Harry Phelps Papers, 1877-1913: Finding Aid
Published in August 2008
Summary Information
- Publisher: United States Naval Academy. Special Collections & Archives.
- Publisher Address:
589 McNair Road
Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5029, USA
Phone: 410-293-6917
https://www.usna.edu/Library/sca/index.php - Call number: MS 289
- Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
- Title: Harry Phelps Papers
- Dates: 1877-1913
- Size: 0.42 linear feet
- Container Summary: 1 manuscript box
- Creator: Phelps, Harry, 1861-1919
- Language(s) of material: English
- Abstract: Harry Phelps was an officer in the United States Navy and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1880. The Harry Phelps Papers span Phelps' thirty-six year naval career, covering from 1877 to 1913, and consist primarily of letters written by Phelps to his mother, encompassing Phelps' time as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, his work with various survey teams, and his time at the Judge Advocate General office in Washington D.C.
Biographical Chronology of Harry Phelps
- 1861
- Born February 2 in Jersey City, New Jersey to Henry E. and Julia A. (Truesdale) Phelps.
- 1876
- On September 15, is appointed to the United States Naval Academy from the State of New Jersey.
- 1880
- In June, graduates fourth in his class from the United States Naval Academy.
- Is attached to the screw steamer U.S.S. Quinnebaug, which served in the European Station, primarily in the Mediterranean.
- 1882
- On June 22, receives commission in the United States Navy as midshipman.
- In late summer, is attached to the schooner Palinurus of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.
- 1883
- On March 3, is promoted to Ensign (junior grade).
- On April 1, marries Mary E. Thompson.
- 1884
- On June 26, is promoted to the rank of Ensign.
- Attached to U.S.S. Ranger, which was engaged in hydrographic work off Baja California, Central America, and in the north Pacific Ocean.
- 1888
- Assigned to the Mathematics Department at the United States Naval Academy as an instructor beginning in the 1888-1889 academic year.
- 1889
- Authors Practical Marine Surveying, published by J. Wiley and Sons.
- 1891
- In early summer, is attached to the screw gunboat U.S.S. Yantic, which was serving in the South Atlantic Station.
- 1892
- On June 19, receives promotion to the rank of Lieutenant (junior grade).
- Is attached to U.S.S. Bennington (PG-4), which served in the European Station celebrating the quatercentenary of Columbus’ discovery of America, including the delivery of a replica of Pinta to Cuba.
- 1893
- On August 8, U.S.S. Bennington is redeployed to the Mediterranean until April 1894.
- 1894
- Assigned to the Department of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics at the United States Naval Academy as an instructor beginning in the 1894-1895 academic year.
- 1896
- On May 10, is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
- 1897
- In February, is attached to the second class battleship U.S.S. Texas, which was then serving in the North Atlantic Squadron.
- 1898
- On May 21, U.S.S. Texas arrives off Cuba as part of the Flying Squadron.
- On June 16, U.S.S. Texas, accompanied by U.S.S. Marblehead, bombards the fort on Cayo del Tore in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
- 1900
- On July 18, is transferred to the Office of Naval Intelligence.
- 1901
- On December 2, is attached to U.S.S. Cincinnati (C-7), which was protecting Americans in Haiti, Santa Domingo and Panama, as well as offering relief to Martinique following the eruption of Mount Pelee.
- 1902
- On June 8, receives promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
- 1903
- In summer, is transferred to U.S.S. Helena (PG-9), which operated off the coast of China until its decommissioning in April 1905.
- 1905
- On March 27, is transferred to the office of the Judge Advocate General in Washington, D.C.
- 1907
- On July 1, is promoted to the rank of Commander.
- 1908
- In March, is attached to U.S.S. Wisconsin (BB-9) to aid in the ship's fitting out at Puget Sound Navy Yard.
- In July, is detached from U.S.S. Wisconsin for medical treatment.
- 1909
- On March 20, is granted command of U.S.S. Culgoa, which served as a supply ship off the east coast of the United States and in European waters.
- 1911
- On March 4, receives promotion to the rank of Captain.
- On June 30, retires to Southport, North Carolina with the rank of Commodore.
