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7 January 2025
Welcome back to our National Maritime Historical Society members and friends who share a love for naval history!
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Happy New Year and Happy second anniversary to Tuesday Tidings! This first edition of 2025 will focus on the passing of President Jimmy Carter—the fourth president to have naval service in his resume and the first and only graduate of the US Naval Academy to serve as Commander in Chief. Rear Adm. Sam Cox’s stirring tribute to the 39th president can be found HERE.
Today the body of the former president has returned to the nation’s capital to lay in state under the Capitol dome. As part of the funeral proceedings, the US Navy Memorial was selected to play a pivotal role in recognition of the former president’s naval service. During today’s ceremonies, the memorial served as the site of transfer of President Carter’s casket from a hearse to a horse-pulled caisson. With President Carter’s role in authorizing the construction of the memorial back in the 1970s, the site has and will continue to serve as part of the Carter legacy.
As we join with the nation in mourning the loss of President Carter, we also have some good news to report from the US Naval Institute with the announcement of Virginia Steele Wood as this year’s recipient of the Commodore Dudley Knox Medal for lifetime achievement in the field of naval history. Details about Ms. Wood’s accomplishments are detailed in the forthcoming edition of Naval History. For an advance peek at the write-up click HERE.
In this edition we promote the forthcoming naval history conferences in San Diego and Bermuda and remind folks that paper proposals for the NASOH Annual Conference scheduled for May and the McMullen Naval History Symposium in September are due in mid-February.
For this week’s book review we thank Dr. John Satterfield for his review of Capt. John Jackson’s edited collection of articles covering the early years of the Naval War College! Over the holidays, we received At Home and At Sea: An American Navy Couple During World War II, by Royce A. Singleton Jr. who details the service of his father, a Navy fighter pilot, and his mother back at home. It looks well done! Check our book list for this and other titles.
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Tuesday Tidings is compiled by Dr. David F. Winkler and Jessie Henderson as a benefit for members of the National Maritime Historical Society and friends of naval history.
As always, comments and naval history news items are welcome at nmhs@seahistory.org.
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ITEMS OF IMMEDIATE INTEREST | |
Wednesday–Saturday, 8–11 January 2024 – Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology 2025 New Orleans, Louisiana
Landscapes in Transition: Looking to the Past to Adapt to the Future
Wednesday, 8 January 2024 – Naval Order Heritage Night
Adm. John Dahlgren and his Plymouth Rifle
With Marc Gorelick
8–9 pm (EST) (ZOOM)
The Sullivans: Family Insights and the Ships that Bear the Name
with Shane Stephenson, Director of Museum Collections at the Buffalo Naval Park
Lecture at 7 PM EST, Q&A to Follow
Wednesday, 15 January 2024 – Historian Talk: Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Neighborhood Library, Washington, DC
America’s First Aircraft Carrier: With Dr. David Winkler, Commander, USN (Ret)
11 AM—noon. (EST) (In Person)
Friday, 24 January 2024 – Mariners’ Museum History Program
James River Squadron: Construction and Destruction
With John V. Quarstein
Noon–1 PM (In person-virtual)
Saturday-Sunday, 1–2 February 2024 – Western Naval History Association Symposium
See flyer here.
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Naval Dockyards Society Special Conference
The Naval Dockyards Society Special Conference in partnership with the National Museum of Bermuda.
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Venue: Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Conference date: Saturday 31st May 2025
Tour Dates: May 30th - June 4th
Introduction
The Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, was a symbol of British military power for more than 150 years. Today, it’s one of Bermuda’s most popular spots for visitors, home to the island’s biggest cruise ship pier and many restaurants, shops, and attractions. In May 2025, the Naval Dockyards Society and the National Museum of Bermuda will hold a Conference in Bermuda commemorating the 75th anniversary of the closure of the Royal Naval Dockyard.
