Handkerchief, souvenir: Greetings, Hoboken N.J., Port of Debarkation, U.S.S. Finland.
Entry/Object ID
2013.005.0041
Description
Souvenir handkerchief: Greetings, Hoboken N.J., Port of Debarkation, U.S.S. Finland. Printed silk, 10-1/8" square (originally folded to 5" x 2-3/4").
The imprinting includes a side profile depiction of the ship (see reference image attached); it did not have hull camouflage.
See objects 2013.005.0064 for a handkerchief of U.S.S. Leviathan.
A commemorative item presumed to be have been made for purchase as a gift for female relatives or loved ones by Army members returning from Europe on the Finland (it made eight trips as a debarkation troopship from shortly after the Nov. 11, 1918 armistice that ended World War I to September 1919 - not all were apparently to Hoboken, see reference image and notes.)
Hoboken served as the major U.S. Army Port of Embarkation and, after the war's end, as a one of the four Ports of Debarkation. The ship here was once a Red Star Line ocean liner and after its decommissioning from war transport service it was returned to Red Star.
Whether this novelty was manufactured in Hoboken is unknown. Where and how this item was sold is also not known.
Acquisition
Accession
2013.005
Source or Donor
Lukacs, Claire
Acquisition Method
Gift
Credit Line
Museum Collections. Gift of a Friend of the Museum.
Made/Created
Date made
1918 - 1919
Notes
Date: 1918-1919
General Notes
Note
Notes: Text excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Finland_(ID-4543)#U.S._Navy_service
As the flow of troops was reversed to bring American troops home, Finland made 8 round trips from Europe to the United States, returning 32,197 personnel to the United States.[57] On 4 September 1919 she was transferred to the 3d Naval District and on 15 November decommissioned and delivered to the War Department,[45] and, eventually, to the Red Star Line.[1]
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reference image
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Finland_at_Newport_News_with_soldiers_on_board.jpg
USS Finland (ID # 4543)
In port in 1919, with troops on board, probably upon arrival from Europe. Photographed by Holladay, Newport News, Virginia. The original image was printed on postal card ("AZO") stock.
Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Date: 1919
Source: U.S. Naval Historical Center Photo #: NH 104080
Author: U.S. Navy
This file is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.
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Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2013-03-20
