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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
SCRC staff
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Rembert Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Processing Information:
Accessioned and minimally processed in May 2010 by Ute Schechter, Warren E. Burger Archivist. Processing and finding aid completed by Katie Dixon, SCRC staff in July 2010.
Biographical Information:
John Patrick Rembert was born in Texas in 1907, went to the US Naval Academy and moved with his wife Sarah to Arlington, Virginia in the mid-1940s and lived there until his death in 1976. Rembert obtained the rank of Rear Admiral in the US Navy. Throughout his career with the Navy, Rembert earned the Flying Cross with Gold Star, the Air Medal with 5 Gold Stars, the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medail, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Facility in Hawaii, USS Salerno Bay, USS Tarawa. He fought during WWII in the Solomans Campaign, and many other Island campaigns as a Commander of Air Group 40. He was also commander of the USS Orca, where many of the letters are from.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of approximately 1,400 total items including approximately 550 letters from 1944 to 1955 between John Patrick Rembert and his wife Sarafan, as well as other correspondence regarding homelife and the military and World War II. Also included in this collection are photo albums and loose photographs, including many portraits of John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert, relatives of the Remberts, friends and family and the Rembert's travels. There are several 8x10 official Naval photographs of the Remberts and Naval parties and dinners, as well as eight 8x10 photographs of the 1968 Washington D.C. "Negroe Integration Riots." The collection also includes many pieces of ephemera, including many certificates including a 1921 Masonic certificate of the 32nd Degree, cards, and drawings, as well as a collection of John Patrick Rembert's Naval buttons.
Items range in date from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s (bulk 1910s-1950s).
Arrangement of Materials:
This collection is currently being arranged and described. Researchers may wish to consult with a staff member for further information in advance of using the collection.
Related Material
One box inscribed J. P. R. including assortment of Naval buttons, pins, and cuff-links belonging to John Patrick Rembert moved to Manuscript Artifact Collection. Collection includes inscribed box, seven pins, three pairs of cuff-links, and thirteen brass eagle buttons.
Separated Material
One box inscribed J. P. R. including assortment of Naval buttons, pins, and cuff-links belonging to John Patrick Rembert moved to Manuscript Artifact Collection. Collection includes inscribed box, seven pins, three pairs of cuff-links, and thirteen brass eagle buttons.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Account books
- Buttons (fasteners)
- Certificates
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Letters (correspondence)
- Photographs
- Race relations--1960-1970
- Scrapbooks
- World War, 1939-1945--United States--Personal narratives
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Rembert, John Patrick, 1907-1976
- Rembert, Sarah
Container List
Scope and Contents This series contains correspondence, primarily correspondence between John Patrick Rembert and his wife, Sarafan Rembert. However, the series also includes correspondence from John Patrick Rembert to his parents, some relatives, and friends, although these correspondences are predominantly undated or during his time at the Naval Academy. The series includes correspondence on official Naval stationary, as well as postcards and several telegrams. The correspondence from John Patrick Rembert primarily focuses on his Naval responsibilities and his thoughts and descriptions of the areas in which he is stationed. The correspondence from Sarafan Rembert primarily focuses on home life. The series is arranged chronologically, beginning in 1906 and ending with John Patrick Rembert's time on the U.S.S. Tarawa.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1 id71876
Correspondence--To Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Ausbury1906 May
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2 id71877
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert to Santa Claus1914 December 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3 id71878
Correspondence--To John Patrick Rembert1923 August 22
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4 id71879
Correspondence--To Sarafan Rembert, Postcard from New York City1927 June 17
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5 id71880
Correspondence--From John Patrick Rembert to Parents, United States Naval Academy1925-1929
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6 id71881
Correspondence--From John Patrick Rembert to His Parents, U.S.S. West Virginia1930; circa 1930
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7 id71882
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert to His Mother, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Floridaundated; circa 1930-1931
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8 id71883
Correspondence--From John Patrick Rembert to His Parents, U.S.S. Hale1933 May
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9 id71884
Correspondence--From John Patrick Rembert to His Parents and Sarafan Rembert, U.S.S. Vega1934 May-1935 February
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10 id71885
Correspondence--From John Patrick Rembert to Sarafan Rembert, U.S.S. Taylorcirca 1935 February-1936 February
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11 id71886
Correspondence--From "Bunav" to "Taylor", U.S. Naval Correspondence Service1935 April 27
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 12 id71887
Correspondence--From Sarafan Rembert to John Patrick Rembert, Flight Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida1936 August
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 13 id71888
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert, U.S.S. Philadelphia1939 April-1939 June
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 14 id71889
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert, U.S.S. Lexington1938 April 1-1939 February 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 15 id71890
Correspondence-- John Patrick Rembert, Torpedo Plane Squadron Two1939-1940; circa 1939-1940Scope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 16 id248632
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert, Torpedo Plane Squadron Two1939-1940; circa 1939-1940Scope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 17 id71891
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert to His Mother, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida1941 October 9
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 18 id71892
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert; John P. Rembert to His Mothercirca 1942 February-1943 September 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 19 id71893
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert; John Patrick Rembert to His Mother1943 September 2-October 21Scope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 20 id71894
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1943 September 2-October 21Scope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1 id71918
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert; John P. Rembert to His Mother1943 October 31-December 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2 id71919
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert to Sarafan Rembert1944 January 1-February 28
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3 id71920
Correspondence--From John Patrick Rembert to Sarafan Rembert1944 March 1-April 19
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4 id71921
Correspondence--From John Patrick Rembert to his Mother and Sarafan Rembert, Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air)1944 May-1947 January