Conference themes will encompass:
Bermuda Naval Dockyard—Early Bermuda history & North Atlantic conflict
The North Atlantic—Second World War & Second World War Personal stories
Dockyard Closure & Bermuda Dockyard today—Bermuda's economic loss and recovery
Conference May 31st, 2025. 9.00am - 4-00pm
*Conference fee includes teas & coffees and a sandwich buffet lunch.
Welcome
Dr. Elena Strong, Executive Director, National Museum of Bermuda and Co-President, Museums Association of the Caribbean & Dr, Ann Coats Chair Naval Dockyards Society
Morning: Bermuda Naval Dockyard—Early Bermuda history & North Atlantic conflict
Dr Neil Kennedy Memorial University, St John’s, NL “Hucksters and Marketers: Black Bermudian Women’s Economic Strategies at Ireland Island.”
Lisa McNiven Naval Museum of Halifax “Atlantic Line: Halifax to Bermuda- connecting Halifax and Bermuda through burial records.”
Dr Ross Nedervelt Florida International University ‘Challenging Identities: Bermudians, American Mariners, and the Royal Navy in the Atlantic Border-sea, 1783–1815.”
Buffet Lunch
Afternoon: The North Atlantic—Second World War & Second World War Personal stories
Samantha Middleton MA, “The strategic importance of Bermuda in the Battle of the Atlantic.”
Ian Grant MA, “Wartime Letters between Bermuda and London, October 1940–43.”
Tea break
Afternoon: Dockyard Closure & Bermuda Dockyard today—Bermuda’s economic loss and recovery
Prof. Yasmin Khan, University of Oxford ‘Ports, labourers, merchant mariners and the decolonisation of the British Empire.’
Dr Guy Collender University of Portsmouth “Redefining Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard since 1951: From the Gibraltar of the West to an extension of the Caribbean.”
It is anticipated that there will be a welcome reception late afternoon on 30 May.
Tours
It is anticipated that the conference will be complemented with walking tours of the Dockyard, St George’s and Hamilton, and boat tours of the islands of the Great Sound and to Paget Island and Fort Cunningham, for an extra charge.
Tours will be available to conference attendees between Friday 30th May and Tuesday 4th June 2024. Tour details will be announced in subsequent notifications.
We look forward to meeting you at the Conference. Registration and Tour booking details will be announced early in the New Year. In the meantime, please add 31 May to your calendar.
Memberships
The conference and tours are open to all but if you wish to continue an association with either the NDS or NMB here are the details.
NDS Membership - How to join:
Membership is open to individuals, students and institutions. Standard membership includes the delivery of two electronic Dockyards newsletters a year and a hardcopy and e-pub Transactions journal. Details can be found here.
NMB Membership
Membership is open to individuals and corporations. Benefits include free unlimited Museum admission, Bi-annual MARItimes magazine and savings at Participating Dockyard Restaurants and Dolphin Quest. Details can be found here.
Roger Bendall
NDS
Image credits: National Museum of Bermuda
Guy Collender
Samantha Middleton
Ian Grant
Lisa McNiven. The Burial Ground at HMCS Stadacona
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Naval History and Heritage Command Announces the 2025 New Year’s Deck Log Poem Contest
For over two centuries the US Navy has operated across the globe, each ship documenting its every move. The meticulous timekeeping and tracking of a ship’s events and movements provide the Navy with detailed records for historical safekeeping. Entries made 24 hours a day, seven days a week without fail can get rather repetitive, so in keeping with the holiday spirit the Navy has a time-honored tradition. the New Year’s deck log poem, to add some humanity into this fiercely regulated documentation process.
Deck logs are official records that register required reports, significant events, and activities aboard a ship, and are maintained for administrative and historical purposes.
Every year, the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) spotlights the most creative deck log poems in an annual contest. Sailors from across the fleet are encouraged to submit their most creative deck log poems, turning the usually formal records of ship activities into vibrant and imaginative expressions of naval life.
