US Navy Department Library - 210 Years Young
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS100402-24
Release Date: 4/2/2010 12:03:00 PM
From Naval History and Heritage Command Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- United States Navy Department Library, established by President John Adams, celebrated its 210th birthday March 31.
On that day in 1800, Adams asked Benjamin Stoddert, the first-secretary of the Navy, in a single page letter, "to employ some of your clerks in preparing a catalog of books for my office. It ought to consist of all the best writings in Dutch, Spanish, French, and especially the English, upon the theory and practice of naval architecture, navigation, gunnery, hydraulics, hydrostatics, and all branches of mathematics subservient to the profession of the sea."
Adams said the library should include "the lives of all the admirals, English, French, Dutch, or any other nation, who have distinguished themselves by the boldness and success of their navigation or their gallantry and skill in naval combat."
Today, the library, located at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC, still specializes in naval, nautical and military history. It is located at the Naval History and Heritage Command on Dahlgren Avenue in the historic Commodore Dudley W. Knox building complex. Commodore Knox was the driving force behind the Office of Naval Records and Library for more than 20 years in the early 20th Century.
Going back to the very early years of the Navy Department Library you find a colorful history of preservation, and relocation consistent with the history of Washington, DC itself.
Two years into the War of 1812, the British attacked the capital city with the intent of burning American government buildings to the ground. To save the collection, the entire library was loaded on wagons and driven to Georgetown in northwest DC. While Washington was looted and burned, a report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives dated Oct. 29, 1814 reported, "…the books of record, papers, library, maps, charts, plans, stationary, trophies, various valuable instruments, paintings, prints…" and precious documents were loaded on boats and transported, "… up the river Potomac, and passed through the locks and canal to a place of safety." This remarkable report to Congress goes on to say that because of the historic and precious nature of the collection, "There was no difficulty in procuring more boats and men enough to navigate them up the river above the falls."
In the years that followed, the collection moved to various locations, including a specially designed space in the State, War and Navy Building (now the Eisenhower Executive Office Building) next to the White House. In 1882, Congress authorized funds to create the Office of Library and Naval War Records and six years later appropriated funds to print the first volume in the documentary series Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navy in the War of the Rebellion. The 31 volume series was completed in 1927 and marked the beginning of the responsibility to collect, edit and publish historical naval documents, a mission the Naval History and Heritage Command continues to carry out today.
The calling cards collected by John Paul Jones in Russia; hundreds of unpublished World War II administrative and cryptological histories; translations of war diaries from various German Navy submarine headquarters, even material captured on the German submarine U-505 in 1944, which also included the capture of the famous German Enigma machine – all of these are at the Navy Department Library. There is a version of the Enigma on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, also at the Washington Navy Yard. In addition, there are papers, certificates, and letters of commendation, award citations and bibliographies for some of America's most famous naval officers including Chester Nimitz, Arleigh Burke, George Henry Preble, Matthew C. Perry, and many others.
Despite the antiquity of these more recently collected documents, they pale in comparison to what is found in the library's rare books vault. Behind a heavy bank-safe door is a collection of documents, monographs, artifacts and publications dating to the 1400's.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Navy Library is that all of these historic documents and publications are available for public inspection. It is one of the few major military historical libraries in the world that is open to the public.
Personnel stationed or employed on the Washington Navy Yard may borrow materials from the library for up to one month. The library also participates in the interlibrary loan program which transfers items to other libraries.
Rare, special collection, and reference books, as well as bound periodicals are available on site but do not leave the library. Items over 100 years old, or in fragile condition are not available for interlibrary loan and, for their protection, may only be available for copying with a digital camera.
The Library provides limited telephone, in person and written reference assistance. Detailed questions requiring in-depth research must be conducted in person at the library or by employing a commercial research service. Typically, the library staff will suggest possible sources of information, such as a book or archival facility, to assist patrons in conducting their own research.
The Navy Library is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. No reference assistance is available on Wednesdays, unless requested ahead of time.
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