Guide to Federal Records

Records of the United States Military Academy [USMA]


(Record Group 404)
1800-1993
1,426 cu. ft.

Table of Contents

  • 404.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
  • 404.2 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 1838-1989 13 lin. ft.
  • 404.3 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD 1818-1989 561 lin. ft.
  • 404.3.1 General records
  • 404.3.2 Records of the Academic Board
  • 404.3.3 Records of the academic departments
  • 404.3.4 Records of the Electrical Engineering 304 cheating scandal
  • 404.4 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT, UNITED STATES CORPS OF CADETS (USCC) 1813-1992 323 lin. ft.
  • 404.4.1 General records
  • 404.4.2 Records of the Office of Military Instruction
  • 404.4.3 Records of the Office of Military Leadership (OML)
  • 404.4.4 Records of the Office of Physical Education
  • 404.4.5 Records of the Cadet Activities Division
  • 404.5 RECORDS OF THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL STAFF 1970-86 4 lin. ft.
  • 404.6 RECORDS OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL 1800-1990 768 lin. ft.
  • 404.7 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF COMMUNITY AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES 1841-1961 1 lin. ft.
  • 404.8 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 1933-93 6 lin. ft.
  • 404.8.1 Records of the Audio Visual Instructional Technology Division (AVIT)
  • 404.8.2 Records of the Information Management Support Division
  • 404.9 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF LOGISTICS 1816-1987 118 lin. ft.
  • 404.9.1 Records of the Corps Support Division/Treasurer, USMA
  • 404.9.2 Records of the Assistant Treasurer, USMA
  • 404.9.3 Records of the Cadet Services Division
  • 404.9.4 Records of the Cadet Mess Division
  • 404.9.5 Records of the Plans and Operations Division
  • 404.10 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF ENGINEERING AND HOUSING 1837-1971 8 lin. ft.
  • 404.11 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 1942-62 15 lin. ft.
  • 404.12 RECORDS OF THE SPECIAL STAFF 1818-1993 55 lin. ft.
  • 404.12.1 Records of the Directorate of Admissions
  • 404.12.2 Records of the Chaplain, USMA
  • 404.12.3 Records of the Public Affairs Office
  • 404.13 RECORDS OF TENANT ACTIVITIES 1856-1950 6 lin. ft.
  • 404.14 RECORDS OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES 1819-1986 6 lin. ft.
  • 404.15 MISCELLANEOUS POST AND ACADEMY RECORDS 1839-1984 15 lin. ft.
  • 404.16 RECORDS OF DISCONTINUED COMMANDS 1877-1947 15 lin. ft.
  • 404.17 RECORDS OF TROOPS STATIONED AT WEST POINT 1809-1974 7 lin. ft.
  • 404.18 RECORDS OF QUASI-OFFICIAL ACADEMY ASSOCIATIONS 1869-1941 19 lin. ft.
  • 404.19 VIDEO RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
  • 404.20 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
  • 404.21 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)

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404.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Established: In the War Department by an act of March 16, 1802 (2 Stat. 137), which directed the establishment of the Corps of Engineers at West Point to constitute a military academy and designated the principal engineer as Superintendent.

Transfers: To the Department of the Army, September 18, 1947, pursuant to the National Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 495), July 26, 1947. Functions: Offers cadets 4-year academic, military, and professional instruction leading to a bachelor of science degree and a commission as an officer in the U.S. Army.

Finding Aids: Stanley P. Tozeski, comp., Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the United States Military Academy, PI 185 (1976); reprinted, with revisions and additions, in National Archives microfiche edition of preliminary inventories.

Related Records:

  • Record copies of publications of the U.S. Military Academy in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government. Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers, RG 77.
  • Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917, RG 94.
  • Records of the Office of the Secretary of War, RG 107.

RECORDS

RECORD TYPES RECORD LOCATIONS QUANTITIES
Textual Records West Point, NY 863 cu. ft.
Video Recordings West Point, NY 8 items
Sound Recordings West Point, NY 4,131 items
Still Pictures West Point, NY 185,713 images

Note: Address reference inquiries to USMA Archives, Building 2107, Pershing Center, West Point, NY 10996-2099.

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404.2 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
1838-1989
13 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Letters sent, 1838-1916, with indexes, 1849-1902. Annual reports, 1871-1989. Policy memorandums, 1963-72. Report on the results of the Superintendent's curriculum study, 1957-59.

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404.3 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD
1818-1989
561 lin. ft.

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404.3.1 General records

Textual Records (in West Point): Academic department policy memorandums ("Policy File"), 1947-61. Publications of the Instruction Support Division, 1962-69. Correspondence of the librarian relating to gifts, 1956-71.