Dating back to 1929, every January 1st, the officer of the deck or another designated individual on a US Navy vessel may write the customary deck log entry in poetic style to mark the transition to the New Year. The tradition of the New Year’s deck log poem allows sailors to inject a little bit of humor, creativity, and personal expression into their duty of maintaining the deck log. It provides a way for the crew to bond with their fellow shipmates and celebrate the holiday spirit even when they are far from home and loved ones.
“The Navy has many traditions spanning its 250-year-existence, and over the past 100 years, the New Year's deck log poem has become one of them,” said Alex Ponti, the Deck Log coordinator at NHHC. “It’s important that, within this ever-changing, fast-paced world, the contest allows sailors a chance to be creative and express themselves in an official government document that normally sticks to very formulaic language. It’s a break from the monotony of everyday ship life. Deck logs are a permanent record, so the poems written within them will last as long as the log does. It provides the author the chance to make their mark within the 250-year history of the Navy.”
While the officer of the deck is often the most common author of these poems, it’s not uncommon for other crew members, especially those with a talent for poetry or a knack for creative writing, to contribute or collaborate on the New Year’s deck log poem. This tradition fosters a sense of camaraderie and allows sailors to collectively celebrate the holiday in a unique and meaningful way.
As 2024 ends, it is in the tradition of the New Year’s deck log poem to find a moment of reflection and unity. There is a lot to look forward to as the Navy enters a year in which it is celebrating its 250th birthday. The New Year’s deck log poem has allowed for the deck log to transcend its role as a simple record, becoming a cherished and enduring expression of the Navy’s heritage and tradition.
“In the lines of the Navy’s New Year’s deck log poems, we find a unique tapestry of resilience, camaraderie, and tradition, woven together by the men and women who serve with unwavering dedication,” said Sam Cox, director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, Rear Adm. (retired). “As we boldly go and plot our course for the New Year, we are hopeful that this cherished naval tradition continues to be a source of unity and inspiration, reminding us that even in the most challenging of times, the spirit of the US Navy perseveres.”
To be eligible for the competition:
- Entries must be from a commissioned US Navy vessel, deployed or in port.
- Entries must be submissions to the ship’s official deck log.
- Entries must be written as the first entry on 1 January 2025.
- Entries must be unclassified.
- All paygrades active and reserve are eligible.
First to third place winners will be announced in April, National Poetry Month. The first-place author will receive a piece of historic copper sheathing from USS Constitution.
Submissions will only be accepted by email at nhhc-decklogs@us.navy.mil. Scanned PDFs of the deck log entry are the preferred form of digital submission.
For more information about the deck log completion, visit the NHHC Archives page at
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/archives/resources-for-the-fleet/deck-logs.html.
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOK REVIEWS | |
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In The Beginning: The Founding of the Naval War College Edited by Capt. John Edward Jackson, USN (Ret.), Stone Tower Press, Middletown, RI (2024)
Reviewed by Dr. John Satterfield
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Since its founding in 1884, the US Naval War College, the Navy’s “Home of Thought,” has graduated more than fifty thousand US and allied naval, military, and civilian students. That is quite a number, given that the initial class of 1885 comprised just eight officers in a former poorhouse. Today, three hundred serving admirals, generals and senior federal executives hold NWC diplomas and degrees.
The NWC has been integral to the advancement of the US Navy’s growth, professionalism, and strategic leadership throughout the 20th century, particularly during and after World War II, when the USN became the globally dominant maritime force it remains today.
Despite its renown, however, the NWC’s early years were anything but auspicious. Capt. John E. Jackson, USN (Ret.), one of the NWC’s longest-serving faculty members and editor of In The Beginning, has provided a brief but interesting volume containing documents and articles covering the NWC’s founding and parlous first years. He draws from Sailors and Scholars, the college’s centennial history, articles in Proceedings of the Naval Institute, the Naval War College Review, and contemporary newspapers and magazines, with a brief description of the college’s more recent developments.
Navy Secretary William Chandler’s Order No. 325, written by Commodore Stephen B. Luce, created the NWC on 6 October 1884, locating it in the former Newport, RI, poorhouse on Coaster’s Harbor Island in Narragansett Bay. The repurposed poorhouse served as the NWC’s headquarters, class building and home for staff members. Some faculty taught without compensation, given the institution’s miniscule budget.
