Manuscript Collections

C 

James Crawford Caffin's "Hints to a Gunnery Officer," 1838 (approximate), MS 183

James Crawford Caffin was an officer in the Royal Navy. James Crawford Caffin's "Hints to a Gunnery Officer" was written around 1838, while Caffin was a Lieutenant stationed at the shore installation and gunnery school, H.M.S. Excellent. The volume, which is signed by Caffin, offers a series of suggestions to gunnery officers upon their attachment to a new station, including ascertaining the number of guns, inspecting each gun's gear, the preparation of range tables, and the organization and training of gun crews.

Campaigns of a British Officer in Europe and America, 1814-15, MS 199

The Campaigns of a British Officer in Europe and America spans from 1814 to 1815. Kept by an unidentified officer during the War of 1812, the volume covers the Battle of Bladensburg, Battle of Baltimore, Burning of Washington, and the Battle of New Orleans.

This collection is also available electronically in the USNA Digital Collections.

Robert B. Carney Collection, 1912-1995, MS 472

Robert B. Carney was an admiral in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1916. The Robert B. Carney Collection spans from 1912 to 1995. The collection, assembled in part by Betty Carney Taussig during the preparation of Admiral Carney's biography, documents the U.S. Navy career of Robert B. Carney, with a focus on the commissioning of U.S.S. Reid, Carney's World War II duties as captain of U.S.S. Denver and Chief of Staff to Admiral William Halsey, his tours as Commander in Chief of United States Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean and Allied Forces Southern Europe, and his service as Chief of Naval Operations.

J. G. Casy's "Concise System of Naval Tactics," 1828, MS 44

Joseph Grégoire Casy was French politician and a Vice Admiral in the French Navy. J. S. Paine and L. Goldsborough were officers in the United States Navy. "A Concise System of Naval Tactics by J. G. Casy, Rear Admiral in the Navy of France: Translated by J.S. Paine and L. Goldsborough, Commanders in the U.S. Navy," consists of an English translation of Joseph Grégoire Casy's Extrait Analytique de la Tactique Navale, originally published in 1828.

Night Order-Book of the U.S.S. Chaumont, 1924-1925, MS 116

U.S.S. Chaumont (Transport: AP-5) served as an Army, and later Navy transport from 1921 until 1943, when she was converted into the hospital ship U.S.S. Samaritan. The Night Order-Book of the U.S.S. Chaumont spans from July 16, 1924 to August 16, 1925. The volume consists of the Captain's night orders issued by the Chaumont's Commanding Officer, Frederick L. Oliver, while the Chaumont cruised between San Francisco, Shanghai, Manila, and Guam in support of U.S. Marine Corps forces in Asia. The orders contain instructions regarding course, speed, and specific actions to be taken at certain locations. Attached to the inside cover are standing night orders.

Journal of the Cruise of U.S.S. Chicago, 1893-1895, MS 408

William Slack Montgomery was a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1893, and an officer in the U.S. Navy. His Journal of the Cruise of U.S.S. Chicago spans from June 1893 until April 1895 and offers an account of Chicago's cruise as flagship of the European Station, including details on various ports of call, foreign fleets, weather, drills, and crew movements.

Milo Luther Clark Letters, 1910-1913, MS 249

Milo Luther Clark was a signalman in the United States Navy. The Milo Luther Clark Letters were written by Clark, while aboard U.S.S. Kansas (Battleship : BB-21) to his family and girlfriend. The letters discuss shipboard life, duties, recreation, leave, drills, and ship maintenance.

Arthur Henry Clarke Letters, 1878-1887, MS 273

Arthur Henry Clarke was an officer in the United States Marine Corps and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1882. The Arthur Henry Clarke Letters, spanning from 1878 to 1887, focus on Clarke's service aboard U.S.S. Hartford and Lackawanna during his two years sea service following his completion of the Academic program at the Naval Academy, and his service aboard U.S.S. Iroquois as a newly minted second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

John G. Claybourn Scrapbooks, 1891-1901, MS 282

The John G. Claybourn Scrapbooks focus almost exclusively on the Spanish-American War of 1898, its campaigns, key individuals, and outcomes, but also touches upon the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901.

