Office of the Superintendent/Correspondence: Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent to the Bureau of Steam Engineering, 1888-1900: Finding Aid

History of the Office of the Superintendent

The plan of the Naval School at Fort Severn, Annapolis, Maryland, approved by the Navy Department August 28, 1846, provided that a Superintendent of the school be appointed by the Secretary of the Navy from a list of officers of a rank not higher than commander. The Superintendent was to have responsibility for the general management of the institution, including overseeing the course of study, professors, and other personnel connected with the Academy. He could appoint and remove all persons employed at the Academy except those for whose appointment or discharge special provision was made by the laws or regulations of the Navy or the Academy. He had general charge of the buildings, grounds, and ships belonging to the Academy. The Superintendent also formulated the code of rules and regulations for the internal government of the school to be submitted to the Secretary of the Navy for approval. After 1867, officers were assigned by the Navy Department to the Academy to serve as assistants or aides to the Superintendent. The Office of the Superintendent as described in the 1846 plan remained relatively unchanged throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Officers of ranks higher than commander, however, have served in the position.

This entry contains letters sent by Superintendent Commander William T. Sampson (1886-1890). Sampson's Administration was marked by a revival in Naval Academy athletics, severe persecution of hazing offenses, the introduction of the "aptitude for the service" grade designed to measure a cadet's potential as a Naval Officer, and the establishment of modern studies in electricity and metallurgy. Regarding the latter, Sampson strongly emphasized the general technical aspects of the Academy's curriculum, particularly work in machine shops, and established the tradition of inviting distinguished scientists to lecture. Near the end of his tour, Sampson influenced Congress to reestablish a plan for the specialized instruction course for engineers. The effort resulted in a system, effective in 1889, wherein first classmen divided into line and engineer sections, with distinct curricula prescribed to each.

Description of Contents

This series contains copies of two letters sent, dated September 26 and December 20, 1888. It also contains a letter sent October 26, 1900, relating to the purchase of building materials, and part of an undated memorandum relating to cadet instruction on general service ships and proposed changes in the course of instruction for cadets.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically and numbered. There is a subject index in the volume.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

Generally, materials produced by Federal agencies are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Any non-government publications held herein may still be subject to copyright. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

Other Finding Aid(s)

National Archives Catalog entry available electronically at: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/2990010.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Custodial History

RG 405 Records of the United States Naval Academy is the property of the National Archives and Records Administration. The materials are housed at the United States Naval Academy, William W. Jeffries Memorial Archives, an affiliated archive, as per a Memorandum of Agreement between the National Archives and Records Administration and the United States Naval Academy.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

For letters and press copies of letters sent by the Superintendent to the Secretary of the Navy, Navy Department Bureaus, Congress, Academy officers instructors and midshipmen, and public and private individuals see entries 1 through 23. For letters sent to this Bureau before and after this period, see Entry 3: "Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent, 1865-1911" (NAID: 2980540), Entry 12: "Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent to Bureaus of the Navy Department, 1865-1908" (NAID: 2989989), and Entry 14: "Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent to the Bureaus of Construction and Repair, Medicine and Surgery, Ordnance, Provisions and Clothing, Steam Engineering, and Yards and Docks, 1884-1888" (NAID: 2989996). For other letters sent by the Superintendent specifically to certain Navy Department Bureaus see entries 15 through 17 and 19.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Office of the Superintendent/Correspondence: Press Copies of Letters Sent by the Superintendent to the Bureau of Steam Engineering, RG 405.2.1 Entry 19

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

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

Sweetman, Jack. The U.S. Naval Academy: An Illustrated History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute Press, 1979.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Samuel Limneos in April 2019. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in April 2019. Historical Sketch and Scope and Content Note adapted in part from Inventory of Records Group 405 by Geraldine N. Phillips and Aloha South, 1975.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Naval education -- United States
• Sampson, William Thomas, 1840-1902
• United States Naval Academy
• United States Naval Academy - Students
• United States Naval Academy -- Curricula -- History
• United States Naval Academy -- History -- 19th century
• United States Naval Academy. Superintendent

Genre Terms

• Correspondence