Luce, a leading naval intellect of his time, joined the Navy at age 14 in 1841 and was among the first graduates of the Naval School (now Naval Academy) in 1848. He served from the Mexican War until 1910 and died at 90 in 1917, two days after the first American troops arrived in France during World War I. While advancing through sea and shore commands, Luce devoted much time to education and training. The author of one of the first seamanship textbooks while on the Naval Academy faculty, Luce established the Navy’s apprentice training program after the Civil War, commanded the Navy’s Training Squadron in Newport, and became the first NWC president.
Read full review>>
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW | |
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Proceedings Podcast
EP. 424: In Contrast: Admiral Zumwalt vs. Admiral Holloway at the Helm of the Navy
10 December 2024
Host Eric Mills talks with Edward Marolda about his latest article for Naval History magazine
Listen here>>
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2025 Call for Papers
Continental Connections: Inland Waters and the Shaping of Maritime North America. The North American Society for Oceanic History invites you to join us at the Grand Hotel in Natchez, Mississippi, for our 2025 conference from 15–17 May.
For thousands of years, a vast complex of inland waters shaped the lives and cultures of indigenous North Americans. These same waters allowed European states to establish and maintain outposts of empire thousands of miles from the Atlantic Ocean. During the early decades of the nineteenth century, inland waters made it possible for millions of Euro-Americans to move west and establish the cities and farms that became the foundations of North America’s modern agricultural and industrial economies.
This year NASOH is recognizing the complicated historical legacy of North America’s inland waters by meeting at Natchez, Mississippi. Located on the Mississippi River at the western terminus of the Natchez Trace, an overland trail connecting the Mississippi, Cumberland, and Tennessee rivers, Natchez was a natural point of exchange and location of important Indigenous ceremonial mounts. The French, recognizing the area’s importance-built Fort Rosalie in 1716. The present city is named after the Natchez Indians, and its subsequent culture and history are the products of Indigenous, French, English, Spanish, African, and American influences. A natural stopping place and base for keelboats and flatboats, and later steamboats, Natchez became the first capital of the Mississippi Territory and the second-largest slave trading market in the United States. Celebrated for its surviving antebellum architecture and southern heritage, Natchez is also a testament to the enduring and pervasive influences of maritime connections and inland waters in North America.
Session and individual paper proposals are encouraged. Sessions should have no more than 4 papers.
Proposals should include: A) title; B) 150-200 word abstract; C) a 150 word (maximum) biographical statement; D) contact information, including phone number, address, affiliation, and email. This information should be submitted as a single Word document (not pdf), single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font.
Please note that conference registration is required for papers.
PowerPoint presentations are encouraged, and projectors will be provided. Please note that requests for specific audio-visual equipment, special outlets, or accommodation for disabilities should be included in the proposal.
The deadline for proposal submission is 15 February 2025. Please submit proposal packets electronically to NASOHconference25@gmail.com.
For general questions, please contact Dr. Amy Mitchell-Cook, amitchellcook@uwf.edu.
Additional information regarding accommodations and registration will be available on NASOH’s website, https://nasoh.org/.
Student Travel Grants
Students may apply for a Chad Smith Travel Grant to assist in travel to present a paper at the conference. Additionally, each year NASOH bestows the Clark G. Reynolds Student Paper Award to the author of the best graduate student paper delivered at the conference. Please see the awards section of the NASOH website for details. Students wishing to be considered for either award must indicate so as part of their paper proposal. For more information about these grants, please go to: https://nasoh.org/student-awards.
