U.S.S. Arkansas Scrapbook, 1902-1903: Finding Aid

History of U.S.S. Arkansas (Monitor: BM-7)

U.S.S. Arkansas, a single-turreted "New Navy" monitor and one of the last monitors built for the U.S. Navy, was laid down November 14, 1899 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. Launched November 10, 1900, she was commissioned on October 28, 1902, Commander Charles E. Vreeland in command.

After shakedown, Arkansas' first duty was with the U.S. Naval Academy as a training ship for midshipmen. She was then assigned to the Coast Squadron, North Atlantic Fleet, and cruised off the east coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the West Indies. In 1903, she cruised up the Mississippi River to St. Louis for the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase (originally intended to serve as the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition). She continued to make summer practice cruises with midshipmen, however, and in 1906 was again assigned to the Naval Academy for instructional purposes.

Renamed Ozark March 2, 1909, she was assigned to the District of Columbia Naval Militia from June 26, 1910 until March 6, 1913. Later that month she began refitting in Norfolk as a submarine tender and began duties as a tender on July 12. After special duty in Mexican waters during most of 1914, she participated in Atlantic Fleet maneuvers in 1915 and operated in the Chesapeake Bay area in 1916.

Ozark was ordered to Submarine Division 6, Atlantic Fleet, April 6, 1917 and soon proceeded to Tampico, Mexico where she cruised off the coast protecting American and Allied interests. She sailed for New Orleans December 18, 1918 after which she cruised off Key West, Central America and the Panama Canal Zone. She returned to Hampton Roads on June 23, 1919 and decommissioned in Philadelphia August 20. Ozark was sold on January 26, 1922.

Biographical Chronology of Charles Edward Vreeland

1852

• Born on March 10 in Newark, New Jersey.

1866

• Appointed apprentice boy in United States Navy.
• On July 31, admitted to the United States Naval Academy.

1870

• In June, graduates from the United States Naval Academy, then waiting orders.
• In September, attached to U.S.S. California (Screw sloop-of-war) at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Navy Yard.
• In September, attached to U.S.S. Severn (Screw sloop-of-war), flagship of the North Atlantic Station.
• In October, attached to U.S.S. Congress (Screw sloop-of-war) and later U.S.S. Brooklyn (Screw sloop-of-war) on the South Atlantic and European Stations.

1871

• On July 13, commissioned Ensign.

1873

• In July, detached from U.S.S. Brooklyn and waiting orders.
• In November, attached to U.S.S. Powhatan (Side-wheel steamer) on the North Atlantic Station.

1876

• In February, attached to the Asiatic Station aboard U.S.S. Alert (Gunboat) and U.S.S. Ashuelot (Gunboat).

1877

• In December, detached from U.S.S. Ashuelot and ordered home and waiting orders.

1878

• In May, granted a leave of absence.
• In November, attached to U.S.S. Ticonderoga (Screw sloop-of-war) on special service for a circumnavigation of the world.

1880

• On March 25, promoted to Lieutenant.

1881

• In September, detached from U.S.S. Ticonderoga and waiting orders.
• In November, ordered to duty in the Nautical Almanac Office in Washington, DC.

1883

• In December, detached from the Nautical Almanac Office.

1884

• In March, attached to U.S.S. Hartford (Screw sloop-of-war) on the Pacific Station.

1887

• In January, detached from U.S.S. Hartford and waiting orders.
• In May, ordered to the Bureau of Navigation in Washington, DC.

1889

• In April, detached from the Bureau of Navigation.
• In May, assigned to torpedo instruction in Newport, Rhode Island.
• In July, completes torpedo instruction.
• In October, reports to the Office of Naval Intelligence.
• In October, ordered to coast survey duty.

1893

• In April, detached from coast survey duty and granted leave of absence.
• In June, appointed naval attaché at Rome, Vienna, and Berlin.

1896

• In August, assigned to special duty in Europe.

1897

• In January, attached to U.S.S. Massachusetts (Battleship: BB-2) on special service and later, the North Atlantic Squadron.
• In July, attached to U.S.S. Helena (Gunboat: PG-9) as Executive Officer.

