Joy Bright Hancock papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Joy Bright Hancock papers
Creator: Hancock, Joy Bright, 1898-
Inclusive Dates: 1918-1972
Language(s): English
Extent: 9.6 Linear Feet (9 document boxes, 5 oversized boxes, 1 oversize folder A)
Collection Number: ms854
Repository: Hargrett Library
Abstract: The collection consists of papers of Joy Bright Hancock from 1918-1972. The papers include correspondence, mainly commendatory letters but some relating to Hancock's naval duties and inspection tours; speeches; printed material pertaining to WAVE policies, articles by and about Hancock, and naval aviation; manuscript articles for radio and television; photographs; clippings of Navy press releases; manuscripts, drafts, and corrected versions of Hancock's book Lady in the Navy; certificates and citations; and scrapbooks (1943-1965) of clippings detailing Hancock's career.

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Joy Bright Hancock (1898- ) enlisted in the Women's Naval Reserve in 1918 as a Yeoman and rose to the rank of Captain, Director of Women's Reserve by 1946. She was one of eight women sworn into the regular Navy under the Women's Armed Service Integration Act of 1948 and retired in 1953.

Through the leadership of Captain Hancock, the U. S. Navy was able to activate a program of growth and stability as women became an important part of that branch of military service. She has been the recipient of the Navy Commendation Ribbon, World War I and II Victory Medals, and a special World War I medal presented by the state of New Jersey. The establishment of the Joy Bright Hancock Fund continues to exemplify her interest not only in the University of Georgia, but in the principles of education and scholarship to improve the quality of life for students and the general public. Her service to America remains strong.

Scope and Content

In 1973, Captain Joy Bright Hancock presented her papers to the University of Georgia Libraries. This outstanding manuscript collection numbering nearly 3,000 pieces relates the distinguished career of Captain Hancock in the U. S. Navy. The papers contain correspondence with Bess Truman, Senator Margaret Chase Smith, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, Admiral Nimitz, Anna Rosenberg, Margaret Chung, and many other figures prominent in government and service in the World War II era. The collection gives invaluable insight into the history of women in the U. S. Navy.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged into 9 series: Series 1. Letters and documents; Series 2. Speeches, Articles and Miltary Materials (see Subseries 2.1 to 2.4); Series 3. Naval Aviation Materials; Series 4. Women in the Navy; Series 5. Lady in the Navy; Series 6. Military Yearbooks and Commendations; Series 7. Scrapbooks; Series 8. Citations; Series 9. Edith Langdale Stallings Materials. Also included in the collection are a number of large-sized military portraits.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Joy Bright Hancock papers, ms854, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2010 April 15.

General Notes

Cataloged as part of the Georgia Archives and Manuscripts Automated Access Project: A Special Collections Gateway Program of the University Center in Georgia.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Related collections in this repository: Joy Bright Hancock papers, ms2290.

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Letters and Documents
box	folder
Request box
1	1	Biography, brief (1 item)
1	2	Letters (17 items)
			1st day Issue, U.S. Stamps, Women in Armed Services
			Letter or Letters from:John R. Blandford, Major General USMCD. B. Duncan, Admiral, USNA. M. Pride, Rear Admiral, USNChester W. Nimitz, Fleet Admiral, USNR. W. Ruble, Rear Admiral, USNJ. W. Roper, Rear Admiral, USNThomas L. Sprague, Admiral USNJ. J. Clark, Vice Admiral, USNK. A. Thieme, Captain, USNRobert B. Carney, Admiral, USNR. B. Pirie, Captian, USNLynde D. McCormick, Admiral, USNM. Elaine Grant, Commander, USN
1	3	Letters, Commendatory, 1937-1941 (29 items)
			H. E. Yarnell, Admiral, USN
1	4	Letters, Commendatory, 1943-1949 (24 items)
			D. C. Ramsey, Rear Admiral, USN
			Chester W. Nimitz. Admiral, USNMildred McAfee Horton, Captain, USNJohn L. Sullivan, Secretary of the Navy
1	5	Letters, Commendatory, 1950-1957 1953 (28 items)
			R. McC.Pate, Brig. General, USMC
			Mary A. Hallaren, Colonel, Director WACAnna M. Rosenberg, Ass't Sec'y of DefenseInauguration Ceremonies, InvitationDorothy C. Stratton, Nat'l Exec. Director, Girl Scouts of AmericaLemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. Commandant, USMC
1	6	Letters, Commendatory, 1960-1966 (20 items)
			Main R. Bocher, Couturier
			Ralph J. Bunche, Under-Sec'y, UNJ. Robert Oppenheimer (Father of Atomic Bomb)Mildred McAfee Horton, Capt, USN, (Ret)R. B. Brown, Vice Admiral, MC, USNJ. S. Cowan, Captain, MC, USN
1	7	Letters, Commendatory, 1967-1969 (36 items)
			Margaret Chase Smith, US Senator
			William A. Read, Vice Admiral, USN (Ret)R. S. Colbert, Vice Admiral, USNPaul A. Anderson, Captain, USNClifford P. Case, U.S. Senator
1	8	Letters, Commendatory, 1970-1972 & n.d. (29 items)
			George Romney, Sec'y HUD
			Clifford P. Case, US SenatorJames Dowd, Naval Aerospace Med. Inst.H. B. Miller, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)Carl Vinson, US CongressmanWilliam A. Read, Vice Admiral, USN (Ret)F. Edward Hébert, Chairman, Armed Services Com.Bess L. TrumanMargaret Chase Smith, US SenatorMary McGrory, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C.
1	9	Canadian Inspection Tour Correspondence. Farewell message-McAfee. Farewell recommendations-Hancock (13 items)
			need for women in Navy
1	10	European Inspection Trip Report, 1949 (3 items)
1	11	Waves-Policies, A (5 items)
1	12	Waves-Policies, B & C (6 items)
1	13	Air Traffic Controllers "Sick-Out" Correspondence (15 items)
1	14	Speech to Womens Officers' School in Newport, 1970 (1 item)
1	15	Correspondence (7 items)
			Rear Admiral Reeves
1	16	Correspondence, 1969 (5 items)
			American Legion Con.
1	17	Correspondence, General (2 items)

