Office of the Superintendent/Correspondence: Letters Sent by the Assistant to the Superintendent, 1895-1898: Finding Aid

History of the Office of the Superintendent

The plan of the Naval School at Fort Severn, Annapolis, Maryland, approved by the Navy Department August 28, 1846, provided that a Superintendent of the school be appointed by the Secretary of the Navy from a list of officers of a rank not higher than commander. The Superintendent was to have responsibility for the general management of the institution, including overseeing the course of study, professors, and other personnel connected with the Academy. He could appoint and remove all persons employed at the Academy except those for whose appointment or discharge special provision was made by the laws or regulations of the Navy or the Academy. He had general charge of the buildings, grounds, and ships belonging to the Academy. The Superintendent also formulated the code of rules and regulations for the internal government of the school to be submitted to the Secretary of the Navy for approval. After 1867, officers were assigned by the Navy Department to the Academy to serve as assistants or aides to the Superintendent.

The Office of the Superintendent as described in the 1846 plan remained relatively unchanged throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Officers of ranks higher than commander, however, have served in the position. This entry contains letters sent by Superintendent Captain Philip H. Cooper (1894-1898).

Description of Contents

This series contains letters sent by the Assistant to the Superintendent. The letters are addressed to various naval personnel and to private individuals. The letters relate to posting about vacancies at the Academy, regulations for admission, lists of statuses of cadets (the contemporary title of midshipmen), lists of cadets representing the Academy in athletic competitions, and letters relating to competitions and to other subjects. From January 1895 to June 1896, Lt. W. P. Potter was the assistant, and from January 1897 to April 1898, Lt. G.A. Merriam occupied that position.

There are no letters between June 21, 1896 and January 12, 1897.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically. There is a name and subject index for pages 78-80 only.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

Generally, materials produced by Federal agencies are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Any non-government publications held herein may still be subject to copyright. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

Other Finding Aid(s)

National Archives Catalog entry available electronically at: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/2983386.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Custodial History

RG 405 Records of the United States Naval Academy is the property of the National Archives and Records Administration. The materials are housed at the United States Naval Academy, William W. Jeffries Memorial Archives, an affiliated archive, as per a Memorandum of Agreement between the National Archives and Records Administration and the United States Naval Academy.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

For letters and press copies of letters sent by other Superintendents to the Secretary of the Navy, Navy Department, Congress, Academy officers instructors and midshipmen, and public and private individuals see entries 1 through 23.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Office of the Superintendent/Correspondence: Letters Sent by the Assistant to the Superintendent, RG 405.2.1 Entry 7

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was inventoried by Samuel Limneos in March 2019. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in Samuel Limneos. Historical Sketch and Scope and Content Note adapted in part from Inventory of Records Group 405 by Geraldine N. Phillips and Aloha South, 1975.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Cooper, Philip Henry, 1844-1912
• United States Naval Academy -- History -- 19th century
• United States Naval Academy -- Students
• United States Naval Academy. Superintendent

Genre Terms

• Correspondence