Video Recordings (1 item, in West Point): Produced by the Instruction Support Division, consisting of "Honor Board Procedures," 1971; "Honor and Academics," 1971; and "Cadet Glee Club," 1973. SEE ALSO 404.19.

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404.3.2 Records of the Academic Board

Textual Records (in West Point): Correspondence, 1839-1905. Proceedings ("Staff Records"), 1818-1973, with index, 1818-1911, 1922-61. Rules of the Academic Board, 1890-1975. Reports on deficient cadets, 1909-47, and on the reexamination of former cadets, 1918-51. Minutes of the General Committee, 1922-57, and class committees, 1933-62. Class committee reports, 1916-51. Records of the Rhodes Scholarship Committee, 1925-39; the Admissions Committee, 1931-54; the Lecture Committee, 1941-46; and the U.S. Military Academy Committee on Service Academies, 1949-52.

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404.3.3 Records of the academic departments

Textual Records (in West Point): Organizational history, program of instruction files, records of cadet grades, and other records of the following academic departments and their predecessors: Chemistry, 1860-1980; Geography and Environmental Engineering, 1893-1983; Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1946-60; Systems Engineering, 1967-86; English, 1908-89; Foreign Languages, 1903-76; History, 1969-79; Law, 1901-71; Mathematical Sciences, 1883-1977; Civil and Mechanical Engineering, 1900-81; Military Art and Engineering, 1902-69; Military Hygiene, 1922-61; Ordnance, 1904-69; Physics, 1930-81; Practical Military Engineering, 1905-22; and Social Sciences, 1921-72.

Glass Plate Negatives (11 images, in West Point): Laboratory and observatory apparatus used for cadet instruction in mechanics, astronomy, and sound and light, ca. 1900. SEE ALSO 404.21.

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404.3.4 Records of the Electrical Engineering 304 cheating
scandal

Textual Records (in West Point): General administrative records, 1976-77, with indexes, 1977-78. Separate file of general administrative records containing personal information ("Sensitive Personal Information Records"), 1976-77, with indexes, 1977-78.

Video Recordings (7 items, in West Point): Excerpts of television news and public affairs programs dealing with the Electrical Engineering 304 affair, 1976-77. SEE ALSO 404.19.

Sound Recordings (375 items, in West Point): Briefings given by high ranking academy and army officials in connection with the scandal and the subsequent investigation, 1976-77 (65 items). Honor Board hearings, 1976-77 (310 items). SEE ALSO 404.20.

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404.4 RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT, UNITED STATES
CORPS OF CADETS (USCC)
1813-1992
323 lin. ft.

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404.4.1 General records

Textual Records (in West Point): General correspondence, 1917-80. Letters and memorandums received from the Superintendent, 1875- 87. Orders, 1842-99. Issuances, 1920-82. Rosters, 1963-89. Regulations, USCC (Blue Book), 1874-1982. Logistics Manual, 1969- 81. Daily bulletin, 1920-88. Muster rolls, 1817-39. Monthly strength reports, 1877-92. Morning reports, 1949-85. Records relating to discipline, consisting of delinquency classification guides, 1872-1923; abstracts of delinquencies, 1900-18; and registers of cadet delinquencies, 1818-1913, demerits, 1913-18, and punishments, 1837-1946. Records relating to training, consisting of daily reports of military instruction, 1898-1904; records of the officer in charge of new cadet instruction, 1902- 28; training schedules, 1926-40; USCC Training Manual, 1951-71; and records relating to field training, 1905-10, and the annual practice march, 1914, 1918. Miscellaneous publications, 1813- 1919.

Photographic Prints (415 images, in West Point): "New Cadet Barracks," in scrapbooks, 1955-58. SEE ALSO 404.21.

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404.4.2 Records of the Office of Military Instruction

Textual Records (in West Point): Program of instruction files, 1947-72.

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404.4.3 Records of the Office of Military Leadership (OML)

Textual Records (in West Point): The Operation and Administration of the Aptitude for the Service System, USMA, 1950-73. Aptitude for the service ratings (classes of 1944-78), 1940-78. Organizational history and program of instruction files for OML and predecessor department, 1946-75.

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404.4.4 Records of the Office of Physical Education

Textual Records (in West Point): Historical files, 1942-58. Physical education syllabuses, 1949-52. Athletic training cards, 1925-46. Regulations for Intramural Athletics, 1949-83. Records relating to the new cadet physical training program, 1946-54, and the intramural athletic program, 1944-53.

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404.4.5 Records of the Cadet Activities Division

Textual Records (in West Point): Howitzer, 1896-1992. Bugle Notes, 1907-90. The Pointer, 1923-85. Slum and Gravy, 1964-75.

