Felton Parker Papers, 1877-1884: Finding Aid

Biography of Felton Parker

Felton Parker was born in Massachusetts in 1860 and appointed to the United States Naval Academy from Iowa with a date of admission of November 6, 1876. Parker was a cadet midshipman at the Naval Academy graduating with the Class of 1882 on 9 June 1882. Naval Cadet Parker was honorably discharged, 30 June 1884, under the Act of Congress of 2 August 1882. He was later appointed lieutenant 22 June 1898 and discharged 17 October 1898. Felton Parker died two years later on 22 December 1900.

Description of Contents

The Felton Parker Papers, comprising 0.21 linear feet of documentation in three volumes, span from 1877 to 1884. The papers focus on Parker's English and History studies at the United States Naval Academy, as well as his mandatory sea service as a Naval Cadet prior to final graduation.

Cadet Midshipman Felton Parker kept his volume of English and History Notes (cover title) as part of his studies at the Naval Academy in 1877. The notebook covers such topics as the nature of simile and metaphor, sounds in the English language, Teutonic languages, the lineage of notable European ruling families, chronologies of Greek and Roman history. The notebook also includes maps of Greece, Europe in 1648, and Virginia battlefields. In the back of the volume are Felton’s marks for First and Second Term 1877-1878. Attached in the front of the volume are "Directions for Written Studies, Department of English Studies, History and Law."

The collection's second volume covers Parker's mandatory sea service cruises with the North Atlantic Squadron aboard the U.S.S. Yantic from June 13 to August 28, 1882, the U.S.S. Alliance from August 29, 1882 to June 8, 1883, and the U.S.S. Powhatan from March 19 to April 21, 1884. The section of the journal devoted to the Yantic records daily weather and sailing conditions, location, and daily operations aboard ship on her cruise to Maine. The section devoted to Parker's time aboard the Alliance begins by offering a more detailed account of daily events and descriptions of port cities in Antigua, Cuba, and Panama, before reverting to a more typical daily log. The brief section on the Powhatan closes with Parker's detachment for final graduation from the Naval Academy.

The final volume comprises the watch, quarter, fire, boat, battalion, and station bills of the U.S.S. Powhatan. The volume also includes a general description of the vessel, including her engines and armaments.

Arrangement

The Felton Parker Papers are arranged chronologically.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Felton Parker 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

Gift of Mr. Haven Parker in September 1980. Accession No. 80-26.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

A photograph of Felton Parker appears in Photo Album 98 in Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Journal of the U.S.S. Yantic, the U.S.S. Alliance, and the U.S.S. Powhatan, 1882-1884 was formerly cataloged as MS 177.

Watch-, Quarter-, and Station-Bill of the U.S.S. Powhatan, 1884 was formerly cataloged as MS 178.

Preferred Citation

Felton Parker Papers, MS 372

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo in 2004. Finding aid written by Mary R. Catalfamo in 2004 and edited by David D'Onofrio in July 2013. Additional processing by David D'Onofrio in December 2014.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Alliance (Screw gunboat)
• Parker, Felton, 1860-1900
• Powhatan (Side wheel steamer)
• United States Naval Academy -- Curricula
• United States Naval Academy. Class of 1882
• United States. Navy. North Atlantic Squadron
• Yantic (Screw gunboat)

Genre Terms

• Journals (accounts)
• Manuscripts
• Notebooks