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5 id71922
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert to Sarafan Rembert, U.S.S. Orca and Banana River, Florida1947
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6 id71923
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1947 January-FebruaryScope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7 id71924
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1947 January-FebruaryScope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 1 id71925
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1947 MarchScope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 2 id71926
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1947 MarchScope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 3 id71927
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1947 AprilScope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 4 id71928
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1947 AprilScope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 5 id71929
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1947 MayScope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 6 id71930
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1947 MayScope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 7 id71931
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert1947 June-July
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 8 id71932
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert; U.S.S. Tarawa1955 June-1956 JuneScope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 9 id71933
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert; U.S.S. Tarawa1955 June-1956 JuneScope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 10 id72034
Correspondence--Between John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert; while in Honalulu, Hawaiiundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 Folder: 11 id248672
Correspondence--undated Postcardsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 1 id71934
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert to Sarafan Rembertundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 2 id71935
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert to Sarafan Rembertundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 3 id71936
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert to Sarafan RembertundatedScope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 4 id71937
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert to Sarafan RembertundatedScope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 5 id71938
Correspondence--John Patrick Rembert to Sarafan Rembertundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 6 id248682
Correspondence--Unmarked Postcardsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 7 id248687
Correspondence--Sarafan Rembert to John Patrick Rembertundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 8 id248692
Correspondence--Sarafan Rembert to John Patrick RembertundatedScope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 4 Folder: 9 id248700
Correspondence--Sarafan Rembert to John Patrick RembertundatedScope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 1 id248710
Correspondence--Sarafan Rembert to John Patrick RembertundatedScope and Contents
Folder 1 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 2 id248712
Correspondence--Sarafan Rembert to John Patrick RembertundatedScope and Contents
Folder 2 of 2.
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 3 id248717
Correspondence--Sarafan Rembert to John Patrick Rembertundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 5 Folder: 4 id248726
Correspondence--From John Patrick Rembert to His Motherundated
Scope and Contents This series contains photographs, primarily undated small photos of the Rembert's travels, family, and friends. The series also includes official Naval photographs of dinners and parties, and some photographs of Sarafan Rembert and John Patrick Rembert. There is also a large number of matted portraits, dating from the late 1800s to the 1950s. This series also holds several photographs of the 1968 Washington D.C. race riots and the 1969 moon landing.
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 1 id71943
Photographs--John Patrick Rembertcirca 1907-1925
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 2 id71944
Photographs--John Patrick Rembertcirca 1925-1950
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 3 id71942
Photographs--Sarafan Frances Rembertcirca 1928-1957
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 4 id72402
Photographs--Sarafan Frances Rembertcirca 1928-1957
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 5 id71946
Photographs--Asiatic Pacific Campaigncirca 1943-1944
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 6 id71947
Photographs--Traveling in Hawaiicirca 1947-1949
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 7 id71959
Photographs--Sarafan Rembert and Others in Official Navy Photograph1950 November 18
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 8 id71945
Photographs--John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembertcirca 1951-1957
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 9 id71960
Photographs--John Patrick Rembert Greeting Others at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, U.S.S. Tarawa, Official Navy Photograph1955 August 11
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 10 id71948
Photographs--Washington D.C. Race Riots1968
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 11 id71961
Photographs--Miscellaneous Including Moon Landing1968-1969
- Mixed Materials Box: 6 Folder: 12 id71949
Photograph--John Patrick Rembert, Cockpit of United States Navy Jetundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 1 id71950
Photographs--Militaryundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 2 id71951
Photographs--Travelingundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 3 id71952
Photographs--Unidentified Family and Friendsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 4 id71953
Photographs--Unidentified Traveling and Familyundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 5 id71954
Photographs--Unidentified Family and Friendsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 6 id71955
Photographs--Unidentified Family and Friendsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 7 id71956
Photographs--Unidentified Family and Friendsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 8 id71957
Photographs--Unidentified Official Navy Photographsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 7 Folder: 9 id71958
Photographs--Unidentified Official Navy Photographsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 1 id71962
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 2 id71963
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 3 id71964
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 4 id71965
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 5 id71966
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 6 id71967
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 7 id71968
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 8 id72403
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 9 id72404
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 8 Folder: 10 id72405
Photographs--Portraits, Matted and Unidentifiedundated
Scope and Contents This series includes two scrapbooks by the Rembert family. The first item in the series is a scrapbook inscribed "Presented by the Scholars to Mrs. Agnes Ausbury, Superintendent of the West Prairie Sunday School as a token of Friendship", dated January 1, 1883. Mrs. Ausbury was a relative of Sarafan Rembert. The scrapbook includes portraits of men and women from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The second item in the series is a scrapbook made by John Patrick Rembert and Sarafan Rembert, including photographs of the couple on travel, at home, and with friends. The item is undated, but appears to be from the 1920s and 1930s.
