Office of the Superintendent/Correspondence: Reports, Proceedings, and Other Documents, 1907-1912: 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.

Description of Contents

This series contains appendices, correspondence, reports, proceedings and other documents. The files relate to Academy courses of instruction, boards of investigation into alleged misconduct by midshipmen, reports of sanitary conditions, summary courts martial, and practice summer cruises. The documents in this entry were originally enclosed in folders with corresponding file numbers in Entry 33. See Related Archival Materials section of this finding aid for reference.

This series contains reports, proceedings, and other documents from the administrations of superintendents Rear Admiral James H. Sands (1905-1907), Captain Charles J. Badger (1907-1909), Captain John M. Bowyer (1909-1911), and Captain John H. Gibbons (1911-1914).

Arrangement

Arranged numerically by file number. A list of contents is located at the beginning of the entry. The documents in this entry are referenced by general correspondence file numbers found in Entry 33.

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/2990107.

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

The documents in this entry are appendices, proceedings, charts and reports originally enclosed in folders with corresponding file numbers in Entry 33: "General Correspondence, 1907-1913." (NAID:2990103).

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: Reports, Proceedings, and Other Documents, RG 405.2.1 Entry 34

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 July 2020. Finding aid written by Samuel Limneos in July 2020. Part of Historical Sketch and Scope and Content Note prepared by Geraldine N. Phillips and Aloha South in 1975.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Badger, Charles Johnston, 1853-1932
• Bowyer, John Marshall
• Gibbons, John Henry
• Naval education -- United States
• Sands, James Hoban, 1845-1911
• United States Naval Academy
• United States Naval Academy -- History -- 20th century
• United States Naval Academy -- Midshipmen -- Cruises
• United States Naval Academy -- Sanitation
• United States Naval Academy -- Students -- Discipline
• United States Naval Academy. Superintendent

Genre Terms

• Charts (graphic documents)
• Correspondence
• Minutes (administrative records)
• Reports