Title: William D. Leahy Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1897-1959

Creator:

• Leahy, William D.

Call Number: U.S. Mss AA; Micro 959; PH 404

Quantity: 8.0 c.f. (7 record center cartons and 3 archives boxes), 5 reels of microfilm (35 mm), 10 reels of microfilm (16 mm), and 16 photographs (1 folder)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Photostatic copies of typescript diaries, 1897-1931, 1941-1945, photographs, and subject files of Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, who served as U.S. Ambassador to France, 1940-1942, and chief of staff to the commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy, 1942-1949.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0000aa

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William Daniel Leahy was born May 6, 1875, in Hampton, Iowa, to lawyer Michael A. and Rose Hamilton Leahy. In later years his parents lived variously at Ashland, Wausau, and Marshfield, Wisconsin. His father was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin (1862), and was captain of the 35th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment during the Civil War period, 1862-1866. Leahy himself graduated from Ashland High School in 1892, and entered the U.S. Naval Academy in May 1893 from the Ninth Congressional District of Wisconsin.

Commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1899, Leahy advanced to the rank of admiral and the post of Chief of Naval Operations, 1937-1939. He served in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and the Boxer troubles; was chief of staff in the Nicaraguan Occupation in 1912 and the Haitian campaign in 1916; commanded the USS Dolphin during the Mexican punitive expedition in 1916; and served as a commander during World War I.

Leahy retired from the Navy, August 1, 1939, and was appointed governor of Puerto Rico. From 1940 to 1942, he served as ambassador to France. In July of 1942, he became chief of staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and the Navy, a post he held until 1949.

Leahy married Louise Tennent Harrington, February 3, 1904, and they had one son, William Harrington Leahy, who also pursued a naval career. Mrs. Leahy died April 21, 1942. Admiral Leahy died July 20, 1959, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Leahy Papers consist of bound diary notes, 1897-1931 and 1941-1945; 35 mm microfilm copies of the 1941-1945 diaries; subject files available both in paper and microfilm form; and photographs.

The diary notes are all positive photostats made from the original typescripts in the Library of Congress. Leahy began keeping notes following his graduation from the Naval Academy. He began to put the material in typewritten form about 1926, using first his years of early notes, and then making current typescripts of his diary notes as his career progressed. The handwritten drafts have not been preserved. The diaries consist primarily of personal notes made for his own reference. Although much of the material deals with his official career, the diaries are considered unofficial papers. Interspersed among the daily entries are numerous copies of letters, reports, sketch maps, and other documents pertaining to the events discussed. All of the volumes are also amply illustrated with numerous photographs showing many of the significant activities and events in which the Admiral participated.

In the diary covering 1897 through 1931, Leahy recorded his service in the naval engagements in the Spanish-American War in the Cuban theater, particularly the Battle of Santiago. This volume also covers service in Australia, the Philippines, and many other parts of the world in subsequent years, including duty in the West Indies and the Atlantic during World War I. Personal data about the Leahy family is also included.

Of the remaining diaries two volumes cover the period 1941-July 1942, during which Leahy was United State Ambassador to France. Four volumes cover July 1942-December 1945, during which he was Chief of Staff to the Commander-in Chief of the Army and Navy. In this latter position he presided over meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Combined Chiefs of Staff. He also was in almost daily communication with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, of whom he was a longtime personal friend, and then with President Harry S. Truman, following Roosevelt's death. In this position he was a participant in many important events, including the conferences at Yalta and at Potsdam in 1945. These volumes contain a wealth of information on the military strategy of the war, the development of peace, and relations with our allies, and include many commentaries on personalities, events, and conditions in Washington, D.C., during these years.

