George W. Kenyon Photograph Album, 1903-1905: Finding Aid

Biography of George W. Kenyon

George William Kenyon was born in Wakefield, Rhode Island on June 8, 1885. Admitted to the United States Naval Academy in July 1903 from San Francisco, Kenyon graduated in September 1906 as a member of the Class of 1907.

Shortly after American entry into World War I, Kenyon, then a lieutenant, received a temporary commission as a lieutenant commander and assumed command of U.S.S. Warrington (Destroyer: DD-30), deploying to the North Sea. Following his command of Warrington, Kenyon also commanded U.S.S. Kennison (Destroyer: DD-1938) and U.S.S. Talbot (Destroyer: DD-114). For his services aboard the Warrington and Talbot, including the rescue of the crew of U.S.S. President Lincoln (Transport), Kenyon was awarded the Navy Cross.

Following the War, Kenyon assumed command of U.S.S. Badger (Destroyer: DD-126). This duty was followed by service aboard U.S.S. Mississippi (Battleship: BB-41) before returning to destroyer duty in command of U.S.S. Lea (Destroyer: DD-118), U.S.S. Thompson (Destroyer: DD-305), and U.S.S. Southard (Destroyer: DD-207).

Kenyon retired from the U.S. Navy on May 1, 1935 with the rank of commander. George W. Kenyon died on February 15, 1950 at the San Diego Naval Hospital.

Description of Contents

The George W. Kenyon Photograph Album and its associated enclosures, comprising 1.42 linear feet of documentation, span from 1903 until 1905. The album primarily depicts scenes of life at the Naval Academy during Kenyon's plebe year, as well as the 1904 summer practice cruise.

In addition to the photograph album, the collection also includes loose photographic prints and an event program.

The Kenyon Photograph Album and its enclosures, consisting of loose photographs and an event program, are arranged by document type into a single records series. Approximately half of the album is devoted to photographs of midshipman activities and buildings at the Academy, such as the construction of Bancroft Hall, Isherwood Hall, U.S.S. Santee, Dahlgren Hall, small boats and launches, a football game, baseball vs. West Point on Worden Field, target practice aboard a monitor, machine gun drills, and the submarine U.S.S. Holland while she was stationed at the Academy. The second half of the album focuses on the midshipman summer practice cruise of 1904, with images of port calls at Yorktown, Newport, and New London; shipboard life scenes, such as quarters, mess, and showering on deck; torpedo drills and launching exercises; and the ships of the practice squadron, including U.S.S. Massachusetts (Battleship: BB-2), Nevada (Monitor), Texas (Battleship), Minneapolis (Cruiser: C-13), Chesapeake (Bark), Truxtun (Destroyer: DD-14), Arkansas (Monitor: BM-7), and the Academy's school ship U.S.S. Hartford (Sloop-of-war).

In addition to the photographs in housed in the album, the collection includes eighty-one loose photographs. While similar in scope to the photographs in the album, these photographs also depict the construction of the Naval Academy Chapel, celebrations surrounding a Navy baseball game (likely the game against West Point depicted in the album), snowfall at the Academy, the Hotel Chamberlin at Old Point Comfort, and a photograph of Chester W. Nimitz as a midshipman. The collection also includes an event program from the annual "Burial of Math and Skinny."

Arrangement

The George W. Kenyon Photograph Album is arranged by document type.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The George W. Kenyon Photograph Album 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.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Carol Hazelhurst. Accession No. 16-15.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to George W. Kenyon's naval career and time as a midshipman can be found in his Midshipman Personnel Jacket and Alumni Jacket, both available in Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

George W. Kenyon Photograph Album, MS 434

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in April 2016. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in April 2016.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Hartford (Sloop-of-war)
• Kenyon, George W., 1885-1950
• Massachusetts (Battleship : BB-2)
• Midshipmen -- Conduct of life
• United States Naval Academy -- Buildings and grounds
• United States Naval Academy -- Midshipmen -- Cruises
• United States Naval Academy -- Pictorial works
• United States Naval Academy -- School ships
• United States Naval Academy -- Sports
• United States Naval Academy -- Students
• United States Naval Academy. Class of 1907

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Photograph albums
• Photographs