Caspar Frederick Goodrich Scrapbook, 1880-1911: Finding Aid

Biography of Caspar Frederick Goodrich

Caspar Frederick Goodrich was a career naval officer, retiring with the rank of rear admiral. He graduated first in the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1865, whose commencement was held in November 1864. From 1871 to 1874, he taught physics and chemistry at the Naval Academy. During this time, he helped found the U.S. Naval Institute, serving as president of that organization from 1904 to 1909. He was also a founder of the Naval War College, assuming the presidency of the school in 1889 and 1897-98, as well as being among its regular lecturers.

Goodrich was naval attaché to General Sir Garnet Wolsley during the British bombardment of Alexandria, Egypt in 1882. During the Spanish-American War, he was involved in the action at Santiago, Cuba. After duty as commandant of the New York Navy Yard from 1907 to 1909, he retired on 7 January 1909. He briefly returned to duty as commander of the Naval Training Unit and Pay-Officers Material School at Princeton University in 1918.

Considered an intellectual in naval circles, Goodrich authored several books and numerous articles, especially for the Naval Institute's Proceedings. From 1914 to 1916, he was president of the Naval Historical Society, another institution that he helped to organize. He died in Princeton, New Jersey on 26 December 1925 at the age of 78.

Description of Contents

The Caspar Frederick Goodrich Scrapbook, comprising 0.23 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 66 leaves, spans from 1880 to 1911. The scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings, event programs, invitations, and other pieces of ephemera pertaining to Goodrich's U.S. Navy career, interests, and views.

Topical coverage of the scrapbook includes the work of F. Cope Whitehouse, Fingal's Cave, Captain Richard G. Davenport, Goodrich's commands of the Pacific Squadron and the New York Navy Yard, Austrian Ambassador Bellamy Storer, dueling, the use of the Navy as a reform school, the U.S.S. Bennington memorial, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the founding of the Naval War College, the Egyptian Expedition of 1882, general Navy administration, the erection of Confederate Civil War monuments, and various theater performances.

Arrangement

The Caspar Frederick Goodrich Scrapbook comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Caspar Frederick Goodrich Scrapbook 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

Received in 1978.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional materials pertaining to Rear Admiral Goodrich in this repository include the Caspar Frederick Goodrich Papers, MS 343, as well as Goodrich's Midshipman Conduct Record and Alumni Jacket.

Additional manuscript material may be found at Princeton University, Mudd Manuscript Library in the Admiral Caspar Frederick Goodrich papers on the Princeton University Naval Training Unit, 1918-1920, AC069; at the New-York Historical Society in the Naval History Society Collection, MS 439; and in the Stevens Institute Archives.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Caspar Frederick Goodrich Scrapbook, MS 184

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo. Goodrich's biographical sketch written by Jennifer A. Bryan in November 2008. Remainder of finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in April 2020.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Dueling
• Fingal's Cave (Scotland)
• Goodrich, Caspar F. (Caspar Frederick), 1847-1925
• Naval War College (U.S.) -- History
• New York Naval Shipyard
• United States. Navy -- Administration
• United States. Navy. Pacific Squadron

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Printed ephemera
• Scrapbooks