Records of Boards/Records of Other Boards and Proceedings: Proceedings of Courts of Inquiry or Boards Appointed to Investigate Charges Against Midshipmen, 1866-1871, 1877-1878: Finding Aid

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 boards acted on charges received only by the superintendent, and was tasked to state impartially the facts connected with each case, and to produce duplicate reports for the academy's record book and the Navy Department. 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 for June through August, 1866 consist of brief transcripts detailing midshipman name, date and charge; verdict; and punishment; Records after August 1866 typically consist of orders signed by the superintendent convening boards of investigation, courts of inquiry, and courts martial. Orders generally include a summary of the misconduct, 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 midshipmen to accusations, and letters in defense written after board proceedings; and the boards' final recommendation on punishments, usually in the form of a letter or report to the superintendent. The records after 1868 rarely include recommended punishments. In more serious cases the superintendent's remarks on, and endorsements of the board's final recommendations are appended. Also included are proceedings of boards convened to investigate charges against certain professors and instructors attached to the academy.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically. Name indexes are in volumes 634-636.

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 Materials

Related Archival Material

Proceedings of boards and courts investigating midshipmen misconduct for the years 1874-1882, are found in Entry 210. 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. The superintendent typically published the punishments levied on midshipmen as a result of these boards in orders, located in entries 48 and 49.

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: Proceedings of Courts of Inquiry or Boards Appointed to Investigate Charges Against Midshipmen, RG 405.6.4 Entry 211

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Samuel Limneos in February 2021. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in February 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 (administrative records)
• Orders (military records)
• Proceedings (reports)
• Transcripts