Records of Boards/Records of the Academic Board: Journal of the Proceedings for the Examination of Candidates to the Academy, 1867: Finding Aid

History of the Academic Board

The Academic Board dates from the opening of the Naval School in October 1845, when superintendent Franklin Buchanan called the professors to meet as a board to plan the course of instruction and arrange the classes and recitation periods. In addition to the heads of departments, the membership of the board also included the superintendent and the commandant of midshipmen, with the superintendent serving as chairman of the board. Its responsibilities included: prescribing the course of study, choice of textbooks, and subjects studied, subject to the approval of the Navy Department; regulating and preparing reports and papers in connection with the examination of candidates and students; recommending the restoration or further trial of students dismissed or found deficient in studies or conduct; granting certificates of graduation; and authorizing the acceptance of gifts and memorials for the academy.

Description of Contents

This entry contains a journal of the proceedings of the Academic Board that met in June and September 1867 to examine prospective candidates for midshipmen at the academy. Admission regulations required candidates to pass examinations in reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, geography, and English grammar, be physically sound and of good character. Following the examination, the Board made its recommendations on the qualifications of each candidate. The volume also contains a tabular statement of the examination of candidates for both June and September with an indication of qualifications.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Access and Use

Access

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/3179983.

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

Other records relating to the examination of midshipmen may be found in entry 202: “Journals of Proceedings for the Examination of Midshipmen, 1836–1880” (NAID: 3179960); and entry 203: “Register Showing in Detail the Mode of Marking Examinations in Navigation, Languages, Seamanship, Gunnery, and Steam, 1872” (NAID: 3179972).

Other records produced by the academic board may be found in entry 204: “Journals of the Academic Board, 1845-1985” (NAID: 3179980); and entry 205a: “Records of the Academic Board, 1868-1975.”

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Records of Boards/Records of the Academic Board: Journal of the Proceedings for the Examination of Candidates to the Academy, 1867, RG 405.6.2 Entry 205

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
• United States Naval Academy -- Curricula
• United States Naval Academy -- Examinations
• United States Naval Academy -- Faculty
• United States Naval Academy -- History -- 19th century
• United States Naval Academy -- History -- 20th century
• United States Naval Academy -- Students
• United States Naval Academy. Academic Board

Genre Terms

• Minute Books