U.S.S. Bennington (PG-4)

The Burke Everett Bodwell Sr Collection U.S.S. Bennington (PG-4)

MacMullen Library & Research Archives

Processed by Joseph Cottingham

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

Descriptive Summary

Creator:
Burke Everett Bodwell: Seaman aboard the U.S.S. Bennington

Title:
The Burke Everett Bodwell Sr. Collection: U.S.S. Bennington (PG-4) and related documentation, 1896-1957

Extent:
4 linear feet, 3 archival boxes and 1 newspaper box

Repository:
MacMullen Library & Research Archives
Maritime Museum of San Diego
1492 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
E-mail: librarian@sdmaritime.org
URL:http://www.sdmaritime.org

Language:
English

Administrative Information

Access
Collection is open for research

Acquisition Information
The collection was received by the Maritime Museum of San Diego in 2008.

Biographical note:
Burke Everett Bodwell (B.E. Bodwell) was born 1881, in Omaha, Nebraska. Bodwell enlisted in the United States Navy on October 15, 1901 in Omaha, Nebraska. His term of enlistment was over on October 28, 1905 and Bodwell received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. Seaman Bodwell was assigned to the U.S.S. Bennington on March 17, 1903, as an Apprentice Third Class. On July 21, 1905, the Bennington suffered a violent boiler explosion while moored in the harbor at San Diego, California. Bodwell died in 1968.

Historical note:
The U.S.S. Bennington was a 1700-ton Yorktown class gunboat. The Bennington was built in Chester, Pennsylvania and commissioned June 1891. The vessel’s cruise history included service in the Caribbean and South America (1891-1892), an Atlantic crossing and European service through February 1893 before departure to the Western Hemisphere. In late 1893, the Bennington returned to Mediterranean waters for a time, and then went back to the Western Hemisphere for deployments on the west coasts of North and South America. During the Spanish-American War the Bennington protected U.S. people and property in Hawaii and California. In 1898, the Bennington spent time in the Far East with visits to Wake Island, Japan and China. During the Far East tour the gunboat saw combat in the Philippines and returned to the west coast of the United States in 1901.

The Bennington was decommissioned in late 1901, underwent an overhaul and was recommissioned in March 1903. The Bennington was assigned to the Pacific Ocean in 1904 and saw service along the west coast of the Americas ranging from Alaska to South America, including a trip to Hawaii during spring 1905. After returning to the West Coast the Bennington made port in San Diego, California during July 1905. As the Bennington was preparing to leave San Diego harbor on July 21, 1905, the vessel suffered a deadly boiler explosion. The resulting loss of life was horrific, 65 of the crew were killed and numerous injured. Soon after the accident the Bennington was pushed into shallow water by a tugboat, which saved the vessel from being a total loss. The U.S.S. Bennington was raised and towed to Mare Island Navy Yard in San Francisco but never repaired and decommissioned October 1905. The vessel was sold in November 1910.

Scope and content:
The Burke Everett Bodwell Sr. Collection, U.S.S. Bennington (PG-4), dated 1896-1957, consists of items collected by seaman Bodwell and his family, which include an original Bennington crew muster roll, photographic albums entitledScenes in the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Hawaiian Islands and Scenes Relating to Soldiers and Pacific Squadron 1904, single and group photographs of Burke Everett Bodwell and Bennington crew members, a book entitled U.S. Naval Training Station, Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, CA, correspondence requesting the city of San Diego to memorialize the date of the Bennington disaster, manuscripts including the Circular Letter No. 3 to the Surviving Bennington Crew and The Third Annual Directory of the Surviving Bennington Crew and period newspapers,The Omaha Daily News and The Evening World-Herald dated July 21, 22, 24 and 31, 1905 detailing the disaster.

Personal items of Burke Everett Bodwell including a naval landsman and apprentice guide, several artifacts including a piece of the Bennington boiler, a Bennington hat band, United Spanish War Veteran 1898-1902 lapel pin and large sheet metal cross and personal papers including U.S.S. Bennington, Station Billet Cards for B.E. Bodwell, Apprentice 2nd class, U.S. Navy discharge papers and pension documents.

