The Battleship's archive is primarily a research source for historical and technical information about the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55). The archive is open by appointment only, Monday through Friday. Research requests may be made in writing to the Museum Department at the Battleship or via email.

Archival collections on BB-55 include:

• Research files - arranged by topic
• Crew oral histories and biographical research files
• Action reports, War diary, and Official deck log
• Officer and crew rosters, USMC muster logs
• Departmental records, Log books
• Crew and officer diaries, personal papers, correspondence
• Shipboard invitations, menus, programs
• Newsletters and flyers produced onboard
• Maps, diagrams, instructional and navigation charts
• Gunnery schematics
• Materials on the Kingfisher airplane
• Artwork, advertisements, posters, calendars
• 1940s magazines, newspapers, and newspaper clippings about the Battleship and other ships
• Newspapers and clippings related to the Battleship as a Memorial

The Archival Collection has more than 20,000 blueprints of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55) documenting the ship's construction in the New York Navy Yard (1938) and revisions at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard (1942).

The Battleship's archival collections hold some information about former crew members. We have the ship's deck log, rosters, a sampling of personnel records as well as oral histories and other research materials that may provide information about a former crew member, such as what division he served in, when he reported aboard and was detached, and his service number.

The Battleship does not keep official military records. They are available through the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Military veterans or next-of-kin of a deceased veteran may order a copy of military records through the website www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html. If you are not the veteran or next of kin you must complete the Standard Form 180. See "Access to Military Records by the General Public" on the National Archives website.

The Armored Cruiser NORTH CAROLINA was in service from 1908-1921. The Archives collection includes a few personal papers and diaries of men who served on the Armored Cruiser; crew and officer rosters from 1910 and 1918; narrative history of the ship from 1908-1910; details on the ship's convoy duty during WWI; and assorted ephemera documenting the ship's daily activities.

The Library's nearly 1,800 books relate to general naval history from the sailing vessels through World War II as well as period U.S. Navy publications and training manuals for enlisted and officers. The collection includes original BB-55 technical manuals relating to aviation, communications, engineering, electrical equipment, hull and damage control, medicine, navigation, ordnance, and supply.

The Photograph collection consists of over 2,500 images:

• BB-55 crew and officer photographs by name and subject
• Exterior and interior photos of BB-55 from 1937 through 1947 and as a Memorial
• Photographs taken during battles in which BB-55 participated
• Photographs of everyday life on BB-55 arranged by subject
• Photographs of the Kingfisher airplane and the restoration process
• Photographs of and relating to the Armored Cruiser NORTH CAROLINA (ACR-12)
  

Contact Information:
Kim Sincox, Museum Services Director 910-251-5797, ext. 3006
Mary Ames Sheret, Curator of Collections 910-251-5797, ext. 3026

Email: curator@battleshipnc.com

Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
Museum Department
PO Box 480
Wilmington, NC 28402-0480