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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Dan A. Kimball (1896-1970) --
50th Secretary of the Navy, 31 July 1951 - 20 January 1953

Dan Able Kimball was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, on 1 March 1896. He was an Army Air Service pilot during the First World War and maintained an intense interest in aviation thereafter. Beginning in 1920, he was employed by the General Tire and Rubber Company, rising to Vice President of that firm in 1942. He subsequently was an executive of the rocket engine producer Aerojet Engineering Company, a division of General Tire. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air in February 1949 and became Under Secretary of the Navy the following May.

Mr. Kimball assumed the post of Secretary of the Navy in July 1951 and held that position until the end of the Truman Administration in January 1953. His tenure was marked by the continuation of the Korean War, the resulting expansion of the Nation's defense establishment and considerable technological progress in aviation, naval engineering and other defense-related fields. Returning to business after leaving office, he was President and later Chairman of the Board of the Aerojet General Corporation until 1969. He died on 30 July 1970.

This page features our only views of Dan A. Kimball.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

Photo #: NH 77354-KN (Color)

Dan A. Kimball,
Secretary of the Navy, 31 July 1951 -- 20 January 1953

Portrait by C.J. Fox.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 88KB; 575 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 62376

"Pearl Harbor Day" Party, 7 December 1949


Some of the attendees at an informal party given by Rear Admiral Harold B. Miller, USN(Retired), for foreign correspondents who served in the Pacific area during World War II. The gathering was held at the Toots Shor restaurant in New York City
Present are (left to right):
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN;
Actor Henry Fonda;
Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; and
Under Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball.
Mr. Fonda, who served as a Naval Officer during World War II, was starring in the play "Mr. Roberts" at this time.

Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-708424

Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball
(left)

Signs the Memorandum of Understanding transferring USS Bisbee (PF-46) to the Columbian Government, in his Pentagon office, 16 November 1951.
In the center is Columbian Ambassador Don Dipriano Restrepo-Jaramillo. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Thomas G. Mann is at right.
Bisbee served in the Columbian Navy as Capitan Tono.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 97228

Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball
(center)

Congratulates Reserve Officer Candidates Richard Dufallo, Band Leader of the ROC Band, and John Halloran, Drum Major, at ceremonies at Naval Air Station, Los Alamitos, California, in which "USS Small Fry", the World's only curved deck "aircraft carrier" was placed in commission for the use of model airplane enthusiasts, circa 1951-52.
The ROC Band played the honors on this occasion, at the Shrine Charity Benefit at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and at numerous other events during their summer training session.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-13939 (Color)

Secretary of the Navy's Office, Pentagon Building, Arlington, Virginia

View of the office's center and right walls, with Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball's desk, 6 January 1953.
Hanging on the wall are the official Secretary of the Navy portraits of Gideon Welles (left) and William Jones.
Note World map and flags of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-13938 (Color)

Secretary of the Navy's Office, Pentagon Building, Arlington, Virginia

View of the office's left wall, 6 January 1953, while Dan A. Kimball was Secretary of the Navy.
Hanging on the wall are the official Secretary of the Navy portraits of James Forrestal (left) and Benjamin Stoddert (right) and a painting of the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

5 February 2000