Joseph Clinton Clifton Papers, 1929-1971, MS 204

Joseph Clinton Clifton was an officer and aviator in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1930. The Clifton Papers focus primarily on Clifton's post-World War II duties with the Airborne Early Warning Wing, Naval Air Advanced Training, Naval Air Technical Training, as well as his World War II duties in the Marshall Islands Campaign and duties aboard U.S.S. Wasp.

Cyrus W. Cole Diary, 1896, MS 410

Cyrus Willard Cole was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1899. Cole's diary, the product of his Naval Academy summer cruise aboard U.S.S. Monongahela, spans from June until August 1896. The diary consists predominantly of hand-drawn sketches, songs, poems, and sea shanties.

Paolo E. Coletta Papers, 1953-1999 (bulk 1997-1999, MS 465

Paolo Coletta was a historian and professor of history at the United States Naval Academy. The Paolo E. Coletta Papers span from 1953 to 1999, with a bulk of the documentation starting in 1997. The papers consist predominantly of typescripts of Coletta's biographies of Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, Rear Admiral William A Moffett, and Vice Admiral Daniel E. Barbey, as well as supplements to his bibliography on American naval history.

Frederick Collins Diary, 1874-1904 (bulk 1874), MS 311

Frederick Collins was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1867. The Frederick Collins Diary, kept by Collins primarily while serving as an instructor at the United States Naval Academy in the Department of English Studies, History and Law, is composed of entries pertaining to Collin's teachings and studies, professional affiliations, writings, acquaintances, and personal matters. Also included are mentions of Collin's involvement in surveying the Isthmus of Darien (Panama), and genealogical information on the Collins family.

Journal of the Columbia and Alexander, 1816-1817, (transferred to MS 11)

No description available.

Journal the U.S.S. Columbia and the U.S.S. Mississippi, 1843-1846, MS 272

George H. Brown was a yeoman in the United States Navy. Brown's Journal of the U.S.S. Columbia and U.S.S. Mississippi pertains to the Columbia's cruise from Montevideo to Rio de Janeiro, the Mississippi's service during the Mexican War, and navigational instruction.

Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill of the U.S.S. Columbia, 1844-1907 (bulk 1844), MS 77

U.S.S. Columbia was a United States Navy frigate that was launched in 1836 and sold in 1867. John R. Goldsborough was an officer in the United States Navy. The Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill of the U.S.S. Columbia was produced in 1844 and includes several additional documents from 1846, 1905, and 1907.

Record of Punishments on board the U.S. Ship Columbus, 1845-1848, (transferred to MS 5)

No description available.

Rules and Regulations of the U.S.S. Columbus, 1845, (transferred to MS 5)

No description available.

William E. Conant Diary, 1917-1919, MS 280

William E. Conant was an enlisted sailor in the United States Naval Reserve during and after World War I. The Conant diary and additional letter pertain to Conant's service aboard the minesweeper U.S.S. City of Lewes during World War I and aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Ingraham during her shakedown in 1919.

Station Bills of the U.S.S. Concord, 1831-1833 (approximate), MS 55

U.S.S. Concord was a United States Navy sloop-of-war commissioned in 1830 and lost in 1842. The Station Bills of the U.S. Ship Concord were compiled approximately between 1831 and 1833, while the ship was on its initial cruises to the Mediterranean under the command of Matthew C. Perry.

Abstract Journal of the U.S.S. Congress and the U.S.S. Cyane, 1845-1848, (transferred to MS 2)

No description available.

Journal of the U.S.S. Congress, 1816-1817, MS 22

An unidentified midshipman kept this journal, spanning the period 16 November 1816 to 26 April 1817, as part of his naval training. The frigate Congress, under the command of Captain Charles Morris, patrolled the Gulf of Mexico. The Special Collections & Archives Department's MS 23 continues this journal, but it is not in the same handwriting.

Journal of the U.S.S. Congress, 1845-1846, (transferred to MS 2)

No description available.

