Harry W. Ross papers

Abstract

The Harry W. Ross papers (dated 1852-1977, bulk 1911-1945; 1.2 cubic feet; 5 boxes) comprise correspondence, literary manuscripts, photographs, newspaper clippings, engineering notebooks, books, and realia that document his service in both World War I and World War II as well as on board the Nautilus submarine expedition to the Arctic in 1931.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Harry W. Ross papers
Date
1852-1977 (inclusive)
1911-1945 (bulk)
Extent
1.2 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Submarines (Ships)
World War, 1914-1918.
World War, 1939-1945.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format.
Finding Aid Author
Carol Street
Preferred Citation
1997ms262 : [identification of item], Harry W. Ross papers, 1852-1977, bulk 1911-1945, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Harry William Ross (1889-1969) graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1911 with an ensign's commission. He was then attached to the Destroyers and Battleships Division of the U.S. Navy, where he served on board numerous ships. In 1914 he took part in the occupation of Vera Cruz while on the USS Florida. Later he participated in the occupation of Nicaraugua. He served as lieutenant, junior grade, on submarines and mine sweepers in the North Sea during World War I. He also served as a lieutenant commander during World War II, serving in the European Theater particularly Italy, Algiers, and Morocco. His most notable ship experience was likely his participation as an executive officer of the Nautilus submarine transarctic exploration expedition led by Sir Hubert Wilkins (1888-1958) in 1931. The private Polar expedition was headed by Wilkins and assisted by the U.S. Navy. It employed a 150 foot long 0-12 reconverted Simon Lake Class submarine named the Nautilus. The vessel was equipped with runners on its top surface to coast along beneath the ice. In late August, 1931 the expedition's attempt to reach the North Pole was aborted after a damaged horizontal diving plane prevented the ship from diving deep enough to avoid submerged obstructions. On orders from the Department of the Navy, the Nautilus was sunk off the coast of Norway in September, 1931. While the Nautilus experienced difficulties that forced them to turn around before reaching the North Pole, it was the furthest any submarine had traversed at that time. During the expedition numerous scientific experiments were conducted and ice core samples taken.
Between active duty in military operations, Ross worked as a printmaker and newspaper compositor. He learned the trade at a young age from his grandfather, who was a printmaker. He retired from the composing room of the Washington Post newspaper in 1965. He served in an official role in the East New York Post 65 of the Jewish War Veterans. He was married to Sybil Lippmann Ross (b. 1898) and they had two children, Babette Ross (1921-2010) and Marvin Ross (1924-1979).
Scope and Content
The Harry W. Ross papers (dated 1852-1977, bulk 1911-1945; 1.2 cubic feet; 5 boxes) comprise correspondence, literary manuscripts, photographs, newspaper clippings, engineering notebooks, books, and realia that document his service in both World War I and World War II as well as on board the Nautilus submarine expedition to the Arctic in 1931. Ross' long military career is represented by service assignments, discharges, and health records during World War I and World War II. There are also U.S. Navy and War Department publications, news releases, and D-Day invasion maps. Realia includes medals, ribbons, bars, whistle, magnifying glass, sewing kit, and other items related to his uniform. Ross wrote stories about his time in the service, which are reflected in his 1919 column in the New York American titled "Sailing the Ocean Blue! Tales of a Luckless Gob". Also in the collection are short stories and poems written by Ross.
His correspondence is primarily professional and pertains to deployments and the Nautilus expedition. The Nautilus is represented with papers, notebooks, photographs, and clippings regarding the expedition. Reference material include books and tools that Ross used for navigation. Of partifular interest is a well-worn copy of The Kedge-Anchor or Sailor's Assistant by William Brady in 1852. A note included with the volume, which is missing its covers, describes it as a book Ross treated like a Bible. Photographs in the collection portray Ross on board ships and submarines, as well as on land visiting sites after the war.
His later wife, Eve Ross, wrote numerous letters on behalf of securing a place for Harry's papers after his death; those letters are included in the collection and explain the collection's dates following Ross' death.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Contents of the Collection

Literary manuscripts, 1919-1944, undated

"Sailing the Ocean Blue! The Letters of a Luckless Gob", 1919

  • Box 1, folder 1
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"The Case of the Case of Field Rations", 1944

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Lady Luck, undated

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Poetry, undated

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Manuscript notes, undated

  • Box 1, folder 5
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Correspondence and personal papers, 1923-1977

