Skip to main content

U.S.S. Tuscarora Midshipman’s logbook

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0124
Finding aid note: Stored on-site at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

The logbook includes a list of the ship’s officers and a day by day account of the Tuscarora’s position, course, speed, and weather conditions as she was engaged in taking Pacific Ocean soundings and in survey work in the South Pacific. In addition crew activities such as painting and cleaning are noted, as are the surveys carried out. Ports visited included Port Lloyd, Bonin Islands, Yokohama and Hakodate, Japan, Samoa, San Francisco, and Honolulu.

Dates

  • Creation: 1864 - 1866

Creator

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

Conditions Governing Access

Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish material from teh "Tuscarora" Log Book, 1874-1875 must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

Biographical Note

The Sloop of War USS Tuscarora was built in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1861 and served in European waters during the U.S. Civil War. From 1872 until she was decommissioned and struck from the Navy List in1883, she was mainly engaged in hydrographic duties in the Pacific. Operating out of Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1874-1875, she was engaged in taking Pacific Ocean soundings and in survey work in the South Pacific. The keeper of the Logbook, Midshipman William H. Southerland, was born in New York City in 1852, entered the Navy as an apprentice, and the following year was appointed to the US Naval Academy as a Midshipman. In the course of long and distinguished career he commanded the gunboat Eagle in the Spanish-American war, was promoted to Rear Admiral , and in 1912 became Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 bound volume)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract:

The logbook includes a list of the ship’s officers and a day by day account of the Tuscarora’s position, course, speed, and weather conditions as she was engaged in taking Pacific Ocean soundings and in survey work in the South Pacific. In addition crew activities such as painting and cleaning are noted, as are the surveys carried out. Ports visited included Port Lloyd, Bonin Islands; Yokohama and Hakodate, Japan; Samoa; San Francisco; and Honolulu.

Acquisition Information

Purchase from Mr. Robinson (dealer), November 1957.

Genre / Form

Geographic

Topical

Title
Guide to the U.S.S. Tuscarora Midshipman’s logbook, 1874-1875
Status
Completed
Author
Alan Bath
Date
2007
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA
713-348-2586