Office of the Commandant/Records of the Office of Midshipmen Activities: Miscellaneous Midshipmen Publications, 1869-1982: 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 Lt. 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 was to serve as executive officer to the Superintendent and instructor in naval tactics and practical seamanship, and was to be known as the Commandant of Midshipmen. Later, during the time in which students at the Academy were referred to as naval cadets, he was known 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. Line officers of the Navy were detailed as assistants to the Commandant as the responsibilities of the office increased with the growth of the school. Another of the duties of the Office of the Commandant was the command of the annual summer practice cruises and maintenance of its records, under the instructions of the Superintendent. For most years from 1861 to 1909, the Commandant served as commander of the cruise.

Description of Contents

Miscellaneous publications produced by the Brigade of Midshipmen for the years 1869-1982. The publications include holiday greeting cards, hop cards, class dinner menus, event programs, invitations for various events, and dictionaries of naval slang.

Arrangement

Arranged by document type.

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.

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 Archival Material

Location of Related Materials

Additional publications of the Brigade of Midshipmen, including the Lucky Bag, The Log, Trident, and Reef Points are available in RG 405.3.3 Entries 183 through 183g.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Office of the Commandant/Records of the Office of Midshipmen Activities: Miscellaneous Midshipmen Publications, RG 405.3.3 Entry 183d

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

Collection inventory prepared by Alice Gilliland in 2013. Historical sketch prepared by Geraldine N. Phillips and Aloha South in 1975.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• United States Naval Academy
• United States Naval Academy -- Students
• United States Naval Academy. Commandant of Midshipmen

Genre Terms

• Dance cards
• Greeting cards
• Invitations
• Menus
• Printed ephemera
• Programs (documents)