Malcolm Peters Nash Papers, 1887-1968

The Malcolm Peters Nash Papers focus on his career at sea, beginning in 1887 through his retirement in 1933. The materials take the form of correspondence, documents, clippings, diaries, medals, photographs, ephemera, and artifacts.

Certificates of discharge, application letters, and hand written sea service records document Nash’s career. These items demonstrate where he traveled, ranking on ships, and other accomplishments. Documents such as a letters of assignment, ship communications, a patent request, correspondence from colleagues, and retirement papers provide evidence of Nash’s maritime activities and interests.

A prominent achievement in Nash’s life was receiving the Navy Cross during World War I. Included in the collection are the official letter announcing his award, an account of what took place during the incident written by Nash, and a local newspaper clipping from his town of residence (Huntington, New York). There is also a plaque and medal commemorating the award.

A collection of diaries and correspondence offer insight into Nash’s personal life. Nash was able to keep a near daily account of his life through diaries. The entries describe both his personal like and his time spent at sea. The collection of forty-three diaries, ranges from 1888 to 1933, with only a few years missing. The correspondence includes a letter to Nash’s wife just before their son was born in 1915; a letter to Nash’s newborn son, Malcolm Peters Nash Jr. in 1915; and another letter to Nash’s son on his birthday in 1926.

Photographic prints consist of early portraits; several of the training ship St. Mary’s in 1903; two later portraits; and a photo of the USS Alameda, a ship he commanded in 1919.

The collection also includes objects and printed materials Nash collected over the course of his career, such as books on maritime history, travel publications, newspaper articles relating to historic events, and a handmade sea chest.