Membership cards, financial records, ship tag, newsletter, United Synagogue of America convention report, 1932-1977

  • Box 1, folder 6
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Professional correspondence, 1923-1958

  • Box 1, folder 7
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Personal correspondence, 1931-1958

  • Box 1, folder 8
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Eve Ross correspondence, 1963-1977

  • Box 1, folder 9
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Lady Wilkins correspondence, 1959-1960

  • Box 1, folder 10
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Rubber address stamp, undated

  • Box 5
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Military service and work at sea, 1907-1959, undated

Service records, 1923-1949

  • Box 1, folder 11
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Medical records, 1943-1945

  • Box 1, folder 12
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Ship: U.S.S. Ohio, 1907

  • Box 1, folder 13
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Ship: U.S.S. Barne, 1944

  • Box 1, folder 15
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Ship: S.S. Betty Zane (Liberty ship), 1943

  • Box 1, folder 14
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Ship: S.S. Ville D'Anvers menus, 1943

  • Box 1, folder 16
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Ship: S. S. Henry Jocelyn correspondence, timesheets, 1944

  • Box 1, folder 17
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Steamship Charles Piez logbook cover (contents missing), undated

  • Box 1, folder 17
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U.S. Navy and War Department publications and letterhead, 1941-1959

  • Box 1, folder 18
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Pilot chart of the North Atlantic Ocean, 1941

  • Box 1, folder 19
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WWII D-Day invasion maps and tactical maps for the Pacific, 1944

  • Box 1, folder 20
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U.S. Navy discharge certificate, 1924

  • Box 5, folder 1
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Whistle, undated

  • Box 5
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Sewing and mending kit, undated

  • Box 5
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U.S. Navy uniform details (buttons, insignias, bars, epaulets), undated

  • Box 5
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U.S. and State of New York WWI medals, 1917-1919

  • Box 5
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U.S. Navy Mexican Revolution medal, undated

  • Box 5
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Magnifying lens, undated

  • Box 5
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Jewish War Veteran medal, undated

  • Box 5
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Bullet, undated

  • Box 5
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Name tag, undated

  • Box 5
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Palm guards (four) used for sewing sail cloth, undated

  • Box 5
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Nautilus expedition, 1927-1976, undated

Nautilus expedition letterhead, undated

  • Box 1, folder 21
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Arctic basin maps, 1927

  • Box 1, folder 22
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Nautilus expedition description, undated

  • Box 1, folder 23
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Harry Ross Nautilus notes, undated

  • Box 1, folder 24
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Navigation notebook, undated

  • Box 1, folder 25
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Navigation notebook, undated

  • Box 1, folder 26
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Navigation notebook, undated

  • Box 1, folder 27
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Sir Hubert Wilkins obituary and notes from a psychic, 1957-1976

  • Box 2, folder 1
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Nautilus clippings, 1958

  • Box 2, folder 2
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Nautilus newspaper clippings, 1931-1958

  • Box 2, folder 3
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Nautilus newspaper clippings, 1931-1958

  • Box 2, folder 4
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Clipping scrapbook, undated

  • Box 2, folder 5
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Education and reference material, 1852-1945, undated

Class notes, undated

  • Box 2, folder 6
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Mechanical notes, 1923

  • Box 2, folder 7
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Engineering and navigation notes, undated

  • Box 2, folder 8
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Reed's Ex-Meridian tables, Morse code indicator, undated

  • Box 2, folder 9
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Ship signal notebook, undated

  • Box 2, folder 10
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Diving, Submarine warfare, and military notes, undated

  • Box 2, folder 11
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Work of the Signal Service in the Arctic Regions pamphlet, 1888

  • Box 2, folder 12
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Star and constellation navigation tools, undated

  • Box 2, folder 13
To top

Dutton, Commander Benjamin. Navigation and Nautical Astronomy, 1943

  • Box 4
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US Naval Institute, A Practical Manual of the Compass, 1921

  • Box 4
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Stowell, James A. Practical Marine Navigation, 1945

  • Box 4
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Wilson, Captain Russell. Watch Officer's Guide, United States Navy, 1941

  • Box 4
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Hastings, Frank Seymour. Navigation: A Short Course Explaining the Principal Problems Met with in Ordinary, Everyday Work at Sea, 1917

  • Box 4
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Brady, William. The Kedge-Anchor; or Young Sailors' Assistant, 1852

