#combat art

“Preparing Tin Fish,” by U.S. Naval Reserve combat artist William Franklin Draper, September 12, 1943. 

Record Group 330: Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Series: Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files

Stunning Strike// Redirect Missiles[WIP]

While he was governor of New York, Franklin D. Roosevelt purchased this original volume of drawings and sketches by William H. Meyers on August 18, 1930 for $900 from Francis D. Brinton. The artwork was considered the only known illustrations of an important phase of the 1846-1848 war with Mexico.

Born in Philadelphia in 1815, Meyers began his career in the United States Navy as an enlisted man and then worked as a civilian at the Washington Navy Yard before being appointed to the Warrant Officer rank of Gunner in 1841. Meyers served on board the sloop-of-war Dale during the naval operations along the coast of California from 1846-1847 during the Mexican-American War.

In 1939, Random House published the book, "Naval Sketches of the War in California,” featuring 28 reproductions from the original sketchbook. A limited-run publication, 1000 copies of the book were printed by the Grabhorn Press. In Franklin D. Roosevelt’s own words regarding his collection of Meyer’s works, written as the Introduction to the publication:

"He participated in many of the scenes depicted, and for the others had the privilege of discussion with eyewitnesses. There seems to have been no facile pen among the handful of bold, hard-bitten husky sailors, marines, soldiers and frontiersmen who won that empire for us. No doubt pen and paper were scarce in that primitive region. Complicated war operations scattered through a thousand miles of virgin coast and country gave little opportunity for writing or sketching. Thus the very dearth of adequate contemporary literature adds much to the historical value of Gunner Meyers’ brush.

In many years of collecting sketches, paintings and engravings relating to the Navy of the United States, I had found virtually none which had connection with naval operations in the Pacific in 1846 and 1847. When, therefore, I had the opportunity a few years ago of acquiring the original sketch-book of Gunner William H. Meyers, USN, I realized its historical value.

Not only do these sketches fill a definite gap in the history of this Nation and of our sister republic of Mexico, but they also throw an interesting light on the conduct of land and naval warfare less than a hundred years ago."

Join us throughout 2023 as we present #FDRtheCollector, featuring artifacts personally collected, purchased, or retained by Franklin Roosevelt, all from our Digital Artifact Collection: https://fdr.artifacts.archives.gov/objects/4885