Office of the Superintendent/Directives: Press Copies of Orders Issued by the Superintendent, 1865-1874, 1886-1888: 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.

Description of Contents

This series contains press copies of orders issued by the Superintendent relating to midshipmen and administration. A few of the orders are issued by the Commandant of Midshipmen.

Many of the orders announce incidents of midshipman misconduct and the punishment levied, including solitary confinement and quarantines; deprivation of privileges and rank; and extra guard duty and inspections. Infractions include insubordination, intoxication, use of tobacco, smuggling liquor onto the Academy grounds, card-playing, hazing, deception, gouging, neglect of duty, disrespect to a superior officer, going beyond the limits of the academy without permission, fighting, using insulting language, and vulgar and obscene behavior. The orders also contain the results of courts martial trials of seamen attached to the Academy's training ships, as well as the Marine Corps detachment.

Other topics include: uniform regulations; recreation; use of the gymnasium and bowling alley for "hops" and athletic exercises; preparations for formal balls and hops; the establishment of boat race, infantry drill, gymnastic, and fencing contests, and their associated prizes; performance at seamanship exercises; the annual appointment and roster of cadet officers; convening the Academic Board, and admission and physical examination boards; textbooks; library regulations and books; the academy's daily schedules and routines; sick call and quarters; Marine Corps detachment and guard duty instructions; security of the grounds; visitations by the Secretary of the Navy, special committees, boards, and distinguished individuals; instructions for the reception of and change-of-command ceremonies for academy superintendents; marching and formations; fire control measures; summer cruise instructions; practice drill and parades; health and hygiene; prohibition of patronizing certain local establishments; holidays; chapel attendance and regulations for religious services; announcements of the deaths and funerals of officers and professors; graduation instructions and routines; Congressional appropriations for the academy; supplies and requisitions; maintenance and repair of buildings, roads, and grounds; the Naval Academy Band; Navy enlisted; and laborers and mechanics.

Volume 310 also contains copies of telegrams sent by the Superintendent. An annotated inventory from 1868 of books proposed for purchase by the library is included at the end of volume 311.

Arrangement

The Office of the Superintendent/Directives: Press Copies of Orders Issued by the Superintendent are arranged chronologically and from mid-1868 to 1874 they are numbered. Chronological lists summarizing the purpose of the order, the order date, and its corresponding page number are found in the front of volumes 310-312. A name index is in the front of volume 323.

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/2990289.

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

Orders from October 2 to December 17, 1865 are duplicated in entry 46: "Orders of the Superintendent, 1851-1865" (NAID: 2990283). Orders published by previous superintendents may be found in entries 45-47. Orders, circulars, notices, memoranda, and directives issued by succeeding superintendents may be found in entries 49-58. For further research on misconduct mentioned in these orders, see correspondence of the superintendent with the Secretary of the Navy in entries 8-10; letters received by the superintendent under the folder titles "midshipmen," in entry 25; and letters and reports received by the superintendent relating to individual midshipmen in entry 75. Proceedings of courts and boards of inquiry investigating midshipmen misconduct mentioned in these orders for the period 1866-1871 are found in entry 211.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Office of the Superintendent/Directives: Press Copies of Orders Issued by the Superintendent, RG 405.2.2 Entry 48

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the historical note:

Sweetman, Jack. The U.S. Naval Academy: An Illustrated History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute Press, 1979.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Samuel Limneos in January 2021. 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

• Midshipmen -- Conduct of life -- 19th century
• Midshipmen -- Moral and ethical aspects -- United States
• Midshipmen -- United States
• Naval education -- United States
• United States Naval Academy
• United States Naval Academy -- Administration
• United States Naval Academy -- Buildings and grounds
• United States Naval Academy -- Curricula
• United States Naval Academy -- Faculty
• United States Naval Academy -- History -- 19th century
• United States Naval Academy. Superintendent

Genre Terms

• Orders (military records)
• Telegrams