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Nimitz Library

Emil Henry Eycke Papers, 1880-1907: Finding Aid

Published in June 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 377
  • Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
  • Title: Emil Henry Eycke Papers
  • Dates: 1880-1907
  • Size: 2.08 linear feet
  • Container Summary: 1 manuscript box, 1 flat box, 1 oversize folder
  • Creator: Eycke, Emil Henry
  • Language(s) of material: English
  • Abstract: Emil Henry Eycke was an enlisted sailor and boatswain in the United States Navy. The Eycke Papers span the period of 1880 through 1907 and focus on Eycke's United States Navy career, including his service in the Spanish-American War and his trips to Cuba as a member of the crew of U.S.S. Denver.

Biography of Emil Henry Eycke

Emil Henry Eycke was born 12 March 1866 in West Troy, New York. His documents indicate that Eycke joined the U.S. Navy in 1883 as a Third Class Boy. He served ashore and at sea, progressing through the ranks. He reached Boatswain in 1898, achieving his final rank of Chief Boatswain in 1904. Eycke retired 22 April 1911 due to an incapacity resulting from an incident of service. In retirement, he resided at the Government Hospital for the Insane and later at Utica, New York. Emil H. Eycke died 22 December 1923.

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Description of Contents

The Emil Henry Eycke Papers span the period of 1880 through 1907 and focus on his United States Navy career. This collection consists primarily of official U.S. Navy papers to and from Eycke, U.S. Navy and U.S. government published documents on naval matters, a few travel pamphlets, six photographs and such career-related items as receipts for uniforms and military organization dues. Some of Eycke’s career certificates are sewn into a small leather carrying case.

Included in the collection are orders, invoices and receipts, inventories, certificates, rosters, regulations, court proceedings, pamphlets, and a chart.

The collection includes items regarding Eycke's career record, promotions, appointments, commendations, leave, orders, notices, surveys, appraisals, inspections, courts-martial, purchases, and fleet, ship and base matters. In two 14 July 1898 documents, Eycke is placed in charge of the Spanish prize steamer Buena Ventura and provided instructions as to how to proceed in case of mutiny aboard a prize steamer. Of the six photo images, four relate to the U.S.S. Denver ( Protected Cruiser, C-14) one to the U.S.S. Monongahela (Screw Sloop-of-war) and one of the U.S.S. Indiana (Battleship, BB-1).

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Arrangement

The Emil Henry Eycke Papers are organized alphabetically into a single series with no subdivisions.

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Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Emil Henry Eycke 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 Books and Archives in March 1997. Accession No. 97-15.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Emil Henry Eycke's military personnel file may be available at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection.

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Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Emil Henry Eycke Papers, MS 377

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 revised by David D'Onofrio in June 2013.

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Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

  • Courts-martial and courts of inquiry -- United States
  • Denver (Protected cruiser : C-14)
  • Eycke, Emil Henry
  • Spanish-American War, 1898
  • United States. Navy -- Petty officers

Genre Terms

  • Inventories
  • Manuscripts
  • Orders (military records)
  • Photographs
  • Rosters
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Contents List

Box 2[OS] Folder 1

Chart - New National Harbor of Refuge at Mouth of Delaware Bay, 1899

Box 2[OS] Folder 2

Diagram for Finding Distances and Heights, 1880

Box 1 Folder 1

Navy Career Documents, 1893-1899

Includes Eycke's appointment as a Petty Officer, an examination (possibly for promotion), an inventory of items aboard U.S.S. Enterprise, and orders to take charge of the prize steamer Buena Ventura.

Box 1 Folder 2

Navy Career Documents, 1901-1907

Includes materials pertaining to surveys of ships' stores, purchase of stores for U.S.S. Indiana, and outfitting of U.S.S. Denver.

Box 1 Folder 3

Navy Certificates, 1883-1897

Eycke's Continuous Service Certificate, bound into a leather case.

Box 1 Folder 4

Photographs, 1900-1907

Includes photographs of U.S.S. Monongahela, the crew of U.S.S. Indiana, and the crew of U.S.S. Denver encamped in Havana, Cuba.

Drawer MSOS Folder 1

Photographs, 1906

Includes a portrait of the crew of U.S.S. Denver and a panorama of U.S.S. Denver anchored in Havana Bay off the Morro Castle.

Box 1 Folder 5

Published Documents, 1898-1906

Consists primarily of U.S. Navy regulations, fleet rosters, and the proceedings of several courts-martial.

Box 2[OS] Folder 3

Survey and Appraisal in Triplicate, 1907

Includes equipment surveys for U.S.S. Louisiana, U.S.S. Minnesota, U.S.S. Worden, U.S.S. Whipple, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Box 1 Folder 6

Travel Brochures and Pamphlets, 1900, undated

Includes "Hampton Roads and Thereabouts," "Persinger's New Pictorial Guide of Havana and Glimpses of Cuba," and a passenger list for the ship Fürst Bismarck.

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