Journal of the U.S.S. Congress, the Citizen, and the Canton, 1816-1820, MS 24

The journal covers the frigate Congress’ 1817-1818 voyage to South America under the command of Captain Arthur Sinclair and the vessel’s cruise from May 1819 through March 1820 to Brazil and China under the command of Captain John D. Henley. The remainder of the manuscript contains a journal of the ship Citizen's voyage from Manila to Baltimore in 1820 and an undated record of the ship Canton's voyage from Boston to Canton [Guangzhou], China and back to Boston. Additionally, there are navigation and naval construction notes, including the dimensions of the following U.S. Navy vessels--Hornet, Guerriere, Congress, Constellation, Constitution, Boxer and Saranac.

Journal of the U.S.S. Congress and the U.S.S. Cyane, 1845, 1848, (transferred to MS 2)

No description available.

Journal of the U.S.S. Congress and the U.S.S. North Carolina, 1822-1823, 1827, (transferred to MS 2)

No description available.

Regulations for the Internal Government of the United States Frigate Congress, 1815-1816, MS 216

The Regulations for the Internal Government of the United States Frigate Congress covers the years 1815 and 1816.  The volume consists of thirty-nine articles of regulation, fire and quarter procedures, and descriptions of the roles and duties of the first, second and junior lieutenants, master, surgeon, purser, midshipmen, and marines.  The volume also includes watch- and quarter-bills.

Remarks Made on Board the United States' Frigate Congress, 1817, MS 23

This journal continues the Special Collections & Archives Department's MS 22. The frigate, under the command of Captain Charles Morris, patrolled the Gulf of Mexico, making stops in Haiti and Venezuela.

Watch-, Quarter-, and Station-Bill of the U.S.S. Congress and the U.S.S. Constitution, 1819, (transferred to MS 5)

No description available.

Watch-, Quarter-, and Station-Bill of the U.S.S. Congress, 1842-1873 (bulk 1842-1845), MS 86

The Watch-, Quarter-, and Station-Bill of the U.S.S. Congress, comprising 0.23 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 115 leave, spans from 1842 to 1873, with a majority of entries ceasing by 1845. The volume begins with the watch, quarter, and station bills of U.S.S. Congress (Frigate: 1841-1862), compiled circa 1842. Following the bills of U.S.S. Congress is a log of the ship Paul Jones' roundtrip cruise between New York and Canton. The volume closes with the station bills of the U.S.S. Saratoga (Sloop-of-war).

Robert Dexter Conrad Papers, 1909-1961, MS 203

Robert Dexter Conrad was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1927. The Robert Dexter Conrad Papers consist of correspondence, charts and drawings, reports, notes, and journal articles. The papers, which are the product of Conrad's work with the Bureau of Construction and Repair and the Bureau of Ships, pertain to research and development in the areas of armor, photoelasticity, turret design, the effects of gun blasts, ship models, propulsion, and other areas related to ship design and construction.

Watch-, Quarter-, and Station-Bill of the U.S.S. Constellation, 1871-1878 (bulk 1871-1872), MS 338

The Watch-, Quarter-, and Station-Bill of the U.S.S. Constellation, W.N. Jeffers, Commander, spans from 1871 to 1872, while the Constellation was serving as a training vessel for midshipman at the United States Naval Academy. The volume lists the watches and quarters of the Constellation’s crew, as well as the cleaning bills for various pieces of artillery aboard the vessel.

U.S.S. Constitution Collection, 1899-1979 (bulk 1931-1939), MS 283

The U.S.S. Constitution Collection, created by philatelist Oscar Hengstler, consists of postal covers and cachets commemorating the frigate Constitution, especially her 1931-1934 national tour and subsequent return to Boston. Included with the covers and stamps are related letters, news clippings, photographs, and ephemera, some of which bear autographs of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and other political and military figures.

Journal of the U.S.S. Constitution, 1824-1825, (transferred to MS 5)

No description available.

Journal of the Officer of the Day, U.S.S. Constitution, 1861-1862, MS 125

U.S.S. Constitution is one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy. The Journal of the Officer of the Day, U.S.S. Constitution spans from November 1, 1861 to December 17, 1862 while Constitution was attached to the Naval Academy at Newport, Rhode Island as a school ship. The journal records weather conditions, watch changes, personnel movements, and midshipman activities. The entries from June 16 through July 11, 1862 were logged from Fort Adams.

