Guide to the Francis and Grace Cogswell papers
1920-1957
Collection number: HMC-0744.
Creator:
Cogswell, Francis.
Cogswell, Grace.
Title: Francis and Grace Cogswell papers.
Dates: 1920-1957.
Volume of collection: 0.4 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Papers of U.S. Navy captain and his wife, who commanded a flotilla which aided the USCGS in a survey expedition to chart the Aleutian Islands in 1935.
Biographical note:
Francis Cogswell was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1887. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1903. Captain Cogswell was awarded the Navy Cross for service during World War I, when he commanded the U.S.S. Fanning and U.S.S. McDougal. In 1935, he commanded the U.S.S. Oglala, the flag ship of a flotilla of minesweepers assisting the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USCGS) in charting the Aleutian Islands. The flotilla included the Kingfisher, Quail, Gannet, Tanager, and Sandpiper, and an aviation attachment. Captain Francis Cogswell died in Bremerton, Washington, in 1939. In 1943, a U.S. Navy destroyer was named after Cogswell and his father, Rear Admiral James Kelsey Cogswell. Francis Cogswell’s wife, Grace Phillips Cogswell, was born in New York City in 1887. She served in the U.S. Foreign Service and later in the Central Intelligence Agency. Grace Cogswell retired in 1954. She died in 1971.
Collection description:
The collection consists of the photograph album of Captain Francis Cogswell which documents his service during the Aleutian Islands Survey Expedition of 1935, and various related papers kept by Grace Cogswell. Subjects of the photographs include: Francis Cogswell and other U.S. Navy officers, crew, and survey personnel; the minesweepers Oglala, Kingfisher, Quail, and Gannet; navy seaplanes and sounding boats used in the survey; the islands of Unalaska, Kiska, Little Kiska, Amchitka, Atka, Uminak, and Bogoslof, including the towns of Unalaska, Dutch Harbor, and Constantine on Amchitka; volcanoes; glaciers; and wildlife. The collection also includes letters written to Grace by Francis while he was on the USS Oglala and in the Aleutians, Grace Cogswell’s travel documents regarding her trip to Alaska, and correspondence relating to the Expedition.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1: Papers; 1920-1957
Series 2: Photographs; undated, 1935
Alternative formats: A xerographic copy of the album is available in the collection. It includes captions that have faded from the original prints.
Digitized copies: Selected items have been digitized and can be viewed on Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives does not hold copyright to materials in this collection.
Preferred citation: Francis and Grace Cogswell papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory: Patterson, Michael Roberts. “Francis Cogswell, Captain, United States Navy.” Francis Cogswell, Captain, United States Navy. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/francis-cogswell.htm
Acquisition note: The collection was purchased via eBay in 2005.
Processing information: This collection was described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2005. The collection was converted to current standard by Veronica Denison in 2015.
Container list:
Series 1: Papers; 1920-1957. 0.2 cubic feet.
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/1 | Copied papers: Captain Cogswell’s Navy Cross Citation; a letter of appreciation to Grace Cogswell from U.S. Ambassador William C. Bullitt; two letters and a press release concerning the naming of the U.S.S. Cogswell; a letter of congratulations from CIA Director Allen W. Dulles to Grace Cogswell upon her retirement; and two letters concerning Grace’s grave plot in Arlington National Cemetery | 1920-1957 |
| 1/2 | Letters to Grace | 1935-1936 |
| 1/3 | U.S. Coast Guard telegrams, Calypso; Memorandum to Captain Cogswell from Lt. Commander Thomas Robbins of the U.S.S. Sandpiper concerning whale observations Letter to Captain Cogswell from Lt. R.A.J. English of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition II concerning the abandonment of the camp “Little America” | 1935 |
| 1/4 | Grace Cogswell’s travel to and within Alaska | 1935 |
| 1/5 | Survey rosters: Aleutian Islands Survey Expedition and USS Oglala | 1935 |
| 1/6 | Ship newspapers: The Daily Polecat, USS Quail Dutch Harbor Herald, USS Oglala Alisex Tribune | 1935 |
| 1/7 | Alaska Commercial Company bill | 1935 |
| 1/8 | Notes and cards from the Aleutians | circa 1935 |
Series 2: Photographs; undated, 1935. 0.55 cubic feet.
