Shirley Wilson Collection

MacMullen Library & Research Archives

Processed by Christian Dato and Jennifer Edwards

Maritime Museum of San Diego
1492 N. Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101-3309
Phone: (619) 234-9153
Fax: (619) 234-8345
E-mail: librarian@sdmaritime.org

Descriptive Summary

Creator:
Shirley Wilson

Title:
Shirley Wilson Collection, 1976-1999

Extent:
11 boxes (3 linear feet)

Repository:
MacMullen Library & Research Archives
Maritime Museum of San Diego
San Diego, CA 92101

Language:
English

Access
Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Information
The provenance of the Shirley Wilson Collection is under research.

Biography
Shirley Wilson was born Shirley Haughey in Battle Creek, Michigan. After attending Riverside College in California, she moved to La Jolla, California, where she operated a restaurant, the San Diego Beauty Supply Company, and several beauty salons before marrying San Diego Congressman Bob Wilson. An active member of the community, Shirley Wilson was the sponsor for the USS La Jolla, christening the submarine on August 11, 1979.

Scope and Content
The Shirley Wilson Collection documents its creator’s involvement with the milestones and accomplishments of the nuclear submarine USS La Jolla (SSN-701). It contains La Jolla background research; artifacts of the La Jolla‘s activities in Groton, Connecticut, and San Diego, California; memorabilia and ephemera; biographical information about Bob and Shirley Wilson; and general naval history.

Papers, photographs, and scrapbooks document Wilson’s sponsorship of the submarine and participation in ceremonies for its keel laying in 1976, launching in 1979, and commissioning in 1981. It also contains correspondence and other documentation pertaining to the La Jolla‘s crew. Video and audio cassettes enhance the collection with speech, music, and footage of various ceremonies and events.

The collection also contains reference materials regarding general naval ship history, memorabilia from Navy ceremonies and events, and information about Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the “Father of the Nuclear Navy.”

Organization and Arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following series:
I. La Jolla history and background research
II. USS La Jolla activities and ceremonies in Groton, CN
III. USS La Jolla activities and ceremonies in San Diego, CA
IV. USS La Jolla memorabilia and ephemera
V. Bob and Shirley Wilson biographical information
VI. General naval history

Container List
130.1
Naming of the USS La Jolla (1976)
Correspondence (9/28/1976 – 10/15/1976)
Clippings (n.d.)

130.2
Research on La Jolla history
Correspondence/information packets (7/11/1979 – 7/23/1979, n.d.)
Brochure for Scripps Institute of Oceanography (ca. 1979)

130.3
USS La Jolla keel-laying ceremony (10/16/1976)
Press kit (10/1976)
Introduction by Admiral H.G. Rickover (10/14/1976)
Ceremony materials (program, invitations, guest list, ceremonial envelope)
Clippings/publications (10/17/1976-11/1976)

130.4
Launching of the USS La Jolla (8/11/1979)
Correspondence (8/14/1979-12/10/1979, n.d.)
Bob Wilson speech, “La Jolla Christening”
Ceremony materials (programs, invitation, schedule of operations, guest list, ceremonial envelope)
Commemorative Christmas card

130.5
Launching of the USS La Jolla (8/11/1979)
Photographs
Clippings (8/1979 – 10/1979, n.d.)

130.6
Launching of the USS La Jolla (8/11/1979)
Thank-you letter from Admiral T.B. Hayward (8/10/1979)

130.7
USS La Jolla in Groton, CN (1979-1981)
Correspondence re: plans to port in San Diego (9/16/1980-9/29/1980)
Clippings (7/10/1980 – 11/21/1980, n.d.)
Program for one-month anniversary of crew formation
Photo, birthday ball (1979)
Invitation, change of command ceremony (12/10/1981)

130.8
Commissioning of the USS La Jolla (10/24/1981)
Correspondence (10/21/1981 – 10/28/1981)
Ceremony materials (programs, schedule of operations, invitations, ceremonial envelope)