- 1918
- On April 18, is recalled to active duty, serving at the Norfolk Navy Yard, aboard U.S.S. Louisiana (BB-19), and as a member of a general court-martial.
- 1919
- On December 23, dies from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, and is subsequently buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Description of Contents
The Harry Phelps Papers, comprising 0.42 linear feet of documentation, spans Phelps' thirty-six year naval career, covering from 1877 to 1913. The papers, consisting primarily of letters written by Phelps to his mother, encompass Phelps' time as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, his work with various hydrographic survey teams, and his time at the Judge Advocate General office in Washington, D.C.
The collection consists almost exclusively of hand-written letters, as well as several news clippings, demerit records, a portrait, and a receipt.
The Harry Phelps Papers are arranged alphabetically by document type into a single series with no subdivisions. The bulk of the collection consists of letters written by Phelps to his mother, although several letters are addressed to either Phelps' father or a woman (possibly Phelps' sister) referred to as Hattie. The letters touch upon nearly every phase of Phelps' naval career, with heavy concentrations from his days as a student at the United States Naval Academy, time spent doing survey work for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and aboard U.S.S. Ranger off the west coast of North and Central America, and from his duties at the office of the Judge Advocate General in Washington, D.C. Smaller concentrations of letters are the product of Phelps' service in the waters of the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia aboard several U.S. ships, including Quinnebaug, Cincinnati, Bennington, Helena, Culgoa, Yantic, Texas, and Wisconsin. Noticeably absent from the collection are any letters from Phelps' service during the Spanish American War of 1898, or from his recall to active duty in 1918. In addition to discussing Phelps' daily routines and specific incidents, the letters also make frequent mention of life on the home front and of the persistent sluggishness of mail service. The remainder of the collection consists of several demerit records from Phelps' time as a student, news clippings (primarily focusing on the survey work of U.S.S. Ranger), and several miscellaneous communications.
Research interests served by the Harry Phelps Papers include midshipman life at the United States Naval Academy, naval survey work, the history and duties of the U.S.S. Ranger, and the nature of diplomatic work carried out on the European Station.
Arrangement
The Harry Phelps Papers are arranged alphabetically by document type into a single series with no subdivisions.
Access and Use
Access
Access is unrestricted.
Copyright and Permission
The Harry Phelps 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
Purchased from N. David Scotti of Associated Appraisers, Inc. in December 1993. Accession No. 93-69.
Related Materials
Related Archival Material
Additional material pertaining to Phelps' career, in the form of orders, examinations, reports, ships logs, photographs, and additional correspondence, constitutes the Harry Phelps Papers (Call Number PC.1479) at the North Carolina State Archives.
Ships and Shipyard Scenes, California, 1887 [microfilm: selected photographs from Harry Phelps papers] at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, excerpted from the Harry Phelps Papers at the North Carolina State Archives, consists of samples of photographs taken by Phelps while serving aboard U.S.S. Ranger.
The bound volume containing Phelp's descriptive geometry drawing, and others of his class (referenced in the January 28, 1878 letter), may be found in the Records of the Division of Mathematics and Science, RG 405.4 Entry 201f, Subseries 1c: COPIES OF DESCRIPTIVE GEOMETRY PROBLEMS AND DRAWINGS, 1877-1878.
Materials Cataloged Separately
No materials have been removed from this collection.
Processing and Other Information
Preferred Citation
Harry Phelps Papers, MS 289
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
Selected Bibliography
The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:
Hamersly, Lewis R. The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Philadelphia: L. R. Hamersly & Co., 1890.
Navy Department. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History Division. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1959-1981.
Army and Navy Journal. Washington, D.C.: Army and Navy Journal, Inc., January 3, 1920.
Who Was Who in America. Chicago: A.N. Marquis Company, 1962.
Processing Information
This collection was originally processed by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1994 and reprocessed by David D'Onofrio in August 2008. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in August 2008.