The largest segment of the papers consists of six cartons of subject files dealing with Admiral Leahy's activities and awards throughout his adult life. The material is filed topically in the same order in which it was received from Leahy's office. This order is alphabetical for the beginning files but the later boxes have no apparent pattern of arrangement. Included in the files are speeches and writings, congratulatory letters, requests for autographs, personal correspondence, invitations, clippings, and other papers. The 16 mm microfilm version of this material was produced by the Department of the Navy in 1959; the Naval Historical Center holds the master negative of this film and has deposited copies at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and the University of Puerto Rico.

The photographs are official U.S. Navy photographs on the occasion of Leahy receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Wisconsin, May 29, 1943. Images show Leahy speaking at the graduation ceremony at Camp Randall, reviewing a parade of Navy WAVES, posing with University of Wisconsin President Dykstra and Governor Goodland, and addressing the Wisconsin Legislature.

Besides the Leahy diaries held by the Library of Congress, additional Leahy papers are held by the Naval Historical Center, Washington, D.C. and by the National Archives (filed with records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff).

Acquisition Information

The seven volumes of diary notes were presented by William D. Leahy, Washington, D.C., June 9, 1955. The six cartons of correspondence and other materials were presented by William H. Leahy, Portsmouth, Virginia, December 1959; the microfilm copy of these materials was transferred from the Department of the Navy in July 1982.

