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The disestablishment, deactivation, and decommissioning of commands poses many concerns. One is that historical records of the unit might be lost through neglect or simply not knowing what to do with historically significant materials that have been accumulated by the command over the years. It is imperative that the official records and historical materials of Navy commands be preserved for study and research by future Navy personnel, researchers, veterans, and the general public.
What is a record? What is significant? What is not historical? What should we do with records and other materials that are significant? These are a few questions that are routinely asked of the Naval Historical Center. Amid the personnel and logistics requirements for commands being disestablished, the disposition of records can easily be overlooked.
Before destroying or disposing of any records, commands should refer to SECNAVINST 5212.5D, Navy and Marine Corps Records Disposition Manual. This instruction provides guidance on whether records may be destroyed or must be sent to a repository such as the Naval Historical Center, the National Archives, or a federal records center. It is available on the Navy Directives Web Site at http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/. The Naval Historical Center, located in the Washington Navy Yard, is the primary collector of Navy operational records and artifacts. Questions about the application or interpretation of the instruction should be referred to the Naval Historical Center.
Commands should also ensure that a final command history, covering the period from the start of the year to the date of disestablishment, deactivation, or decommissioning, is submitted in accordance with OPNAVINST 5750.12. The latest version of this instruction is available through the Navy Electronic Directives system at http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/ or the Naval Historical Center website at http://www.history.navy.mil/nhc10.htm.
Several Divisions and Branches of the Naval Historical Center are responsible for collecting and maintaining historical materials. The Naval Warfare Division, which consists of the Ships History Branch, Deck Log Section, and the Naval Aviation History Branch, maintains historical records and deck logs for U.S. Navy ships and aviation commands. The Operational Archives Branch collects records of Navy shore establishments and commands not covered by the Naval Warfare Division., The Curator Branch collects and preserves three-dimensional objects. These branches can help you determine what is needed for retention. Information concerning these branches may be found on the Naval Historical Center's Web Site at http://history.navy.mil/.
Files (both electronic and paper), photographs, books (cruise books, etc.), logs (including those kept in the administrative spaces ashore during port visits), videos, and other materials make up the historical record of your command. This includes the many reports, studies, and other records that the command may have submitted via the chain-of-command in response to taskings, instructions, or special directives. The submission of these documents to your senior command does not guarantee their preservation. If in doubt, the materials should be saved for assessment by the Naval Historical Center.
The Naval Historical Center's Curator Branch manages the Navy's principal repository of artwork and artifacts. The directives guiding accountability, care and disposition are OPNAVINST 4770.5F (Ship and craft disposal manual) and OPNAVINST 5750.13 (Historical Properties of the Navy). These instructions may be found on the Navy Directives Web Site at http://neds.nebt.daps.mil/. Unless directed to one of the Navy's official museums, there are no other commands or institutions authorized to care for historical properties.
Since shore commands are more varied in mission, it is recommended that a command slated for closure contact the Curator Branch directly for guidance.
Naval Historical Center Aviation History Branch 1242 10th Street, S.E. Washington Navy Yard Washington, D.C. 20374-5059 Official Phone Calls: (202) 433-2321 (DSN 288) Official e-mail address: aviationhistory@navy.mil (Note: The phone number and e-mail address is only for official government business, the Aviation History Office will not respond to public requests via this phone number or e-mail. Public requests for information must be mailed to the above address.) Naval Historical Center Operational Archives Branch 805 Kidder Breese Street, S.E. Washington Navy Yard Washington, D.C. 20374-5060 Telephone: (202) 433-3224 (DSN 288) Official e-mail address: archives@navy.mil (Note: This e-mail address is only for official government business. The Operational Archives Branch will not respond to public requests via this e-mail. Naval Historical Center Ships History Branch 1242 10th Street, S.E. Washington Navy Yard Washington, D.C. 20374-5059 Official Phone Calls: (202) 433-6802 (DSN 288) Official e-mail address: shiphistory@navy.mil (Note: The phone number and e-mail address is only for official government business, the Ships History Office will not respond to public requests via this phone number or e-mail. Public requests for information must be mailed to the above address.) Naval Historical Center Curator Branch 805 Kidder Breese Street, S.E. Washington Navy Yard Washington, D.C. 20374-5060 Official Phone Calls: (202) 433-7874 (DSN 288) (Note: The phone number is only for official government business, the Curator Branch will not respond to public requests via this phone number. Public requests for information must be mailed to the above address.) Shipping Address (for large items which must be crated): Receiving Officer Naval District Washington Supply Naval Air Facility Washington 1 San Diego Loop BLDG-3086 Andrews AFB, MD 20762-5060 ATTN/MARK FOR: Curator For the Navy Washington Navy Yard BLDG-46
Records that are not identified by the command for transfer to the Naval Historical Center, but are identified for permanent or temporary retention by SECNAVINST 5212.5D, should be forwarded in accordance with National Archives requirements, to the command's closest Federal Record Center. A listing of the Federal Record Centers around the country may be found at http://www.archives.gov/facilities/index.html. The mailing address and other information regarding these facilities may also be found on this web site.