Subject Headings
Name and Subject Terms
- Bennington (Patrol gunboat : PG-4)
- Hydrographic Surveying
- Phelps, Harry, 1861-1919
- Quinnebaug (Screw steamer)
- Ranger (Screw steamer)
- U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
- United States Naval Academy -- Students -- Correspondence
- United States. Navy. European Station
Genre Terms
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Correspondence
- Manuscripts
Contents List
Correspondence, 1877
From US Naval Academy. Descriptions of Academy life and activities, such as drills, plebe/upper class relations, and hazing. Specific incidents include a fire aboard U.S.S. Dale (April 1), damage to academy buildings and grounds from a major storm (October 4), infantry and artillery exercises (October 22), and contention over a newly issued uniform cap (October 28, November 3).
Correspondence, 1878 January-March
From US Naval Academy. Descriptions of Academy life, including studies, dances, the selection of Phelp's drawing for a bound volume of descriptive geometry drawings published by the Department of Mathematics (January 28), lab classes (February 5), writing exercises and football (February 25 and March 10), as well as a mutiny aboard a British bark (March 10), and a practice fire drill and the burial of victims from the iron sloop-rigged steamer U.S.S. Huron (March 31).
Correspondence, 1878 April-December
From US Naval Academy. Accounts of Phelps’ academic performance, inter class relations, training aboard U.S.S. Dale, a collision between U.S. ships Dale and Phlox during training (October 13), and attendance at a Christmas costume ball (December 26).
Correspondence, 1879 January-June
From US Naval Academy and U.S.S. Constellation. Descriptions of Academy life, including classes and examinations, gunnery practice (March 30), signal drills (May 21), and summer cruises aboard the U.S.S. Constellation (June 13-27), as well as extracurricular activities such as the semi-annual ball (January 14), and a singing society (May 11).
Correspondence, 1879 July-December
From U.S.S. Constellation and US Naval Academy. Descriptions of the summer cruise aboard U.S.S. Constellation (July-August), first-class liberties and general recreation, Superintendent Rear Admiral George Balch (October 7), and another mutiny aboard a bark (October 19).
Correspondence, 1881 April-December
From U.S.S. Quinnebaug. Descriptions of daily activities, studying for exams, rowdy Spanish Easter celebrations (April 16), reactions to the assassination of President James A. Garfield (September 21), battles with rheumatism (October 21 and 26), and duties as assistant navigator (November 3).
Correspondence, 1882
From U.S.S. Quinnebaug, US Naval Academy, and Coast Survey Schooner Palinurus. Descriptions of opinions on Tripoli, midshipmen being ordered to the Smithsonian Institution for instruction (January 28), preparations for Academy examinations and graduation (June 8), and coast survey duties (July-October), including signal work and observations.
Correspondence, 1881 January-June
From U.S.S. Ranger. Descriptions of survey duty in/around Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador, including six week shore duty (January 11-February 22), as well as local resistance to Justo Rufino Barrios' attempts to unite Central America (March 21).
Correspondence, 1886 January-June
From U.S.S. Ranger. Descriptions of survey work, including soundings, topographical observations, and astronomical and magnetic observations, as well as of Christmas celebrations with his wife and daughter, and a capsized launch resulting in the loss of a crew member (January 10).
Correspondence, 1886 July-December
From U.S.S. Ranger. Descriptions of survey work, repairs, and entertainment, including receptions and balls while anchored in Vallejo, California and the formation of a dramatic club at the Navy Yard (August 29). Included is a playbill dated October 9.
Correspondence, 1892
From U.S. ships Yantic and Bennington. Descriptions of Monte Video and Buenos Aires, the decrepit state and sale of U.S.S. Tallapoosa (February 19), drill and target practice, and visits to Spanish and Italian ports in celebration of the quatercentenary of the discovery of America.
Correspondence, 1893
From U.S.S. Bennington. Descriptions of duties, including towing two caravels from Spain to Cuba (February 6 and April 13), preparations for Naval Review (April 13), torpedo instruction in Connecticut (July 26), and visits to Genoa, Italy and Alhambra Palace, Granada (December 5).
Correspondence, 1908
From Washington, D.C. and U.S.S. Wisconsin. Description of transfer to and duties aboard U.S.S. Wisconsin (March 2), including organization of the crew (March 23), cleaning and coaling, disruptions due to receptions (June 21), and Phelps' detachment for medical treatment (July 21).