Organization and Arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following series:
Series I – Records and Logs
Series II – Photograph Albums, Sub-series Photographs
Series III – Manuscripts and Books
Series IV – Correspondence
Series V – Clippings: Newspapers and Magazines – Circa 1905, Sub-series – Circa 1940-1942
Series – VI Personal Items
Series VII – Ephemera
Series VIII – Objects

Container List

AO216.01 Series I – Records and Logs (1905)

AO216.01.01
Muster Roll of the Crew of the U.S.S. Bennington (September 30, 1905 – October 1905)
1 book – 18 pages
Official log of the Bennington crew listing the individuals by name, rating, date of enlistment, enlistment expiration, pay rate, citizenship, arrival date on the Bennington and final disposition of each crew member.

AO216.02 Series II – Photograph Albums (1904-1905)

AO216.02.01
Scenes in the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Hawaiian Islands and Scenes Relating to Solders (no date)
1 album, contains 208 black and white photographs of scenes and soldiers from San Francisco, CA, the Presidio Area
Published by H.H. Stratton

AO216.02.02
Pacific Squadron (1904)
1 unbound album, contains 10 black and white photographs of vessel in the Pacific Squadron
Photographs including Rear Admiral Henry Glass, Flagship New York, U.S.S. Wyoming, U.S.S. Boston, U.S.S.Marblehead, U.S.S. Concord, U.S.S. Bennington, U.S.S. Petrel, U.S.S. Paul Jones and U.S.S. Prebel

AO216.02.03
Photograph album with 79 black and white photographs (1905)
11 photographs of U.S.S. Bennington, 6 photos of barracks in San Diego, 7 photos of various personnel on base in barracks, 1 photo of Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Peck, 20 photos of U.S.S. Bennington personnel, 3 photos of burial of the crew, 1 photo of Burke E. Bodwell, 22 photos of Bennington crew members and miscellaneous photographs of other navel vessels.

Sub-series – Photographs – U.S. Naval Ships

AO216.02.04
U.S.S. Brooklyn (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the light cruiser U.S.S. Brooklyn, commissioned 1937 at rest on the ocean

AO216.02.05
Battleship Firing Broadside (1940s)
Black and white photograph of two unknown battleships firing a barrage from the big guns in a convoy

AO216.02.06
U.S.S. Farragut (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the destroyer U.S.S. Farragut, commissioned 1934, underway on the ocean

AO216.02.07
U.S. Destroyers Long and Wasmuth (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the U.S.S. Destroyers Long (commissioned 1919) and Wasmuth (commissioned 1921) underway in rough seas

AO216.02.08
U.S.S. Lexington (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington, commissioned 1943, underway on the ocean

AO216.02.09
U.S.S. Quincy (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Quincy, commissioned 1936, underway on the ocean

AO216.02.10
U.S.S. Omaha (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the light cruiser U.S.S. Omaha, commissioned 1923, at rest on the ocean

AO216.02.11
U.S.S. Idaho (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the battleship U.S.S. Idaho, commissioned 1919, at anchor in harbor

AO216.02.12
U.S.S. St. Louis (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the light cruiser U.S.S. St Louis, commissioned 1939, at rest on the ocean

AO216.02.13
U.S.S. Wasp (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp, commissioned 1940, at rest on the ocean

AO216.02.14
U.S.S. New York (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the battleship U.S.S. New York, commissioned 1914, at rest in the harbor

AO216.02.15
U.S.S. California (in heavy seas) (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the battleship U.S.S. California, commissioned 1921, underway in heavy seas

AO216.02.16
U.S.S. Ranger (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ranger, commissioned 1934, at rest on the ocean

AO216.02.17
U.S.S. Yorktown (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Yorktown, commissioned 1943, at anchor in the harbor

AO216.02.18
U.S.S. Houston (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Houston, commissioned 1930, underway on the ocean

AO216.02.19
U.S.S. Wyoming (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the battleship U.S.S. Wyoming, commissioned 1912, at rest in the harbor

AO216.02.20
U.S.S. Balch (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the destroyer U.S.S. Balch, commissioned 1936, at rest on the ocean

AO216.02.21
U.S.S. Henderson (1940s)
Black and white photograph of the troop transport U.S.S. Henderson, commissioned 1917, underway on the ocean

U.S.S. Bennington: Officers and Crew

AO216.02.22
Crew of the U.S.S. Bennington (no date)
Black and white photograph of the U.S.S. Bennington crew on board the vessel

