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Phillip Zimmerman collection, 1936-2012, Date accessioned: 2018-04-25

 

Summary

Creator:
Zimmerman, Phillip King, 1924-2012
Zimmerman, Julia
Extent:
1 Linear Feet 2 half boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Phillip Zimmerman collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_18_0011.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection relates to U.S. Navy Signalman 1st Class Phillip King Zimmerman who served aboard the U.S.S. Boston as a part of the first crew and the U.S.S. Baltimore heavy cruisers during World War II in the Pacific Theater. This collection includes two logbooks that Phillip Zimmerman maintained during his tour aboard the Boston , information relating to Zimmerman's oral history, photographs from service, two of his hats, and ephemera.

Biographical / historical:

Phillip King Zimmerman was born in Dunedin, Florida on December 13, 1924, to Marie Morris Zimmerman and Porter Zimmerman and lived in Pinellas County most of his life. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served on several ships in the Pacific during WWII, most memorably the U.S.S. Boston.

By 1945 he promoted to Signalman First Class on Admiral Wiltse's staff. Zimmerman transferred to the U.S.S. Baltimore which became the flagship on January 25, 1945.  He was involved in a number of engagements in the Pacific and witnessed the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on September 2, 1945.

When he returned home from the war he attended the University of Tampa, and within a few months met Grace Dana Harris. They married on September 1, 1946, and were married for sixty-six years. Zimmerman went into partnership with Dana's father in the lumber business. He later founded another company, Gas'n'Sav, from which he retired in 1982. As a young businessman, he developed an interest in state politics. He was active in several campaigns and was a member of Gov. Leroy Collins's Industrial Commission. He also served on the boards of several banks. Zimmerman believed strongly in education and helped a number of young people go to college. An avid golfer, he was a founder of the Cypress Run Golf Club in Tarpon Springs.  He passed away on December 23, 2012.

Sources:

Legacy.com. "Phillip King Zimmerman." Legacy.com. (accessed April 25, 2018).

Navsource. "NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive USS BOSTON (CA 69/CAG 1)."  Navsource.org. (http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/069/04069.htm (accessed April 25, 2018).

Custodial history:

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open to all researchers.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Phillip Zimmerman collection, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_18_0011.

Location of this collection:
116 Honors Way
Tallahassee
FL
32306-2047
USA