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Collection Number: 00182

Collection Title: Lyman A. Cotten Papers, 1886-1964.

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


This collection was rehoused and a summary created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities; this finding aid was created with support from NC ECHO.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Collection Overview

Size 22.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 7500 items)
Abstract Lyman A. Cotten (1874-1926) was a United States naval officer. The collection includes official and personal correspondence, account books, scrapbooks, diaries, lectures, and technical articles of Lyman A. Cotten, relating to his 32 years of naval service, beginning with his education at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., 1894-1898, and including his participation in the Spanish-American War, Philippine insurrection, Boxer Rebellion, Naval War College, Japan, China, World War I, and conflicts in the Near East.
Creator Cotten, Lyman A. (Lyman Atkinson), 1874-1926.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Language English
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Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research.
Restrictions to Use
No usage restrictions.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Lyman A. Cotten Papers, #182, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Mrs. Lyman A. Cotten. Additional material transferred from the Elizabeth Henderson Cotten Papers (#1650), February 1976, and transferred from the Rare Book Room, July 1979.
Additional Descriptive Resources
A copy of the original finding aid for this collection is filed in folder 1aa.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

Processed by: SHC Staff

Encoded by: Noah Huffman, December 2007

Updated by: Kate Stratton and Jodi Berkowitz, July 2010; Nancy Kaiser, October 2020 and January 2021

This collection was rehoused and a summary created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This finding aid was created with support from NC ECHO.

Diacritics and other special characters have been omitted from this finding aid to facilitate keyword searching in web browsers.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

Lyman Atkinson Cotten (1874-1926) was a United States naval officer. He was educated at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., 1894-1898, and participated in the Spanish-American War, Philippine insurrection, Boxer Rebellion, and the Naval War College, and served in Japan, China, World War I, and conflicts in the Near East. His wife was Elizabeth Brownrigg Henderson Cotten of Salisbury, N.C.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The collection includes official and personal correspondence, account books, scrapbooks, diaries, lectures, and technical articles of Lyman A. Cotten, relating to his 32 years of naval service, beginning with his education at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., 1894-1898, and including his participation in the Spanish-American War, Philippine insurrection, Boxer Rebellion, and the Naval War College, and his involvement in Japan, China, World War I, and conflicts in the Near East. There are also some personal papers and correspondence, chiefly 1950s, of Cotten's wife, Elizabeth Brownrigg Henderson Cotten, particularly related to mutual friends and interests and family concerns. Included in Mrs. Cotten's papers is a note from e. e. cummings.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Lyman A. Cotten Papers, 1886-1964 and undated.

