Temporary record

Caspar Frederick Goodrich was a life-long Navy man, eventually attaining the rank of Rear Admiral. Considered an intellectual in naval circles, Goodrich's career began as an Ensign in European waters shortly after the Civil War aboard the frigate Colorado and steamer, Portsmouth, later shifting to the South Atlantic on the sloop Portsmouth. His talents led to his promotion to Lieut. Commander in 1871, and an appointment to teach physics and chemistry at the Naval Academy in that year. During his three years at the Academy, Goodrich made one of his lasting contributions to the Navy, helping to found the U.S. Naval Institute, of which he became a key member in its early years and prolific writer for the Proceedings. He served as President of the Insititute from 1904-1909. Further, Goodrich was instrumental in founding the Naval War College, serving as its President in 1889 and 1897-98. For the remainder of his career, he was a lecturer there on naval history (posted there on regular duty, 1895-97 and 1900-01).

Goodrich returned to sea duty with the Asiatic Squadron aboard the frigate Tennessee and sloop Kearsage, following which he was posted at the Newport torpedo station (1878-1880). From 1881-84, he served aboard the sloop Lancaster in European and Mediterranean cruises.

During the War with Spain, Goodrich brought the aux. cruiser St. Louis into commission, and performed valuable duty off the coast of Cuba, engaging Cuban shore batteries and landing troops during the battle of Santiago Bay. In August, 1898, he transferred to the cruiser Newark, and shelled Manzanillo in the last action of the war. Much of the remainder of his active duty was served in the Pacific, where he was promoted to Rear Admiral in February, 1904.

Goodrich finally retired in January, 1909, but during the First World War, resumed duties as commander of the Naval Training Unit (1918) and Pay Officers Material School (1918-1919), both at Princeton University. After his reitrement, he became widely noted as author of scholarly historical and doctrinal essays, and was president of the Naval Historical Society (1914-1916).

Scope and contents:

The Goodrich Papers consist of a substantial portion of the Admiral's correspondence and writings. Much of the collection consists of in-coming correspondence and of essays and lectures written by GOodrich on naval historical subjects. The correspondence comes primarily from other naval officers and contains both professional and personal letters. There is comparatively little from his service in the Spanish-American War or concerning his activities in establishing the War College or Naval Institute, but from 1906-1910, the collection provides a good insight into his activities. The correspondence from the period of the 1st World War includes several letters from a French Protege serving in an artillery unit on the western front, and a number of letters discussing the impact of the war on the home front in the United States. Post-war, Goodrich became increasingly nativist in his sentiments and something of a political reactionary, as reflected in his correspondence.

M-2905

Spanish-American War, 1898
United States. Navy
World War, 1914-1918

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