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U.S. Navy Records and Lost Awards

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National Archives & Records Administration

Address
Archives I, 700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington DC 20408-0001

Telephone
(202) 501 5400 (general inquiries); (202) 501 5410 (genealogy staff)

Website
http://www.archives.gov

[NB: NARA Archives I holds textual & microfilm records on pre-World War II military and naval/maritime-related matters. Related special media and non-textual records, such as still and motion pictures, electronic, cartographic records, etc are located at Archives II.]

Attn:
Textual Reference Branch (NNR 1) Room 13W
  • Military service records for individuals who left the Navy between 1798 – Dec 1885 (enlisted), – Dec 1902 (officers)
    (NB – prior to 1861 (officers) and 1885 (enlisted), military service records are fragmentary. Those that do exist are generally not detailed.)
  • An individual’s service no. or Social Security no. (after 1970) can normally be provided by this branch if the individual’s name, command, & when they served is provided in writing.
  • Historical ships’ muster rolls from 1801 to 1938, and deck logs from 1801 to 1940

 

Address
Archives II, 8601 Adelphi Road
College Park MD 20740-6001

Telephone(301) 713 6800

Website
http://www.archives.gov

[NB: NARA Archives II maintains cartographic/architectural holdings; electronic records; still and motion picture, sound and video records; and textual records on military-related matters dating from World War II onwards.]

Attn:
Textual Reference Branch
  • Historical ships’ muster rolls from 1939 to 1966, and deck logs from 1941 to 1961
Attn:
Still Pictures Branch, Special Archives Division
  • Photos – Official Navy photograph repository, prior to 1982

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National Personnel Records Center

Address
9700 Page Avenue
St Louis MO 63132-5100

Website
http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis.html

Attn: Military Personnel Records

  • Official Military Personnel Files (including awards information) for individuals who left the Navy since Jan 1886 (enlisted), since Jan 1903 (officers)

Official records of retired Navy personnel after 15 months of separation

Attn:
NCPMA-O
  • Official medical records of retired Navy personnel after 15 months of separation
    (NB – the above information is available only to the veteran his/herself or, if deceased, next-of-kin. Requests must be made in writing, signed & dated, on the appropriate form SF 180)

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Bureau of Naval Personnel

Address
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington TN 38055-3120

Website
www.bupers.navy.mil

Attn: Worldwide Locator (PERS 312)

Attn:
Commander
  • Military service records (excluding medical records) for recently retired personnel (within 15 months of separation)

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Naval Reserve Personnel Center

Address
New Orleans LA 70159

Attn: Commanding Officer

  • Official medical records of recently retired Navy personnel (within 15 months of separation)
  • Queries regarding ID cards, change of address/status
Attn:
Enlisted Personnel Management Center (Research/Code 311)
  • Historical ships’ muster rolls from 1976 to present

 

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Naval Historical Center

Address
Washington Navy Yard
901 M Street, SE
Washington DC 20374-5060

Website
http://www.history.navy.mil

Attn: 
Early History Branch, Bldg 1

Research & writing on U.S. naval history, 1775-1918

Attn:
Contemporary History Branch, Bldg 57
Tel: (202) 433 3891 Research & writing on U.S. naval history, 1945-present
Attn:
Operational Archives Branch, Bldg 57
Fax: (202) 433 2833
  • U.S. Navy records on operations, policy & strategy, c. 1939-present; selected personal papers
Attn:
Ships’ History Branch, Bldg 57
Tel: (202) 433 3643
Fax: (202) 433 6677
  • Queries regarding individual ships’ histories, 1775-present
    (NB – Only the official Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships entry can be provided)
Attn:
Ships’ History Branch (DL)
  • Deck logs from July 1962 to present
Attn:
Naval Aviation History Branch, Bldg 157
  • Documents & collections relating to naval aviation, 1911-present
Attn:
Curator Branch, Photographic Section, Bldg 108, Tel: (202) 433 2765
  • Principal source for U.S. Navy photographs prior to 1920; also many others from after that time; can assist with reference information for other U.S. naval photographic collections
Attn:
USMC Historical Center, Bldg 58, DC 20374-0580, Tel: (202) 433 3480/3
  • For all United States Marine Corps-related general historical inquiries

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The Navy Museum

Address
Washington Navy Yard
Washington DC 20374
Telephone
(202) 433 4882
  • Official collection of Navy-related artifacts

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United States Naval & Shipbuilding Museum

Address
739 Washington Street
Quincy MA 02169

Telephone (617) 479 7686
Website
http://www.uss-salem.org

  • US Navy and other US military-related artifacts and archives
  • A large amount of both official and unofficial historical reference material is available online
    (NB – The site is also home to the cruiser, USS Salem (CA 139), now a visitor attraction)

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Department of Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC)

Address
1363 Z Street, Building 2730
March Air Field CA 92518-2073

Telephone
(909) 413 2522 (Still Photos), 413 2515 (Motion Media)

Website
http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/dvic

  • Official photographs and images pertaining to the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps from 1982-present
    (NB – Fees are charged for all DVIC products)

NB: US Navy deck logs (officers) and muster rolls (enlisted) usually list names and service numbers for individuals serving on a ship at a given time.

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