Folder 1aa

Original finding aid

Folder 1a

Introductory material and papers, 1887-1889

Folder 1

Photocopies of family bible

Folder 2

1890-1892

Folder 3

1890-1892

Folder 4

1893-1894

Folder 5

1894

Folder 6

1895

Folder 7

1896

Folder 8

1897

Folder 9

1898: January-April

Folder 10

1898: May-June

Folder 11a

1898: July-September

Folder 11b

1898: October-December

Folder 12

1899

Folder 13

1900: January-June

Folder 14

1900: July-December

Folder 15

1901: January-May

Folder 16

1901: June-December

Folder 17

1902: January-March

Folder 18

1902: April-December

Folder 19

1903: January-June

Folder 20

1903: July-December

Folder 21

1904

Folder 22

1905-1906

Folder 23

1907

Folder 24

1908: January-April

Folder 25

1908: May

Folder 26

1908: 1-6 June

Folder 27

1908: 7-10 June

Folder 28

1908: 11-20 June

Folder 29

1908: 21-30 June

Folder 30

1908: 1-10 July

Folder 31

1908: 13-16 July

Folder 32

1908: July, wedding list and clippings

Folder 33

1908: 18-31 July

Folder 34

1908: 4-31 August

Folder 35

1908: September-October

Folder 36

1908: November

Folder 37

1908: December

Folder 38

1909: January-February

Folder 39

1909: March

Folder 40

1909: April

Folder 41

1909: May

Folder 42

1909: June

Folder 43

1909: July

Folder 44

1909: August

Folder 45-46

Folder 45

Folder 46

1909: August, War College Archives

Folder 47

1909: September, Naval War College

Folder 48

1909: September-December

Folder 49

1910: January-March

Folder 50

1910: April-September

Folder 51

1910: October

Folder 52

1910: November-December

Folder 53

1911: January-April

Folder 54

1911: May-December

Folder 55

1912: January

Folder 56

1912: 4-13 February

Folder 57

1912: 14-28 February

Folder 58

1912

Folder 59

1912: March

Folder 60

1912: April-May

Folder 61

1912: June-July

Folder 62

1912: August

Folder 63

1912: September

Folder 64

1912: October

Folder 65

1912: November

Folder 66

1912: December

Folder 67

1913: January-March

Folder 68

1913: April-May

Folder 69

1913: June

Folder 70

1913: July

Folder 71

1913: August-September

Folder 72

1913: October

Folder 73

1913: November-December

Folder 74

1914: January-February

Folder 75

1914: March

Folder 76

1914: April

Folder 77

1914: May-11 June

Folder 78

1914: 12 June-29 July

Folder 79

1914: England's diplomatic correspondence prior to war

Folder 80

1914: August-September

Folder 81

1914: October

Folder 82

1914: November-December

Folder 83

Map of Tokyo, 1914

Folder 84

1915: February

Folder 85

1915: March

Folder 86

1915: April-May

Folder 87

1915: June-July

Folder 88

1915: August

Folder 89

1915: September-November

Folder 90

1915: December

Folder 91

1916: January

Folder 92

1916: February-April

Folder 93

1916: May-June

Folder 94

1916: July-September

Folder 95

1916: October

Folder 96

1916: December

Folder 97

1917: January-March

Folder 98

1917: April

Folder 99

1917: May-June

Folder 100

1917: July-August

Folder 101

1917: September-December

Folder 102

1918: January-February

Folder 103

1918: March

Folder 104

1918: April-May

Folder 105

1918: June

Folder 106

1918: July

Folder 107

Folder number not used

Folder 108

1918: August-October

Folder 109

1918: November

Folder 110-111

Folder 110

Folder 111

1918: December

Folder 112

1918: Clippings

Folder 113

Folder number not used

Folder 114

1918: Official papers sent by Dudley W. Knox

Folder 115

1918: Details of chasing

Folder 116

1918: United States naval forces operating in European waters

Folder 117

1919: January

Folder 118

1919: February-June

Folder 119

1919: July

Folder 120

1919: August

Folder 121

1919: September-November

Folder 122

1919: December

Folder 123

1920: January

Folder 124

1920: February-March

Folder 125

1920: April

Folder 126

1920: May-June

Folder 127

1920: July

Folder 128

1920: August

Folder 129

1920: September-October

Folder 130

1920: November-December

Folder 131

1921: January-February

Folder 132

1921: March-May

Folder 133

1921: June

Folder 134

1921: July-August

Folder 135

1921: September-October

Folder 136

1921: 1-18 November

Folder 137

1921: 20-30 November

Folder 138

1921: December

Folder 139

1922: January-February

Folder 140

1922: March-May

Folder 141

1922: June

