Collection Summary
Thomas Oliver Selfridge
Papers
1809-1927
(bulk 1809-1870)
1809-1927
(bulk 1809-1870)
MSS52712
Selfridge, Thomas Oliver,
1804-1902
750 items
10 containers
3 linear feet
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Naval officer.
Correspondence, journals, logbooks, and notebooks relating to Selfridge’s
naval career. Includes material relating to the side-wheel steamer
Mississippi and the Mare Island Naval Shipyard,
which were commanded by Selfridge, and to the Naval Examining Board over which
he presided.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Ballard, Henry E.--Correspondence.
Belknap, George E. (George Eugene), 1832-1903--Correspondence.
Crossman, A. F., -1872--Correspondence.
Grice, Francis E., 1829- --Correspondence.
Porter, David D. (David Dixon), 1813-1891--Correspondence.
Selfridge, T. O. (Thomas Oliver), 1836-1924--Correspondence.
Selfridge, Thomas Oliver, 1804-1902.
Organizations
Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
Mississippi (Side-wheel steamer)
United States. Naval Examining Board (Line)
United States. Navy--Officers.
Subjects
Navy-yards and naval stations--California.
Occupations
Naval officers.
Provenance
The papers of Thomas Oliver Selfridge, naval officer, were deposited
in the Library of Congress in 1949 by the Naval Historical Foundation and
converted to a gift in 1998.
Processing History
The papers of Thomas Oliver Selfridge were arranged and described in
1969.The finding aid was revised in 2011.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Thomas Oliver
Selfridge is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Thomas Oliver Selfridge are open to research.
Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to
visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to
retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Thomas Oliver Selfridge Papers, Naval
Historical Foundation Collection, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1804, Apr. 24
Born, Boston, Mass.
1818
Appointed midshipman
1820
1824
Duty in USS
Columbus
1825
1829
Duty in USS
North Carolina
1827
Commissioned lieutenant
1830
Duty in USS
Natchez
, West India Squadron
1834
Duty in USS
Delaware
, Mediterranean Squadron
Married Louisa Cary Soley
1837
1839
Duty in USS
North Carolina
Pacific Squadron
1840
Duty in Boston Naval Rendezvous
1842
1845
Duty in the Portsmouth Navy Yard
1845
1847
Duty in USS
Columbus
, East India Squadron
1847
1848
Commanded USS
Dale
, Pacific Squadron
1851
1852
Commanded the Boston Naval Rendezvous
1852
1855
Duty in the Boston Navy Yard
1861
1862
Commanded USS
Mississippi
, Gulf Blockade Squadron
1862
1864
Commanded Mare Island Naval Shipyard
1866
Promoted to rear admiral
1867
1869
Commanded Philadelphia Navy Yard
1869
1871
President, Naval Examining Board
1872
Commanded Mare Island Naval Shipyard
1902, Oct. 15
Died
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Thomas Oliver Selfridge (1804-1902) span the years
1809-1927, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1809-1870.
The collection is composed primarily of journals, logbooks, notebooks,
letterbooks, and correspondence organized into four series:
[Journals,
Logbooks, Notebooks, and Order Books](lognotbook);
[Letterbooks](letbook);
[Correspondence](correspond); and
[
Miscellany](miscella).
The
[correspondence](correspond) is principally official and is lengthy
for the periods when Selfridge commanded the USS Mississippi, presided over the Naval Examining Board,
and commanded the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Major topics in the
correspondence include petitions for back pay, his interest in naval
architectural innovations, and the vessels he inspected while president of the
Naval Examining Board. Correspondents include Henry E. Ballard, George E.
Belknap, A. F. Crossman, Francis E. Grice, David D. Porter, and his son, T. O.
Selfridge (1836-1924). The
[
Miscellany](miscella) contains a review by the senior Selfridge of Herman
Melville’s
White Jacket
(New York, Harper, 1850)
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in four series:
-
[Journals,
Logbooks, Notebooks, and Order Books, 1809-1868 ](lognotbook)
-
[Letterbooks,
1847-1868](letbook)
-
[Correspondence, 1836-1892](correspond)
-
[Miscellany,
1821-1927](miscella)
Container List
Container
Contents
1-6
Journals, Logbooks,
Notebooks, and Order Books,
1809-1868
1809-1868
Accounts, logs, journals, and a variety of titled notebooks. Some
of the notebooks are condensations of published works.
Arranged chronologically.
1
Notebook,
1809-1821
1809-1821
1
Logbook and notebook, USS
Eagle
,
1816-1820
1816-1820
1
Journals
1
USS
Columbus
,
1820-1824
1820-1824
1
Of a voyage from Boston to
Calcutta, India,
1822-1823
1822-1823
2
USS
North Carolina
,
1825-1829
1825-1829
2
Notebook
2
Poems,
1828
1828
2
Notes from Domenico Alberto
Azuni’s
The Maritime Law of Europe
(1806)
2
Logbook, USS
North Carolina
,
1837-1839
1837-1839
2
General station book, USS
North Carolina
1837
1837
3
Gunnery report book,
1840
1840
3
Notebook,
1843
1843
3
Specification books
3
USS
Saratoga
,
1843
1843
3
USS
Saratoga
,
1843
1843
3
Notebooks
3
Sloops of war,
1843
1843
3
Frigates,
1843
1843
3
Naval gunnery,
1843
1843
4
Watch and quarter bill book, USS
Columbus
,
1845-1847
1845-1847
4
Journal, USS
Columbus
,
1846-1847
1846-1847
4
Night order book, USS
Dale
,
1847
1847
4
Journal, USS
Dale
,
1847-1848
1847-1848
4
Logbook, USS
Mississippi
,
1861-1862
1861-1862
5
General order book, USS
Mississippi
,
1861-1862
1861-1862
5
Account book,
1865
1865
5
General order book,
1865-1868
1865-1868
5
Notebooks
5
Field tactics,
undated
undated
5
Inventories of naval ships,
undated
undated
5
Naval gunnery,
undated
undated
5
Naval tactics,
undated
undated
(1
vol.)
6
(2
vols.)
6
Notes from Washington
Irving’s
A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher
Columbus
(1828),
undated
undated
6
Notes from John McArthur’s
A Treatise of the Principles and Practice of Naval
Courts-Martial
(1792)
undated
undated
6
Steam engines,
undated
undated
6
Steamship,
undated
undated
7-8
Letterbooks,
1847-1868
1847-1868
Copies of letters sent and a few copies of letters received by
Selfridge as commander of ships.
Arranged chronologically.
7
1847-1862
1847-1862
8
1862-1864
1862-1864
8
1866-1868
1866-1868
9
Correspondence,
1836-1892
1836-1892
Chiefly official letters received and a few drafts of letters
sent, with few items after 1874. Includes orders to duty.
Arranged chronologically.
9
Chiefly official letters
received
10
Miscellany,
1821-1927
1821-1927
Printed matter, a critique of Herman Melville’s
White Jacket
, commissions, legal documents, proceedings of the naval board, ship
specifications, and notes.
Arranged by topic or type of material.
10
Critique of Herman Melville’s
White Jacket
,
1851
1851
10
Commissions,
1855-1870
1855-1870
10
Legal documents,
1855-1902
1855-1902
10
Rules and policy regulations of
the Mare Island Naval Shipyard,
1863
1863
10
Proceedings of the naval board in
the case of Selfridge,
1864
1864
10
Ship specifications,
1870
1870
10
Notes, charts, and tables,
mostly undated
mostly undated
10
Notes on steamship,
undated
undated
10
Printed matter,
1821-1927, undated
1821-1927, undated