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McMullen Naval History Symposium: 18–19 September, 2025
The year 2025 marks many significant milestones for the United States and its navy. Of special note is the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the founding of the Continental Navy. Many other significant naval events celebrate lesser milestones this year as well, including the end of the First Barbary War and the War of 1812, the end of World War II, and the founding of the US Naval Academy. The History Department of the United States Naval Academy invites proposals for papers to be presented at the 2025 McMullen Naval History Symposium on these and any other topics related to the naval and maritime history of the United States or the world. While we encourage in-person attendance and participation, the 2025 McMullen will be equipped for very limited virtual participation for participants from outside the United States. Proposals should include a one-page curriculum vitae and an abstract of no more than 250 words that summarizes the research and its contribution to historical knowledge. Panel proposals that include three presenters and a chair are highly encouraged, and should include all relevant material on the presenters, as well as a one-page CV for the chair. The chair will function as a moderator for the panel; there will be no separate comment, apart from audience Q&A. When submitting proposals, either individual or panel, please put all materials into a single file.
Email proposals to navalhistorysymposium@gmail.com by midnight, 14 February 2025.
The program committee anticipates announcing a draft program by the end of April 2025. Online registration for the conference will begin in the spring of 2025. A small number of modest travel stipends are available to graduate students and recent PhDs who do not hold a tenure-track position or full-time employment. Support for these grants comes from the generosity of the McMullen Sea Power Fund established in honor of Dr. John McMullen, USNA Class of 1940. Please indicate your desire to apply for a travel stipend with your proposal. The committee will publish a volume of proceedings in the New Interpretations of Naval History Series, containing the best papers presented, at a future date. Further information on the 2025 McMullen Naval History Symposium, including hotel registration, will be available online at www.usna.edu/History/Symposium in early 2025. Specific inquiries may be directed to the director, Captain Stan Fisher, or deputy director, Dr. Abby Mullen, at the email address listed above.
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Maritime Communities Celebrating Milestones
SAVE THE DATES!
24–27 September 2025 • Buffalo, NY
We are delighted to be holding the 12th Maritime Heritage Conference in Buffalo in September 2025.
The conference brings together organizations and participants that engage in all aspects of maritime heritage. This includes maritime museums, historic lighthouses, tall ships for sail training and youth, small craft, marine art, sailing, naval and maritime scholars, advocacy, and more. It is also a gathering of the leadership of the maritime heritage community. Buffalo will host the first Maritime Heritage Conference to be held in the Great Lakes region.
The 12th Maritime Heritage Conference (MHC) will bring together nautical heritage organizations and individuals for an information-packed conference encompassing a broad array of topics on the banks of Lake Erie at historic Buffalo, New York. Following in the wake of the World Canal Conference, which concludes with a bicentennial celebration of the opening of the Erie Canal, the 12th MHC will use that historic milestone to open a three-day program that invites attendees to consider other historic nautical milestones worthy of broader public attention.
The MHC has earned a reputation for its high take-away value, networking opportunities, and camaraderie. The conference steering committee invites you to become involved as a presenter; both session and individual proposals are encouraged. Don’t miss this opportunity to gather with individuals from all segments of the maritime community.
Call for Papers & Session Proposals
Papers and session topics include, but are not limited to:
• Inland Water Commerce and Seaport Operations (Erie Canal bicentennial!)
• Maritime and Naval History (2025 marks USN/USMC 250th Birthday)
• Maritime Art, Literature, and Music
• Education and Preservation
• Underwater Archaeology
• Trade and Communications
• Maritime Libraries, Archives, and Museums
• Marine Science and Ocean Conservation
• Historic Vessel Restoration
• Maritime Heritage Grant Program
• Maritime Landscapes
• National Marine Sanctuaries
• Small Craft
• Shipbuilding
• Marine Protected Areas
Focus sessions include, but are not limited to:
• Non-Profit administration
• Event Management
• Fundraising
• Media and Publications
• Media and Social Media
Submissions
Individual paper and session proposals should include a 250–400 word abstract and a one-paragraph biography about each presenter.
Please e-mail proposals and other queries to Dr. David Winkler at: MHC@seahistory.org
Deadline for proposals for papers and sessions is 31 May 2025.
