Office of the Commandant/General Records: Press Copies of Letters Sent, 1861-1905 (bulk 1861-1863, 1884-1887, 1888-1890, 1902-1905): Finding Aid

History of the Office of the Commandant of Midshipmen

Although not specifically provided for in the original plan for the Naval School at Fort Severn, the Office of the Commandant actually dates from the opening days of the school when Lieutenant James H. Ward served as executive officer and instructor in gunnery and steam. Under the provisions of the reorganization plan of 1850, an experienced lieutenant or commander, known as the commandant of midshipmen, served as executive officer to the Superintendent and instructor in naval tactics and practical seamanship. Between 1882 and 1902, regulations referred to the executive officer as the commandant of cadets. The office of the commandant also included responsibility for insuring the "preservation of discipline" and "general security" at the Academy. The Navy Department detailed line officer assistants to the commandant as the responsibilities of the office increased with the growth of the school. The commandant also typically commanded the annual summer practice cruises and maintained the trip’s records under the instruction of the superintendent. For most years from 1851 to 1909, the commandant served as commander of the cruise.

Description of Contents

This entry contains press copies of letters sent consisting of letters addressed to the secretary of the navy and heads of navy department bureaus, the superintendent and other officers and heads of departments at the academy, other public officials, civilian employees at the academy, enlisted men assigned to the academy, midshipmen or cadets and their parents, merchants, and other private individuals. The subjects include discipline and midshipman misconduct and punishments; midshipman requests for permission to attend church services; the Naval Academy Band and hospital department; equipment and supplies; textbooks; funeral arrangements; contracts for services; summer practice cruises; and athletes.

Volume 15, containing letters dated from September 1861 to April 1863, spans part of the Civil War period when the academy relocated to Newport, Rhode Island. This volume also contains letters addressed to midshipmen and the commandant of midshipmen from the superintendent and subordinate officers attached to the academy. Volume 325 contains the report submitted by the commandant for the summer practice cruise in 1888 and letters written aboard the practice ship shortly before the start of the 1889 cruise. Orders and notices issued by the commandant between September 1888 and June 1890 are found in the volumes of this series covering that period.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically. There is a name index for the period September 1861-April 1863. There are subject indexes for the period September 1888-June 1890. There are name and subject indexes for the periods October 1884-June 1887 and March 1902-October 1905.

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/3108798.

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

Letters, memoranda, and other correspondence sent by the commandant for the period immediately proceeding this entry are found in entry 148: “Letters Sent, Endorsements, and Memoranda, 1906-1911” (NAID: 3117465); entry 149: “Letters Sent to the Superintendent Relating to Midshipmen’s Deficiencies in Conduct, 1905-1906” (NAID: 3118891); entry 150: “Memoranda Sent to Academy Officers and Heads of Departments, 1911-1912” (NAID: 3121144); and entry 151: “Memoranda Sent to the Officer in Charge Relating to Midshipmen Deprived of Privileges, 1912-1914” (NAID: 3123921).

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Office of the Commandant/General Records: Subject Files, RG 405.3.1 Entry 147

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Samuel Limneos in August 2022. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in August 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
• United States Naval Academy -- History -- 20th century
• United States Naval Academy. Commandant of Midshipmen

Genre Terms

• Correspondence