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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 104800:  USS Matsonia arriving in New York harbor, 1919

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Matsonia (ID # 1589), 1918-1919

USS Matsonia, a 13,500-ton (displacement) transport, was built in 1913 at Newport News, Virginia, as the civilian passenger steamship Matsonia. The Navy took her over in January 1918 and placed her in commission in March of that year. Prior to the 11 November 1918 Armistice, she made six round-trip voyages across the Atlantic, taking over 13,000 persons to the European war zone. After the end of the fighting, Matsonia returned more than 23,000 personnel to the U.S. in eight trips. She was decommissioned and returned to her owners in September 1919.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views that are available concerning USS Matsonia (ID # 1589).

For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Matsonia (ID # 1589) -- On Board and Close Up Views; and
  • Matsonia (Passenger Steamship, 1913).


    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 104808

    USS Matsonia
    (ID # 1589)

    Underway at sea in 1918, while transporting 4800 American Soldiers from the U.S. to France for World War I service.
    The original photograph was printed on post card stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 36KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105969

    USS Matsonia
    (ID # 1589)

    At Newport News, Virginia, circa early 1919.
    Note the inscription on the postcard: "We took them over and will bring them back".

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104800

    USS Matsonia
    (ID # 1589)

    Arriving in New York Harbor at the end of a voyage from Europe, 1919.
    Note the crowd of troops on her deck.
    The Statue of Liberty is in the left distance.
    Photographed by E. Muller Jr., New York.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 900 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 102019

    USS Matsonia (ID # 1589)


    Steams in a U.S. harbor, accompanied by tugs, circa 1919.
    Probably photographed by E.P. Griffith, Newport News, Virginia.
    Built in 1913, the passenger steamship Matsonia was acquired by the Navy on 22 January 1918 and commissioned as USS Matsonia on 1 March 1918. She was decommissioned in September 1919 and returned to her owners.

    The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99397

    USS Matsonia
    (ID # 1589)

    Panoramic photograph of the ship in 1919.
    Photographed from on board another U.S. Navy troop transport. Stack marking on the tug at right indicates that the view was taken as Matsonia was leaving St. Nazaire, France.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Lieutenant Charles Dutreaux.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 92KB; 1200 x 400 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103281

    USS Matsonia
    (ID # 1589)

    In port during 1919, while employed transporting U.S. troops home from Europe.
    The original image was printed on postal card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106250

    Troops Arriving at New York, 1919


    View showing troops marching along a New York Harbor waterfront, immediately after their arrival home from France.
    USS Matsonia (ID # 1589) is in the background.
    These men are armed with M1917 rifles. Note the welcoming onlookers on both sides of the route.
    Photograph printed on a stereograph card published by the Keystone View Company, circa 1919.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 143KB; 650 x 675 pixels

    A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 106250-A
    Online Image of stereo pair: 70KB; 675 x 360 pixels

    See Photo # NH 106250-B for a view of the card's reverse, featuring text concerning the welcomes received by troops arriving at New York after their World War I service.
    Online Image of the card's reverse: 96KB; 675 x 360 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105952

    USS Matsonia
    (ID # 1589)

    In port in 1919, while employed bringing troops home from Europe.
    Location is probably Newport News, Virginia.

    Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106244-A

    USS Matsonia
    (ID # 1589)

    At Newport News, Virginia, on 16 July 1919, with the freshly landed American Expeditionary Force troops in the foreground.
    This image is cropped from Photo # NH 106244.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 110KB; 900 x 515 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106244

    "Landing of A.E.F. Troops July 16th 1919 at Newport News Va. U.S.S. Matsonia"


    Panoramic photograph by Holladay, Newport News, showing the freshly landed troops in the foreground. USS Matsonia (ID # 1589) is in the left background.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 169KB; 2000 x 395 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103994-KN (color)

    USS Matsonia (ID # 1589)

    Cover of a "Souvenir Folder", published circa 1918-1919, that features ten halftone reproductions of photographs of and on board the ship. It was sent to Mrs. Lorcy Petrie, of 4309 North Lincoln Street, Chicago, Illinois, by Musician First Class H. Petrie, who was apparently a member of the ship's crew.
    The individual photographs have Photo #s NH 103995, NH 103996, NH 103997, NH 103998, NH 103999, NH 104000, NH 104001, NH 104002, NH 104003, and NH 104004.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 440 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82951

    "The Original U.S. Troop Transports"


    Chart compiled 16 August 1919, showing the number of trans-Atlantic "turn arounds" and their average duration for thirty seven U.S. Navy troop transports employed during and immediately after World War I.

    Collection of the USS Pocahontas Reunion Association, 1974.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 157KB; 690 x 655 pixels

    Click here to rotate chart 90 degrees clockwise

     

    For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Matsonia (ID # 1589) -- On Board and Close Up Views; and
  • Matsonia (Passenger Steamship, 1913).


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


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    Page made 12 January 2002
    New images added 25 February 2009