image; the New Art Gallery - Melbourne; Elizabeth Street, Melbourne; Exhibition Building; Collins Street West; Business District; N. Spring Street Looking South; Government Office Building; Central Railroad Station; Visitors Enroute to See US Battle Ships, Melbourne Australia; Drawing Away from Dock, Melbourne Australia; Our Last View of Newly Made Friends, Melbourne Australia; Okey's Band Passing in Review, Melbourne Australia; Passing in Review, Melbourne Australia; USS Okey Along side Dock, Melbourne Australia; Circular Quay, Sidney (sic); Sidney Australia Harbor & Waterfront; Australian Soldiers Training Near Sidney; Sheep near Sidney Australia, the World's Greatest Wool Country; and General Post Office Sidney.

There are 2 stock photos of the Great White Fleet visit of 1908 to Australia: US Fleet in Australia 1908 World Tour; US Fleet Landing Party, 1908 World Tour, Melbourne Australia;

There are 13 stock photographs of New Zealand, including 2 of Maoris, "Atama" Rarawa Tribe Chief, New Zealand; and "Maori" South Sea Island Belle. Others are of Wellington (8) and Christchurch (3).

The other locations pictured in stock photographs include Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii, Panama (City & Canal) and Seattle. The subjects include natives on the beach, natives in canoes, natives in ceremonial dances & feasts, natives in outriggers, sailors posing with topless native, government houses, officers quarters, ships in the harbor at Pago Pago, views of Panama City, passing through the locks on the Panama Canal, and street views of the city of Seattle.

The owner of the album is not identified, although at the rear there are 36 real photographs of relatives and sailors posing with friends and family. The photographs were taken on the deck of the USS Oklahoma & a few are captioned on the verso in an unclear hand. The names recorded include: Tubby Watson and myself, out of Long Beach Cal.; Thelma Clark, San Diego Cal., R. V. Jones; Mathis, Bluddard (?) and me; Scot (?), Watson, Thelma & Jones; and others. It appears that the sailor's last name is Hawkes, as one image is captioned "Bro. Lee Hawkes". Hawkes' girl friend is Thelma Clark. Loosely inserted at the very back of the album are three larger stock photographs of the USS Oklahoma captioned "Big Gun Fire Pacific Fleet" & "Olympic Cup, USS Oklahoma" (approx. 7 x 5") and "USS Oklahoma in Pedro Miguel Locks" (9 1/2 x 7").

Most photographs 5 3/4 x 3 3/4", 2 per page with corner mounts. The images of relatives and sailors in smaller format, 2 3/4 x 4 1/2" or 2 1/2 x 3 1/2", with more than 2 per album page. Some pages with corner mounts where photographs are no longer present. Album with black boards, bound with black cord, "Nubian" printed product label inside rear album cover. None of the photographs are laid down; all secured by corner mounts. Most in very good condition; the loosely inserted photographs a bit rubbed, ruffled at edges.

A unique collection of photographs of life on board the historic USS Oklahoma en route to the Pacific and welcomed in Australia in 1925. Very good overall. Item #22644

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