AO216.02.23
Crew of the U.S.S. Wyoming (no date)
Black and white photograph of the crew of the U.S.S. Wyoming on board the vessel

AO216.02.24
Ships of the Pacific Squadron (no date)
Black and white photograph of the ships in the Pacific Squadron including the U.S.S. Bennington
Fitch Studio of San Diego, CA

AO216.02.25
Gunnery crew of the U.S.S. Bennington (1903)
Black and white photograph of the gunnery crew on the U.S.S. Bennington with a handwritten inscription that identifies the crew members in the photograph including R. Christianson, J.J. Clausey, F. Merrdith, R. Nicholson, J. Thomas, R.E. Davis and L. Placet
Pitken Studio, Vallejo, CA

AO216.02.26
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of a U.S.S. Bennington crew member with a handwritten inscription that identifies the individual as Bennington sailor

AO216.02.27
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of an unknown U.S.S. Bennington crew member
Chas. McMillan Studio, Vallejo, California

AO216.02.28
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of a U.S.S. Bennington crew member with a handwritten inscription that identifies the individual as Taylor
Faber Studio, Blair, Nebraska

AO216.02.29
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of an unknown U.S.S. Bennington crew member
Rembrandt Studio, San Francisco, California

AO216.02.30
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of an unknown U.S.S. Bennington crew member
Chas. McMillan Studio, Vallejo, California

AO216.02.31
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of an unknown U.S.S. Bennington crew member with a handwritten inscription that identifies the individual as Bennington sailor
Rembrandt Studio, San Francisco, California

AO216.02.32 and AO216.02.33
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Two black and white photographs of an unknown U.S.S. Bennington crew member
A.F. Miller Studio, Bremerton, Washington

AO216.02.34
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of an unknown U.S.S. Bennington crew member
Baldwin Studio, San Francisco, California

AO216.02.35
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of an unknown U.S.S. Bennington crew member
Lenz Studio, San Francisco, California

AO216.02.36
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of an unknown U.S.S. Bennington crew member
Lenz Studio, San Francisco, California

AO216.02.37
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (1905, July 07)
Black and white photograph of an unknown U.S.S. Bennington crew member
Art Studio, Honolulu, Hawaii

AO216.02.38
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of a U.S.S. Bennington crew member with a handwritten inscription that identifies the individual as G.F. Smith
Rembrandt Studio, San Francisco, California

AO216.02.39
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of a U.S.S. Bennington crew member with a handwritten inscription that identifies the individual as R.L. Savage
Glover Studio, San Diego, California

AO216.02.40

U.S.S. Bennington crew members (no date)
Black and white photograph of two U.S.S. Bennington crew members with a handwritten inscription that identifies one individual as R.D. Shire

AO216.02.41
U.S.S. Bennington crew member (no date)
Black and white photograph of a U.S.S. Bennington crew member identified by family members as Burke E. Bodwell
Rembrandt Studio, San Francisco, CA

AO216.02.42
U.S.S. Bennington steam boiler (no date)
Black and white photograph of the U.S.S. Bennington boiler after the explosion

AO216.02.43
Officers and Crew of U.S.S. Bennington (1903)
Black and white photograph of the officers and crew of U.S.S. Bennington onboard the vessel, taken in San Diego, CA, with a handwritten inscription that identifies several officers and crew members in the photograph including an arrow, pointing to Burke E. Bodwell

AO216.02.44
Apprentices of U.S.S. Bennington (1903)
Black and white photograph of the apprentices of U.S.S. Bennington onboard the vessel, with a handwritten inscription that lists the names of the crew members in the photograph including Burke E. Bodwell and bears his signature
Pitken Studio, Vallejo, CA

AO216.03 Series III – Manuscripts and Books (1898-1908)

AO216.03.01
U.S. Naval Training Station, Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, CA (1901)
1 book (42 pages)
Book contains a list of the officers and attaches from August 1901and approximately 40 photographs including officers and instructors, recruit activities, training and exercises, naval training station, Yerba Buena Island and the steam launch, Lark
Author: Captain Henry Glass, Commandant
Published by Willeford and Winchell

AO216.03.02
Some Useful Information for Landsmen and Apprentices of the United States Navy (no date)
1 book (18 pages)
The book contains nine general apprentice rules to follow, plus numerous tables and basic information about compass points, signal codes, logging weather conditions and fathom depth.
Published by United States Navy

