Accessions No. RARE.2018.0014: Purchased, 2017 April.
[identification of item], Scrapbook Assembled by American Marine Serving on the USS Astoria, SPEC.RARE.0224, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Courtney Bishop, 2017 February; Finding aid written by: Courtney Bishop, 2017 February.
The USS Astoria (CA-34) was a ship that participated in battles during the Pacific Campaign in World War II, including the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. The USS Astoria sunk in 1942, in its third battle in the Pacific Campaign at the Battle of Savo Island. The Astoria was built in 1930, and beginning in 1934, the ship began voyaging in the Pacific. Up until its participation in World War II, the ship participated in normal peacetime operations, including going to Japan to return the remains of a former Japanese Ambassador to the United States (U.S.). The Astoria then went to China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Guam. In 1939, Pearl Harbor became the home port for Astoria. In the fall of 1941, Astoria was sent to Manilla and Guam. When the U.S. entered World War II, Astoria was hundreds of miles away heading toward Midway, but turned around to back to Hawaii. In February 1942, the Astoria was sent to New Guinea. The ship then patrolled the Coral Sea and participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea. The Astoria also participated in the Battle of Midway. The ship was then sent to the Solomon Islands to help defend it from Japanese attacks. It was during this battle that the Astoria sank. This scrapbook was assembled by an unidentified serviceman who was onboard the Astoria during many of these activities.
The Scrapbook Assembled by American Marine Serving on the USS Astoria contains a scrapbook of photographs and postcards of multiple locations the Astoria went to in the Pacific prior to World War II and the three balltles it participated in during the war. Before the United States entered the war, the Astoria went to Japan to return the remains of a former Japanese Ambassador to the United States. The ship also went to China during the civil war, the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, and California. Once the United States entered the war, the Astoria went to Midway, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. The images include photographs and postcards of that were assembled by an unidentified serviceman who was on board the Astoria during many of these activities. These images date from circa 1937-circa 1942. Also included is a John F. Kennedy memorial flier in the back of the scrapbook dated 1963.