130.9
Commissioning of the USS La Jolla (10/24/1981)
Photographs
Clippings (5/21/1981 – 11/2/1981, n.d.)

130.10
Operation USS La Jolla, first visit to San Diego (3/20/1982)
Correspondence (3/10/1982)
Donation campaign materials (solicitation letter, donor lists, thank-you certificate)
Event materials (program, flyer, VIP invitation)
Invoices for commemorative materials
Clippings (12/1981 – 3/25/1982)

130.11
Operation USS La Jolla (3/20/1982)
Possible donor mailing list

131.1
Operation USS La Jolla (3/20/1982)
Donor list

131.2
USS La Jolla Open House (3/22/1982 – 3/25/1982)
Invitation letter (1982)
Pamphlet
Clippings (3/26/1982 – 4/15/1982)

131.3
Commemorative bell and tea set (1982)
Correspondence (6/4/1980 – 9/15/1981)
Bell specifications and care instructions
Invoice (9/15/1981)
Clippings (1/1980, n.d.)

131.4
USS La Jolla in San Diego (1982-1998)
Letter to the editor (Shirley Wilson) (11/24/1996)
Change of command ceremony invitations (3/4/1988 – 1/16/1991)
Change of command ceremony mailing lists (7/15/1998)
Photograph, signed by Commanding Officer J.A. Fischbeck (9/23/1988)
Clippings (4/1/1982 – 2/1985)

131.5
Correspondence between USS La Jolla personnel and Mrs. Shirley Wilson (3/24/1980 – 7/19/1998, n.d.)

131.6
USS La Jolla museum proposal
Correspondence (9/20/1997)
San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum application packet
Clipping, USS Midway museum (2/3/1998)

131.7
Sheet music
“USS La Jolla March,” to Shirley Wilson from Bill Middendorf (8/11/1979)
“La Jolla (The Jewel),” from Avanti Travel of La Jolla (7/20/1980)
“La Jolla (The Jewel),” to Shirley Wilson from composer Harry Berman (n.d.)

131.8
Photographs of USS La Jolla memorabilia + inventory list

131.9
USS La Jolla ephemera/memorabilia

131.10
Misc. official correspondence (2/5/1980 – 1/20/1986, n.d.)

131.11
Wilson biographies
Biography of Mrs. Shirley Wilson
Biography of Rep. Bob Wilson

131.12
Art sales research

131.13
General reference materials
“Nuclear Powered Submarines of the U.S. Navy,” (ca. 1976)
Transcript of speech for Society of Sponsors by Rear Admiral Kane (1980)
“United States Submarine Data Book,” Submarine Force Library & Museum (1984)
“Ships of the United States Navy: Christening, Launching and Commissioning,” Department of the Navy (n.d.)

131.14
Admiral H.G. Rickover
Correspondence (3/4/1976)
Speech transcript (5/27/1976)
“Salute to Admiral Hyman G. Rickover” program (n.d.)
Clippings (8/25/1981 – 9/23/1986, n.d.)
Reference documents, conservation of signed Rickover photograph (1999)

131.15
Ceremony and event materials not pertaining to USS La Jolla (#1)
Programs (6/26/1971 – 10/24/1991)

131.16
Ceremony and event materials not pertaining to USS La Jolla (#2)
Invitations (1/21/1954 – 6/27/1997, n.d.)
Clipping (12/7/1990)
Inventory list

132.1
Scrapbook, USS La Jolla Keel Laying Ceremony, 10/16/1976
Correspondence (9/22/1976 – 12/20/1976)
Press release
Speech transcripts
Itineraries/schedules
Photographs
Clippings (9/23/1976 – 11/4/1976, n.d.)
Ephemera
Misc. clippings, not related to Keel Laying (7/8/1977-12/25/1980)