U.S. Mss AA	Series: William D. Leahy - Diaries
Box   1 Folder   1	1897-1931, volume 1
U.S. Mss AA/Micro 959 Box   2 Reel   1	1941, volume 2
Box   2 Reel   2	1942 January-July, volume 3
Box   2 Reel   3	1942 July-1943 July, volume 4
Box   2 Reel   4	1943 July-December, volume 5
Box   1 Reel   4	1944, volume 6
Box   2 Reel   5	1945, volume 7
U.S. Mss AA	Series: Subject Files Note: Reel 6-15 of Micro 959 correspond to the paper portion of the Subject Files.	⇧
Box   3 Folder   1	A
Box   3 Folder   2	American Naval Cadets - honorary membership
Box   3 Folder   3	Applications for jobs, 1942
Box   3 Folder   4	Ashland, Wisconsin - centennial, 1954
Box   3 Folder   5-7	B
Box   3 Folder   8	Bayfield, Wisconsin - Chippewa-United States treaty celebration
Box   3 Folder   9	Byrnes, James F. - book (comments by Leahy)
Box   3 Folder   10-13	C
Box   3 Folder   14	Chile
Box   3 Folder   15	Churchill, Winston
Box   3 Folder   16	Class of 1897
Box   3 Folder   17	Collier's article, 1948 October
Box   3 Folder   18	Constellation Committee
Box   3 Folder   19	Cornell College (Iowa)
Box   3 Folder   20-21	D
Box   3 Folder   22	E
Box   3 Folder   23	F
Box   4 Folder   1	F
Box   4 Folder   2-3	G
Box   4 Folder   4	Great Lakes, Illinois - visit, 1957 August 16-17
Box   4 Folder   5-7	H
Box   4 Folder   8	Hahn, Soon K.
Box   4 Folder   9	Hawaii
Box   4 Folder   10	I
Box   4 Folder   11	International Naval Review, 1957 June 12
Box   4 Folder   12	J
Box   4 Folder   13	K
Box   4 Folder   14	L
Box   4 Folder   15	Leahy (not relatives)
Box   4 Folder   16-18	M
Box   5 Folder   1	MacArthur, General Douglas
	Madison, Wisconsin
Box   5 Folder   2	Centennial celebration, 1948 May 29
Box   5 Folder   3	Trip, 1955 October
Box   5 Folder   4	Milwaukee County Historical Society/Marathon County Historical Society
Box   5 Folder   5	Miscellaneous memoranda
Box   5 Folder   6	N
	Navy
Box   5 Folder   7	Miscellaneous naval organizations
Box   5 Folder   8	Navy Day - Indianapolis, 1948
Box   5 Folder   9	U.S. Naval Academy
Box   5 Folder   10	Keel - U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois
Box   5 Folder   11	Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin
Box   5 Folder   12	O
Box   5 Folder   13	USS Oregon
Box   5 Folder   14	Organizations of which Leahy is sponsor, board member
Box   5 Folder   15	P
Box   5 Folder   16-17	Puerto Rico
Box   5 Folder   18	Manuscript
Box   5 Folder   19	Q
Box   5 Folder   20-21	R
Box   5 Folder   22-23	Franklin D. Roosevelt Foundation
Box   5 Folder   24-25	S
Box   6 Folder   1	Saudi Arabia - gifts from King Ibn Saud, 1945
Box   6 Folder   2-3	T
Box   6 Folder   4	Taylor, Robert
Box   6 Folder   5	Truman, President Harry S.
Box   6 Folder   6	Address given at Princeton University, 1947 June 17
Box   6 Folder   7	USS Turner - christening, 1945 April
Box   6 Folder   8	University of Wisconsin - student union - invitation to speak
Box   6 Folder   9	V
Box   6 Folder   10	W
Box   6 Folder   11	Wisconsin
Box   6 Folder   12	Wisconsin, 1948
Box   6 Folder   13	Chapple, John B., Ashland Daily Press
Box   6 Folder   14	USS Wisconsin - presentation of model to state of Wisconsin, 1950 August 15
Box   6 Folder   15	Y
Box   6 Folder   16	Z
Box   6 Folder   17	Biographical sketch and miscellaneous personal data
Box   6 Folder   18	Biographical information
Box   6 Folder   19	Publicity
Box   6 Folder   20	Requests for autographs, copies of speeches, insignia, etc.
	Requests for autographs
Box   6 Folder   21-25	1947-1954
Box   7 Folder   1	1956-1958
Box   7 Folder   2	Requests for photographs
Box   7 Folder   3-7	Christmas cards, lists, acknowledgements, correspondence, 1944-1958
Box   7 Folder   8	U.S. Naval Institute - forward to Der Seekrieg
Box   7 Folder   9	Atlantic charter
Box   7 Folder   10	Articles for publication
Box   7 Folder   11	A Soldier's Story, by General Bradley
Box   7 Folder   12	Bowen, Admiral H.G. - forward for book
Box   7 Folder   13	Statements about Leahy
Box   7 Folder   14	American Red Cross - statements for campaigns, etc.
Box   7 Folder   15	Leahy - commission as Fleet Admiral of the U.S. Navy
Box   7 Folder   16	Personality sketch - NBC, 1945 April 11
Box   7 Folder   17	“The Unseen Force,” by Leahy - U.S. Navy Sea Power magazine, 1945 July
Box   7 Folder   18	The Oregonian - Battle of Santiago, 1989
Box   7 Folder   19	Notes on Yalta Conference for Wisconsin Magazine of History
Box   7 Folder   20	Shipmate, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association