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 id71979
"Scrapbook--"Presented by the Scholars to Mrs. Agnes Ausbury, Superintendent of the West Prairie Sunday School, as a token of Friendship."1883 January 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 9 id71980
Scrapbook--Rembert Family Photographs including Friends, Family, and Travelcirca 1920s-1930s
Scope and Contents This series contains newspapers and ephemera that once belonged to the Rembert family. The newspaper clippings mostly reference World War II, including comics and small news stories, but also include references to the Remberts, particularly Sarafan. Newspaper clippings related to Sarafan include a piece about her involvement as a Naval wife in the War, her and John Patrick Rembert's cat "Spook", and her car. The series also includes several books, including ledger books detailing the Rembert's stock holdings, receipts, and other monetary holdings, a novel inscribed to John Patrick Rembert, and a book detailing camera exposures which includes several of the Rembert's negatives. Also included in the series are several certificates, including the Masonic certificate of John Patrick Rembert, Sr., indicating his achievement of the 32nd Degree. Also included is a certificate of John Patrick Rembert's enrollment in the "Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves", and Sarafan Rembert's Panama Driver's License. There are also several cards, placecards, and other pieces of ephemera.
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 1 id72063
Newspaper--"The Daily Oklahoman"1926 November 21
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 2 id72064
Newspaper Clippings--About Sarafan Rembert1943, 1980
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 3 id72065
Newspaper Clippings--World War II Relatedcirca 1943
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 4 id72066
Newspaper Clippings--World War II Relatedcirca 1943
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 5 id72067
Newspaper Clippings--World War II Relatedcirca 1943
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 6 id72068
Newspaper--"The Evening Star"1943 December 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 7 id72070
Newspaper--"The Evening Star"1944 January 16
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 8 id72069
Newspaper Clippings--Spook the Cat's Rescue, Owned by Remberts1960 August
- Mixed Materials Box: 10 Folder: 9 id72071
Magazine--U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Associate Magazine, "Shipmate", Announcing Death of John Patrick Rembert1977 July-August
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 1 id72072
Certificate--Southern Jurisdiction Mason of the 32nd Degree, John Patrick Rembert, Sr.1921 November 18
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 2 id72073
Book--"A Few Figs from Thistle" by Edna St. Vincent Millay, Inscribed to John Patrick Rembert from "Adalyn"1932 November 24
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 3 id72074
Ephemera--Panama Drivers License for Sarafan Rembert1935
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 4 id72075
Photographic Exposure Calculator Handbook and Diary--"Wellcome", Belonging to John Patrick Rembert; Includes Negativescirca 1936
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 5 id72076
Ephemera--Inivitation to N.A.F. Officer's Club Party1948 February 7
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 6 id72077
Ephemera--Christmas Card from "Freddie and Sheila", Photograph of British Embassy in Washington1954 June 29
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 7 id72078
Certificate of Membership--The Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves1955 December 7
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 8 id72079
Ledger--Stock Investments, Shares, Price, and Market Price, also Receipts including Medicare and Hospital Expenditures1958-1970
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 9 id72080
Ephemera--Anniversary Cardundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 10 id72081
Ephemera--Drawings by John Patrick Rembertundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 11 id72082
Ephemera--Drawingsundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 12 id72083
Pictures--Inscribed Pictures of Annapolis Landmarksundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 13 id72084
Ephemera--Placecard, John Patrick Rembert, III, Captain, U.S. Navyundated
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 14 id72085
Ephemera--Photo Sleeve, "Aide to Commandt."undated
- Mixed Materials Box: 11 Folder: 15 id248736
Ephemera--Napkincirca 1955 July 11