  • Box 4
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Newspaper clippings, 1919-1969

Harry Ross article in Shop Talk and printing plate used for image, 1954

  • Box 2, folder 15
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Harry Ross clippings, 1919-1965

  • Box 2, folder 16
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Harry Ross newspaper clippings, 1942-1969

  • Box 2, folder 17
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Harry Ross newspaper clippings, 1942-1969

  • Box 3, folder 1
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Travel, undated

Pompeii souvenirs, undated

  • Box 3, folder 2
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Foreign currency and travel ephemera, undated

  • Box 3, folder 3
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Rome souvenirs, including A Soldier's Guide to Rome pamphlet, undated

  • Box 3, folder 4
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Postcards, undated

  • Box 3, folder 5
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How to Get All You Want When Traveling in Germany, undated

  • Box 4
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Photographs, undated-1967

Harry Ross and family, 1923-1967, undated

Harry Ross in baseball uniform, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross and others aboard USS Williamson, 1923

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross at ship controls, 1935

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross and men on board ship, negative, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross on board ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross and man beside hospital bed, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross and sailors on deck of ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross and officer in Roman ruins, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross standing beside B-25 plane, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross at parade, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with nurses, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with two unidentified soldiers, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross at the controls of ship or submarine, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with unidentified women, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross standing in front of monuments, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with dog on ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with unidentified man and woman, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with gun aboard ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with unidentified woman in front of monument, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross and son, both in uniform, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross at the printing press, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross as tourist, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Captain Harry Ross and Captain Sloan Danenhauer, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross as tourist, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross and unidentified woman, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with unidentified man and woman, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with monkey, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with dog on ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross oath of office negative, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross in front of printing factory in Wales, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross, unidentified nurse and Army officer, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross, unidentified nurse and Army officer, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross with pipe and newspaper, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross at work later in life, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross at controls of ship or submarine, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Harry Ross, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross with crew on ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross and unidentified man in Pozzuoli, Italy, 1944

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross with unidentified man on boat, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross portrait, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross standing next to ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross with unidentified man, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Harry Ross with unidentified men, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Marvin Ross and son in Israel, 1967

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Marvin Ross' son, 1967

  • Box 3, folder 7
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WWII era photographs, circa 1944

Harry Ross aboard ship during World War II, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross at cafe in France during World War II, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross on ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Anti-aircraft weapons on ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross and Lt. Charles H. Ross, Briston, England, on the US Pembleton AKA 249, 1943

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross in front of church or cathedral in Rome, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross and unidentified man in Pozzuoli, Italy, 1944

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross during World War II, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross with enlisted men and one woman during World War II, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross and Charles Ross on ship during World War II, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross in front of building, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross in front of building, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Harry Ross with two unidentified men by medical Jeep, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Unidentified building, likely with damage from World War II, undated

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Nautilus, circa 1931-1958, undated

Harry Ross and 13 men on board Nautilus, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Babette and Marvin Ross (children of Harry Ross) with Nautilus, 1931

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Sir Hubert Wilkins, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Nautilus diagram, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Nautilus diagram, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Nautilus skipper presenting a plaque, 1931

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Man opening valve on deck, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Men on the prow of the submarine, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Submarine (likely Nautilus) at sea, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Submarine (likely Nautilus) near Statue of Liberty, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Officers on board submarine, likely Nautilus, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Officers on board ship (likely Nautilus), undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Sir Hubert Wilkins and Harry Ross, 1958

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Nautilus diagram, 1958

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Nautilus diagram, 1958

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Nautilus diagram, 1958

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Sir Hubert Wilkins and officer looking at diagram of the Nautilus, undated

  • Box 3, folder 10
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Unidentified people and places, undated

Man in uniform with guns, Mexico, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Unidentified man and woman in Tampico, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Unidentified men resting in sombreros, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Unidentified people around a hovel, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Street scene with young girls during World War II, Italy, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Unidentified people around a hovel, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Street scene with young girls during World War II, Italy, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Ship's officers at controls, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Sea with ships in background, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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The Washington Monument, Washington, D.C., undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Ship in the ocean, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Ships, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Docked ships, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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View of ocean from ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Ship, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Three men wearing medals and one man in civilian clothes, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Joke image as example of Harry Ross' sense of humor, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Unidentified man in uniform, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Ruins, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.