Office of the Commandant/Department of Physical Education: Records of the Department of Physical Education, 1866-1974: Finding Aid
Published in October 2019
Summary Information
- Publisher: United States Naval Academy. Special Collections & Archives.
- Publisher Address:
589 McNair Road
Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5029, USA
Phone: 410-293-6922
https://www.usna.edu/Library/sca/index.php - Call number: RG 405.3.1 Entry 151h
- National Archives Identifier:
- Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Archives
- Title: Office of the Commandant/Department of Physical Education: Records of the Department of Physical Education
- Dates: 1866-1974
- Size: 4.38 linear feet
- Container Summary: 10 manuscript boxes, 1 half-manuscript box
- Creator: United States Naval Academy. Department of Physical Education
- Language(s) of material: English
- Abstract: The Records of the Department of Physical Education, comprising 4.38 linear feet of documentation, span from 1866 to 1974. The majority of the records were collected by Associate Professor Walter Aamold, an instructor in Physical Education and track and field coach from 1921 to 1956. The materials contain historical information about the various sports and sports facilities at the Naval Academy, and include programs, schedules, rules, scores, correspondence, memoranda, newsletters, training and lesson plans, reports, and engineering drawings and blueprints. Handwritten and typed notes about the history of Naval Academy athletics and specific sports, many by Professor Aamold himself are contained in some of the files. There are biographies of physical education instructors and information about coaches, captains and managers. Also included are series related to athletic awards, newspaper articles, and athletic magazines.
History of the Department of Physical Education
Physical exercise, training and education, in close connection with athletics, has been part of the curriculum at the Naval Academy since its founding in 1845. In the early days, physical training was closely tied to marching drill, practical exercises in seamanship and navigation, as well as the regular rigors aboard ship on training cruises. The Academy in 1850 taught fencing to gun crews with the head of the Department of Drawing serving as an instructor. In 1859 a "Master of the Sword" was named whose duties were to teach fencing. Athletics began at the Naval Academy in 1865 under Superintendent Admiral David D. Porter. The first gymnasium was constructed on the upper floor of the old Fort Severn and by 1867 Physical Training was expanded as a branch of the Executive Department, under the purview of the Commandant of Midshipmen. Gymnastics, rowing, and boxing were then added in the program. In 1869 swimming was added to the program along with calisthenics, and in 1890 the first Army-Navy football game was played. In 1924 the organizational title was changed to the Department of Physical Training. In 1953 the department was reorganized as the Department of Physical Education, with a curriculum that included survival skills and techniques, personal defense, physical development and measurement, athletic administration, and recreational sports. Today the Physical Education Department mission is to prepare midshipmen physically to become professional officers through a rigorous course of instruction in swimming, personal defense, wellness, recreational sports, and the regular administration of the physical readiness test (PRT). Additionally the Department works in close coordination with the Naval Academy Athletic Association (NAAA) which administers the Naval Academy intercollegiate athletics program, the club sports program, and the intramural sports program organized by the Commandant of Midshipmen.
Description of Contents
The Records of the Department of Physical Education, comprising 4.38 linear feet of documentation, span from 1866 to 1974. The majority of the records were collected by Associate Professor Walter Aamold, an instructor in Physical Education and track and field coach from 1921 to 1956. The materials contain historical information about the various sports and sports facilities at the Naval Academy, and include programs, schedules, rules, scores, correspondence, memoranda, newsletters, training and lesson plans, reports, and engineering drawings and blueprints. Handwritten and typed notes about the history of Naval Academy athletics and specific sports, many by Professor Aamold himself are contained in some of the files. There are biographies of physical education instructors, and information about coaches, captains and managers. Some of the files contain letters written by Admiral George Dewey and other Naval Academy graduates recalling available recreation, and their impact on discipline at the Naval Academy from 1854 through the beginning of athletics at the Academy in 1866, to the rise in popularity of intercollegiate athletics in the 1890s. Also included are series related to athletic awards, newspaper articles, and athletic magazines.
Arrangement
The Records of the Department of Physical Education are organized into the following six series:
- Series 1: PHYSICAL EDUCATION RECORDS OF PROFESSOR WALTER AAMOLD, 1889-1974
- Series 2: AWARDS, 1889-1955
- Series 3: SPORTS, 1866-1959
- Series 4: TRACK, 1923-1953
- Series 5: NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, 1924-1950
- Series 6: ATHLETIC MAGAZINES, 1903-1952
Access and Use
Access
Restricted - Partly. These records must be screened for personal privacy and law enforcement information under 5 U.S.C. 552(b) prior to public release. Per review, select records may be withheld or redacted in accordance with FOIA (b)(6) Personal Information, and FOIA (b)(7) Law Enforcement.