Folder 142

1922: July

Folder 143

1922: August

Folder 144

1922: September

Folder 145

1922: October-November

Folder 146-147

Folder 146

Folder 147

1922: December

Folder 148

1922: Financial statement, Naval Attache

Folder 149

1923: January

Folder 150

1923: February

Folder 151

1923: March

Folder 152

1923: April

Folder 153

1923: May

Folder 154

1923: June-July

Folder 155

1923: August

Folder 156

1923: 1-6 September

Folder 157

1923: 8-13 September

Folder 158

1923: 14-28 September

Folder 159

1923: September, Japanese newspaper

Folder 160

1923: October

Folder 161

1923: November

Folder 162

1923: December

Folder 163

1923: Invitations

Folder 164

1923: Financial statement, Naval Attache's office

Folder 165

1924: January

Folder 166

1924: February

Folder 167

1924: March

Folder 168

1924: April-May

Folder 169

1924: June-14 July

Folder 170

1924: 15-28 July

Folder 171-172

Folder 171

Folder 172

1924: August

Folder 173

1924: September

Folder 174

1924: 1-20 October

Folder 175

1924: 21-30 October

Folder 176

1924: November

Folder 177

1924: December

Folder 178

1925: January

Folder 179

1925: February

Folder 180

1925: March

Folder 181

1925: April

Folder 182

1925: May

Folder 183

1925: June

Folder 184

1925: July

Folder 185

1925: August

Folder 186

1925: September

Folder 187

1925: 1-24 October

Folder 188

1925: 25-31 October

Folder 189

1925: 1-18 November

Folder 190

1925: 20-30 November

Folder 191

1925: 1-21 December

Folder 192

1925: 22-31 December

Folder 193

1924: Income tax returns

Folder 194

1926: 1-12 January

Folder 195

1926: January, clippings

Folder 196

1926: January, telegrams

Folder 197

1926: 13 January

Folder 198

1926: 14-15 January

Folder 199

1926: 16-17 January

Folder 200

1926: 18-20 January

Folder 201

1926: 21-24 January

Folder 202

1926: 25-26 January

Folder 203

1926: 27-31 January

Folder 204-205

Folder 204

Folder 205

1926: January, naval letters

Folder 206

1926: January, undated

Folder 207

1926: 1-10 February

Folder 208

1926: 11-16 February

Folder 209

1926: 17-28 February

Folder 210

1926: 1-19 March

Folder 211

1926: 20-31 March

Folder 212

1926: April

Folder 213

1926: May

Folder 214

1926: June

Folder 215

Articles by Lyman A. Cotten

Folder 216

Naval orders, 1900-1925

Folder 217

1926: July-August

Folder 218

1926: September-October

Folder 219

1926: November-December

Folder 220

1927: January-February

Folder 221

1927: March-April

Folder 222

Cotten: Naval songs and topical songs

Folder 223

Cotten biography, Henderson sketches

Folder 224

1927: May

Folder 225

1927: June-August

Folder 226

1927: September

Folder 227

1927: October

Folder 228

1927: November

Folder 229

1927: December

Folder 230

1928: January

Folder 231

1928: 1-17 February

Folder 232

1928: 18-29 February

Folder 233

1928: Japanese clippings

Folder 234

1928: March

Folder 235

1928: April

Folder 236

1928: May

Folder 237

1928: June-July

Folder 238

1928: August

Folder 239

1928: September

Folder 240

1928: Pamphlets and campaign literature

Folder 241

1928: Democratic campaign literature

Folder 242

1928: 1-19 October

Folder 243

1928: 20-31 October

Folder 244

1928: November

Folder 245

1928: Political clippings

Folder 246

1928: December

Folder 247

1928: Democratic publicity used in campaign

Folder 248

1928: Mary F. Henderson

Folder 249

1929: January

Folder 250a

1929: February

Folder 250b

Order of the Crown of Italy, 8 February 1929

Folder 251

1929: March

Folder 252

1929: April-May

Folder 253

1929: June-July

Folder 254

1929: August

Folder 255

1929: September-December

Folder 256

1930: January-May

Folder 257

1930: June

Folder 258

1930: July

Folder 259

1930: August-September

Folder 260

1930: October

Folder 261

1930: November

Folder 262

1930: December

Folder 263

1931: January

Folder 264

1931: February

Folder 265

1931: March

Folder 266

1931: April

Folder 267

1931: May

Folder 268

1931: June

Folder 269

1931: July-August

Folder 270

1931: September

Folder 271

1931: October

Folder 272

1931: November

Folder 273

1931: December

Folder 274

1932: January

Folder 275

1932: February

Folder 276

1931-1932: Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Salisbury, N.C.