Journal of the Officer of the Day, U.S.S. Constitution, 1864, MS 126

U.S.S. Constitution is one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy. The Journal of the Officer of the Day, U.S.S. Constitution spans from January 19, 1864 to December 31, 1864 while Constitution was attached to the Naval Academy at Newport, Rhode Island as a school ship. The journal records weather conditions, watch changes, personnel movements, and midshipman activities. Tipped into the volume are several general orders, as well as orders for the Officer of the Day and the midshipman bathing schedule.

Journal of the Officer of the Day, U.S.S. Constitution, 1865-1866, MS 127

U.S.S. Constitution is one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy. The Journal of the Officer of the Day, U.S.S. Constitution spans from January 1, 1865 to January 1, 1866 while Constitution was attached to the Naval Academy at Newport, Rhode Island and Annapolis, Maryland as a school ship. The journal records weather conditions, watch changes, personnel movements, and midshipman activities. There are no entries in the journal between June 9 and October 4, 1865, during which time the Naval Academy returned to Annapolis after the Civil War. Orders for the Officer of the Day have been tipped into the front of the volume.

Night Order Book of the U.S.S. Constitution, 1931-1934, MS 115

U.S.S. Constitution is one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy. The Night Order Book of the U.S.S. Constitution spans from July 2, 1931 to May 8, 1934. The Captain's night orders, issued by the Constitution's Commanding Officer, Louis J. Gulliver, are the product of the Constitution's national publicity tour of American ports along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts.

U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks, 1931-1945 (bulk 1931-1934), MS 281

The U.S.S. Constitution Scrapbooks consist of newspaper clippings, correspondence, event programs, invitations, certificates, photographs, and other ephemera pertaining to Constitution's 1931-1934 national tour. The scrapbooks also include material pertaining to Constitution's tender, U.S.S. Grebe (AM-43), and the ship's captain, Commander Louis J. Gulliver and his family.

Cooper Family Papers, 1869-1991, MS 440

The Cooper Family Papers span three generations of the Cooper Family, from 1869 to 1991. The papers, compiled largely by Eleanor Burnham Cooper, focus on the lives and careers of Rear Admiral Philip Henry Cooper, his son and daughter-in-law Philip Benson and Eleanor Burnham Cooper, and his grandchildren Robert S. Cooper and Eleanor Burnham Cooper McKinney.

Philip Henry Cooper Papers, 1860-1984, MS 326

The Philip H. Cooper Papers pertain to Cooper's service and experiences as a midshipman at the Naval Academy, aboard the practice ship U.S.S. Macedonian (frigate), aboard the sloop-of-war U.S.S. Richmond during the Battle of Mobile Bay, and as captain of the sloop-of-war U.S.S. Swatara. The papers consist of correspondence, journals, certificates, and biographical material.

Ida Emilie and Wilna J. Cornwell Letters, 1943-1945, MS 263

The Ida Emilie and Wilna J. Cornwell WAVES Letters span the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) careers of sisters Ida Emilie and Wilna J. Cornwell, from 1943 to 1945.

Sean Thomas Coughlin Papers, 1990-1992, MS 339

Sean T. Coughlin is a retired United States Marine Corps Officer and member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1987. The Coughlin Papers consist of three binders of materials, composed primarily of Coughlin's personal journal/memoirs of his experiences as Plans Officer with Marine Wing Support Group 37 (MWSG-37) during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm during the first Persian Gulf War.

Log of the U.S.S. Courier, 1863-1864, MS 76

The Log of the U.S.S. Courier, a storeship, spans the dates October 6, 1863 to June 24, 1864 when the vessel was under the command of Acting Master Samuel C. Gray of Massachusetts. During this time, Courier made voyages from New York to New Orleans and back and from New York to Pensacola to Boston. In May 1864, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles ordered Courier to sail from Boston to New Orleans. She never reached her destination, running aground on Lynyard Cay, Great Abaco Island, Bahamas. The ship was a total wreck, but without any loss of life.

