Battleship Louisiana Silver Service CommitteeThis is just one of a number of letters in the Behrman records that deal with the local effort to raise money for the purchase of a silver service for the U.S.S. Louisiana, the third battleship to carry the state's name. Launched in 1904, the vessel was part of Theodore Roosevelt's intimidating Great White Fleet. During the first World War it acted as a training ship and later carried U.S. troops back home from France. The Louisiana was sold for scrap in 1923. The members of the committee charged with raising the needed funds, headed by Mayor Behrman, reads like a Who's Who of the local business hierarchy in early 20th century New Orleans.
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