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404.5 RECORDS OF THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL STAFF
1970-86
4 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Policy and precedent files, 1970-86.

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404.6 RECORDS OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
1800-1990
768 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Letters sent, 1838-1910, with indexes, 1845-1904. Letters received, 1838-1909, with registers, 1838-1903, and indexes, 1853-1903. General correspondence, 1904- 89, with index, 1904-17, and record cards, 1904-17. Endorsements sent, 1853-1902, with indexes, 1884-91. Orders and other issuances, 1817-1990, with indexes, 1838-1973. Returns and reports, 1881-1946. Personnel records of cadet candidates, 1829- 1947, cadets, 1800-1973, and officers and professors, 1837-1948.

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404.7 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF COMMUNITY AND FAMILY
ACTIVITIES
1841-1961
1 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Records of the West Point Army Mess, consisting of minutes of the General Mess, 1841-1946; minutes of the Council of Administration, 1889-1946; a register of visitors, 1923-44; records of the West Point Billiard Club, 1852-65; and Constitution and Bylaws, 1872-1961.

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404.8 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
1933-93
6 lin. ft.

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404.8.1 Records of the Audio Visual Instructional Technology
Division (AVIT)

Textual Records (in West Point): Card index of negatives, 1952- 56. Register of negatives, 1955-84. AVIT bulletins, 1978-83.

Sound Recordings (3,741 items, in West Point): Interviews, speeches, debate tournaments, and musical performances, 1948-86. SEE ALSO 404.20.

Photographic Prints (12,269 images, in West Point): "ID-size" snapshots, 1933-54, of new cadets in the classes of 1937, 1938, 1940, and 1944-58. SEE ALSO 404.21.

Photographic Negatives (46,359 images, in West Point): Cadet portraits, 1955-93, of the classes of 1956-96. SEE ALSO 404.21.

Photographic Prints and Negatives (77,812 images, in West Point): Academy activities, 1951-90, including the Academy Sesquicentennial celebration, 1951-52, and Operation Eagle (the return of the hostages formerly held in Iran), 1981. SEE ALSO 404.21.

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404.8.2 Records of the Information Management Support Division

Textual Records (in West Point): Telephone directories, 1936-92.

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404.9 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF LOGISTICS
1816-1987
118 lin. ft.

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404.9.1 Records of the Corps Support Division/Treasurer, USMA

Textual Records (in West Point): Letters sent, 1850-1904. Letters received, 1886-91. Ledgers of officers, professors, and general accounts, 1841-1910. Cashbooks, 1830-1904. Daybooks, 1885-1910. Statements of accounts, 1873-87. Register of checks, 1843-46. Report of USMA Post Fund, 1888.

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404.9.2 Records of the Assistant Treasurer, USMA

Textual Records (in West Point): Ledgers of cadet accounts, 1828- 1910. Statements relating to the Cadet Fund, 1838-47. Cadet deposit books, 1855-70. Account books, 1848-62. Receipt book, 1848-52.

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404.9.3 Records of the Cadet Services Division

Textual Records (in West Point): Records of the Cadet Quartermaster Department, 1854-1910.

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404.9.4 Records of the Cadet Mess Division

Textual Records (in West Point): Records of the Cadet Subsistence Department, 1837-1910.

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404.9.5 Records of the Plans and Operations Division

Textual Records (in West Point): Payrolls of the cadet laundry, 1874-1910. Post cemetery records, 1816-1987.

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404.10 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF ENGINEERING AND HOUSING
1837-1971
8 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Quarterly reports of the Quartermaster, 1837-49. Post facilities report, 1889. Specifications for construction projects, 1899-1907. Quartermaster payrolls, 1904-17. Records of the Expansion Planning and Control Office, 1946-71.

Photographic Prints and Negatives (8,950 images, in West Point): Site plans, models, and renderings of the Expansion Planning and Control Office, 1964-71. Construction activities, 1965-71. SEE ALSO 404.21.

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404.11 RECORDS OF THE DIRECTORATE OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
1942-62
15 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Budget estimates, 1942-62. Office administration, organization, planning, and strength files, 1953-62. Organization and Functions Manual, 1954. Army Command Management System (ACMS) directives, 1957-60. Management Guide, 1960.

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404.12 RECORDS OF THE SPECIAL STAFF
1818-1993
55 lin. ft.

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404.12.1 Records of the Directorate of Admissions

Textual Records (in West Point): Reports of examinations of cadet candidates, 1901-70. Academic reports, 1942-67. Reports of cadets found deficient in term-end examinations, 1947-64. Official Register of the Officers and Cadets of the U.S. Military Academy, 1818-1966. United States Military Academy Catalog, 1946-93. Information bulletins, 1957-82. Information booklets, 1972-80. Photo address booklets, 1971-75, of the members of the classes of 1973-78.

