Office of the Superintendent/Administrative Records: Reports of Academic and Medical Examination of Candidates for Admission and Related Correspondence, 1846-1899 (bulk 1846-1876): 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 reports of academic and medical examinations of candidates for admission and related correspondence. For the period 1846-1852, it consists of reports of academic and medical examinations of candidates and letters of reference. For the general period 1853-1899, the series contains mostly permits issued by the Navy Department to the candidates to admit them to the academic and medical examinations for admission. Examination reports are generally filed with the permits.

Correspondence or reports relating to engineering candidates, 1870-1876 are usually filed after records relating to midshipmen candidates. No correspondence or reports remain for the years 1872 and 1874.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically, with many gaps, and thereunder alphabetically by initial letter of surname of candidate. The series apparently received its present arrangement sometime after the records were first accumulated.

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/3000044.

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

Reports of academic and medical examinations of candidates that are not included in this series for 1848-1850 and 1853 are found in the series, "Reports of Academic and Medical Examination of Candidates for Admission, 1848-1850" RG 405.2.3 entry 61 (ARC Identifier 3000050).

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Preferred Citation

Office of the Superintendent/Administrative Records: Reports of Academic and Medical Examination of Candidates for Admission and Related Correspondence, RG 405.2.3 Entry 60

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

Collection inventory prepared by Alice Gilliland in 2013. Historical sketch and Scope and Content Note prepared by Geraldine N. Phillips and Aloha South in 1975.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Naval education -- United States.
• United States Naval Academy -- Admission
• United States Naval Academy -- Students

Genre Terms

• Correspondence
• Reports