Folder 277

1932: May

Folder 278

1932: June

Folder 279

1932: June-July

Folder 280

1932: July

Folder 281

1932: August

Folder 282

1932: September

Folder 283

1932: October

Folder 284

1932: Democratic campaign

Folder 285

1932: November

Folder 286-287

Folder 286

Folder 287

1932: December

Folder 288

1932: Clippings

Folder 289

1933: 1-16 January

Folder 290

1933: 17-27 January

Folder 291

1933: 28-31 January

Folder 292

1933: 1-5 February

Folder 293

1933: 6-11 February

Folder 294

1933: 12-16 February

Folder 295

1933: 17-22 February

Folder 296

1933: 23-25 February

Folder 297

1933: 27-28 February

Folder 298

1933: 1-6 March

Folder 299

1933: 7-17 March

Folder 300

1933: 18-31 March

Folder 301

1933: April

Folder 302

1933: 1-8 May

Folder 303

1933: 10-23 May

Folder 304

1933: 24-26 May

Folder 305

1933: June

Folder 306

1933: July

Folder 307

1933: August

Folder 308

1933: September

Folder 309

1933: October

Folder 310

1933: November

Folder 311

1933: December

Folder 312

1933: Civil service clippings

Folder 313-314

Folder 313

Folder 314

1933: Political clippings

Folder 315

1933: Clippings on A. Henderson

Folder 316

1934: January

Folder 317

1934: February

Folder 318

1934: March

Folder 319

1934: April-May

Folder 320

1934: June

Folder 321

1934: July

Folder 322

1934: August

Folder 323

1934: September-October

Folder 324

1934: November-December

Folder 325

1935: January

Folder 326

1935: February

Folder 327

1935: March

Folder 328

1935: April

Folder 329

1935: May

Folder 330

1935: June

Folder 331

1935: July

Folder 332

1935: 1-15 August

Folder 333

1935: 16-30 August

Folder 334

1935: September

Folder 335

1935: October

Folder 336

1935: November

Folder 337

1935: 1-15 December

Folder 338

1935: 16-31 December

Folder 339

1935: Clippings and cards

Folder 340

1936: January

Folder 341

1936: February

Folder 342

1936: March

Folder 343

1936: April

Folder 344

1936: May

Folder 345

1936: June

Folder 346

1936: July

Folder 347

1936: August

Folder 348

1936: September

Folder 349

1936: 1-22 October

Folder 350

1936: 23-31 October

Folder 351

1936: 1-19 November

Folder 352

1936: 20-30 November

Folder 353

1936: December

Folder 354-355

Folder 354

Folder 355

1936: Clippings

Folder 356

1937: January

Folder 357

1937: February

Folder 358

1937: March

Folder 359

1937: April-May

Folder 360

1937: June

Folder 361

1937: July

Folder 362

1937: August

Folder 363

1937: September

Folder 364

1937: October

Folder 365

1937: November

Folder 366

1937: December

Folder 367

1938: January-February

Folder 368

1938: March

Folder 369

1938: April

Folder 370

1938: May

Folder 371

1938: June-July

Folder 372

1938: August-October

Folder 373

1938: November-December

Folder 374

1938: Clippings on War Clouds

Folder 375

1939: January-April

Folder 376

1939: May

Folder 377

1939: June

Folder 378

1939: July

Folder 379

1939: August

Folder 380

1939: September

Folder 381

1939: October-November

Folder 382

1939: December

Folder 383-384

Folder 383

Folder 384

1939-1940: Clippings

Folder 385

1940: January

Folder 386

1940: February

Folder 387

1940: March

Folder 388

1940: April

Folder 389

1940: May

Folder 390

1940: June

Folder 391

1940: July

Folder 392

1940: August

Folder 393

1940: September-October

Folder 394

1940: November

Folder 395

1940: December

Folder 396

1941: January-February

Folder 397

1941: March-April

Folder 398

1941: May

Folder 399

1941: June-July

Folder 400

1941: August-October

Folder 401

1941: November-December

Folder 402

1942: January-February

Folder 403

1942: March-April

Folder 404

1942: May-June

Folder 405

1942: July-August

Folder 406

1942: September

Folder 407

1942: October

Folder 408

1942: November-December

Folder 409

1943: January-February

Folder 410

1943: March

Folder 411

1943: April

Folder 412

1943: May

Folder 413

1943: June

Folder 414

1943: July

Folder 415

1943: August-September

Folder 416

1943: October

Folder 417

1943: November

Folder 418

1943: December

Folder 419

1944: January

Folder 420

1944: February

Folder 421

1944: March

Folder 422

1944: April

Folder 423

1944: May-June

Folder 424

1944: July

Folder 425

1944: August

Folder 426

1944: September

Folder 427

1944: October-November

Folder 428

1944: December

Folder 429

1945: January

Folder 430

1945: January, war clippings

Folder 431

1945: February

Folder 432

1945: March

Folder 433

1945: April

Folder 434

1945: May

Folder 435

1945: June

Folder 436

1945: July

Folder 437

1945: 1-17 August

Folder 438

1945: 19-31 August

Folder 439

1945: September

Folder 440

1945: September-October, Japan's surrender clippings

Folder 441

1945: October

Folder 442