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Society for Nautical Research Winter Lecture Series 2024–25
The Society for Nautical Research is delighted to announce the schedule for the forthcoming winter lecture series. These online talks will highlight new and ongoing research being undertaken by members of the society and its affiliations. The series aims to promote research into economic, social, political, military and environmental aspects of nautical history, drawing on British, European and international experience.
The 12-part lecture series will be held fortnightly on Wednesday evenings at 6:30PM (UK) between October 2024 to March 2025. Lectures will only be available online (via Zoom) and will be FREE to paying members of the SNR.
Not yet a member?
Sign up now from as little as £22.50 a year. Get access to exclusive events and talks, quarterly editions of the Mariner’s Mirror, and discounts at affiliated museums and gift shops! https://snr.org.uk/become-a-member/
Dates for your calendar:
15th January 2025: Prof. Rodrigo Pérez Fernández (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), “The past, present and future of shipbuilding”
29th January 2025: Dr. Alan James (King’s College London), (full title TBC)
12th February 2025: Dr. Matthew Heaslip (University of Portsmouth), (full title TBC)
26th February 2025: Dr. Michael Roberts (University of Bangor), Archaeological exploration of historical shipwrecks in the Irish Sea (full title TBC)
12th March 2025: Dr. Jo Stanley (independent scholar), “Diversity at Sea: How sharing historical research can make a difference to the present and future of the maritime industry and public understanding”
19th March 2025: Dr. Cathryn Pearce (University of Portsmouth), “‘Bandied about for a place of refuge’: Extreme Weather, Coastal Shipping, and the Loss of Lord Nelson, 1840”
How to attend the lectures?
Zoom details will be circulated prior to each of the lectures but details can also be found in the “events” section of the members area of the SNR website (Click Here).
For any questions or queries please contact the convener (daisy.turnbull@myport.ac.uk).
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UPCOMING NAVAL & MARITIME HISTORY GATHERINGS | |
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31 January–2 February 2025: Western Naval History Association Symposium (WNHA), San Diego, CA
27–30 March 2025: Society for Military History (SMH) Annual Meeting, Mobile, AL
9–11 April 2025: Council of American Maritime Museums Annual Meeting, Pensacola, FL
24–25 May 2025: Canadian Nautical Research Society Annual Conference Port Hope,
Ontario
18–19 September 2025: McMullen Naval History Symposium, US Naval Academy
24–27 September 2025: Historic Naval Ship Association (HNSA) Symposium/12th Maritime Heritage Conference, Buffalo, NY
| PREBLE HALL NAVAL HISTORY PODCAST | |
A naval history podcast from Preble Hall – the United States Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland. Preble Hall interviews historians, practitioners, military personnel, and other experts on a variety of naval history topics from ancient history to more current events.
Click here for the latest episode: 244 - Operation Unified Assistance with Dr. John Sherwood>>
Click here for all Preble Hall Podcasts >>
| DRACHINIFEL YOUTUBE CHANNEL | |
Welcome to Navy History Matters, Naval History and Heritage Command’s biweekly compilation of articles, commentaries, and blogs related to history and heritage. Every other week, they gather the top-interest items from a variety of media and social media sources that link to related content at NHHC’s website, your authoritative source for Navy history.
Click here for most recent article>>
| INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAVAL HISTORY | |
The International Journal of Naval History (IJNH) provides a preeminent forum for works of naval history, researched and written to demonstrable academic standards, with the goal of stimulating and promoting research into naval history and fostering communication among naval historians at an international level. IJNH welcomes any scholarly historical analysis, focused on any period or geographic region, that explores naval power in its national or cultural context. The journal is independent of any institution and operates under the direction of an international editorial board that represents various genres of naval history.
Click here to read the February 2023 edition and archived issues on the IJNH website >>
| SUPPORTING US NAVAL HISTORY & HERITAGE | |
With the 250th anniversary of the US Navy on the horizon, NMHS seeks your support as we plan to honor those who have provided for our maritime security.
Click here to donate today >>
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