| Box/Folder | Page | Description |
| 1/9 | Xerographic copy of photograph album | |
| 1/10 | Loose photographs: Portraits of Grace and Francis Cogswell; Tropical scene | |
| 1/11 | 1 | Seal and pup on beach |
| 1/11 | 2 | “Mt. Shishaldin, Unimak Island, Isanotski Peaks in background” Aerial view with airplane wing at lower left |
| 1/11 | 3 | “N.E. end of Little Kiska” Aerial view, Photo No. 3 |
| 1/11 | 4 | “Bogoslof” Aerial view of seal herd on island beach |
| 1/11 | 5 | “Seal herd, Bogoslof Island” Distant aerial view |
| 1/11 | 6 | Aerial view of small rocky island with airplane wing at left |
| 1/11 | 7 | “‘Dutch Harbor’“ Distant aerial view from south including Amaknak Island, Iliuliuk Bay, Dutch Harbor and Unalaska |
| 1/11 | 8 | “Isanotski Peaks, Uminak Island” Aerial view with airplane wing at bottom right |
| 1/11 | 9 | “Iliuliuk” Aerial view of Unalaska village from west with airplane wing at right |
| 1/11 | 10 | “Greek Church, Iliuliuk” Interior view of altar of Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church in Unalaska |
| 1/11 | 11 | “Akutan Volcano, Akutan Island” Aerial view of island and volcano cone |
| 1/11 | 12 | “Alisex, 1933, 1934, 1935” Group photo of eight U.S. Navy officers in dress white uniforms on deck of ship. Commander Cogswell seated second from right |
| 1/11 | 13 | “S.E. coast of Kiska” Aerial view of island coastline, Photo No. 13 |
| 1/11 | 14 | “North shore Little Kiska” Aerial view of island coastline, Photo No. 2 |
| 1/11 | 15 | “‘Cha’ west end Little Kiska – South Pass” Aerial view, Photo No. 9 |
| 1/11 | 16 | “Pillar Rock” Aerial view with airplane wing at right, Photo No. 61 |
| 1/11 | 17 | “Man S.E. shore Kiska” Aerial view over survey point on top of bluff, Photo No. 14 |
| 1/11 | 18 | Oglala with Kingfisher, Kiska 1935” Distant aerial starboard view of minesweeper USS Oglala with smaller minesweeper USS Kingfisher (No. 25) alongside |
| 1/11 | 19 | “Quail, Kiska 1935” Distant aerial portside view of minesweeper USS Quail (No. 15) with airplane wing at left |
| 1/11 | 20 | “‘Ole’ S.E. Kiska” Aerial view of island with survey point circled, Photo No. 12 |
| 1/11 | 21 | “Eel west coast Kiska I.” Aerial view of island coastline, Photo No. 58 |
| 1/11 | 22 | “‘Zoo’ west coast Kiska” Aerial view of island coastline, Photo No. 50 |
| 1/11 | 23 | Aerial view of islands |
| 1/11 | 24a | “Kiska Harbor” Distant view from ship |
| 1/11 | 24b | Scene on ship’s deck with sailors and fish laid out to spell “Alisex” |
| 1/11 | 24c | “One of the sounding boats” Men on sounding boat 6 from the USS Oglala |
| 1/11 | 24d | Men on sounding boat 3 from the USS Oglala |
| 1/11 | 25a | “Kiska 1935” View of two sounding boats following a third boat |
| 1/11 | 25b | “Niles & KP, Kiska 1935” View of sounding boat next to ship |
| 1/11 | 25c | “Kiska 1935” View of two sounding boats with volcano in background |
| 1/11 | 25d | Sea lions on island |
| 1/11 | 26a | “Sea lions, Sea Lion Rock near Kiska 1935” |
| 1/11 | 26b | “Fox, Amchitka 1935” Fox on rocky outcropping |
| 1/11 | 26c | Sea lion, Sea Lion Rock near Kiska 1935” |
| 1/11 | 26d | Distant view of island from ship |
| 1/11 | 27a | Aerial view of small rocky island |
| 1/11 | 27b | “Painting signals for sounding boats to ___ on Kiska 1935” Men painting rock cliff on island |
| 1/11 | 27c | “Kiska 1935 May” View of minesweeper off island coastline |
| 1/11 | 27d | “Williwaw, Kiska 1935” Puppy |
| 1/11 | 28a | “Eagles Amchitka 1935 last two” Close-up of two juvenile bald eagles |
| 1/11 | 28b | Group photo of Commander Cogswell with another officer and native man and children on island |
| 1/11 | 28c | Beach scene |
| 1/11 | 28d | Foggy island scene from ship |
| 1/11 | 29a | “Kiska 1935” Sounding boat No. 2 and dingy |
