Office of the Superintendent/Administrative Records: Copies of Monthly and Term Reports of Relative Class Standing, Marks and Demerits, 1907-1924: 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 unbound copies of reports recording the numerical class standing and marks of each midshipman in each subject studied and the number of demerits received each month, term, or year.

Term reports typically record the midshipman’s name, rank in the order of merit, and mark and standing in each subject. Monthly class reports typically record the midshipman’s name, rank in the order of merit, and weekly, monthly, examination, and final marks. Notes such as “to be dropped” or “to be examined” record academic board decisions, while other annotations indicate a midshipman’s resignation or absence on leave or the sick list. Annual or semiannual reports of examinations are also included. Occasionally, lists of midshipman summer cruise reports listing the midshipman’s name, cruise marks, and rank in the order of merit are interfiled throughout the annual examination reports.

There are only reports for the fourth class year (or academic year 1921-1922) for the Class of 1925. For the class of 1908, only class reports for the academic year 1907-1908 are included in this entry. Similarly, there are only class reports for the academic years 1907-1909 in this entry for the Class of 1909.

Arrangement

Arranged by class graduation year, thereunder by month or term, and thereunder alphabetically by initial letter of surname.

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/3039656.

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

Academic and conduct records for midshipmen immediately preceding this entry are found in entry 96: “Monthly Reports of Relative Class Standing, Marks, and Demerits, 1855-1907” (NAID: 3039649). Related conduct and academic records are found in entry 99: “Class Reports of Annual Examinations, 1901, 1903, 1909,” (NAID: 3039660); entry 98: “Reports of Examination Grades of Midshipmen, 1872-1879” (NAID: 3039658); and entry 94: “Monthly Class Reports for the Subjects French and Spanish and for Great Gun Target Practice, 1904, 1911, 1917-1925” (NAID: 3039643).

Reports of relative academic standing, deficiency lists and merit rolls pertaining to midshipman grades, and more information pertaining to the content, form, administration, and results of these, earlier, and later examinations are found in entry 204: “Journals of the Academic Board, 1854-1985” (NAID: 3179980); and entry 205a: “Records of the Academic Board, 1868-1975.”

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 Monthly and Term Reports of Relative Class Standing, Marks and Demerits, 1907-1924, RG 405.2.3 Entry 97

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 June 2022. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in June 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

• Midshipmen -- United States
• Naval education -- United States
• United States Naval Academy - Students
• • United States Naval Academy -- History – 20th century

Genre Terms

• Reports