Josiah G. Beckwith Letters, 1853-1855: Finding Aid

Biography of Josiah G. Beckwith, Jr.

Josiah G. Beckwith, Jr., son of Dr. Josiah G. Beckwith, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut in 1838. Beckwith was admitted to the United States Naval Academy on February 1, 1853 as a member of the Class of 1858, but resigned on March 21, 1855 due to increasing conduct offenses, including intoxication. Following his resignation from the Naval Academy, Beckwith attended Union College and Yale University Medical School, ultimately practicing medicine in Charlton, New York from 1866 until 1869, before returning to Litchfield to take over the family drug store following the death of his father in 1871. Beckwith married Anne Bonfield Alsop on January 16, 1873, and the two had three children: Josiah, Margaret, and Sutherland. Josiah G. Beckwith, Jr. died on June 9, 1911.

Description of Contents

The Josiah G. Beckwith Letters, comprising 0.08 linear feet of documentation, span from February 1853 until January 1855. Produced during his two years as a midshipman in Annapolis, Beckwith's letters discuss various aspects of student life at the Naval Academy, including academics, conduct and discipline, summer cruises, and the activities of classmates.

Included with the letters are several notes and drawings, as well as Beckwith's appointment as a midshipman.

The Josiah G. Beckwith Letters are arranged into a single records series with no subdivisions. The letters written by Beckwith, which comprise the overwhelming majority of the collection, are predominantly addressed to Beckwith's father, Dr. Josiah G. Beckwith of Litchfield, Connecticut, with smaller numbers of letters addressed to Beckwith's mother and sister, Elizabeth. Much of the content of the letters concerns Beckwith's academics, including subjects studied, biannual examinations, his weekly averages, and his multiple attempts to secure summer furloughs in order to keep pace academically. Beckwith also devotes considerable length to discussions of his, and his fellow midshipmen's, struggles with demerits, as well as the general nature of conduct offenses at the Naval Academy. The letters also discuss life on the Yard in general, including living accommodations in the new midshipman quarters, the introduction of steam and gas to the Yard, the logistics of being on the sick list, and the regimented nature of Academy routine. In some letters, Beckwith also offers his opinion of various Academy faculty and staff, including Superintendent Louis M. Goldsborough and Professor Samuel Marcy. Letters written during the summer tend to focus on Beckwith's experiences during summer practice cruises aboard U.S.S. Preble, and include descriptions of port calls in France, Spain, and Portugal.

The remainder of the collection consists of two letters received by Beckwith, including one from his father, as well several notes and sketches, and a letter officially denying Beckwith's furlough requests.

Arrangement

The Josiah G. Beckwith Letters are arranged chronologically by date sent. Additional material is arranged alphabetically by document type following the outgoing correspondence.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Josiah G. Beckwith Letters 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

Purchased from Halvor Americana in August 1993, October 1993, and in January 1994. Accession Nos. 93-38, 93-56, and 94-02. Purchase in June 1994. Accession No. 94-38.

Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

The Beckwith Letters have been digitized in their entirety. In addition to following the links in the Container List, the materials can be accessed through the USNA Digital Collections at: https://usna.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01USNA_INST/ik5eus/alma991006445389406751

Related Archival Material

Material pertaining to Beckwith's conduct as a midshipman can be found in his midshipman conduct record, located in RG-405, Entry 85: Registers of Delinquencies. Letters pertaining to Beckwith's dismissal from the Academy, including one written by Beckwith to his uncle and one written by Beckwith's father to the Superintendent, can be found in RG-405, Entry 75: Letters and Reports Received by the Superintendent Relating to Individual Midshipmen. All of the above materials are available at Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library, United States Naval Academy.

Additional material pertaining to Beckwith and his family can be found in the Beckwith Family Papers (1988-01-1), Litchfield Historical Society, Helga J. Ingraham Memorial Library.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Publications Citing These Papers

The Josiah G. Beckwith Letters have been published, in part, in Letters from Annapolis: Midshipmen Write Home, 1848-1969, edited by Anne Marie Drew.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Josiah G. Beckwith Letters, MS 425

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

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

Beckwith family papers, 1767-1972 [Finding Aid]. Litchfield Historical Society, Helga J. Ingraham Memorial Library.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in October 2015. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in October 2015.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Beckwith, Josiah G., 1838-1911
• France -- Description and travel
• Goldsborough, Louis Malesherbes, 1805-1877
• Midshipmen -- United States -- Conduct of life
• Spain -- Description and travel
• United States Naval Academy -- Curricula
• United States Naval Academy -- Examinations
• United States Naval Academy -- Midshipmen -- Cruises
• United States Naval Academy -- School ships
• United States Naval Academy -- Social life and customs
• United States Naval Academy -- Students -- Correspondence
• United States Naval Academy. Class of 1858

Genre Terms

• Correspondence
• Manuscripts