Charles Frederick Hughes Papers, 1884-1888: Finding Aid

Biographical Chronology of Charles Frederick Hughes

1866

• On October 14, is born in Bath, Maine.

1884

• Is appointed to the United States Naval Academy from Maine's Second Congressional District by the honorable N. Dingley, Jr.

1888

• In June, graduates from the Academy.

1888

• Begins continuous service afloat, aboard U.S.S. Omaha, U.S.S. Marion, U.S.S. Boston, U.S.S. Thetis, U.S.S. Mohican, and the Fish Commission Steamer Albatross, until June 1896.

1890

• In May, is assigned to temporary duty at the Naval Academy.
• On July 1, is commissioned Ensign in the United States Navy.
• In October, is detached from the Naval Academy.

1896

• In June, is detached from Albatross for steel inspection duty at Munhall, Pennsylvania.
• In October, reports as Watch and Division Officer of the U.S.S. Monterey.

1897

• In August, transfers to U.S.S. Wheeling.
• In the fall, is reassigned to U.S.S. Monterey.

1898

• On June 11, U.S.S. Monterey is dispatched to the Philippines in response to a cable from Admiral Dewey to take part in the bombardment of Manila.

1899

• In March, reports aboard U.S.S. Iris.
• Two months later, transfers to U.S.S. Concord, where he was instrumental in quelling the Philippine Insurrection.
• In September, is ordered to San Francisco, California, to assist in the fitting out and trials of U.S.S. Chesapeake.
• In December, is detached to become Officer in Charge of the Branch Hydrographic Office, Philadelphia, with further duty as Inspector of Equipment and Ordnance there.

1900

• In December, joins U.S.S. Massachusetts. While so serving, attends a short course in torpedoes at the Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island.

1904

• In August, is assigned to the Bureau of Equipment at the Navy Department.

1906

• In September, joins the newly commissioned cruiser U.S.S. Washington, which was one of the vessels which escorted President Theodore Roosevelt on his visit to Panama. After a cruise to France, she sailed around Cape Horn to take her station with the Pacific Fleet.

1909

• On October 4, becomes Recorder of the Board of Inspection and Survey.

1911

• In December, assumes command of U.S.S. Birmingham, and the following spring participated in the ceremonies of the resinking of the wreck of U.S.S. Maine.

1912

• In April, in response to the sinking of R.M.S. Titanic, the Hydrographic Office recommends the institution of a patrol to report ice conditions in the North Atlantic. U.S.S. Birmingham was assigned to this duty, the first ice patrol ever conducted, and patrolled until July 8, 1912.
• In August, assumes command of U.S.S. Des Moines, which was sent on special service to Veracruz, Mexico during the Diaz revolution.

1913

• In January, joins the staff of Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, flagships U.S.S. Connecticut and U.S.S. Wyoming.

1914

• In September, becomes member of the General Board at the Navy Department.

1916

• In October, assumes command of U.S.S. New York.

1917

• In December, U.S.S. New York sails for England to join the British Grand Fleet as part of the Sixth Battle Squadron.

1918

• In October, reports as Commandant of the Fourth Naval District and Commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

1920

• In September, is appointed Commander, Battleship Division Four, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

1921

• In January, is transferred to Battleship Division Three as Commander.
• In March, is assigned additional duty as Commander of Squadron Two, Battleship Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
• In September, assumes command of Battleship Division Seven, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

1923

• On January 6, Battleship Division Seven is redesignated as Division Four, Battleship Divisions, Battle Fleet.
• In June, is detached from Division Four.
• In July, following a course at the Naval War College, reports as Director of the Division of Fleet Training in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

1925

• In October, is designated Commander in Chief, Battle Fleet, with the rank of Admiral (to date from September 4, 1926).

1926

• On September 4, assumes command of the U.S. Fleet.

1927

• On November 14, is appointed Chief of Naval Operations.

1930

• On November 1, retires from the U.S. Navy.

1934

• On May 27, dies at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Description of Contents

The Charles Frederick Hughes Papers, spanning from 1884 to 1888, consist of Hughes' cadet account book and first class seamanship workbook while he was a Naval Cadet at the United States Naval Academy. The collection also includes a June 6, 1888 receipt for Hughes' entrance fee into the Naval Academy Graduates Association.

Hughes' Account Book is a standard issue printed volume used by the Academy's cadets of the period. The volume's printed and handwritten entries comprise an official listing of Hughes' itemized allowances, fees, and expenses from September 1884 to June 1888. The entries cover an array of Academy expenses, including clothing, mess fees, assorted supplies, boot black fees, pew rental, the class fund, organist fees, and athletics fees. The pages are signed by Hughes acknowledging their accuracy.

Hughes' Seamanship Workbook consists primarily of notes and sketches describing the equipment, methods, and procedures of rigging a ship. The entries were inspected by and bear the signatures of Ensigns John B. Blish, Manning K. Eyre, Harry P. Huse, and Stokely Morgan. The workbook also includes an August 1887 examination paper entitled "Examination of First-Class in Seamanship on board U.S.S. Constellation."

Arrangement

The Charles Frederick Hughes Papers are arranged alphabetically by document type and topic.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Charles Frederick Hughes 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

Provenance and Acquisition

Seamanship Workbook gift of Richard James Storr in 1988. Account Book purchased in September 1992. Accession No. 92-51.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to Hughes in Special Collections & Archives include his Conduct Record, Alumni Jacket, and photograph in Photo Album 18.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Hughes' Seamanship Workbook was previously processed and housed with the Alumni/Memorabilia section of the Naval Academy Archives until November 2018.

Preferred Citation

Charles Frederick Hughes Papers, MS 279

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

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

Navy Department. Office of Information, Internal Relations Division. "Rear Admiral Charles F. Hughes, United States Navy, Deceased". Washington: Navy Department, May 16, 1952.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1993. Finding aid written by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1993 and revised by David D'Onofrio in February 2014. Additional processing by David D'Onofrio in November 2018.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Hughes, Charles Frederick, 1866-1934
• Masts and rigging
• Midshipmen -- United States -- Conduct of life
• Naval education -- United States
• United States Naval Academy -- Curricula

Genre Terms

• Account books
• Manuscripts
• Notebooks
• Receipts (financial records)