1898

• In August, attached to U.S.S. Dolphin (Gunboat: PG-24) at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
• In November, detached from U.S.S. Dolphin.
• In December, attached to U.S.S. Concord (Gunboat: PG-3) on the Asiatic Station.

1899

• On March 3, promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
• In May, transfers to U.S.S. Monterey (Monitor: BM-6).
• In June, attached to U.S.S. Baltimore (Protected cruiser: C-3) on special service.
• In December, attached to U.S.S. Solace (Hospital ship: AH-2) on special service.

1900

• In February, detached from U.S.S. Solace.
• In March, reports to the Mare Island Navy Yard, then ordered home and waiting orders.
• In April, appointed member, Board of Inspection and Survey.

1901

• On August 15, promoted to Commander.

1902

• Attached to, then assumes command of, U.S.S. Arkansas (Monitor: BM-7).

1904

• In October, detached from U.S.S. Arkansas.
• In November, assigned to board duty, including the Board on Changes to Navy Yards.

1905

• In the spring, assigned to special duty in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

1906

• On April 13, promoted to Captain.

1907

• In April, assumes command of U.S.S. Kansas (Battleship: BB-21) and participates in the cruise of the Great White Fleet.

1909

• In April, detached from U.S.S. Kansas and ordered home and waiting orders.
• In May, appointed Chief Intelligence Officer at the Office of Naval Intelligence.
• On December 27, promoted to Rear Admiral.
• In December, assumes command of the 4th Division, Atlantic Fleet aboard U.S.S. Virginia (Battleship: BB-13).

1910

• In July, assumes command of the 2nd Division, Atlantic Fleet aboard U.S.S. Louisiana (Battleship: BB-19).

1911

• In April, ordered home and waiting orders.
• In May, assigned to board duty in Washington, DC.
• In May, assigned to additional duty as representative for the coronation of King George V in London.
• In December, appointed Aide for Operations at the Navy Department.

1913

• In February, detached as Aide for Operations and resumes board duties..

1914

• On March 10, transferred to the Retired List.

1916

• On September 27, dies in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Description of Contents

The U.S.S. Arkansas Scrapbook, comprising 0.23 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 68 leaves, spans from 1902 to 1903. The scrapbook, likely kept by the captain of the Arkansas, Charles E. Vreeland or his wife Kathrina Tolson Vreeland, largely pertains to the Arkansas' 1903 cruise to St. Louis for the Louisiana Purchase centennial celebrations, which had been intended to serve as the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

The scrapbook consists of invitations, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera, including a Confederate fifty dollar note.

The scrapbook notes Arkansas' stops at Helena (Arkansas), Donaldsonville (Louisiana), Memphis, Paducah (Kentucky), Evansville (Kentucky), Henderson (Kentucky), Mount Vernon (Indiana), Cairo (Illinois), New Orleans, and St. Louis. Also recorded is the Arkansas' grounding at St. Genevieve. Tucked into the volume are Navy Department orders regarding preparations for Arkansas' cruise and a letter and invitation addressed directly to Charles Vreeland.

Arrangement

The U.S.S. Arkansas Scrapbook comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The U.S.S. Arkansas 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

Unknown.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional documentation pertaining to Charles E. Vreeland in this repository can be found in Vreeland's Midshipman Conduct Record.

Additional material pertaining to U.S.S. Arkansas in this repository is available in the Thomas Benton Howard Papers, 1869-1920, MS 209. Official logbooks of U.S.S. Arkansas/U.S.S.Ozark may be available in Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, ca. 1801 - 1940, Record Group 24: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798-2007 at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

U.S.S. Arkansas Scrapbook, MS 187

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

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

Cogar, William B. Dictionary of Admirals of the U.S. Navy. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1989.

"Ozark II (Monitor No. 7)." Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Naval History and Heritage Command, 2016, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/ozark-ii.html.

United States Naval Academy. Annual Register of the United States Naval Academy. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1867.

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

• Arkansas (Monitor : BM-7)
• Louisiana Purchase -- Centennial celebrations, etc
• Vreeland, Charles Edward, 1852-1916

Genre Terms

• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Manuscripts
• Printed ephemera
• Scrapbooks