Box   7 Folder   21	“The Navy Today,” by Leahy - The Military Surgeon, 1939
Box   7 Folder   22	Photostat copies of letters
Box   7 Folder   23	Certificates of commissions, appointments, honorary degrees
Box   7 Folder   24	Leahy appointment - newspaper clips
Box   7 Folder   25	Who's Who - transcript of broadcast - WRC, 1943 February 2
Box   7 Folder   26	Notes received while ill, 1949 January
Box   7 Folder   27	Letters forwarded for official action
Box   7 Folder   28-30	Birthdays, 1955-1958
Box   7 Folder   31	Mail resulting from news story, 1958 September 28
Box   7 Folder   32	Notes on Ceylon, 1899
Box   7 Folder   33	Officers of ships on which Leahy served, 1897-1926
Box   8 Folder   42	Correspondence while at Bethesda, from 1956 September 26
Box   8 Folder   43	Stationery used by Leahy
	Invitations
Box   8 Folder   44-48	1944-1948
Box   9 Folder   1-6	1949-1955
Box   10 Folder   1	1956-1959
	Newspaper clippings
Box   10 Folder   2	Ashland, Wisconsin - centennial celebration, 1954 July
Box   10 Folder   3	Miscellaneous
	Series: Speeches	⇧
Box   7 Folder   34	Navy Day - Indianapolis, 1948 October 27
Box   7 Folder   35	University of Wisconsin, 1956 May 6
Box   8 Folder   1	Presentation of a model of USS Wisconsin, 1950 August 15
Box   8 Folder   2	Governor's Day - Ashland, 1948 August 1
Box   8 Folder   3	Wisconsin statehood celebration, 1948 May 29-30
Box   8 Folder   4	Radio speech - Victory Day, 1946 August 14
Box   8 Folder   5	Iowa Society lunch - Washington, D.C., 1946 April 14
Box   8 Folder   6	Dedication of Franklin Delano Roosevelt plaque - St. Thomas Church, 1946 January 6
Box   8 Folder   7	Presentation of citations to combat photographers, 1945 October 25
Box   8 Folder   8	U.S. Naval Academy - 100th anniversary, 1945 October 11
Box   8 Folder   9	Victory over Japan (V-J) Day speeches - MBS and NBC, 1945 August 15
Box   8 Folder   10	Midwest farmer observance - Yankton, South Dakota, 1945 September 3
Box   8 Folder   11	Victory in Europe (V-E) Day - NBC, 1945 May 8
Box   8 Folder   12	Celebration of Wisconsin war heroes, 1946 August 18-19
Box   8 Folder   13	Ashland, Wisconsin, 1950 July
Box   8 Folder   14	Remarks as toastmaster - American Society of Marine Engineers, 1931
Box   8 Folder   15	Minneapolis - radio, 1929 October 28
Box   8 Folder   16	Postgraduate school - Annapolis, Maryland, 1929 February 23
Box   8 Folder   17	Christening of USS Turner, 1945 April 8
Box   8 Folder   18	Speech at President Roosevelt's inaugural dinner, 1945 January 20
Box   8 Folder   19	Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 1944 June
Box   8 Folder   20	Navy Day - Richmond, Virginia, 1943 October 27
Box   8 Folder   21	U.S. military surgeons, 1943 October 22
Box   8 Folder   22	Radio Blue Network, 1943 January 2
Box   8 Folder   23	CBS, 1942 August 9
Box   8 Folder   24	Navy Day - Washington, D.C., 1942 October 27
Box   8 Folder   25	Wisconsin visit, 1943 May
Box   8 Folder   26	Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, 1942 November 13
Box   8 Folder   27	Georgetown University - convocation, 1942 October 17
Box   8 Folder   28	Atlantic Charter Day, 1942 August 14 Language: In French.
Box   8 Folder   29	Taking governorship of Puerto Rico, 1939 September 11
Box   8 Folder   30	Navy League Club - Philadelphia, 1939 January 11
Box   8 Folder   31	Army and Navy dinner, 1939 March 29
Box   8 Folder   32	Speech over CBS, 1939 May 28
Box   8 Folder   33	American Legion, Ashland, Wisconsin, 1938 August 14
Box   8 Folder   34	National Geographic - U.S. Navy eclipse expedition, 1937
Box   8 Folder   35	Navy Day - Atlanta, Georgia, 1937 October 27
Box   8 Folder   36	High school, Wilmington, California, 1936 April 16
	Naval War College
Box   8 Folder   37	1934 May 25
Box   8 Folder   38	1935 May 24
Box   8 Folder   39	Speech to midshipmen - Annapolis, Maryland, 1934 March 18
Box   8 Folder   40	Society of Sponsors - Washington, D.C., 1934 February 9
Box   8 Folder   41	Ashland, Wisconsin - centennial celebration, 1954 July 4
PH 404	Series: Photographs Note: On the occasion of Leahy receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, May 29, 1943, including images of Leahy speaking at the graduation ceremony, watching a parade of Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), posing with University President Dykstra and Governor Goodland, and addressing the Wisconsin legislature.	⇧