Office of the Commandant/General Records: Orders and Notices Issued by the Superintendent, 1905-1909: 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 consists of printed copies of orders, referred to as “Naval Academy Orders,” issued by the superintendent and maintained by the commandant of midshipmen’s office that contain instructions for midshipmen, officers, faculty, and others employed at the academy. Also included are notices, numbered successively within each academic year beginning in October 1907, announcing changes in academy regulations.

The orders address a variety of subjects including academic limits, academic departments, athletics, automobiles, curriculum, examinations, officer assignments, distinguished visitors (including Admiral of the Navy George Dewey’s visit on June 4, 1909), special events, such as the transfer of the body of John Paul Jones to the academy on April 24, 1906, graduations, entertainments, and dances.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically and numbered successively within each academic year beginning October 1907. A subject index is located in the front of the volume.

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/3128969.

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

Contemporary orders issued by the superintendent, including duplicates of the orders located in this entry, may be found in entry 51: “Orders, Circulars, Memoranda, and other Issuances of the Superintendent, 1870-1928” (NAID: 2990338); entry 50: “Orders Issued by the Superintendent, 1890-1908” (NAID: 2990329); entry 53: “Orders, Memoranda and Notices, 1905-1910” (NAID: 2990355); and entry 54: “Orders Issued by the Superintendent, 1907-1979” (NAID: 2990356).

Contemporary orders issued by the commandant of midshipmen 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” (NAID: 3129063); entry 158: “Orders and Notices Issued to the Brigade of Midshipmen and Memoranda Sent and Received, 1905-1911” (NAID: 3129065); and entry 159: Orders and Notices Issued to the Brigade of Midshipmen, 1906-1909” (NAID: 3129088).

Orders issued by the commandant immediately preceding this entry may be found in entry 152: “Orders, 1875-1876, 1881” (NAID: 3123922); and entry 153: “Press Copies of Orders, 1876-1905” (NAID: 3128945). 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); Later letters sent by the superintendent may be 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); 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: Orders and Notices Issued by the Superintendent, 1905-1909, RG 405.3.1 Entry 154

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. Commandant of Midshipmen

Genre Terms

• Notices
• Orders (military records)