Records of Boards/Records of Other Boards and Proceedings: Press Copies of Letters Sent and Reports Relating to Boards of Inquiry, 1874-1882: Finding Aid
Published in February 2021
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 405.6.4 Entry 210
- National Archives Identifier: 3190035
- Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Archives
- Title: Records of Boards/Records of Other Boards and Proceedings: Press Copies of Letters Sent and Reports Relating to Boards of Inquiry
- Dates: 1874-1882
- Size: 0.17 linear feet
- Container Summary: 2 volumes
- Creator: United States Naval Academy
- Language(s) of material: English
- Abstract: Letters and reports relating to the appointment of boards of inquiry to investigate the conduct of cadet midshipmen, cadet engineers, or faculty and reports of the results of the investigations. Included are copies of statements of students, proceedings of the board, and reports of courts-martial held under the authority of the act approved June 23, 1874, to prevent hazing at the academy. Cadets were investigated on a large number of charges ranging from unauthorized smoking to cheating on examinations.
History of Boards of Investigation, Courts of Inquiry, and Courts Martial
Boards of investigation, courts of inquiry, and courts-martial were convened at the Academy by authority of the Superintendent. In his letters of authorization to the senior member of the board of investigation, the Superintendent usually described the scope and purpose of the inquiry to be made. The procedure followed by boards of investigation, courts of inquiry, and courts-martial was that prescribed by the Navy Department. The proceedings, findings, and recommendations of the courts and boards were submitted to the Superintendent, who, in turn, submitted them to the Secretary of the Navy.
Description of Contents
The records typically consist of orders signed by the superintendent convening boards of investigation, courts of inquiry, and courts martial. Convening orders generally include a summary of the misconduct under adjudication, and the time, meeting place, and members of the appointed investigating body. Other records include: statements by the reporting officer or faculty; board minutes; sworn statements and transcripts of oral testimony given on honor by midshipmen; initial excuses provided by midshipman to accusations, and letters in defense written after board proceedings; and the boards' final recommendations, usually in the form of a letter or report to the superintendent. Also included are the proceedings and judgments of courts martial convened to investigate misconduct of the academy's U.S. Marine Corps garrison, and altercations between faculty, officers, and staff attached to the academy.
Notable investigations include the proceedings of a December 17, 1874 board investigating the smuggling of liquor into the academy grounds, implicating Japanese midshipman Heidemaro Namboo; an October 22, 1875 board investigating an altercation between Henry E. Baker, the third African-American midshipman to attend the academy, and Cadet Midshipman F. P. Meares in the school's mess hall; and proceedings of several boards convened by Superintendent Rodgers in June, 1876 to examine a robbery of the Midshipman Store, in which many midshipmen were implicated and which involved a network of tunnels under the academy grounds.
Arrangement
The Records of Boards/Records of Other Boards and Proceedings: Press Copies of Letters Sent and Reports Relating to Boards of Inquiry are arranged chronologically. A partial name index documenting hazing incidents is located in the front of volume 638.
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/3190035.
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
Proceedings of boards and courts investigating midshipmen misconduct for the years 1866-1871, and 1877-1878, are found in Entry 211. For further research on incidents of misconduct mentioned in entries 210 and 211, see correspondence of the superintendent with the Secretary of the Navy in entries 8-10; letters received by the superintendent under the folder titles "midshipmen," in entry 25; and letters and reports received by the superintendent relating to individual midshipmen in entry 75. Correspondence, copies of transcripts, and proceedings created by Boards of Inquiry convened to investigate midshipman misconduct may be found in folders titled "midshipmen" in entry 25; and under individual midshipman names in entry 75. The superintendent typically published the punishments levied on midshipman as a result of these boards in orders, located in entries 48 and 49. Copies of courts-martial judgment and punishments from 1865 to 1874 levied on seamen attached to the academy's practice ships, and Marine Corps detachment are also found in these entries.
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 Other Boards and Proceedings: Press Copies of Letters Sent and Reports Relating to Boards of Inquiry, RG 405.6.4 Entry 210
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Samuel Limneos in January 2021. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in January 2021. 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
- Courts-martial and courts of inquiry -- United States
- Midshipmen -- Conduct of life -- 19th century
- Midshipmen -- Moral and ethical aspects -- United States
- Midshipmen -- United States
- United States Naval Academy
- United States Naval Academy -- Administration
- United States Naval Academy -- Faculty
- United States Naval Academy -- History -- 19th century
- United States Naval Academy. Superintendent
Genre Terms
- Correspondence
- Minutes
- Orders (military records)
- Proceedings (reports)
- Transcripts