Identified Naval Archive: Uniforms, Medals, & Documents Belonging to Louis Connelly, Gunner, USS Baltimore at Manila Bay

Louis Connelly was born in England and moved with his father to the United States as a boy. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the 1890s and served as Gunner on the USS Baltimore in the Battle of Manila Bay before being commissioned as an ensign. During his military career, he was promoted various times serving in the ranks of Ensign, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, and finally, at the rank of Captain when he retired in 1919. He was later appointed to serve during World War II in an educational role for the U.S. Navy.

Uniforms in the Archive include:

1) Heavy wool boat cloak with velvet collar, excellent condition.
2) A naval Commander Fore-and-Aft beaver hat with gold lace and silk lining, Harold L. Crane Military Goods, NY, in tin box with epaulets. Includes a photo of Mr. Connelly in military uniform, inscribed by him, "I had just put out my tongue to moisten my lips, it makes a funny picture / LC". All items in very good condition.
3) Summer White Uniform: jacket, pants, one white top with U.S. Navy Captain shoulder boards, one white top without shoulder boards, condition is soiled and prevalently stained. Military parade sash red, white, blue, with two attached brass emblems: Liberty cap with crossed swords inscribed, "Constitution of the US", metal cross initialed F.T.M.M., lightly soiled, tattered, overall good condition.
4) 1 Captain's formal Jacket with Tails, vest, 1 pair dress pants with officer's gold stripe, very good condition.
5) 1 LCDR Jacket with tails, condition is soiled on sleeve with 6" long tear in fabric under right arm, 1 pair black dress blue pants with braid in very good condition.
6) 2 U.S. Navy Officer’s leather belts with buckles (circa 1905) gilt cast brass, one buckle with eagle and three cannon balls, one buckle with eagle and six cannon balls in original box labeled "Captain's Belt" by NS Meyer Inc., NY. Excellent condition.

Medals in the Archive include:

1) 1.25" x 1.5" heavy pendant marked "Sterling" with maker’s markings featuring Admiral Dewey obverse, inscribed on reverse, "Gunner Louis J. Connelly Manila May 1, 1898".
2) .5" x .75" red, green and blue enameled shield pendant with American and Japanese flags encircled by green oak leaves dated "1908".
3) 1.75" bronze medal with George Dewey on front, battleship Maine on reverse, suspended by hanger inscribed, "Washington City Oct. 1899".
4) 1.25" medal suspended by white ribbon with red cross, inscribed on reverse, "Croce Rossa Italiana, Teremoto Calabro Sicvlo, MCMVIII".
5) 1.5" bronze medal suspended from multicolored ribbon marked "Transport", reverse is inscribed, "The Great war For Civilization".
6) 1.25" brass medal inscribed "Mexico, 1911-1917", suspended from green, gold, and blue ribbon.
7) 1.5" bronze medal with Liberty on front and inscribed" World War II", reverse inscribed "United States of America 1941-1945", "Freedom From Fear And Want, Freedom of Speech And Religion".
8) 3" bronze medal featuring a ship encircled by "War Society Of The Cruiser And Transport Force Incorporated", reverse is inscribed "Awarded to Louis J. Connelly, US Navy Commanding USS. Tenadores".
9) Series of six various campaign medals in leather case, felt-backed ranging in years from 1898 to 1945. Most are half-inch size, suspended from a horizontal bar clasp pin by individual ribbon hangers, in very good to excellent condition with their corresponding ribbon attachments varying from worn and frayed to excellent condition.

Documents in the Archive include:

1) Commission/appointment as Ensign grade signed by Theodore Roosevelt, December 13, 1902.
2) Commission/notification as retired from the U.S. Navy at a Captain's grade, by Secretary of the Navy under President Herbert Hoover, October 15, 1930.
3) Appointment as Captain in the U.S. Navy as a Member of the War Society of Cruiser and Transport Force, May 27, 1919.
4) From the Naval and Military Order of the Spanish American War, an appointment as Companion to this Order of Commandery of the State of Pennsylvania on December 16, 1912.
5) Appointment to the U. S. Civil Service Commission Board of Civil Service Examiners, July 31, 1913.
All documents are tightly rolled with condition varying from good to very good. Minor edge tears to the War Society and Span/Am War certificates. Signatures on all are clear and legible.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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