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Typed paper titled “Thanksgiving Dinner” with food menu items listed in black text
William "Ma" Irvin Papers
Typed paper titled “Thanksgiving Dinner” with food menu items listed in black text
Typed paper titled “Thanksgiving Dinner” with food menu items listed in black text

William "Ma" Irvin Papers

Date1944–1962
Mediumpaper, ink
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of the family of William "Ma" Irvin CS1 (SS). A2018.04
Object numberA2018.04
DescriptionExtent: 1 folder, 2 books (1 cased volume)

William D. Irvin, nicknamed “Ma,” served on board the submarine USS Growler (SSG-577) as a commissaryman from November 11, 1961 to June 18, 1963. The William "Ma" Irvin Papers contain menus, a spice chart, manuals, cookbooks and other Naval commissary related materials from his service aboard Growler. The collection also includes menus from the submarine USS Volador and the Naval Air Station in Memphis, Tennessee.

Menus (3):
- Thanksgiving, n.d.
- Christmas Dinner, December 25,1962, USS Growler (SSG 577) (2). One menu had a black and white photograph of a woman in it, which has been removed and cataloged as P2018.04.03

Spice Chart, n.d., Commissary "B" School, NTC, San Diego, Calif.
- Tiered alphabetical spice chart that describes the origin of each spice and reccomends the best use.

Menu; 7 Bills of Fare for the General Mess, November 12, 1951–January 8, 1957
- 6 from N.A.S. Memphis, Tennessee, November 12, 1951–January 14, 1952
- 1 from USS Volador, January 8, 1957 (oversize)

Manual; Planning Navy Meals, November 1958
- "Charles Irwin Whittington" handwritten in blue ink on the top of the menu
- Stamp on the cover says "U.S.S. Growler (SSG 577)," dated April 20, 1959

Newsletter; Navy Food Service // U.S. Navy Subsistence Office, February 1959 // Washington 25, D.C., Prepared October 1958

Cookbooks:
The Cook Book of the United States Navy, 1944 (Cased Volume 36)
- Handwritten note with food measurements found between pages 114-115

Meat Handbook of the United States Navy, 1945
- Front cover has "Property of // William Donald Irvin // CSI (SS) U.S.N. 556-83-93" handwritten in black ink.
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