Naval History Society
Encyclopedia
The Naval History Society was a historical organization that existed in New York City
from 1912 to 1936. The collection of documents, books, manuscripts, and memorabilia related to naval and military history was housed in Aeolian Hall on West 42nd Street 1912 to 1925 when it was relocated to the New-York Historical Society
and ceased independent operations in 1936 becoming that societies "Naval History Society Collection".
Its collections include many named for renowned naval officers or vessels, including Commodore William Bainbridge
, Admiral John Barry
, USS Boston
, James Fenimore Cooper
, USS Dictator, John Ericsson
(designer of USS Monitor
), Gustavus Vasa Fox (assistant Secretary of the Navy under Abraham Lincoln
), USS General Grant, Isaac Hull
, John Paul Jones
, Oliver Hazard Perry
, documentation of the Point Lookout
confederate prisoner of war camp, as well as logbooks of US Navy, British Navy, and commercial vessels.
The Collection reflects most strongly the personal interest of founding president John Sanford Barnes, son of General James Barnes and a collector of books, manuscripts, and memorabilia connected to naval history and personalities. His son, Col. James Barnes, donated Barnes's collections to the Naval History Society in 1915, where they were subsequently added to by donation and purchase
The majority of the collections document American naval engagements and commercial maritime pursuits, personalities, and vessels; a few collections of British and French documents are included. The collection provides primary sources on American naval involvement in hostilities from the American Revolution
(1775–1783) to the Spanish American War (1898), as well as routine commercial and naval shipboard life, naval design, navigation, education and officer training. The Society's records document the founding, management, and activities of a collecting and publishing organization in the first third of the 20th century.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1912 to 1936. The collection of documents, books, manuscripts, and memorabilia related to naval and military history was housed in Aeolian Hall on West 42nd Street 1912 to 1925 when it was relocated to the New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
The New-York Historical Society is an American history museum and library located in New York City at the corner of 77th Street and Central Park West in Manhattan. Founded in 1804 as New York's first museum, the New-York Historical Society presents exhibitions, public programs and research that...
and ceased independent operations in 1936 becoming that societies "Naval History Society Collection".
The collection
Naval History Society Collection is now cataloged with those of the Historical Society, and its 53 individual manuscript collections, referred to as the Naval History Society Collection, including the Society's records, are in the Historical Society's manuscript collection.Its collections include many named for renowned naval officers or vessels, including Commodore William Bainbridge
William Bainbridge
William Bainbridge was a Commodore in the United States Navy, notable for his victory over HMS Java during the War of 1812.-Early life:...
, Admiral John Barry
John Barry (naval officer)
John Barry was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and later in the United States Navy. He is often credited as "The Father of the American Navy"...
, USS Boston
USS Boston
Seven ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Boston, in honor of the city of Boston, Massachusetts.* The , was a gundalow launched in 1776 and was burned to avoid capture by the British on 13 October 1776....
, James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
, USS Dictator, John Ericsson
John Ericsson
John Ericsson was a Swedish-American inventor and mechanical engineer, as was his brother Nils Ericson. He was born at Långbanshyttan in Värmland, Sweden, but primarily came to be active in England and the United States...
(designer of USS Monitor
USS Monitor
USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship commissioned by the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She is most famous for her participation in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862, the first-ever battle fought between two ironclads...
), Gustavus Vasa Fox (assistant Secretary of the Navy under Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
), USS General Grant, Isaac Hull
Isaac Hull
-External links:* *...
, John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
, Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island , the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, a direct descendant of William Wallace...
, documentation of the Point Lookout
Point Lookout
-Places:*Point Lookout, Maryland*Point Lookout, Missouri*Point Lookout, New York*Point Lookout, Queensland*Point Lookout State Park in Maryland*Point Lookout Cemetery in the Louisiana State Penitentiary -Other:*Point Lookout Sandstone...
confederate prisoner of war camp, as well as logbooks of US Navy, British Navy, and commercial vessels.
The Collection reflects most strongly the personal interest of founding president John Sanford Barnes, son of General James Barnes and a collector of books, manuscripts, and memorabilia connected to naval history and personalities. His son, Col. James Barnes, donated Barnes's collections to the Naval History Society in 1915, where they were subsequently added to by donation and purchase
The majority of the collections document American naval engagements and commercial maritime pursuits, personalities, and vessels; a few collections of British and French documents are included. The collection provides primary sources on American naval involvement in hostilities from the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
(1775–1783) to the Spanish American War (1898), as well as routine commercial and naval shipboard life, naval design, navigation, education and officer training. The Society's records document the founding, management, and activities of a collecting and publishing organization in the first third of the 20th century.