AO216.03.03
By-Laws of the National Association of Navy and Marine Veterans of the Spanish-American War-1898-1902 (no date)
1 typewritten document (3 pages), includes Articles I through IX of the organization includes the purpose, structure, duties, finances, meeting schedule and rules of order
Published by: National Association of Navy and Marine Veterans of the Spanish-American War

AO216.03.04
Circular Letter No. 3 to the Surviving Bennington Crew (no date)
1 printed document (1 page), accompanied the current copy of the Bennington survivors list. The author explains the list is incomplete because many survivors have not kept in contact
Author: F.J. Schopbach

AO216.03.05
The Third Annual Directory of the Surviving Bennington Crew (no date)
1 printed document (1 page), the annual Bennington survivors list, document contains the names and addresses of known survivors, survivors not reporting and survivors that have passed away

AO216.04 Series IV – Correspondence (1952-1957)

AO216.04.01
Letter from Robert J. Mills to Frank E. Curran (1957)
1 handwritten letter (1 page), to Frank E. Curran, San Diego Vice-Mayor from Robert J. Mills, Past National Commander, requesting the City of San Diego set aside July 21, of each year as a day to commemorate the sinking of the U.S.S. Bennington in San Diego Harbor
Author: Robert J. Mills

AO216.04.02
Letter from Frank E. Curran to Robert J. Mills (1957)
1 typewritten letter (1 page), from Vice-Mayor Curran to Robert Mills explaining the request to recognize the Bennington disaster sent to Mayor Dail and the City Council for consideration
Author: Frank E. Curran

AO216.04.03
Letter from Robert J. Mills to Frank E. Curran (1957)
1 typewritten letter (1 page), from Robert Mills to Vice-Mayor Curran asking if any action has been taken to his request to recognize the sinking of the U.S.S. Bennington.
Author: Robert J. Mills

AO216.04.04
Letter from Robert J. Mills to Pacific Coast Division shipmates (1952)
1 typewritten letter (1 page), from Robert Mills, Division Commander, Pacific Coast Division of the National Association of Navy and Marine Veterans of the Spanish-American War to shipmates announcing the date, time and location of the upcoming reunion
Author: Robert J. Mills

AO216.05 Series V – Clippings: Newspapers and Magazines – Circa 1905

AO216.05.01
U.S. Gunboat Is Blown Up (1905, July 21)
1 newspaper (4 pages), contains an article detailing the U.S.S. Bennington boiler explosion on the day it happened includes estimates of dead and injured and a short description of the scene Published by: Omaha Daily News: Last Edition, Omaha, Nebraska

AO216.05.02
The People Will Want To Know Why Unsafe Boilers Were Used on the Bennington (1905, July 22)
1 newspaper (10 pages), contains an article featuring an official list of dead from the U.S.S. Bennington disaster. The article states that boiler was “regarded as unsafe” (page 2).
Published by: Omaha Daily News: Last Edition, Omaha, Nebraska

AO216.05.03
Commander Young A Man Of Nerve (1905, July 24)
1 newspaper (4 pages), contains an article featuring a narrative of Commander Young’s narrow escapes from disasters during his naval career including being ashore during the recent boiler explosion on the Bennington
Published by: Omaha Daily News: Last Edition, Omaha, Nebraska

AO216.05.04
Blown Up By The Bennington and Maine This Darky Is Still Very Much Alive (1905, July 31)
1 newspaper (4 pages), contains an article about J. H. Turpin, an Afro-American gunner’s mate that survived the U.S.S. Bennington and Maine disasters and lived to tell about them
Published by: Omaha Daily News: Last Edition, Omaha, Nebraska

AO216.05.05
Blown Up On Gunboat: Fifty United States Seaman Hurled To Destruction by the Bursting of Boiler on the Bennington(1905, July 21)
1 newspaper (4 pages), contains an article about the U.S.S. Bennington disaster featuring an in-depth narrative of the minutes just before the explosion and its aftermath
Published by: The Evening World-Herald: Extra, Omaha, Nebraska

AO216.05.06
The Disabled Bennington As She Lay Beached At San Diego After The Explosion Of July 21, 1905 (1905, July 21)
1 newspaper clipping, features pictures of the vessel that show the pumping out of the engine-room to facilitate removal of the dead and a view of a disabled starboard gun

