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Maks Dikarev Naval Cover Collection, 1927-1941, 1954-1982

 

Summary

Creator:
Maksimilian Dikarev
Extent:
1.5 Linear Feet
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The materials represent two time periods: The late 1920s through the beginning of the Second World War, and the early Cold War period of the 1950s through the 1970s. The former consists of naval covers from ships assigned to the U.S. Asiatic Fleet. While the ships may have served with other fleets and stations over their service lives, only their time in this specific fleet is represented here. The latter portion of the collection represents communications to or from shipyards and submarine bases. While some communication is directed to or from a specific boat (the proper term for a submarine), the cachet on the cover is the focus of the collection.

As I was conducting research for this collection, I noticed that some ships were built for one particular purpose, yet at the time of the creation of the collection item, their role (and perhaps name) had changed. The collection will reflect the name and role of the ship at the time these items were created. Additionally, hull number will be included, as in some cases multiple ships have carried the same name (i.e. Enterprise).

Biographical / historical:

This collection consists of naval covers created during the interwar period of the 1920s and 1930s, as well as the Cold War period of the early 1950s through the early 1980s.

According to the Naval Cover Museum, "a naval cover is any envelope, postcard, or other postal medium that is mailed from or somehow related to a navy ship, location, or event. Beginning in 1908, post offices were established on board U.S. Navy ships and each ship had one or more postmarks to "cancel" the stamps used on the cover. The postmark, or cancellation, would usually have the ship's name and the date that the cover was cancelled." Additionally, "starting in the 1930's, covers with printed designs, called cachets, began appearing and established a large following. Many different cachets were designed and sent to various ships to be cancelled and mailed. Some cachets were designed for a specific ship while others were generic (perhaps for a holiday or commemorating an historical event) and sent to many different ships." While the use of cachets diminished during the Second World War, they were revived at its conclusion and are still in use to this day.

The focus of the interwar covers in this collection is of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet, which was responsible for protecting and advancing U.S. interests in the western Pacific area and China. This was also a period of conflict between the Republic of China and Imperial Japan, and incidents such as the Japanese attack on the USS Panay in 1937 are commemorated in the artwork on the covers. Many of the ships represented in this collection went on to serve valiantly in the Second World War. Several were subsequently lost to enemy action. The second half of the collection focuses on the fleet of United States' first and second generation of nuclear-powered submarines in service from the 1950s through the 1970s, including the USS Nautilus. Attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines are represented, with covers and postmarks from important submarine shipyards and naval bases.

Acquisition information:
Materials were donated by Maksimilian Dikarev.
Arrangement:

The materials in this collection are arranged in the following series' and sub-series:

Series: U.S. Asiatic Fleet

Sub-series: Aircraft Carrier Battleship Collier Cruiser Destroyer Destroyer Tender Freighter Gunboat Minesweeper Patrol Yacht Seaplane Tender Submarine Submarine Rescue Vessel Submarine Tender Tug Shore Base Photographs Cold War

Sub-series: Heavy Cruiser Naval Base Other Locations Replenishment Oiler Sub Tender

Physical facet:
1 Banker box and 1 5" Legal size document case.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The Maks Dikarev Naval Cover Collection is owned by Florida International University. This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

For more information please visit: https://library.fiu.edu/find/copyright/general

Location of this collection:
Florida International University
11200 SW 8th Street
Miami
FL
33199
USA