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Nimitz Library

Joseph Foster Green Papers, 1844-1873: Finding Aid

Published in September 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 369
  • Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
  • Title: Joseph Foster Green Papers
  • Dates: 1844-1873
  • Size: 1.27 linear feet
  • Container Summary: 1 manuscript box, 1 flat box
  • Creator: Green, Joseph F.
  • Language(s) of material: English
  • Abstract: Joseph F. Green was an Admiral in the United States Navy. The Joseph Foster Green Papers consists of eight volumes kept by, or kept under the authority of, Rear Admiral Joseph Foster Green during his tenure in the United States Navy.

Biography of Joseph F. Green

Joseph Foster Green was born in Bath, Maine, 24 November 1811, and joined the U.S. Navy as a Midshipman in 1827. He attended the Naval School, Norfolk, Virginia from 1832 to 1833, after which he was promoted to Passed Midshipman (1833). Green was then promoted to Lieutenant in 1838, Commander in 1855, Captain in 1862, Commodore in 1867 and Rear Admiral in 1870, retiring from the U.S. Navy in 1872. Some of Green's early duty stations the frigate U.S.S. Potomac, sloop U.S.S. Erie and the frigate U.S.S. Columbia of the Brazil Squadron (1842-1845). Green participated in several Mexican War actions while aboard the ship-of-the-line U.S.S. Ohio (1842-1845).

Among his assignments, Green was stationed several times at the Navy Yard, Boston. Throughout his career, he held increasingly responsible posts in the field of naval ordnance. Green served as Assistant Executive Officer, U.S. Naval Academy, and later as Commandant of Midshipmen (1855-1858). As Commander of the steam-sloop U.S.S. Canandaigua (1862-1864), South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Green took part in the bombardment of Fort Wagner. John F. Green later served as Commander, Southern Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, flagship Congress (Screw sloop-of-war) from 1870 to 187l and as Commander of the North Atlantic Station, flagship Worcester (Screw sloop-of-war), from 1872 to 1873. Rear Admiral Green died in Brookline, Massachusetts, 9 December 1897 and was buried in Bath, Maine.

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Description of Contents

The Joseph Foster Green Papers consists of eight volumes kept by, or kept under the authority of, Rear Admiral Joseph Foster Green during his career in the United States Navy. All or most of the volumes are official U.S Navy records. The volumes cover the time period 1844 through 1873.

Included in the collection are letterbooks, registers, regulations, and instructional texts. Ink in some volumes is faded to the point of illegibility.

The Joseph Foster Green Papers are arranged chronologically into a single series with no subdivisions. The papers pertain to Green's time as Commander of the South Atlantic Squadron and the North Atlantic Squadron, as well as the internal government and orders of the U.S.S. Columbia, U.S.S. Canandaigua, and U.S.S. Merrimac. Several of the volumes, in the form of hand-copied texts, deal with naval tactics and ship rigging.

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Arrangement

The Joseph Foster Green Papers are arranged chronologically.

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Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Joseph Foster Green 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.

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Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum Rare Manuscripts and Archives in June 1999. Accession No. 99-50.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional materials pertaining to the career of Joseph F. Green can be found in the Joseph F. Green Papers 1828-1960 (bulk 1862-1864) at the Manuscripts Division of the Library of Congress and in the Joseph F. Green Papers, 1872-1873, MS 179 at the Naval War College.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection.

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Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Joseph Foster Green Papers, MS 369

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 September 2013.

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Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

  • Canandaigua (Screw sloop-of-war)
  • Columbia (Frigate)
  • Congress (Screw sloop-of-war)
  • Green, Joseph F.
  • Masts and rigging
  • Merrimack (Frigate)
  • Naval tactics
  • Seamanship -- Handbooks, manuals, etc
  • United States. Navy. North Atlantic Squadron
  • United States. Navy. South Atlantic Squadron
  • Worcester (Screw sloop-of-war)

Genre Terms

  • Letter books
  • Manuscripts
  • Registers (lists)
  • Ships' logs
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Contents List

Box 1 Folder 1

Rules and Regulations for the Government of the U.S. Frigate Columbia, 1844, 1858

Also includes General Orders. U.S. Ship Merrimac. Capt. R. B. Hitchcock, Commanding. [ca. 1858]; General Orders for the United States Naval Forces in the Pacific. [ca. 1858?]; and recipes for ship compounds, undated.

Box 1 Folder 2

Ship Rules and Regulations; Rules and Regulations of the Engine Department of the U.S.S. Sloop Canandaigua. J. F. Green, Captain, 1862-1863 (approximate)

Also includes the undated "Sails and Rigging Instruction Manual," likely a copy of pre-existing text or a text provided by Green for the men serving under him, which spans the first 155 pages of the volume.

Box 1 Folder 3

Register of Orders and Letters Sent and Received, 1870 January 3-1871 June 5

Presumably belonging to the Commander of Southern Squadron, Atlantic Fleet.

Box 2 Folder 1

Letter Copy-book. J. F. Green, Commodore, Commanding, Southern Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, Flagship Congress, 1870 July 30-1871 July 8

Includes correspondence pertaining to the South Atlantic Squadron's and Congress's cruises between Key West, Havana, St. Thomas, and Boston. Spine label reads: Departments and Bureaus. Includes an index at front of volume.

Box 1 Folder 4

Register of Letters, U.S. Naval Force, N.A. Station, Rear Admiral J. F. Green, Commanding. Captain J. B. Creighton, Chief of Staff, 1872 August 9-1873 March 1

Box 2 Folder 2

Letter Copy-book. J. F. Green, Rear Admiral, Commanding U.S. Naval Force, N.A. Station, Flagship Worcester, 1872 August-1873 March

Includes correspondence pertaining to the squadron's and Worcester's duties between Boston, Hampton Roads, and Key West. Includes an index at front of volume.

Box 1 Folder 5

Register of Requisitions Made in the U.S. Naval Force, N.A. Station, Rear Admiral J. F. Green, Commanding. Captain J. B. Creighton, Chief of Staff, 1872 August-1873 May

Standard detailed register covering full range of requisitions, including monies.

Box 1 Folder 6

Naval Tactics and Naval Practices, undated

Likely a copy of pre-existing text or a text provided by Green for the men serving under him.

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