Sub-series – Circa 1940-1942

AO216.05.07
Battle of the Atlantic (1941, May 18)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a large map of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding continents, with keys showing British flying boat and destroyer patrols, troop movements, German bases and U.S. Air and Naval bases.
Published by: Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, Magazine Edition, Lincoln, Nebraska

AO216.05.08
War: United States Meets Japanese Challenge in the Battle of the Pacific
(1941, December 21)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a large map of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding continents (North America, China and Australia)
Published by: Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, Magazine Edition, Lincoln, Nebraska

AO216.05.09
Jeweled Battleground (1941, December 28)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a large map of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the South China Sea and the surrounding countries including China, Australia, Philippines, Japan, Borneo, New Guinea and various South Sea Islands
Published by: Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, Magazine Edition, Lincoln, Nebraska

AO216.05.10
World at War: Every Continent-Every Ocean is Involved in this Battle to Keep Freedom for All (1942, January 04)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a large map of the world and all continents, keys include Allies and Axis bases for the United States, British, Dutch, Russian, Germany, Italy and Japan, plus various tables
Published by: Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, Magazine Edition, Lincoln, Nebraska

AO216.05.11
War Book (1942, February 15)
1 special edition newspaper (16 pages), includes a chronicle of World War II battle fronts including maps, narrative, plus facts and figure.
Published by: Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, War Book, Lincoln, Nebraska

AO216.05.12
Riches of the Indies (1942, February 22)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a large map of Dutch East Indies, plus southern China and northern Australia with illustrated keys to the resources of the islands and Allied naval and air bases and Japanese bases. An article entitledSend More Japs, by Martin Burden, features a short history of the U.S. Marines
Published by: Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, Magazine Edition, Lincoln, Nebraska

AO216.05.13
Alaska Frontier of Defense Outpost for Attack (1942, March 08)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a large map of Alaska and Aleutian Islands and their proximity to Japan, China and Soviet Russia.
Published by: Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, Magazine Edition, Lincoln, Nebraska

AO216.05.14
Australia’s Armageddon (1942, March 29)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a large map of Australia, the Dutch East India islands and New Zealand, plus a short insert that describes Australia’s preparations to repel a Japanese invasion if the need arises
Published by: Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, Magazine Edition, Lincoln, Nebraska

AO216.05.15
Dutch East Indies: Look’s War Map of the World’s richest islands showing their position in U.S.-Japanese Relations(1940, July 16)
Author: Don Wharton, Look magazine
1 magazine (4 pages) describes the Dutch East Indies natural resources and their importance to Japan’s war efforts

AO216.05.16
American War Planes (1942, January 11)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes pictures and descriptions of the North American B-25, Douglas A20B, and Republic P-47B, Republic P-43 Lancer, Bell P-39 and Curtiss P-40 D war planes
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.05.17
America – The Real Center of the World Today (1942, January 11)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a color-coded map of Axis and Allied powers
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.05.18
New World Map of Continental Asia from Serbia to Singapore (1942, January 18)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a map illustrating the affects of the war
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.05.19
Air Roads Over the Roof of the World (1942, January 25)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a map illustrating flight routes and distances
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.05.20
New War Map of the Pacific Ocean and Its Strategic Islands (1942, February 08)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a map illustrating all the principal islands, the country of control and current borders
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.05.21
War Map of Java, Heart of Netherlands Indies (1942, February 15)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a modern map of Java (Netherlands possession), with cities, roads, railways and square miles
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.05.22
Loyal South America (1942, February 22)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a map of South America showing the 10 republics in the country and their alliances to Allied or Axis powers
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.05.23
New Map of Sumatra and Indies War Zone (1942, March 01)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a map of Indo-China, Japan, Philippines, Java, Sumatra and Borneo
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.05.24
Burma – The Key to China and India (1942, March 15)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a map of Burma and bordering countries
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.05.25
West Indies – Hunting Grounds of Enemy Submarines (1942, March 22)
1 newspaper (2 pages), includes a map of the Caribbean islands in relation to Florida, Central and South America, features air miles and keys for Allied naval bases
Published by: Chicago Sunday Tribune: Graphic Edition, Chicago, Illinois

AO216.06 Series VI – Personal Items
Burke E. Bodwell personal papers (1905-1926)

