Office of the Superintendent/Administrative Records: Register of Naval Cadets Admitted to the Academy and Record of Detachments for Sea Service and Shore Duty, 1894-1903: 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 is divided into two parts. The first part contains the names of naval cadets admitted to the academy between 1899 and 1901, their appointment dates, states and districts, and a remarks column typically documenting resignation or detachment dates. The second part records detachments of naval cadets of the classes of 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, and 1902 from the academy for sea service and shore duty (following their four years of study) that covers the period 1898 to 1903. Also recorded is the naval cadet’s birth date, date of appointment, name of district from which appointed, any leaves of absence, names of vessels attached to for sea service, and any time spent on engineering duty, completing postgraduate naval education, or attending specialized training. Detachment dates are recorded chronologically along with the time spent on sea service, shore duty, or unemployed.

Arrangement

The register of naval cadets admitted between 1899 and 1901 is arranged either chronologically by appointment date or alphabetically by naval cadet surname. The record of detachments covering the period 1898 to 1903 is arranged by class year (recorded as entrance, rather than graduation year) and thereunder by the naval cadet’s rank in the order of general merit for four years, otherwise known as the class’s graduation merit roll.

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/3027238.

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

Midshipman biographical data is found in numerous entries, including admission and examination register books. Biographical and appointment data of midshipmen reporting prior to those in this entry is found in entry 78: “List of Midshipmen, 1864-1868” (NAID: 3027231); entry 79: “Register Showing the Congressional Districts of the Cadet Midshipmen, 1869-1873” (NAID: 3027235); and entry 80: “Register of Names and addresses of Parents and Guardians of Cadets, 1871-1876” (NAID: 3027237). Congressional district data for a portion of the naval cadets documented in this entry, and for those appointed later is found in entry 82: “Register of Congressional Districts of Naval Cadets, 1894-1905” (NAID: 3027239). Admission registers containing more information on candidates listed in this entry, as well as earlier and later midshipman and engineer candidates are found in entry 62: “Registers of Candidates for Admission to the Academy, 1849-1871; 1876-1930” (NAID: 3000050); entry 63: “Register of Candidates for Admission to the Academy as Midshipmen, Acting Third Assistant Engineers, and Cadet Engineers, 1861-1867; 1871; 1875” (NAID: 3020758); entry 64: “Register of Candidates for Admission to the Academy as Acting Third Assistant and Cadet Engineers, 1867-1875” (NAID: 3020766); entry 65: “Registers of Birth Dates of Candidates for Admission, 1864-1885” (3020797); and entry 66: “Miscellaneous Lists of Candidates Admitted to the Academy, 1860, 1866, 1886-1892” (NAID: 3021172).

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: Register of Naval Cadets Admitted to the Academy and Record of Detachments for Sea Service and Shore Duty, 1894-1903, RG 405.2.3 Entry 81

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 March 2022. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in March 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

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

Genre Terms

• Registers (lists)