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.
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
For records originating out of the Office of the Commandant, see entries 147 through 151e.
Materials Cataloged Separately
No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.
Processing and Other Information
Preferred Citation
Office of the Commandant/Department of Physical Education: Records of the Department of Physical Education, RG 405.3.1 Entry 151h
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
Selected Bibliography
The following sources were consulted during preparation of the historical note:
Physical Training Officer. "Memorandum to the Head of the Department of Physical Training: Re-designation of the name of the Physical Training Department to the Department of Physical Education." Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Academy, December 19, 1952.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Samuel Limneos in October 2019. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in October 2019.
Subject Headings
Name and Subject Terms
- Aamold, Walter
- Athletics -- United States Naval Academy
- Naval education -- United States
- United States Military Academy - Baseball
- United States Military Academy -- Football
- United States Naval Academy
- United States Naval Academy -- Baseball
- United States Naval Academy -- Basketball
- United States Naval Academy -- Boxing
- United States Naval Academy -- Fencing
- United States Naval Academy -- Football
- United States Naval Academy -- Gymnastics
- United States Naval Academy -- History -- 19th century
- United States Naval Academy -- History -- 20th century
- United States Naval Academy -- Lacrosse
- United States Naval Academy -- Rowing
- United States Naval Academy -- Soccer
- United States Naval Academy -- Softball
- United States Naval Academy -- Sports
- United States Naval Academy -- Squash (game
- United States Naval Academy -- Swimming
- United States Naval Academy -- Tennis
- United States Naval Academy -- Track and field
- United States Naval Academy -- Wrestling
- United States Naval Academy. Department of Physical Education
Genre Terms
- Architectural drawings (visual works)
- Correspondence
- Lists
- Magazines (periodicals)
- Memorandums
- Newsletters
- Newspapers
- Orders (military records)
- Pamphlets
- Programs (Documents)
- Reports
- Rules (instructional materials)
- Schedules (time plans)
- Technical Drawings
Contents List
Series 1: PHYSICAL EDUCATION RECORDS OF PROFESSOR WALTER AAMOLD, 1889-1974 Boxes 1-4
Series DescriptionThe first series, PHYSICAL EDUCATION RECORDS OF PROFESSOR WALTER AAMOLD consists of lists, orders, notices, instructions, notes, memoranda, correspondence, newsletters, training and lesson plans, reports, schedules, and engineering drawings and blueprints. Scattered throughout the records are associated ephemera including sports guides, magazines and other articles, and newspaper clippings. The records relate to a variety of general, and specific subjects.
Series ArrangementArranged alphabetically by subject.
Annual Report of the Navy Athletic Association, 1910, 1914-1918
Contains reports from the officer in charge of physical training and athletics, administrative heads of the Athletic Association, as well as the head-representatives of the various branches of athletic sports played at the Naval Academy.
Series 2: AWARDS, 1889-1955 Box 5
Series DescriptionThe second series, AWARDS includes lists, orders, notices, instructions, histories, correspondence and memoranda, and some ephemera including sports publications, pamphlets, and newspaper articles related to midshipman athletic awards.
Series ArrangementArranged alphabetically by subject.
Series 3: SPORTS, 1866-1959 Boxes 6-8
Series DescriptionRecords in the third series, SPORTS relate to individual sports and constitute a variety of material including correspondence, instructions, memoranda, training and lesson plans, score sheets, game reports and schedules, notes and histories of the sport at the Naval Academy, newsletters, and engineering drawings and blueprints for arenas, stadiums, and scoreboards. Scattered throughout is ephemera including sports guides, rulebooks, publications pamphlets, and newspaper clippings.
Series ArrangementArranged alphabetically by sport, and thereunder chronologically.
Series 4: TRACK, 1923-1953 Boxes 9-10
Series DescriptionThe fourth series, TRACK, contains records related solely to the sports of track and field. Professor Walter Aamold was an instructor for track and field. The records contain schedules, candidate and award lists, meet programs and reports, rule books, charts documenting midshipman statistics, score sheets, instructions, notices, memoranda and correspondence. The records relate to general track athletes, training, and competitions throughout the academic year, specific track and field events, awards, eligibility, coaches, coach and instructor meetings, and repairs to track facilities.
Series ArrangementArranged by subject, and thereunder chronologically.