AO216.06.01 and AO216.06.02
U.S.S. Bennington, Station Billet Cards (no date)
2 identification cards, issued to B.E. Bodwell, Apprentice, 2nd class seaman, U.S.S. Bennington
Origin: United States Navy

AO216.06.03
Department of Navy, Bureau of Equipment PASS (no date)
1 identification card, issued to Burke E. Bodwell, seaman on the U.S.S. Bennington to gain access to the Navy Yard at Mare Island
Origin: United States Navy

AO216.06.04
Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy (1905, October 23)
1 document, honorable discharge document for Burke E. Bodwell includes enlistment record, physical description and pay grade
Origin: United States Navy

AO216.06.05
United States of America, Bureau of Pensions, No. 1279736 (1926, January 25)
1 pension document for Burke E. Bodwell, Apprentice Third Class in The U.S. Navy and entitled to a pension of $18.00 per month to commence September 21, 1925
Origin: Department of Interior

AO216.07 Series VII – Ephemera (1905-1940s)

AO216.07.01
War Map of the Pacific and Far East (1940s)
1 document (2 pages) with a color map showing the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding continents and includes a legend that identifies occupation forces and military bases for the United States, Britain, Russia and Japan. The reverse side features pictures of United States naval vessels and aircraft in use during World War II
Published by: Skelly Oil Company

AO216.07.02
War Map of the World (1940s)
1 document (2 pages) with 3 color maps, maps of the world, Pacific, Far East and Mediterranean area that identify major oceans, continents, countries and islands and feature legends that highlight Allied and Axis nations, occupied territory and neutral nations
Published by: Skelly Oil Company

AO216.07.03
The Bennington After the Boiler Explosion, July 21 (copyright 1905)
1 postcard, features a picture of the damaged vessel with salvage barge and personnel along side
Published by: Special View Company, Los Angeles

AO216.07.04
Bennington Disaster (No. 1) (copyright 1905)
1 postcard, features three pictures including The Main Deck After Explosion, the damaged U.S.S. Bennington and The Surviving Crew onboard the vessel
Published by: Special View Company, Los Angeles

AO216.07.05
Bennington After the Boiler Explosion, July 21: Bennington Disaster (No. 2) (copyright 1905)
1 postcard, features three pictures including mass grave The Last Rites at Fort Rosecrans, the damaged U.S.S. Bennington and The Survivor of the Maine and Bennington (Afro-American Seaman Turpin)
Published by: Special View Company, Los Angeles

AO216.07.06
Ladies’ Home Journal (1918, November)
1 document (2 pages) with 2 reproductions of copyright color photographs of the officers and crew of the U.S.S.Pennsylvania and the 14 inch guns on the U.S.S. Arizona
Photographer: E. Muller Jr. (New York)

Series VIII – Objects Burke E. Bodwell personal objects (1905)

A0216.08.03
Paper Note Card (no date)
1 paper note card with an inscription B.E. Bodwell – Seaman, handwritten in the upper margin. A note explains the pin that was attached to the card “is an emblem of membership of the survivors of the explosion of boilers on board U.S.S.Bennington at San Diego Harbor, July twenty-first, nineteen hundred and five”
Author: F. J. Schopbach, Secretary of the Survivors of the U.S.S. Bennington

2008.116.001
U.S.S. Bennington Hat Band (1903)
Seaman Bodwell’s black fabric band with gold block print U.S.S. Bennington
Origin: United States Navy

2008.116.002
Lapel Pin: United Spanish War Veteran 1898-1902 (no date)
Seaman Bodwell’s lapel pin with screw on back piece that contains an inscription that reads United Spanish War Veteran 1898-1902
Origin: National Association of Navy and Marine Veterans of the Spanish-American War-1898-1902

2008.116.003
Sheet Metal Cross: United Spanish War Veteran 1898-1902 (no date)
Seaman Bodwell’s large sheet metal cross, with an inscription that reads United Spanish War Veteran 1898-1902
Origin: National Association of Navy and Marine Veterans of the Spanish-American War-1898-1902

2008.116.004
U.S.S. Bennington Boiler Scrap (1905)
Seaman Bodwell’s personal metal boilers scrap from the U.S.S. Bennington
Origin: United States Navy

Subjects
U.S.S. Bennington
Bodwell, Burke E.
Bodwell, Lindsay