Jacob Lawton Hydrick Journal, 1906-1911: Finding Aid

Biographical Chronology of Jacob Lawton Hydrick

1887

• On March 13, is born in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

1903

• On June 26, is appointed a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy. Midshipman cruises aboard U.S.S. Chesapeake, U.S.S. Atlanta, and U.S.S. Newark.

1907

• On February 11, graduates from the Naval Academy.
• On February 12, is appointed Passed Midshipman.
• As of February 15, is awaiting orders.
• On March 4, is attached to U.S.S. Vermont.

1909

• On February 12, is commissioned as an Ensign.
• On April 2, is attached to U.S.S. Birmingham.

1912

• On February 12, is promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade).
• On July 13, is appointed S.E.O. aboard U.S.S. Birmingham.
• On September 18, marries Josephine May Leibling of Chicago.

1913

• On August 25, is ordered home to await orders.
• On September 1, is attached to the Boston Navy Yard.
• On September 13, Josephine Hydrick gives birth to Jacob Lawton Hydrick, Jr.

1915

• On November 13, is attached to U.S.S. Hancock as Engineering Officer.

1916

• On March 14, is appointed Navigator aboard U.S.S. Hancock.
• On June 22, is attached to U.S.S. Oklahoma.
• On July 1, is promoted to Lieutenant.

1917

• On May 3, is attached to U.S.S. Kearsarge as Engineering Officer.
• On October 15, is promoted to Lieutenant Commander (temporary).

1918

• Is assigned to the Naval District Base, New London, Connecticut.
• On September 21, is promoted to Commander (temporary).
• On December 6, is admitted to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital.
• On December 10, dies at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital from pneumonia as a result of the 1918 flu epidemic.

Description of Contents

The Jacob Lawton Hydrick Journal, comprising a single volume, spans from 1907 to 1911. Hydrick's journal, divided into two sections, covers his cruise aboard U.S.S. Vermont (Battleship : BB-20) during her shakedown cruise and participation in the cruise of the Great White Fleet, as well as his service aboard U.S.S. Birmingham (Light cruiser : CL-2).

The first section of the journal, entitled Chronological Journal, U.S.S. Vermont, written between March 1907 and September 1908, focuses on Hydrick's cruise aboard U.S.S. Vermont, during which time the Vermont was commissioned, underwent her shakedown cruise between Boston and Hampton Roads, participated in maneuvers with the Atlantic Fleet, and set sail with the Atlantic Fleet on its around-the-world cruise, known as the Great White Fleet. Hydrick's journal includes a history and physical description of U.S.S. Vermont, the ship's outfitting and commissioning, her shakedown cruise, and her participation in the cruise of the Great White Fleet. As part of the Great White Fleet's cruise, Hydrick offers descriptions of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Punta Arenas, Chile; Valparaiso, Chile, including a review by the President of Chile; San Diego, Los Angeles, Monterey, and San Francisco, California; the territory of Hawaii; Auckland, New Zealand; and Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Included throughout the first section of the journal are clippings from newspapers and other publications regarding the Fleet's ports of call, as well as a 1906 photograph of U.S.S. Vermont's guns encased in ice while on sea trials. Also included is a memorandum instructing midshipman to keep journals and navigation notebooks.

The second section of the journal is the product of Hydrick's service aboard U.S.S. Birmingham, dating from 1910 to 1911. The section consists of navigational readings and calculations, as well as course plots.

Arrangement

The Jacob Lawton Hydrick Journal comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Jacob Lawton Hydrick Journal 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

Gift of Claude K. Hydrick, Sr. in May 1985. Accession No. 85-23.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Material pertaining to Hydrick's time as a midshipman at the Naval Academy and subsequent U.S. Navy career may be found in his Personnel Jacket and Class of 1907, United States Naval Academy, 1903-1924 (V415.K4 1907 H5 1924) in Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Additional coverage of the cruise of the Great White Fleet at Special Collections & Archives can be found in the Great White Fleet Scrapbook, 1908-1909, 1916, 1945, MS 219; the Thomas Benton Howard Papers, 1869-1919, MS 209; and the H. R. Insley Scrapbook, 1898-1909 (bulk 1908-1909), MS 354.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Jacob Lawton Hydrick Journal, MS 305

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

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

United States Naval Academy. Class of 1907. Class of 1907, United States Naval Academy, 1903-1924. Published by The Association of the Class of 1907, [1924?].

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1995. Finding aid written by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1995 and revised by David D'Onofrio in February 2014.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Birmingham (Light cruiser : CL-2)
• Hydrick, Jacob Lawton, 1887-1918
• Navigation
• United States. Navy -- Cruise, 1907-1909
• Vermont (Battleship : BB-20)
• Voyages around the world

Genre Terms

• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Diaries
• Manuscripts
• Ships' logs