 

2. Speeches, Articles, and Military Materials

2.1 Manuscripts of Radio and TV and Articles

box

folder

Request box

2

1

Manuscripts of radio and TV and articles, I

2

2

Manuscripts of radio and TV and articles, II

2

3

Manuscripts of radio and TV and articles, III

2.2 Speeches

box

folder

Request box

2

4

Speeches, I

2

5

Speeches, II

2.3 Articles

box

folder

Request box

2

6

Articles by and about Captain Hancock, I

2

7

Articles by and about Captain Hancock, II

2

8

Articles by and about Captain Hancock, III

2.4 U.S.S. Lewis Hancock

box

folder

Request box

2

9

Commissioning of the U.S.S. Lewis Hancock

2

10

Christening of the U.S.S. Lewis Hancock

oversized_folder

Request oversized_folder

1A

Large military portraits, 1942-1943

 

3. Naval Aviation Materials
box	folder
Request box
3	1	Training in aviation, I (3 items)
3	2	Training in aviation, II (4 items)
3	3	Training in aviation, III (6 items)
3	4	Training in aviation, IV (1 vol.)
3	5	Waves: Articles re progress of program, 1951-1972 (9 items)
3	6	Chronology of U. S. Naval Aviation (Miller) (1 vol.)
3	7	Waves: Promotional Material (3 items)
3	8	U. S. Naval Aviation, 1910-1960 by Van Wyen & Pearson (1 vol.)

 

4. Women in the Navy
box	folder
Request box
4	1	Women in the Navy: Legislation (16 items)
4	2	Women in the Navy: Navy Press Releases, I (20 items)
4	3	Women in the Navy: Navy Press Releases, II (12 items)
4	4	Women in the Navy: Navy Press Releases, III (34 items)
4	5	Women in the Navy: Navy Press Releases, IV (20 items)
4	6	Women in the Navy: Navy Press Releases, V (50 items)
4	7	Women in the Navy: Navy Press Releases, VI (14 items)
4	8	Women in the Navy: Navy Press Releases, VII (48 items)
4	9	Women in the Navy: Navy Press Releases, VIII (46 items)
4	10	Women in the Navy: Margaret Chung, Correspondence and picture (14 items)

 

5. Lady in the Navy (manuscript)
box	folder
Request box
5	1	Lady in the Navy: First rough draft (154 items)
5	2	Lady in the Navy: Carbon (125 items)
5	3	Lady in the Navy: Carbon (241 items)
5	4	Lady in the Navy: Re-working of Ms., I (177 items)
5	5	Lady in the Navy: Re-working of Ms., II (110 items)
5	6	Lady in the Navy: Re-working of Ms., III (119 items)
5	7	Lady in the Navy: Re-working of Ms., IV (80 items)
box	folder
Request box
6	1	Lady in the Navy: First edited copy, by I. Robb, I (87 items)
6	2	Lady in the Navy: First edited copy, by I. Robb, II (45 items)
6	3	Lady in the Navy: First edited copy, by I. Robb, III (71 items)
6	4	Lady in the Navy: First edited copy, by I. Robb, IV (57 items)
6	5	Lady in the Navy: Final Working Draft, I (103 items)
6	6	Lady in the Navy: Final Working Draft, II (72 items)
6	7	Lady in the Navy: Final Working Draft, III (58 items)
6	8	Lady in the Navy: Final Working Draft, IV (94 items)
6	9	Lady in the Navy: Final Working Draft, V (54 items)
6	10	Lady in the Navy: Final Ms. Chapters 1-6 (112 items)
6	11	Lady in the Navy: Final Ms. Chapters 7-12 (102 items)
6	12	Lady in the Navy: Final Ms. Chapters 13-End (116 items)
box	folder
Request box
7	1	Lady in the Navy: Corrected galley proofs (165p)
7	2	Lady in the Navy: Miscellaneous research (19 items)
7	3	Lady in the Navy: Reviews (6 items)