| 1/11 | 29b | “Oglala at Kiska 1935” Distant view of ship from sounding boat |
| 1/11 | 29c | “Kiska 1935” Sounding boat No. 6 from Oglala |
| 1/11 | 29d | Full rear portside view of USS Oglala |
| 1/11 | 30a | “Eaglet, Kiska 1935” Small eaglet in nest |
| 1/11 | 30b | Distant view of Navy survey seaplane taking off |
| 1/11 | 30c | “Sea Lion Rock, Kiska 1935” View from sounding boat |
| 1/11 | 30d | “Kiska 1935” Men putting up survey point and flag on island |
| 1/11 | 31a | “Kiska 1935” View of sounding boat and dingy from ship |
| 1/11 | 31b | View of USS Oglala and USS Kingfisher near island |
| 1/11 | 31c | “Segula 1935” Distant view of Segula Island |
| 1/11 | 31d | “Kiska Volcano from Oglala, Kiska Harbor” |
| 1/11 | 32a-b | Fox among trash lumber and grass |
| 1/11 | 32c | “Constantine, Amchitka 1935. Fox on steps of Greek Church” |
| 1/11 | 32d | Full portside view of the USS Oglala |
| 1/11 | 33a-b | “Lost for 21 hours” Aleutian Islands Survey Expedition Navy seaplane No. 2 listing in the water |
| 1/11 | 33c | “A plane on the Oglala” Aleutian Islands Survey Expedition Navy seaplane No. 1 being hoisted over the side of the ship |
| 1/11 | 33d | “Main deck of the Oglala, May 1935” Aleutian Islands Survey Expedition Navy seaplane No. 1 stored on ship’s deck |
| 1/11 | 34a | “Kiska 1935” View of sounding boat Nos. 6 and four from ship |
| 1/11 | 34b | Group photo of Commander Cogswell with puppy Willawaw and two other ship’s officers |
| 1/11 | 34c | Small native boy on island beach |
| 1/11 | 34d | Commander Cogswell and another officer standing next to seal cask on rack |
| 1/11 | 34e | Portrait of puppy Willawaw |
| 1/11 | 35a | Aerial view of island coast and USS Quail |
| 1/11 | 35b | “Full plane crew” Group photo of three men on ship’s deck |
| 1/11 | 35c | Aleutian Islands Survey Expedition Navy seaplane No. 1 taking off near island |
| 1/11 | 35d | “Dutch Harbor, June 1935” Full starboard view of USS Oglala |
| 1/11 | 36a | Survey point with tented tripod on island |
| 1/11 | 36b | Two men in with dog on ship’s deck |
| 1/11 | 36c | “Sinking boat, Kiska 1935” |
| 1/11 | 36d | “Kiska Harbor – Plane of Oglala” Distant view of survey seaplane landing near island |
| 1/11 | 36e | “Kiska Volcano 1935” Distant view out porthole window |
| 1/11 | 37a-d | “Korovin Vol. Atka 1935” Four different views of Korovin Volcano on Atka Island from ship |
| 1/11 | 37e-f | “Kagalaska Pass 1935” Two different views of island pass |
| 1/11 | 38a | Scene on ship’s deck showing davit |
| 1/11 | 38b | Interior scene in Russian Orthodox Church |
| 1/11 | 38c | Full front portside view of USS Oglala at large port with other ships |
| 1/11 | 38d | Full rear portside view of USS Oglala at same port as above |
| 1/11 | 39a | “Kiska” Aerial view of mountain |
| 1/11 | 39b | “Attu Maggie” Two Aleut women with small grass baskets, basket form, and baskets in various stages of weaving |
| 1/11 | 39c | Fox on island |
| 1/11 | 39d | Aerial view of volcano with airplane wing at upper left |
| 1/11 | 40a | “Seaward, Turner” Two officers and unidentified man in work clothes on deck of the Oglala |
| 1/11 | 40b | Distant aerial view of volcano |
| 1/11 | 40c | Aerial view of volcano with wing tip at upper left |
| 1/11 | 40d | Sailor attaching something to davit on ship |
| 1/11 | 41a | Distant view of Volcano from ship |
| 1/11 | 41b | “Sell, Amchitka, on whale skeleton” Lt. Sell standing on top of whalebones on island |
| 1/11 | 41c | View of salmon on top of sounding boat deck |
| 1/11 | 41d | Distant view of boat from ship |
| 1/11 | 42a | Distant Aerial view of island volcano |
| 1/11 | 42b | “Newton” Ensign Newton standing on top of whalebones on island |
| 1/11 | 42c | “Deserted church at Constantine” Interior view of alter in Russian Orthodox Church on Amchitka Island |
