Alan G. Forssell Papers

Alan Forssell (NRHQ 1956-1996) donated a collection to the Mariner's Museum in Newport News Virginia.

Accession Number

A2018.25

Archive Number

MS0685

Catalog

Archives

Materials related to the naval service and civil service career of Alan G. Forssell. The collection details Forssell's long involvement with the nuclear ship and submarine programs in the United States Navy. Among the highlights are a series of letters written by Admiral Rickover to Forssell from on board numerous vessels during their sea trials (1961-1981); ceremonial documents to include invitations, booklets, photographs, and more for keel layings, launchings, and commissionings of US Navy vessels; information relating to the career and retirement of Admiral Rickover; a videotape of the USS Truman (CVAN 75) commissioning; and a long playing record, "Nautilus Actual Sounds and Voices during its historic voyage under the North Pole" dated 1958 (reference is to the USS Nautilus, SSN-571).

Organization

The collection is organized into 6 series: Series 1: Correspondence; Series 2: Ceremonial Documents; Series 3: Naval Operation Guides; Series 4: Photographs; Series 5: Miscellaneous material.

Arrangement

Organized into folders and boxes. Each series has its own arrangement.

Separated Materials

Collections Management has separately accessioned 6 commemorative items from the US Navy with the accession numbers 2018.0022.000001-000006: goblet from launching of Richard B. Russell (SSN-687); cup from keel laying of USS New York (SSN-696); medallion from decommissioning of USS Texas (CGN-39); medallion Adm. Hyman G. Rickover; plate USS South Carolina (DLGN-37); platter for keel laying of USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN-683). Additionally, the Library has separately accessioned 24 books and journals, accession numbers 88163-88169, 88724-88733, and 88816.