 

6. Military Yearbooks and Commendations, Other
box	folder
Request box
7	4	Dacowits, Minutes, October 3-6, 1971 (1 vol.)
7	5	Hancock "Recollections...." Annapolis, 1971 (1 vol.)
7	6	Yearbook: Marine Corps Recruit Depot (no date) (1 vol.)
7	7	Yearbook: Officer Indoctrination, Women, Newport, R.I. Dedicated to Captain Hancock, 1953 (1 vol.)
7	8	Yearbook: The Compass, 1952 (1 vol.)
7	9	Yearbook: The Portal, 1956 (1 vol.)
box	folder
Request box
8	1	Portrait, Uniforms, re (9 items)
8	2	Resolutions-City of Wildwood, N. J. & letters, re, 1946 (4 items)
8	3	Citations and Commendations, 1942-1951 (13 items)
8	4	Citations and Commendations, 1953-1968 (15 items)
8	5	Scrapbook, Photos, Visit to WRNS, April 1949 (1 vol.)
8	6	Retirement review, May, 1953
8	6	NTC Bainbridge, Md.
8	6	Letters, Programs, Photographs (1 vol.)

 

7. Scrapbooks
oversized_box	folder
Request oversized_box
9	1	News Clippings, 1915-1951
9	2	News Clippings, 1941-1946
9	3	News Clippings, 1942-1972
9	4	News Clippings, 1951-1954
9	5	Joy Hancock Bright Papers. Clippings, 1975-
oversized_box	folder
Request oversized_box
10	5	Photos, 1942-1944
10	6	Photos, July 1944-September 1944
10	7	Scrapbooks, 1943-1946
10	8	Photos, September 1944-January 1945
oversized_box	folder
Request oversized_box
11	9	Scrapbook, 1946-1950
11	9	Scrapbook, 1951-1952
11	9	Scrapbook, 1953-1965
oversized_box	folder
Request oversized_box
12	12	Scrapbook, Photos, Hawaii, 1946
12	13	Scrapbook, K-X Dedication & article re Shenandoah
12	14	Scrapbook, Party honoring Captain Hancock, November 15, 1960
oversized_box	folder
Request oversized_box
13	15	Scrapbook. Retirement (Photos), 1953 (1 vol.)
13	16	Scrapbook. Waves, 10th, 20th, 30th Reunions (1 vol.)

 

8. Citations
oversized_box	folder
Request oversized_box
13	1	Certificate of Honor: Citizen of Five Mile Beach, N. J. Signed:Senator William H. Bright (Capt. Hancock's father) and others, May 30, 1919
13	2	Membership certificate: "Society of Indisputable Indispensables.", April 4, 1945
13	3	Appointment: Lieutenant, U. S. Naval Reserve. Signed: Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, October 15, 1942
13	4	Citation: "To you who ...served in ...Armed Forces ... to bring about the total defeat of the enemy..." No date. Signed: Harry S. Truman, 1945
13	5	Appointment: Lieutenant Commander, U.S.N. Signed: John L. Sullivan, Sec'y. of the Navy, October 3, 1945
13	6	Appointment: Commander, U.S.N. Signed: Francis P. Matthews, January 1, 1950
13	7	Resolutions: State of New Jersey Senate. Greetings & congratulations to Capt. Hancock, and Vice-Admiral Edwin Daisey Foster, for outstanding performance of duty. Signed: Samuel L. Bodine, President of the Senate, March 20, 1950
13	8	Commendation: State of New Jersey. To Capt. Hancock. Signed: Alfred E. Driscoll, Governor, March 20, 1950
13	9	Commendation: To Captain Hancock, from Waves of Supreme Allied Command Europe. Signed: Twelve names, June 1, 1953
13	10	Certificate of Honorable Retirement: To Captain Hancock. Signed: Charles K. Duncan, Vice-Admiral, U. S. N. Chief of Naval Personnel, June 1, 1953
13	11	Certificate of Honorary Membership: Navy League of the united States, Jersey Cape Council. Signed: Ben Schlenzig, Council President, October 10, 1964

 

9. Edith Langdale Stallings materials
oversized_box
Request oversized_box
14		Correspondence, Personal, 1943-1958
14		Correspondence, Personal, 1960-1962 & Undated
14		Correspondence, Official
14		Christmas Cards
14		Newspaper Clippings, re Waves, General
14		Newspaper Clippings, re Waves, University-Forms and Dress
14		Newspaper Clippings, General
14		Newspapers (whole) re Navy
14		Pamphlets, re: Waves
14		Pamphlets, General
14		Speeches
14		Miscellaneous Material