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Edw. B. McOrmond Diary, 1902-1929 (bulk 1903): Finding Aid

Published in July 2013

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 356
  • Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
  • Title: Edw. B. McOrmond Diary
  • Dates: 1902-1929
  • Bulk Dates: 1903
  • Size: 0.06 linear feet
  • Container Summary: 2 folders
  • Creator: McOrmond, Edw. B.
  • Language(s) of material: English
  • Abstract: Edw. B. McOrmond was a Machinist, 2nd Class in the United States Navy. The diary, from McOrmond's time aboard U.S.S. Cincinnati and U.S.S. Albany offers brief entries on formal and informal shipboard activities, incidents, events and amusements, duties and schedules of activities, shore leaves, other ships encountered, itineraries of voyages, descriptions of places visited, and the weather.

Biography of Edw. B. McOrmond

Edw. B. McOrmond enlisted at Market St., Philadelphia, 22 September 1902. He trained at the League Island Navy Yard and while there was aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. Minneapolis (Protected cruiser: CA-17). He transferred, 25 September to New York, New York and was aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. Columbia (Protected cruiser: CA-16). He transferred 10 November to Norfolk, Virginia and joined U.S.S. Cincinnati (Protected cruiser: C-7). On or about 21 May 1903, he transferred to U.S.S. Albany (Protected cruiser) and was still aboard the Albany in December 1903. He held the rank of Machinist, 2nd Class, U.S. Navy in February 1903.

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Description of Contents

The Edw. B. McOrmond Diary covers the period of late December 1902 through December 1903, with a single additional document dating from circa 1929. This naval machinist's diary offers brief entries on formal and informal shipboard activities, incidents, events and amusements, his duties and days' schedules of activities, his leaves, other ships encountered, itineraries of voyages, descriptions of places visited and weather.

In addition of the diary, the collection also includes a single piece of sheet music.

McOrmond's diary records his time aboard U.S.S. Cincinnati from January through May of 1903. During this period, the ship sailed in Caribbean, African and European waters. The diary continues with his May transfer to U.S.S. Albany and the Albany's cruise to the Far East, Hawaii and back to sea (May-December 1903). Specific ports of call visiting during McOrmond's cruises include Culebra, Virgin Islands; Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands; Algiers, Algeria; Messina, Sicily; Naples, Italy; Leghorn (Livorno), Italy; Genoa, Italy; Villefranche, France; Marseilles, France; Port Said, Egypt; Aden, Yemen; Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka); Singapore; Hong Kong, China; Chefoo (Yantai), China; Tsingtao, China; Nagasaki, Japan; Yokohama, Japan; Chemulpo, Korea; and Honolulu, Hawaii; as well as a transit of the Suez Canal.

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Arrangement

The contents of the Edw. B. McOrmond Diary are arranged chronologically.

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Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Edw. B. McOrmond Diary 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.

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Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of LeRoy Johnson in June 1998. Accession No. 98-25.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Edw. B. McOrmond's military service records may be available at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection.

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Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Edw. B. McOrmond Diary, MS 356

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo in 2003. Finding aid written by Mary R. Catalfamo in 2003 and edited by David D'Onofrio in August 2013.

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Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

  • Albany (Protected cruiser)
  • Cincinnati (Protected cruiser : C-7)
  • McOrmond, Edw. B.
  • United States. Navy -- Sea Life

Genre Terms

  • Diaries
  • Manuscripts
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Contents List

Box 1 Folder 1

Edw. B. McOrmond Diary, 1902-1903

Box 1 Folder 2

Sheet Music - "Rio Rita", 1929 (approximate)

A single page of sheet music for the song "Rio Rita" from the musical and movie of the same name. Originally folded into the last page of the diary.

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