George E. H. Harmon Diary, 1884: Finding Aid

Biographical Chronology of George Edwin Hurst Harmon

1848

• Born on March 5 in Cambridge, Maryland.

1873

• On December 20, appointed Assistant Surgeon from Maryland.

1874

• On February 10, attached to the United States Naval Academy.
• On March 18, detached and to U.S.S. Franklin (Screw frigate).

1877

• On January 11, detached and to the United States Naval Academy.
• On April 9, ordered to stand for examination.
• On May 25, promoted to Passed Assistant Surgeon.

1879

• On July 1, detached and to U.S.S. Minnesota (Screw frigate).

1881

• On February 26, reports aboard U.S.S. Alert (Gunboat).

1883

• On April 19, detached and to U.S.S. Michigan (Side-wheel steamer).

1884

• On May 3, detached and granted four months leave.
• On July 26, ordered to the Norfolk Navy Yard.
• On September 23, detached and to the United States Naval Academy.

1885

• On March 9, detached and to U.S.S. Pensacola (Screw steamer).

1888

• On February 29, detached and waiting orders.
• On March 25, promoted to Surgeon.
• On April 16, ordered to the United States Naval Academy.

1889

• On May 14, detached and to the training ship U.S.S. Constellation (Sloop-of-war).
• On July 9, detached and returns to United States Naval Academy.
• On August 12, detached and to the training ship U.S.S. Constellation.
• On September 30, detached and returns to United States Naval Academy.

1891

• On September 1, detached and waiting orders.
• On September 21, attached to U.S.S. Yorktown (Gunboat: PG-1).

1894

• On March 17, ordered to escort an insane patient to Mare Island, then to Washington, DC.
• On May 1, ordered to Board Duty at the Naval Academy, then waiting orders.
• On May 9, ordered to the training ship U.S.S. Monongahela (Screw sloop-of-war).
• On September 3, detached and waiting orders.

1895

• On April 6, reports for duty at the Naval Dispensary.
• On August 26, granted thirty days leave.

1896

• On March 13, ordered detached and to the United States Naval Academy.

1898

• On May 5, detached and ordered home and waiting orders.
• On May 21, reports aboard U.S.S. Newark (Protected cruiser: C-1).

1899

• On January 23, admitted to the Norfolk Naval Hospital for four days.
• On February 10, reports aboard U.S.S. Amphitrite (Monitor: BM-2).
• On May 19, reports aboard U.S.S. Brooklyn (Cruiser: ACR-3).
• On November 11, promoted to Medical Inspector.
• On December 17, detached and to U.S.S. Baltimore (Protected cruiser: C-3).

1900

• On April 13, reports aboard U.S.S. Oregon (Battleship: BB-3).
• On September 29, reports to the Yokohama Naval Hospital.

1902

• On October 21, ordered home.

1903

• On February 4, ordered to temporary duty at the Port Royal Naval Station.
• On March 27, ordered home and waiting orders.
• On May 1, reports to the Naval Laboratory, New York.
• On September 26, ordered to preside over the Medical Examining Board at New York.

1904

• In January, granted leave.
• On December 15, promoted to Medical Director.
• On December 15, assumes command of the New York Naval Hospital.

1905

• In August, granted leave.
• On October 2, ordered to Washington, DC and Annapolis.

1906

• On February 9, ordered to preside over a Naval Examining Board.
• On August 31, assigned to duty as member of the Board on Personnel of the Medical Corps of the Navy.
• In October and November, granted leave.
• On November 14, ordered to Hartford, Connecticut.
• On November 16, ordered to Washington, DC.

1907

• On January 12, detached from the Board on Personnel.
• On May 7, appointed Senior Member of the Naval Medical Examining Board at the Naval Academy.
• On September 6, appointed delegate to the Sixth International Dermatological Congress.

1908

• On April 3, detached and waiting orders.
• On April 18, ordered to temporary duty in the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
• On April 20, ordered to temporary duty at the Naval Academy.
• On June 4, appointed Senior Member of the Naval Medical Examining Board at the Naval Academy.
• On July 13, ordered to assume command of the Naval Medical School Hospital in Washington, DC.
• On August 3, reports for duty as a member of the Naval Examining Board in Washington, DC.
• On August 11, assumes command of the Naval Medical School Hospital in Washington, DC.

1909

• On January 13, appointed member of a board to examine the medical care of Naval Academy Midshipmen.
• On February 20, appears before the Retirement Board.
• On June 10, appointed Senior Member of the Naval Medical Examining Board at the Naval Academy.

1910

• On February 1, transferred to the Retired List with the rank of Rear Admiral, effective March 5.
• On February 28, ordered to continue in command of the Naval Medical School Hospital in Washington, DC after retirement.
• On June 20, detached and ordered home.
• On August 31, admitted to the Naval Medical School Hospital.
• On December 28, discharged from the Naval Medical School Hospital.

1911

• On June 6, admitted to the Naval Medical School Hospital.
• On June 30, discharged from the Naval Medical School Hospital.

1912

• On March 5, dies of a cerebral hemorrhage in Cambridge, Maryland.

Description of Contents

The George E. H. Harmon Diary, comprising 0.13 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 121 leaves, spans from January 1 through October 19, 1884. The diary is the product of Harmon's medical duties while stationed in Erie, New York, Norfolk, and the Naval Academy.

The diary notes Harmon's daily routine, including his medical duties, social calls, and mentions of personal correspondence and finances. The diary also notes events such as the arrival in Hoboken of the remains of the crew of U.S.S. Jeannette (February 20-22), the aftermath of the Panic of 1884 (May 15), and a court-martial in Norfolk (beginning September 17).

Arrangement

The George E. H. Harmon Diary comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Patron use restricted to microfilm.

Copyright and Permission

The George E. H. Harmon Diary is the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of the Englewood Club via Harry A. Roselle in May 1978. Accession No. 78-012.

Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

This collection also available on microfilm.

Related Archival Material

Harmon's Military Personnel Record may be available at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

George E. H. Harmon Diary, MS 163

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

Callahan, Edward William. List of Officers of the Navy of the United States and of the Marine Corps, from 1775 to 1900. New York: L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1901.

Abstracts of Service Records of Naval Officers. Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel RG 24, National Archives and Records Administration.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in April 2020.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Harmon, George E. H.
• United States. Navy -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
• United States. Navy -- Medical care

Genre Terms

• Diaries
• Manuscript