1945: October-November, Tryon Palace restoration commission

Folder 443

1945: November

Folder 444

1945: December

Folder 445

1946: January

Folder 446

1946: February

Folder 447

1946: March

Folder 448

1946: April

Folder 449

1946: May

Folder 450

1946: June

Folder 451

1946: July

Folder 452

1946: August

Folder 453

1946: September

Folder 454

1946: October

Folder 455

1946: November

Folder 456

1946: December

Folder 457

1947: 1-17 January

Folder 458

1947: 18-25 January

Folder 459

1947: February

Folder 460

1947: March

Folder 461

1947: April

Folder 462

1947: May

Folder 463

1947: June

Folder 464

1947: July

Folder 465

1947: August

Folder 466

1947: September

Folder 467

1947: October

Folder 468

1947: November

Folder 469

1947: December

Folder 470

1948: January

Folder 471

1948: February-March

Folder 472

1948: April

Folder 473

1948: May

Folder 474

1948: June

Folder 475

1948: July

Folder 476

1948: August

Folder 477

1948: September-October

Folder 478

1948: November

Folder 479

1948: December

Folder 480

1949: January-March

Folder 481

1949: April-May

Folder 482

1949: June

Folder 483

1950: January-October

Folder 484

November 1950-May 1951

Folder 485

1951: June-December

Folder 486

1952: January-March

Folder 487

1952: April-November

Folder 488

December 1952-April 1953

Folder 489

1953: May-September

Folder 490

October 1953-January 1954

Folder 491

1954: March-May

Folder 492

1954: June-July

Folder 493

1954: August-September

Folder 494

1954: October-December

Folder 495

1955: January-May

Folder 496

1955: June-December

Folder 497

1956: January-June

Folder 498

July 1956-January 1957

Folder 499

1957: February-May

Folder 500

June 1957-January 1958

Folder 501

1958: February-September

Folder 502

October 1958-February 1959

Folder 503

May 1959-December 1960

Folder 504

1961-1964

Folder 505

Undated correspondence

Folder 506

Undated correspondence (post-1949) to Elizabeth Cotten

Folder 507

Undated correspondence (post-1949) to Elizabeth Cotten

Folder 508

Cotten family, undated

Folder 509

Notes for sketch of Elizabeth H. Cotten

Folder 510

Miscellaneous

Folder 511

Clippings, 1950-January 1951

Folder 512

Clippings, February-December 1951

Folder 513

Clippings, January-March 1952

Folder 514

Clippings, April-December 1952

Folder 515

Clippings, 1953

Folder 516

Clippings, 1954

Folder 517

Clippings, 1955-1956

Folder 518

Clippings on race relations, 1954-1957

Folder 519

Clippings, 1958-1960

Folder 520

Clippings, undated

Folder 521

Folder number not used

Folder 522

Addresses

Folder 523

Volume 1: Notebook, 1895

Folder 524

Volume 2: Notebook, 1896

Folder 525

Volume 3: Notebook, 1897

Folder 526

Volume 4: Notebook, 1896-1898

Folder 527

Volume 5: Compositions, 1896-1899

Folder 528

Volume 6: Journal, 1898-1899

Folder 529

Volume 7: Scrapbook, 1898

Folder 530

Volume 8: Journal 1900

Folder 531

Volume 9: United States Naval Academy Yearbook, 1895

Folder 532

Volume 10: United States Naval Academy Yearbook, 1896

Folder 533

Volume 11: United States Naval Academy Yearbook, 1897

Folder 534

Volume 12: United States Naval Academy Yearbook, 1898

Folder 535

Volume 13: Tactical signal book, 1910

Folder 536

Volume 14: List of social engagements, 1912

Folder 537

Volume 15: "Chit" Book, 1912

Folder 538

Volume 16: Personal accounts, 1912-1918

Folder 539

Volume 17: Notes, 1912-1915; Diary, 1916-1918

Folder 540

Volume 18: Songs, 1898-1918

Folder 541

Volume 19: List of men in Division A, 1918

Folder 542

Volume 20: Confidential War Diary, June-December 1918

Folder 543

Volume 21: Diary, 1918-1920

Folder 544

Volume 22: Diary, 1920-1921

Folder 545

Volume 23: Private notes, 1922-1923

Folder 546

Volume 24: Personal accounts, 1918-1923

Folder 547

Volume 25: Diary, 1923-1924

Folder 548

Volume 26: Diary, 1924

Folder 549

Volume 27: Diary, 1925

Folder 550

Volume 28: Personal accounts, 1924-1926

Folder 551

Volume 29: Personal accounts, 1922-1923

Folder 552

Volume 30: Naval orders

Folder 553

Volume 31: Photograph album, 1943

Includes photographs of the launching of the U.S.S. Cotten.

Oversize Paper Folder OPF-182/1

Commissions and certificates

Extra Oversize Paper Folder XOPF-182/1

Diplomas

Oversize Image Folder OP-PF-182/1

Oversize photograph of naval officers

Image Box IB-182/1

Photographs and postcards

Includes postcards; photographs, some with attached correspondence; visas; and other items.

Box 46

Correspondence to Elizabeth Browning Henderson Cotten and Mary R. Henderson, 1930s-1960s and undated

Box 47

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1897-1958

Box 48

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1959-1973

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