| Title |
Crossing the equator ceremony on board USS West Virginia (BB-48). |
| Photo Number |
P0258n1_05_45 |
| Description |
Photo shows sailors aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia performing a "crossing the Equator" ceremony in the 1940s., location not identified. |
| Creator |
Reo Robbins |
| Date |
1940; 1941; 1942; 1943; 1944; 1945; 1946; 1947; 1948; 1949 |
| Textual Date |
1940s |
| Keywords |
Military; Navy; Men; Costumes; Uniforms; Boats and boating; Battleships; Ceremonies |
| Subject |
United States. Navy--Photographs; Sailors--United States--Photographs; Battleships--American--Photographs |
| Additional Information |
This is an ancient and time-honored maritime tradition, performed whenever a ship crosses the equator. Those who had not yet crossed the equator were called "pollywogs," while those who had done so previously were "shellbacks." During the ceremony those being initiated were forced to perform silly tasks, were doused with water, forced to crawl forward and kiss "King Neptune's" belly, and so on. Afterward, they were given a certificate as proof that they had enrolled in the "Order of Neptune." |
| Collection Number and Name |
P0258 Reo Robbins Photograph Collection, Circa 1940-1945 |
| Collection Name |
Reo Robbins |
| Donated By/Purchased From |
Reo Robbins |
| Rights |
 |
| Type |
Image |
| ARK |
ark:/87278/s6p27hns |
| Setname |
uum_map |
| ID |
941303 |
| Reference URL |
https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6p27hns |
