Naval history

Scope and Contents This collection primarily contains correspondence spanning 1814-1894 related to members of the Goodwin Family. One batch of correspondence come from Captain James Ripley Madison to Major Thomas A. Deblois, spanning 1814 to 1820, composed onboard the U.S. Frigates Congress, Guerriere, Prometheus, and the U.S. Schooner Lynx before being lost at sea in 1820. The collection further contains letters from David P. Hancock to his father and brother, some written from Fort Washita, OK in...

Scope and Contents This composite collection contains records such as ship logs, personal journals composed by captains and other crew members, and other miscellaneous documents including an Italian signal book, “protests” or documents that indicate that ship’s crew did not misperform duties when cargo was damaged, and correspondence. The collection spans from the late 18th century to the early 20th century, covering the transition from sail power to steam. Ships’ logs begin in 1797 and span the 19th century...