Office of the Superintendent/Administrative Records: Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent Relating to Buildings and Grounds, 1902-1910: 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 entry contains press copies of letters sent by the Superintendent relating to buildings and grounds. The letters generally consist of correspondence with various contractors engaged in ongoing construction on the academy grounds, and relate specifically to plans, specifications, contracts, prices for and inspection of material and labor, deliveries of supplies and equipment, and other matters. The letters include substantial correspondence with architect Ernest Flagg regarding alterations to and execution of architectural plans.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

Use of materials is unrestricted.

Other Finding Aid(s)

National Archives Catalog entry available electronically at: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/3053990.

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

Correspondence relating to construction and other work on the academy’s buildings and grounds completed during this, as well as earlier and later periods may be found in entry 1: “Letters Sent by the Superintendent, 1845-1865” (NAID: 2953622); entry 3: “Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent, 1865-1911” (NAID: 2980540); entry 25: “Letters Received by the Superintendent, 1843-1889” (NAID: 299043); as well as entry 115: “Letters Sent and Received and Contracts for Construction and Grading Work at the Academy, 1858–1860” (NAID: 3053966); and entry 116: “Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent Relating to the Proposed Rebuilding of the Academy, 1895-1904” (NAID: 3053987).

Correspondence of the officer in charge of buildings and grounds for this and earlier periods may be found in entry 181: “Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Officer in Charge of Buildings and Grounds, 1875-1911” (NAID: 3164804); entry 182: “Press Copies of Letters and Memorandums Sent Relating to Claims of Companies Under Contract for Academy Buildings, 1904-1907” (NAID: 3164808); and entry 183: “Register of Cost of Work Performed at Academy Installations, 1882-1884” (NAID: 3164811).

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Office of the Superintendent/Administrative Records: Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent Relating to Buildings and Grounds, 1902–1910

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 April 2023. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in May 2023. 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

• Flagg, Ernest, 1857-1947
• Naval education -- United States
• United States Naval Academy -- History – 19th century
• United States Naval Academy. Superintendent
• United States Naval Academy -- Buildings -- Maintenance and repair
• United States Naval Academy -- Buildings and grounds
• United States Naval Academy -- Monuments -- Maintenance and repair

Genre Terms

• Correspondence