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Memoirs of Holmes E. Offley on his time in the United States Navy and Navy Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-14
President Roosevelt is teaching in a schoolroom of chaos as President-elect William H. Taft opens the “Congress” door. The “House Resentment Committee” throws items at the president who holds his big stick. There are two notes on the blackboard: “Our teacher is no good. B. T.” and “Do we love our Teacher?” Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman fold paper airplanes while Maine Senator Eugene Hale tries to take a “naval appropriations” stick. Caption: Getting square with the old teacher.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-14
President Roosevelt crosses his arms and stands on an “expenditures 1903-4” mountain of money bags: “War Dept $115,000,000,” “Civil, and miscellaneous $132,000,000,” “pensions $142,000,000,” and “Navy Dept $102,000,000.” Two signs are in the background. The one on the left reads, “We intend in the future to carry on the government in the same way that we have carried it on in the past.” Theodore Roosevelt. The one on the right reads, “The governmental expenditures last year mounted up to five hundred and eighty-two millions, which is not equalled by any year since the Civil War, with the exception of the year of the Spanish War.” Alton B. Parker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-12
This memorandum thanks Paymaster General Harris for being willing to continue his duties until a replacement is able to take over. Following Harris’s suggestions of suitable candidates to succeed him, it was determined that Rear Admiral Eustace Barron Rogers would be the best candidate, and inquiries were made regarding his willingness to accept the position. Rogers has notified Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton of his acceptance, to take effect later in the year. Roosevelt personally thanks Harris for the excellence of his administration, and suggests that he have his resignation take effect on November 1, 1905.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-21
Draft of a letter President Roosevelt will send, appointing members to a commission to study the organization and efficiency of the Department of the Navy. Roosevelt’s goals for the commission include examining laws governing the Navy, divisions of responsibility, the possibility of consolidating bureaus within the department, providing military advisors to the Secretary of the Navy, ensuring accountability for appropriations, and how to ensure the Navy is militarily ready to prepare for and conduct war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-13
The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs interviews a number of naval officers on some alleged defects in the construction of several battleships now being built. Chief among these concerns are the questions of the placement of the armor belt, the positions of the guns, and the design of the hoists to provide the turrets with ammunition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21
Commander Sims submits his comments in response to a critical report by Admiral George Albert Converse.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-14
This report records a series of documents, primarily from Admiral W. L. Capps, Constructor of the Navy, answering recent criticisms about some naval vessels in the United States Navy. These criticisms centered on the height of the freeboard of the ships, their water-line armor distribution, and the ammunition hoists used, among other topics. The report contains a statement by Capps, a report of a relevant discussion by the British Royal Navy, a number of diagrams detailing armor distribution, and a record of hearings conducted by the House Committee on Naval Affairs. Capps refutes the criticism by correcting several misunderstandings about terminology, explaining the rationale behind some shipbuilding decisions, and mentioning that several issues have already been corrected in newer ships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-19
This form outlines a contract for furnishing coal to the Atlantic fleet. The contract includes specific ports in the Caribbean and South America as well as California, and will be effective from December 1907 to February 1908.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-17
Proposal form to be filled out by applicants who wish to supply Welsh coal for the Atlantic Fleet, specifying the process, areas of supply, prices, and logistics of oversight by the Navy Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-09
Theodore Roosevelt recounts for George von Lengerke Meyer the “really great sport” he and son Kermit Roosevelt are encountering on their African safari, including the numbers and types of animals they’ve killed. Roosevelt hopes Meyer will give his regards to his wife Marian Alice Appleton Meyer and President Taft, whom he thinks “has done admirably.”
Massachusetts Historical Society
1909-05-17
Theodore Roosevelt always knew George von Lengerke Meyer would do well as head of the Navy and congratulates him on his speech. Roosevelt describes the luck he has had hunting on African safari and the numbers and types of animals shot, 33 in total for Roosevelt, and 27 for his son Kermit Roosevelt. The elder Roosevelt apologizes for the short pencil-written letter and sends well wishes to Meyer’s wife, Marian Alice Appleton Meyer.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1909-09-10
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt advises Secretary Long that monitor ships ought to be put into commission to maintain parity with the Spanish Navy. Recent events, including the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana, Cuba, have highlighted the need for a strong naval force. While Congress may balk at increasing the size of the Navy, Roosevelt cautions that “it may be held against us for all time to come, not merely by the men of today, but by those who read the history in the future” if the Department does not recommend it.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1898-02-16
Secretary of the Navy Moody sends copies of three reports concerning operations on the isthmus of Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-07
Acting Secretary of the Navy Darling encloses six documents concerning military operations in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-01
President Roosevelt wishes for Ambassador Meyer to be Ambassador to St. Petersburg, as he believes for many reasons that there is no better man for the job.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1904-12-26
This film shows a parade on a broad street in an undetermined location. Features a single line of mounted policemen, a military marching band, sailors or marines carrying rifles, and soldiers marching in formation. A dignitary riding in a closed carriage follows lines of marching policemen. The soldiers and sailors may be returning from the Spanish-American War.
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1898
The navy is struggling with a lack of funding and the intelligence department cannot retain paid agents. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt asks if John Campbell Greenway would be interested in serving as a volunteer agent to help with intelligence gathering.
1921-07-26
John Campbell Greenway agrees to send information that may interest the Office of Naval Intelligence. He suggests that John Foster and W. A. Davidson would also be suitable agents. Greenway posits that the primary interest for the Navy might be intelligence related to operations in the Gulf of California.
1921-09-01
John Campbell Greenway encloses information outlining the type of information that John Foster can provide to the Navy in his “intelligence capacity.” Information of “unusual importance” should be provided to Greenway.
1921-10-28