Thomas Tingey Craven Memoirs, 1897-1953 (bulk 1942-1953), MS 530

Thomas Tingey Craven was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1896. The Thomas Tingey Craven Memoirs were written between 1942 and 1953, with enclosures dating as early as 1897. The memoirs cover nearly every one of Craven's duty stations, including his service in the Spanish-American War, the cruise of the Great White Fleet, his direction of early naval aviation, and his command of two naval districts and the Yangtze Patrol.

L. E. Crist Papers, 1914-1964, MS 550

LeMerton Edson Crist was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1923. The L. E. Crist Papers span from 1914 to 1964. While spanning the entirety of Crist's career in the United States Navy, the papers focus specifically on Crist's time as a midshipman at the Naval Academy, early duty aboard U.S.S. California (Battleship: BB-44), duty aboard U.S.S. Massachusetts (Battleship: BB-59) during the Battle of Casablanca, command of U.S.S. Grundy (Attack transport: APA-111) at the end of World War II, and duty as the first commanding officer of U.S.S. Spokane (Light cruiser: CL-120).

Bartlett Jefferson Cromwell Papers, 1861-1891, MS 330

Bartlett Jefferson Cromwell was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1861. The Cromwell Papers consist of correspondence, letterbooks, and a crew register. The papers pertain primarily to Cromwell's service as executive officer or captain of the U.S.S. Powhatan, U.S.S. Rio Bravo, U.S.S. Ticonderoga during that ship's circumnavigation of the globe and subsequent decommissioning, and U.S.S. Omaha while attached to the Asiatic Station.

Arent S. Crowninshield Memoirs, 1896-1910, MS 33

Arent S. Crowninshield was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1864. The Arent S. Crowninshield Memoirs, comprising 0.13 linear feet of documentation, were written between 1896 and 1903, with additional notations and documents dated as late as 1910, and covers Crowninshield's life and U.S. Navy career from 1843 to 1892. In varying levels of detail, the memoirs recount Crowninshield's time as a Naval Academy midshipman, his service during the American Civil War, his tours in Asia aboard U.S.S. Hartford and U.S.S. Lackawanna, his European cruises aboard U.S.S. Richmond, and his commands of the training ships U.S.S. Portsmouth and U.S.S. St. Mary's.

Andrew Boyd Cummings Papers, 1847-1935 (bulk 1847-1863, 1913), MS 268

Andrew Boyd Cummings was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1853. The Andrew Boyd Cummings Papers span Cummings' sixteen- year naval career, from 1847 to 1863, and also include limited material dating from 1913 and 1935. The papers, consisting primarily of letters written by Cummings to his family, focus on Cummings' service aboard U.S. Navy ships Ohio, Fulton, and Dale.

Roberto Cuniberti's "Contentment for the Sailor," 1949, MS 197

Roberto Cuniberti was a member of Princeton University's Class of 1947. The volume comprises Cuniberti's Bachelor of Arts senior thesis detailing the 20th century improvements of the living and working conditions of U.S. Navy enlisted sailors.

A. C. Cunningham Fencing Scrapbook, 1904-1905; 1909, MS 159

Andrew Chase Cunningham was a civil engineer in the United States Navy who served as manager of the United States Naval Academy's fencing team from 1903 to 1905. Cunningham's scrapbook focuses on the 1904-1905 season of the United States Naval Academy's fencing team, and to a lesser extent, advances in the sport of fencing and the role of swordsmanship and bayonets in the Armed Forces.

Thedore A. Curtin Papers, 1945-1969 (bulk 1945-1949), MS 551

Theodore A. Curtin was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1949. The Theodore A. Curtin Papers span from 1945 to 1949, with one additional document from 1969. The papers, consisting mainly of a scrapbook, focus on Curtin's experiences as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, while also including a copy of his master's thesis on the historical relationship between Norfolk and the United States Navy.

Journal of the U.S.S. Cyane, 1846-1847, (transferred to MS 2)

No description available.

Journal of the U.S.S. Cyane, 1847-1848, (transferred to MS 2)

No description available.

Order-Book of the U.S.S. Cyane, 1846-1848, (transferred to MS 2)

No description available.

Top