Office of the Commandant/General Records: Letters Sent, Endorsements, and Memoranda, 1906-1911: 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 letters sent, endorsements, and memoranda received from the superintendent and other Navy Department and academy officers. The letters are both typed, and carbon or mimeographed copies. The records relate to routines, training, special events, academy faculty and staff, buildings and grounds, and midshipman discipline and welfare, among various other subjects. Subject indices exist for the period July 1907 to September 1911.

Arrangement

Arranged generally in chronological order.

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/3117465.

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

Location of Related Materials

Letters, memoranda, and other correspondence sent by the commandant immediately preceding and proceeding this entry are found in entry 147: “Press Copies of Letters Sent, 1861-1863, 1884-1887, 1888-1890, 1902-1905” (NAID: 3108978); 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); entry 151: “Memoranda Sent to the Officer in Charge Relating to Midshipmen Deprived of Privileges, 1912-1914” (NAID: 3123921).

Other contemporary memoranda issued by the commandant may be found in entry 155: “Orders, Letters Received, and Memoranda Granting Midshipmen Leave, Special Privileges, and Liberty, 1906-1908” (NAID: 3128972); entry 156: “Orders, Memoranda and Notices Relating to Athletics at the Academy, 1905-1908” (NAID: 3128981); entry 157: “Orders, Memoranda and Notices Relating to the Course of Instruction and Examinations for Midshipmen Classes, 1905-1914.”

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: Letters Sent, Endorsements, and Memoranda, 1906–1911, RG 405.3.1 Entry 148

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 April 2023. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in May 2023. 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 -- History – 20th century
• United States Naval Academy -- Students
• United States Naval Academy -- Students - Discipline
• United States Naval Academy. Commandant of Midshipmen

Genre Terms

• Correspondence
• Memorandums