Office of the Superintendent/Administrative Records: Copies of Correspondence in the Case of Naval Cadets H. O. Donaldson and J. F. Maxwell, 1899-1900: 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 consists of typed transcripts of naval cadet committee proceedings and letters, telegrams and reports sent and received by the superintendent pertaining to a prank committed by naval cadets H. O. Donaldson and J. F. Maxwell on December 25, 1899.

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/3027229.

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

Other correspondence relating to this incident may be found in entry 29: "Letters Received by the Superintendent, 1888-1906" (NAID: 2990063); and entry 30: "Letters Received by Superintendent Frederick V. McNair, 1898-1900" (NAID: 2990066). Directives, such as orders, notices, and circulars pertaining to this incident, if such exist, may be found in entry 50: "Orders Issued by the Superintendent, 1890-1908" (NAID: 2990329); entry 51: "Orders, Circulars, Memoranda, and other Issuances of the Superintendent, 1870-1928" (NAID: 2990338); and entry 52: "Printed Orders, Circulars, and Notices, 1900-1903" (NAID: 2990354).

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: Copies of Correspondence in the Case of Naval Cadets H. O. Donaldson and J. F. Maxwell, RG 405.2.3 Entry 77

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 February 2022. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in February 2022. 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

• McNair, Frederick Vallette, 1839-1900
• Midshipmen -- Moral and ethical aspects -- United States
• Naval education -- United States
• United States Naval Academy
• United States Naval Academy -- History -- 19th century
• United States Naval Academy -- History -- 20th century
• United States Naval Academy – Student
• United States Naval Academy. Superintendent

Genre Terms

• Correspondence
• Proceedings (reports)
• Reports
• Transcripts