Records of the Chiefs of Arms
(Record Group 177)
1878-1943
Table of Contents
- 177.1 Administrative History
- 177.2 Records of the Chief of Artillery and the Chief of Coast
Artillery
1878-1942 - 177.3 Records of the Chief of Field Artillery 1904-43
- 177.4 Records of the Chief of Cavalry 1908-43
- 177.5 Records of the Chief of Infantry 1919-42
- 177.6 Cartographic Records (General)
- 177.7 Still Pictures (General)
Finding Aids: John E. Taylor and Patricia Andrews, comps., "Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Chiefs of Arms," NM 7 (1962).
Security-Classified Records: This record group may include material that is security-classified.
Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Office of the Chief of Coast Artillery, Coast Artillery School, Office of the Chief of Field Artillery, Mounted Service School, and Army Service Schools in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government.
177.2 Records of the Chief of Artillery and the Chief of Coast
Artillery
1878-1942
History: Chief of Artillery established as the ranking line officer of the Artillery Corps, consisting of both field and coast artillery, by General Order 9, War Department, February 6, 1901, pursuant to the Army Reorganization Act (31 Stat. 748), February 2, 1901. Redesignated Chief of Coast Artillery, effective July 1, 1908, by General Order 24, War Department, February 2, 1907, pursuant to an act of January 25, 1907 (34 Stat. 861), providing for the separation of the field artillery from the Artillery Corps. Abolished, with functions transferred to Commanding General, Army Ground Forces, effective March 9, 1942, by Circular 59, War Department, March 2, 1942, implementing the reorganization of the army mandated by EO 9082, February 28, 1942.
Textual Records: Letters sent, 1901-3. General correspondence, 1901-18, with record cards and indexes. General correspondence, 1918-42 (334 ft.). Indexes, 1917-20. Records relating to the Antiaircraft Command, 1918-42. Consolidated subject index to general correspondence and Antiaircraft Command records, 1918-42 (270 ft.). Station books of artillery officers, 1878-1900.
177.2.2 Records of the Artillery School and its successor, the
Coast Artillery School, Fort Monroe, VA
Textual Records: Letters and endorsements sent, 1900-8. Registers of letters received and general correspondence, 1900-8, with indexes. General correspondence and reports, 1900-16, with record cards and index. General correspondence, 1918-33. Monthly returns of staff and students, 1906-12. Special orders, 1918-19. Records relating to World War I, 1917-22. Proceedings of the Artillery School Board, 1900-1. Instructional and training course records, 1918. Correspondence, 1917-20, and issuances, 1918-20, of Headquarters, Coast Artillery Training Center
.Maps (47 items): Manuscript and annotated charts and maps prepared by students of the Coast Artillery School relating to coastal defense problems; joint coastal defense exercises at Fort Screven, GA, and Fort Terry, NY; the vicinity of Fort Monroe, VA; and Civil War earthworks constructed at Yorktown, VA, 1907-26. See Also 177.6.
177.2.3 Records of the Coast Artillery Board, Fort Monroe, VA
Textual Records: Proceedings, 1900-5, 1908-16. Subject file, 1905-19. General information file, 1915. Board correspondence, 1919-42. Research and development project reports, 1920-39, with record cards, 1920-32. Correspondence and blueprints relating to fortification plans, 1922.
Photographs (94 images, in Washington Area): In album accompanying a report on test firings at Fort Morgan, AL, March 13-14, 1916.
177.2.4 Records of the School of Submarine Defense, Fort Totten,
NY
Textual Records: Letters sent and endorsements, 1902-4. Correspondence, reports, circulars, and orders, 1903-8, with record cards and index, 1905-8. Proceedings of the school board, 1902-5. Special orders, 1904-8. Proceedings of the Torpedo Board, 1904-8.
177.2.5 Records of other units
Textual Records: Correspondence of the Coast Artillery War Instruction, Fort Andrews, MA, 1913-18, with record cards and index. Correspondence of the Radiodynamic Torpedo Unit, Boston, MA, 1919-21.
Engineering Plans (60 items): Made at the Radiodynamic Torpedo Unit, Boston, MA, showing engine components, 1920-21. See Also 177.6.
177.3 Records of the Chief of Field Artillery
1904-43
History: Chiefs of Field Artillery, Cavalry, and Infantry established as the ranking line officers of their respective combat arms by General Order 59, War Department, September 21, 1920, pursuant to the National Defense (Army Reorganization) Act (41 Stat. 759), June 4, 1920. Chiefs of Arms abolished, with functions transferred to Commanding General, Army Ground Forces, effective March 9, 1942, by Circular 59, War Department, March 2, 1942, implementing the reorganization of the army mandated by EO 9082, February 28, 1942.
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1920-42 (44 ft.), with an index, 1917-43 (210 ft.). Correspondence with liaison officers, 1924-42. Correspondence concerning Reserve Officer Training Corps, 1931-41. Issuances, 1917-22. Subject file of the Field Artillery Board, 1904-39.
177.4 Records of the Chief of Cavalry
1908-43
History: See 177.3.
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1920-42. Correspondence of the Cavalry School, Fort Riley, KS, 1936-43. Correspondence, 1929-39, case files, 1938-39, and research and development project files, 1939-40, of the Mechanized Cavalry Board, Fort Knox, KY.
Map (1 item): Fort Riley, KS, compiled at the Mounted Service School, 1908. See Also 177.6.
177.5 Records of the Chief of Infantry
1919-42
History: See 177.3.
Textual Records: General correspondence, 1920-42. Lists relating to Army War College training, 1937-42.
Maps (12 items): Prepared at the Infantry School of Arms, showing the vicinity of Columbus, GA, 1919. See Also 177.6.
177.6 Cartographic Records (General)
See Maps Under 177.2.2, 177.4, and 177.5.
See Engineering Plans Under 177.2.5.
177.7 Still Pictures (General)
See Photographs Under 177.2.3.
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.
This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.
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