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404.12.2 Records of the Chaplain, USMA

Textual Records (in West Point): Minutes of the Cadet Chapel Board, 1951-73. Correspondence relating to the chapel organ console, 1945-52. Registers, 1857-1964.

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404.12.3 Records of the Public Affairs Office

Textual Records (in West Point): Pointer View (post newspaper), 1946-92. Publications of the Sports Information Branch, 1947-90. Installation guide, 1991-92.

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404.13 RECORDS OF TENANT ACTIVITIES
1856-1950
6 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Records of the Medical Department Activity, consisting of proceedings of the Medical Board, 1856-62; sanitary reports, 1868-1913; morning reports, 1877-79; Soldiers' Hospital patient registers, 1884-1907; the Cadet Hospital patient registers, 1916-20, with name indexes; and a manuscript entitled "History of the Army Medical Service at the U.S.M.A.," 1950.

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404.14 RECORDS OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
1819-1986
6 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Records of the Board of Visitors, 1819-1986. Proceedings of the Council of Administration, 1841-1910. Correspondence and meeting summaries of the Railway Advisory Board, 1867-85. Correspondence of committees of the Battle Monument Association, 1863-97, including proceedings of Executive and Building Committees. Records of the Board of Officers investigating an insubordinate demonstration by cadets, 1901. Reports of the Advisory Board, 1903-5. Proceedings and minutes of the Board of Officers for the proposed publication "West Point Bulletin," 1908-10. Proceedings of the Hazing Investigation Board, 1909.

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404.15 MISCELLANEOUS POST AND ACADEMY RECORDS
1839-1984
15 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Records of the West Point Hotel, 1839-1927. Daybook of the Lithographic Office, 1844-70. Minutes of the West Point Branch of the Military Service Institute, 1889- 98. Records of the Cullum Memorial Hall, 1892-1931. Records of the celebrations of the USMA centennial, 1901-2, and sesquicentennial, 1948-53. Records of the Historic American Buildings Survey and the Historic American Engineering Record ("HABS/HAER Records") at West Point, 1981-84.

Sound Recordings (15 items, in West Point): Of the sesquicentennial celebration, 1952, including inauguration ceremonies, Lee portrait presentation, Founder's Day exercises, and convocation and banquet on Jubilee Day. SEE ALSO 404.20.

Photographic Negatives (38,000 images, in West Point): Collection of the White Studio (photographic contractor for the cadet yearbook), consisting largely of cadet portraits, but also of USMA events, scenes, and personnel, 1925-66. SEE ALSO 404.21.

Glass Plate Negatives (1,897 images, in West Point): Events, scenes, and people at West Point taken by USMA photographer William H. Stockbridge, 1902-32. SEE ALSO 404.21.

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404.16 RECORDS OF DISCONTINUED COMMANDS
1877-1947
15 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Records of the Department of West Point, including letters sent, 1877-82, with index; letters received, 1877-82, with registers and indexes; endorsements, 1877-82, with index, 1877-81; and documents relating to the expansion of the post water supply system, 1879-82. Records of Stewart Field, NY, consisting of the daily information bulletin, 1942-47; and manuscript entitled "History of the Army Air Forces Basic-Advanced Flying School, 1926-45," 1946.

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404.17 RECORDS OF TROOPS STATIONED AT WEST POINT
1809-1974
7 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Orderly book of the Company of Bombardiers, Sappers, and Miners, 1815-17. Records of the USMA Band, 1846-1974. Letters sent by the USMA Detachment of Artillery, 1857-84. Records of the USMA Detachment of Army Service Men, Quartermaster Department, 1885-1910. Records of the Non-commissioned Officer Staff and the Detachment of General Service Clerks, 1884-1905. Muster rolls and other records of the miscellaneous units, 1809-1909.

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404.18 RECORDS OF QUASI-OFFICIAL ACADEMY ASSOCIATIONS
1869-1941
19 lin. ft.

Textual Records (in West Point): Records of the Association of Graduates, 1869-93. Records of the Army Athletic Association (AAA), 1892-1941.

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404.19 VIDEO RECORDINGS (GENERAL)

SEE UNDER 404.3.1 and 404.3.4.

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404.20 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)

SEE UNDER 404.3.4, 404.8.1, and 404.15.

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404.21 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)

SEE Photographic Prints UNDER 404.4.1 and 404.8.1. SEE Photographic Negatives UNDER 404.8.1 and 404.15. SEE Photographic Prints and Negatives UNDER 404.8.1 and 404.10. SEE Glass Plate Negatives UNDER 404.3.3 and 404.15.


Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.

Ordering information

This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.


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