Guide to the Edward Hoopes and Willis McDowell Notebooks, 1893-1899

Edward Trimble Hoopes

Edward Trimble Hoopes, of Eden Township, Pennsylvania, was an officer in the U.S. Navy. Hoopes was admitted to the United States Naval Academy from Pennsylvania on September 6, 1893, but resigned from the Academy on February 26, 1897. After leaving the Academy, Hoopes served during the Spanish American War aboard the collier U.S.S. Scindia and the yacht U.S.S. Eagle.

In 1901, Hoopes was commissioned an Ensign in the Supply Corps as a paymaster. Throughout his career, Hoopes served at the Navy Yards in Charleston, Norfolk, Boston, and Puget Sound, as well as paymaster for the Sixth Naval District and supply officer on the staff of the Commander, Pacific Fleet. After attending the Naval War College and serving on the staff of the President of the War College, Hoopes rose to the position of Fleet Paymaster. Hoopes retired from the Navy in January 1940, but was returned to active duty later that year, serving until 1942.

Edward T. Hoopes died on September 2, 1969 in Monterey, California.

Willis McDowell

Willis McDowell was an officer in the U.S. Navy and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1897. McDowell was born on February 6, 1875 to Alexander and Clara McDowell. McDowell was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy on May 19, 1893, and graduated thirty-first in his class at the completion of his two years of mandatory sea service, during which he saw action in the Spanish-American War.

Prior to the end of the First World War, McDowell was assigned to the Bureau of Navigation. In 1920, having attained the rank of Captain one year prior, McDowell received command of the Destroyer Squadron of the Asiatic Fleet. Two years later, he was assigned to the Naval War College for instruction, and subsequently joined the College's staff. In 1926, McDowell assumed command of U.S.S. Oklahoma (Battleship: BB-37).

On September 1, 1930, McDowell was transferred to the retired list. Following retirement, he moved to South River, Maryland. Willis McDowell died on May 6, 1944 at the Naval Hospital in Annapolis, Maryland.

"Capt. McDowell Died Saturday," The Evening Capital. Annapolis, MD: Capital Pub., May 8, 1944

United States Naval Academy. Annual Register of the United States Naval Academy. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1866-

United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel. Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1814-

The Edward Hoopes and Willis McDowell Notebooks, comprising 7.5 linear inches of documentation, span the period from 1893 to 1899, and are the product of Hoopes' and McDowell's time as students at the United States Naval Academy.

The Edward Hoopes and Willis McDowell Notebooks are arranged alphabetically by creator into a single record series with no subdivisions. McDowell's notebooks are further arranged chronologically by year. The notebooks are composed primarily of lecture notes and practical work pertaining to Naval Academy courses in Geometry, Trigonometry, English, French, International Law, Physics, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene, as well as the Class of 1897's Practice Cruise aboard U.S.S. Bancroft (Gunboat) in 1895. In addition to class notes, many of the notebooks also include recitation assignment sheets. Two of the notebooks, both of which are unattributed, consist entirely of examination questions from the Class of 1897's Fourth (freshman/plebe) and Third (sophomore) years.

Research interests served by the Edward Hoopes and Willis McDowell Notebooks include studies of the Naval Academy's curriculum and practice cruises of the late 19th Century.