Edwin Jesse De Haven Papers, 1832-1928: Finding Aid

Biographical Sketch of Edwin Jesse De Haven

Edwin Jesse De Haven was born on May 7, 1816 to parents William and Maria (McKeever) De Haven in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On October 2, 1829, De Haven entered the Navy as a midshipman, serving on the U.S.S. Natchez (sloop-of-war) in the West Indies. Upon transferring to the Brazil Squadron (1832-1835), De Haven served aboard the U.S.S. Lexington (sloop-of-war) and again aboard the Natchez, whereupon he achieved the rank of passed midshipman.

In 1839, De Haven received his first lessons in polar exploration after joining the sloop-of-war U.S.S. Vincennes, flagship of the United States Exploring Expedition under the command of Lieutenant Charles Wilkes. The U.S. Exploring Expedition explored Antarctica, as well as the islands of the Pacific and the west coast of North America. It is during this expedition that De Haven is reputed to have saved the lives of several crew members of the U.S.S. Peacock (sloop-of-war) when it was wrecked at the mouth of the Columbia River. After being promoted to lieutenant in September 1841, De Haven served a succession of yearlong posts with the Home Squadron, including stations aboard the brigs Oregon (1842), Truxtun (1843), and Somers (1845), serving as recruiting officer aboard the latter. In 1848, he was assigned to the steamer U.S.S. Mississippi, seeing action in the Mexican War, including duties charting the Gulf of Mexico.

After a brief tenure at the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, De Haven was chosen to command the first Grinnell Expedition (1850-1851) in search of Sir John Franklin and his party, who had disappeared during an expedition in the Arctic in 1845. In May 1850, the American expedition, consisting of the brigs Advance and Rescue, sailed from New York. While finding only traces of the Franklin Expedition, De Haven and his crew did discover and name Grinnell Land, now part of Ellesmere Island, Canada. The expedition returned to New York on September 30, 1851.

In 1852, De Haven sailed aboard the sloop-of-war U.S.S. Decatur in the North Atlantic, guarding American fishing interests. Shortly thereafter, in 1853, De Haven transferred to the Coast Survey, commanding a survey team consisting of the schooners Arago and Belle. After four years of service with the Coast Survey, which included, among other duties, conducting deep-sea soundings off the southern coast of the U.S., De Haven was detached from the Coast Survey on February 19, 1857 due to deteriorating eye sight, and was officially placed on the retired list in 1862. Edwin Jesse De Haven died in Philadelphia on May 1, 1865 and was buried in Old Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia. He was survived by his wife, Mary Norris De Haven, and at least two children, a son Norris and a daughter Kate.

Description of Contents

The Edwin Jesse De Haven Papers, comprising 0.83 linear feet of documents, spans from 1832 to 1928. The papers document, in varying levels of detail, the naval career of Edwin De Haven, with special focus on the Grinnell Arctic Expedition of 1850 to 1851 and De Haven's subsequent service with the Coast Survey until 1857.

The collection consists largely of correspondence and journals, with a smaller number of official navy records, reference materials, a single photograph, and a single publication.

The Edwin Jesse De Haven Papers are organized into five series based on document type. CORRESPONDENCE, 1835-1878, consists of incoming and outgoing letters of both a professional and personal nature. Absent from this series are any official orders, which despite their resemblance to general correspondence, are filed elsewhere with the official naval records. DIARIES AND JOURNALS, 1843-1926, consists of three diaries/journals originally written by Edwin De Haven, as well as excerpts from a journal by English explorer W. Parker Snow. U.S. NAVY FILES, 1832-1857, includes a sampling of De Haven's official orders, service record, reference material, and winter regulations aboard the U.S.S. Advance during the Grinnell Expedition. PHOTOGRAPHS contains a single portrait of Edwin De Haven, and PUBLICATIONS, 1928, contains a single issue of Proceedings of the United Sates Naval Institute.

In addition to the personal history of Edwin Jesse De Haven, research topics served by the De Haven papers include the history and methods of early Arctic exploration, especially the search for English explorer Sir John Franklin, and the hydrographic activities of the Coast Survey.

Arrangement

• Series 1: CORRESPONDENCE, 1835-1878
• Series 2: DIARIES AND JOURNALS, 1843-1926
• Series 3: U.S. NAVY FILES, 1832-1857
• Series 4: PHOTOGRAPHS, undated
• Series 5: PUBLICATIONS, 1928

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Edwin Jesse De Haven Papers are 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

Custodial History

De Haven's diaries were initially donated to the Naval Historical Foundation by Mrs. H. Parker Rolfe via Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves in June 1927.

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Edith Rolfe, Mary R. Allen, and Katharine Grosholz in 1960 and transfer from Naval Academy Museum in February 1975.

Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

The De Haven Papers have been digitized in their entirety. In addition to following the links in the Container List below, the materials can be accessed through the Nimitz Library Digital Collections at: https://usna.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01USNA_INST/ik5eus/alma991006447687206751

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to Edwin Jesse De Haven may be found in the Edwin Jesse De Haven Papers, 1843-1854 at the Library of Congress and in the Edwin J. De Haven Arctic Expedition Papers, 1835-1853 at the New York Historical Society.

Materials Cataloged Separately

A Civil War era journal written by Second Assistant Engineer Charles H. Ball aboard the U.S. ships Kineo and Metacomet was removed and added to the Charles H. Ball Diaries, MS 147.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Edwin Jesse De Haven Papers, MS 211

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

Johnson, Allen, et al, ed. Dictionary of American Biography. New York: Scribner, [1946?-58].

Navy Department. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History Division. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1959-1981.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in August 2008. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in August 2008. Original guide by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1986.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Arctic regions -- Discovery and exploration
• De Haven, Edwin Jesse, 1816-1865
• Grinnell Expedition (1st : 1850-1851)
• United States Coast and Geodetic Survey

Genre Terms

• Correspondence
• Diaries
• Manuscripts
• Orders (military records)
• Photographs