| 1/11 | 42d | Aerial view of island volcano with airplane wing at upper left |
| 1/11 | 43a | Aerial view of island coast |
| 1/11 | 43b | “Barabara” Entrance to old barabara |
| 1/11 | 43c | Interior view of man sitting up in bed inside house |
| 1/11 | 43d | Aerial view of volcanic peak with airplane wing at right |
| 1/11 | 44a | Aerial view of volcano with airplane wing at right |
| 1/11 | 44b | Aerial view of volcano and island shoreline |
| 1/11 | 44c | “Kiska” Man holding onto life preserver while sitting on capsized boat |
| 1/11 | 44d | “Deserted shacks, Constantine” Beach scene looking toward Constantine village on Amchitka Island |
| 1/11 | 45 | “Iliuliuk Bay” Aerial view of Iliuliuk Bay and Unalaska from southwest with airplane wing at lower right |
| 1/11 | 46a | “Pedler’s Basin in Amoknik, 20 minutes later” View of west end of Unalaska including dock area from hillside |
| 1/11 | 46b | “Landed Dutch Harbor in Lakina, May 22” Aerial view of Navy ships at dock |
| 1/11 | 46c-d | “Iliuliuk on Unalaska Island” Two different views of Unalaska from hillside |
| 1/11 | 47 | “Mt. Vsevidof, Umnak Island” Distant view of volcano from ocean |
| 1/11 | 48a | “Planes – Ballyhoo Mt.” Distant view of four Navy seaplanes in Iliuliuk Bay with Mount Ballyhoo in background |
| 1/11 | 48b | Portrait of native girl |
| 1/11 | 48c | “Unalaska and Dutch Harbor” Post card view taken from hill south of Unalaska |
| 1/11 | 48d | “Oglala leaving for Kiska” Distant view of ship in Iliuliuk Bay taken from hill south of Unalaska with church at bottom right |
| 1/11 | 49 | Aerial view of volcano |
| 1/11 | 50a | “Gannet, ‘Dell’ Conley’s flagship” Full aerial starboard view of the minesweeper USS Gannet |
| 1/11 | 50b | “Quail also plane tending” Full portside view of the minesweeper USS Quail |
| 1/11 | 50c | “Dell’s plane” Aleutian Islands Survey Expedition Navy seaplane No. 1 hanging from davit over side of ship |
| 1/11 | 50d | “Aleutian Island Survey Expedition I” Aleutian Islands Survey Expedition Navy seaplane No. 1 sitting in water off island |
| 1/11 | 51 | “Shishaldin, white vapor always puffing from cone” Aerial view of Shishaldin Volcano and Isanotski Peaks on Unimak Island |
| 1/11 | 52a | “Bounty on Eagles” Man holding up dead bald eagle from behind white sail |
| 1/11 | 52b | “Herring” View of two fishermen in boat full of fish at dock |
| 1/11 | 52c | “Leading Industries” Two foxes in fenced pen at fur farm |
| 1/11 | 52d | “Leading Industries” Pat’s Cafe in Unalaska with Russian Orthodox Church and Cash and Carry Store in background |
| 1/11 | 53 | “We ‘cover the waterfront.’“ Waterfront scenes in Unalaska |
| 1/11 | 53a | Group photo of three native girls in their Sunday dresses |
| 1/11 | 53b | Man opening small wooden barrels |
| 1/11 | 53c | Large squid |
| 1/11 | 53d | Two native boys |
| 1/11 | 54a | “Reef in front of A.C. house” |
| 1/11 | 54b-c | “‘Our harbor” Scenes of bay from ship |
| 1/11 | 54d | “‘John the Whaler’ comes visiting” Whaling boat Unimak in harbor |
| 1/11 | 54e | “From Akutan – Ernest Kugler” Close-up of whale gun on boat |
| 1/11 | 55 | Scenes at Unalaska |
| 1/11 | 55a | Portrait of native boy |
| 1/11 | 55b | Hospital |
| 1/11 | 55c | U.S. Marshall’s house |
| 1/11 | 55d | Portrait of three native girls in their Sunday dresses |
| 1/11 | 56 | Scenes at Unalaska |
| 1/11 | 56a | Full view of Russian Orthodox Church from southeast |
| 1/11 | 56b | View of Russian Orthodox Church from northwest |
| 1/11 | 56c | Group portrait of six native children |
| 1/11 | 56d | “Dutch Harbor” Distant aerial view of Unalaska from southeast |
| 1/11 | 57a-e | Navy officers, men and women on outing around island, various scenes |
| 1/11 | 58a-f | Navy officers, men and women on outing around island, various scenes |
