Basil Norris Rittenhouse Scrapbook, 1921-1928: Finding Aid

Biography of Basil Norris Rittenhouse, Jr.

1905

• Born on June 18 in Fort Riley, Kansas to Lieutenant Colonel Basil N. Rittenhouse, USA, and Marie Louise Rittenhouse.

1924

• Receives an at large appointment to the United States Naval Academy.

1928

• On June 7, graduates from the United States Naval Academy and is commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy.
• Attached to the United States Naval Academy for duty with the Naval Academy Rifle Team.
• In September, is attached to U.S.S. Mississippi (Battleship: BB-41).

1930

• In January, is detached from U.S.S. Mississippi for duty in the Hydrographic Office.
• In February, is attached to U.S.S. Niagara (Patrol yacht: PY-9) on survey duty.

1931

• In February, is transferred to U.S.S. Fulton (Gunboat: PG-49).
• In December, is attached to U.S.S. Chester (Heavy cruiser: CA-27).

1935

• In June, detaches from U.S.S. Chester for instruction at the Naval Postgraduate School.

1936

• In May, is attached to the United States Naval Academy as Aide to the Superintendent.

1938

• In June, is attached to U.S.S. Gridley (Destroyer: DD-380).

1940

• In December, reports aboard U.S.S. Cassin (Destroyer: DD-372) as Executive Officer.

1941

• In September, is detached from U.S.S. Cassin for duty with the Bureau of Navigation.

1943

• In September, assumes command of U.S.S. MacKenzie (Destroyer: DD-614), which provided fire support for the Invasion of Southern France.

1944

• In November, is detached from U.S.S. MacKenzie.
• Assumes command of Destroyer Division Thirty-Two.

1945

• In July, is transferred to command of Destroyer Division Twenty-Four.
• In December, is attached to the Bureau of Naval Personnel.

1946

• In July, is detached from the Bureau of Naval Personnel for duty at the Naval Academy as Executive Officer of the Department of Seamanship and Navigation.

1948

• In June, joins the staff of Commander Task Force Eighty as Chief Staff Officer.
• In December, assumes command of Task Force Eighty.

1949

• In March, is detached from Task Force Eighty to assume command of Resupply Group, Arctic Weather Stations.

1950

• In February, reports as Chief, Naval Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group to the Netherlands.

1951

• In September, is assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Head of the Foreign Military Rights Branch and, later, as Assistant to the Navy Member of the Department of Defense Management Council.

1953

• In September, is detached from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
• In October, assumes command of Transport Division Fourteen.

1954

• In August, as Commander of Transport Division Fourteen, takes part in Operation Passage to Freedom, transporting North Vietnamese refugees to South Vietnam.
• In October, assumes command of Amphibious Squadron Nine, with additional duty as Commander Transport Divisions Ninety-One and Ninety-Two.

1955

• In October, reports as Chief of the Navy Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Spain.

1956

• On July 17, is approved for selection to the rank of Rear Admiral, effective August 1, 1956.
• On October 26, assumes additional duty as Commander Military Sea Transportation Service, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Area.

1957

• On October 10, reports as Director of the Foreign Military Assistance Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

1959

• In November, assumes command of Amphibious Group Four.

1960

• In September, is appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to the Commander United States Forces, Japan.

1961

• On December 16, retires from the United States Navy.

1973

• On October 17, dies at the Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Description of Contents

The Basil Norris Rittenhouse Scrapbook, comprising a single volume, spans from 1921 to 1928. The scrapbook focuses on events and activities at the United States Naval Academy during Rittenhouse's time as a midshipman, as well as Rittenhouse's efforts to secure a nomination to the Academy.

The scrapbook is composed of certificates, photographs, event programs, athletic schedules, telegrams, letters, memos, invitations, clippings, and orders.

The contents of the Basil Norris Rittenhouse Scrapbook are arranged in rough chronological order. The scrapbook focuses almost entirely on events, activities, and midshipman groups at the Naval Academy from 1924 to 1928, including Naval Academy athletics (primarily football, baseball, crew and lacrosse), the 1925 summer practice cruise, the 1926 Army-Navy Game, Superintendent Henry B. Wilson's retirement, the transiting of the Panama Canal on a training cruise, and the Class of 1928's graduation. Other materials in the scrapbook focus on Rittenhouse's time in junior ROTC and his efforts at securing a nomination to the Naval Academy from Congressman Julius Kahn.

Arrangement

The contents of the Basil Norris Rittenhouse Scrapbook are arranged in rough chronological order.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Basil Norris Rittenhouse Scrapbook 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

Purchased from Chris Wilson in July 1992. Accession No. 92-38.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to Rittenhouse's U.S. Navy career and time as a midshipman is available in his Midshipman Personnel Jacket (sealed until 2023) and Alumni Jacket, 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

Basil Norris Rittenhouse Scrapbook, MS 450

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

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

Rittenhouse, Basil, Alumni Jacket, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in July 2017. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in July 2017.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Midshipmen -- United States -- Conduct of life
• Panama Canal (Panama)
• Rittenhouse, Basil Norris, Jr., 1905-1973
• United States Naval Academy -- Midshipmen -- Cruises
• United States Naval Academy -- Social life and customs
• United States Naval Academy -- Sports
• United States Naval Academy. Class of 1928

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Scrapbooks