133.1
Scrapbook, “USS La Jolla (SSN 701) Keel Laying, October 16, 1976, Congressman and Mrs. Bob Wilson”
Ceremony materials (invitation, program)
Photographs

133.2
Scrapbook, USS La Jolla Launching, 8/11/1979
Correspondence (4/12/1979-10/16)
Ceremony materials (invitation, programs, ceremonial envelopes)
Clippings (5/17/1979 – 10/1979 , n.d.)
Ephemera

134.1
Scrapbook, USS La Jolla Launching, 8/11/1979
Correspondence (5/22/1979 – 11/6/1979)
Photographs, personal and USS La Jolla

134.2
Scrapbook, “Oct. 24, 1981”
Correspondence (11/10/1981)
Photographs

135.1
Scrapbook, “March 1982”
Photographs, commemorative bell presentation, views of La Jolla

135.2
Scrapbook, “USS La Jolla, 1985-1988″
Correspondence (2/17/85-11/1/93, n.d.)
Change of command ceremony materials (4/19/1985-1/16/1991)
“Ode to USS La Jolla SSN 701″
“The La Jolla Newsletter” (October 1989)
Photographs
Clippings (2/21/85, n.d.)

136.1
Scrapbook, “USS La Jolla, 1990s”
Correspondence (9/23/1991 – 12/12/1995, n.d.)
Change of command ceremony materials, (1/16/1991 – 5/13/1993)
“The La Jolla Jewels” newsletter, May 1992, July 1992
Photographs
Clippings (5/13/1993)

136.2
Scrapbook, “USS La Jolla From Dec. ’96 to 2000″
Correspondence (4/14/1997 – 12/1999, n.d.)
Change of command ceremony materials, USS La Jolla (12/12/1996 – 7/15/1998)
Change of command ceremony materials, other (5/13/1997-6/27/1997)
Commander Michael McLaughlin biography (6/24/1999)
Bob Wilson obituary (8/14/1999)
USS La Jolla Family Gram newsletter (August 1997, November 1997)
“USS La Jolla SSN 701″ web page printout
Photographs
Misc. event invitations
Clippings (7/26/1997 – 8/12/1999, n.d.)

137.1
Scrapbook, “Admiral H.G. Rickover”
Correspondence (3/3/1978 – 9/1/1980
Launching Hyman G. Rickover, SSN-709, programs, 8/27/1983
Speech manuscripts
“Welcome Aboard USS La Jolla” brochure
Photographs
Clippings 4/1982, n.d.

137.2
Scrapbook, “Keel laying, USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN 685)” (6/5/1971)
Photographs

138.1
Scrapbook
Clippings (9/23/1976 – 4/15/1982)

138.2
“Plank Owner” certificate presented to Shirley Wilson (10/24/1981)

139.1
Film
Launching sequence of SSN-701 through SSN-709

139.2
Envelope of slides, views of La Jolla

139.3
Misc. photo negatives

140.1
Film
U.S.S. La Jolla, 10/16/1976

140.2
Audiotape (1/4-inch)
unlabeled

140.3
Videotape (VHS)
“Launching, 8/11/1979, Keel Laying, 10/16/1976, Keel Laying (soundtrack only), Change of Command, 3/4/1988”

140.4
Videotape (VHS)
“Seapower: 688 Class Launchings, Electric Boat,” Prod. # VO415.3, 10 mins, n.d.

140.5
Audio cassette
“USS La Jolla March by J.W. Middendorf II, recorded by the U.S. Navy Band, 1979”

140.6
Audio cassette
“Admiral Rickover talks about Bob Wilson, S.D. Rotary, 2/10/1977”

140.7
Audio cassette
“SSN701 La Jolla Keel Laying”

140.8
Audio cassette
“Questions and Answers, Iowa Battleships”

Subjects
Wilson, Shirley
Wilson, Bob
Rickover, Hyman G.
U.S.S. La Jolla (SSN-701)
General Dynamics Corporation
Nuclear submarines – History