| 1/11 | 59a-h | Navy officers, men and women on outing around island, various scenes |
| 1/11 | 60a | Man in R.C.M.P. hat and sweater |
| 1/11 | 60b-c | Portraits of three Navy officers and Nurse “Smitty” on front steps of hospital |
| 1/11 | 60d | Native man and woman in traditional parkas |
| 1/11 | 60e | Group photo of Navy officer, men and women sitting on island hillside |
| 1/11 | 60f | View of coastal town from above |
| 1/11 | 61a | Man with pack standing among burned trees in Katmai area |
| 1/11 | 61b | Man with pack standing on ice at foot of glacier |
| 1/11 | 61c | Aerial view of large glacier |
| 1/11 | 62a | “Katmai” Three men standing on glacier |
| 1/11 | 62b | Geologist Ed Levin with pack standing among burned trees in Katmai area |
| 1/11 | 62c | View of left end of calving glacier |
| 1/11 | 62d | View of calving glacier and mountains from bay |
| 1/11 | 63a | Group photo of well-dressed men and women on dock of coastal town |
| 1/11 | 63b | Group photo of Navy officer, two men and two women in front of large log house |
| 1/11 | 63d-f | Scenery |
| 1/11 | 64a | Front view of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church in Kodiak |
| 1/11 | 64b-d | Island scenery |
| 1/11 | 64e | Aerial view of volcano |
| 1/11 | 64f | More distant aerial view of volcano |
| 1/11 | 65a | “Ed” Aerial view of large coastal glacier |
| 1/11 | 65b | Full portside view of Navy minesweeper (No. 41) with survey seaplane on rear deck |
| 1/11 | 65c | Large stringer of fish hanging from rope on ship’s deck |
| 1/11 | 66 | Full portside view of minesweeper USS Quail in bay |
| 1/11 | 67a | “Ed Levin – Father Hubbard’s geologist” Portrait of bearded man wearing bandanna |
| 1/11 | 67b | “Kiska” Navy officers on rocky coastline |
| 1/11 | 67c | “Eagles” Three men displaying two dead eagles |
| 1/11 | 67d | “Kiska” Two men at sea on launch boat |
| 1/11 | 67e | Lt. Sell cleaning pan in stream |
| 1/11 | 68 | Aerial view of Unalaska from east with airplane wing at right |
| 1/11 | 69a | “Towed by Sandpiper to Rat Island” Oglala sounding boat No. 11 being towed by ship. |
| 1/11 | 69b | “Constantine after storm” Oglala sounding boat Nos. 8 and 3 beached in surf. |
| 1/11 | 69c | “Constantine Harbor, Amchitka” Men moving Oglala boat onto beach. Launch boat No. 3 in background. |
| 1/11 | 69d | “Cove Little Kiska” Three men and small rowboat on beach. |
| 1/11 | 69e | “Kiska South End” View of rocky island. |
| 1/11 | 69f | “Semisopochnoi to Rat Island” Oglala sounding boat No. 11 being towed. |
| 1/11 | 70 | Aerial view of Unalaska from over bay with Russian Orthodox church in center |
| 1/11 | 71a | “Barabara, Amchitka” Entrance to old barabara |
| 1/11 | 71b | “Constantine Harbor” Fenced graves in Russian Orthodox Church cemetery |
| 1/11 | 71c | “Bones and Willie” Two officers climbing over rocky shoreline |
| 1/11 | 71d | “Sell” Lt. Sell cleaning pan in stream |
| 1/11 | 71e-f | “Constantine Harbor” Two different views of beach and harbor from hillside |
| 1/11 | 72 | Distant aerial view of Unalaska from west with airplane wing at right |
| 1/11 | 73a | “Cove” View from hillside of sounding boat in island cove |
| 1/11 | 73b | View of ship’s deck with Navy survey seaplane |
| 1/11 | 73c-d | “West Coast Kiska” Combined photo of rocky cliff and shoreline |
| 1/11 | 73e | “Kiska” View of wake of ship or boat with two men in foreground |
| 1/11 | 74a | “Oglala homeward bound” Sounding boats stowed on ship’s deck |
| 1/11 | 74b | “Hoisting lost plane” Navy survey seaplane being hoisted by davit onto ship |
| 1/11 | 74c | Men pushing boat onto beach |
| 1/11 | 74d | “Plane lost 24 hours” Navy survey seaplane No. 2 sitting on ocean |
| 1/11 | 74e | “Little Kiska” View of island shoreline |
| 1/11 | 74f | “Sweeper towing sounding boats” View of rear mast of ship and towed boats |