U.S. Navy Records Centers

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  1. U.S. Military Support of Aerial Events
  2. Enlistment in the U.S. Armed Forces For U.S. Citizens
  3. Tracing Former Military Personnel In The U.S.
  4. U.S. Awards to UK Service Personnel
  5. U.S. Air Force Records Centers
  6. U.S. Army Records Centers
  7. U.S. Navy Records Centers
  8. Internet Fraud and the Armed Forces

Please note that, at the present time, some .mil web addresses are only accessible to users from a .mil address.

National Archives & Records Administration
Archives I, 700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington DC 20408-0001
Tel: (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.]

  • 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

Attn: Textual Reference Branch (NNR 1) Room 13W

National Archives & Records Administration
Archives II, 8601 Adelphi Road
College Park MD 20740-6001
Tel: (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.]

  •  Historical ships’ muster rolls from 1939 to 1966, and deck logs from 1941 to 1961

Attn: Textual Reference Branch

  •  Photos – Official Navy photograph repository, prior to 1982

Attn: Still Pictures Branch, Special Archives Division

National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Avenue
St Louis MO 63132-5100
Website: http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis.html

  •  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: Military Personnel Records

  •  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)

Attn: NCPMA-O

Bureau of Naval Personnel
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington TN 38055-3120
Website: www.bupers.navy.mil

Attn: Worldwide Locator (PERS 312)

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

Attn: Commander

Naval Reserve Personnel Center
New Orleans LA 70159

  • Official medical records of recently retired Navy personnel (within 15 months of separation)
  • Queries regarding ID cards, change of address/status

Attn: Commanding Officer

  • Historical ships’ muster rolls from 1976 to present

Attn: Enlisted Personnel Management Center (Research/Code 311)

Naval Historical Center
Washington Navy Yard
901 M Street, SE
Washington DC 20374-5060
Website: http://www.history.navy.mil

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

Attn: Early History Branch, Bldg 1

Attn: Contemporary History Branch, Bldg 57

Tel: (202) 433 3891 Research & writing on U.S. naval history, 1945-present

  • U.S. Navy records on operations, policy & strategy, c. 1939-present; selected personal papers

Attn: Operational Archives Branch, Bldg 57

Fax: (202) 433 2833

  • 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, Bldg 57
Tel: (202) 433 3643
Fax: (202) 433 6677

  • Deck logs from July 1962 to present

Attn: Ships’ History Branch (DL)

  • Documents & collections relating to naval aviation, 1911-present

Attn: Naval Aviation History Branch, Bldg 157

  • 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: Curator Branch, Photographic Section, Bldg 108, Tel: (202) 433 2765

  • For all United States Marine Corps-related general historical inquiries

Attn: USMC Historical Center, Bldg 58, DC 20374-0580, Tel: (202) 433 3480/3

The Navy Museum
Washington Navy Yard
Washington DC 20374
Tel: (202) 433 4882

  • Official collection of Navy-related artifacts

United States Naval & Shipbuilding Museum
739 Washington Street
Quincy MA 02169
Tel: (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)

Department of Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC)
1363 Z Street, Building 2730
March Air Field CA 92518-2073
Tel: (909) 413 2522 (Still Photos), 413 2515 (Motion Media)
Website: http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil

  • 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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