Annapolis business meetings / use of Nimitz?

I

illesq

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Apr 15, 2019
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I have business meetings in the DC area and will be stopping in Annapolis and visiting my Plebe DS over the weekend. I have a lot of work to do in preparations for my meetings and wanted to use the Nimitz library and spend some time with my DS in the process as he studies as well. Are parents allowed to use the USNA library resources?
 
Nimitz Library is not open to the public. The public has access to;
  • Preble Hall (This is where the museum is located)
  • The Chapel
  • Memorial Hall (in Bancroft)
  • The Midshipman's Store
  • Dahlgren Hall
  • Lejeune Hall
  • The Levy Center and Jewish Chapel (and no one cares if you walk through Mitscher Hall to get there)
  • The Visitor's Center and the Quarterdeck (Halsey Field House)
  • The NAAA ticket office (in Ricketts Hall)
  • A little building with restrooms, next to Gate 3 (not sure of the name, but there is a guard shack there)
Link to MAP (Places open to the public shown in red, below)
 
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There’s a sign out front of the library that says “Not open for general visitation”, but as brewmeist points out, guests of midshipmen are generally welcome during the day. You could certainly bring a laptop to the coffeeshop and sit down with your mid to get some work done! However to the best of my knowledge there is no public wifi.
 
I was wondering why we visited only a few buildings on the public tour. Now I understand that we visited the only buildings open to the public. Thanks to THParent for posting the map too.
 
THParent said:
The public has access to;
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THParent said:
The Midshipman's Store
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Do parents have unaccompanied access to the Midstore now ?

illesq said:
I have a lot of work to do in preparations for my meetings and wanted to use the Nimitz library and spend some time with my DS in the process as he studies as well
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Perhaps I was more of the ratey type..but I've gone into Nimitz a number of times when I visited, and have never been challenged. I'm not sure if my status as a grad or a BGO gives me any protected status, but I always figured that I would just leave if they asked me to. The alternative (and probably preferred approach) is simply ask at the front desk if they have any objection- I would expect that if you are professionally dressed and don't disrupt the library atmosphere, there wouldn't be much objection.

Another thing you should consider is whether visiting you Plebe DS during the academic day will raise any issues. DS should confirm with his chain of command whether there is any problem. (A squared away, academically SAT Plebe may be able to get a special request chit approved to have dinner in town).

Enjoy your visit !
 
RE: Mid Store
Anyone can walk into the Mid Store now, and look around. They don't check any ID or anything.

To buy something, you have to have to show your Mid Store Parent's Card, however!
 
DD is a 1c, in the 3 plus years that she has been at the USNA I think I've visited her 6 weekends when work had me in DC; just got home last night from meetings and a visit to DD last night.

I set a weekend visit up on the backend of the work portion of the visit, and because of Flts schedules I usually fly out on Monday at around 5PM. DD has asked me to hang out at Nimitz a couple of times and wait for her to join me for a cup of Jet-Fuel (?). It seems like it's easier for her to say goodbye when she has to immediately return to the business of the day. Anyway, I check in at the Nimitz front desk (absolutely no issues here, just a warm smile). I find a place to sit and work, or sit down with some absurdly obscure Naval/Maritime periodical and wait for DD. She arrives and we talk for an hour in the coffee shop before we both have to go our separate ways.

on a couple of visits, I've had enough time on my hands to wander up to the Archive on the 3rd floor ask for the USNA file on 2 USNA grads I have an interest in. Mind you, I am not in a uniform, in I'm usually in the loose jeans and sneakers that are my preferred dress for a 5hr flt home. Even up here Archive/Office section of the library I have found nothing but a willingness to help, and appreciation for my interest in the records preserved in the archive.
 
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Do I read correctly that there are files on USNA Mids that are public record? What are in the files?
 
Just Dad said:
I've had enough time on my hands to wander up to the Archive on the 3rd floor ask for the USNA file on 2 USNA grads I have an interest in
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justdoit19 said:
Do I read correctly that there are files on USNA Mids that are public record? What are in the files?
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Archived Admissions files are maintained at Nimitz , but they are only supposed to be released to the actual person or for Official Use. I've also heard that they are not available to the individual for several years after graduation (i.e. the current Midshipman cannot go up and request their record to see what their teachers told them). These records are not supposed to be publicly available.

Just Dad' s comment about not being in Uniform suggests that he is active duty military , and probably senior enough that nobody is going to question his presence in Nimitz or even asking for Admissions records. If that is the case, I would suggest that the average Joe Civilian parent shouldn't assume they will receive the same acceptance (Although I did make a similar comment about my own experience above- just don't ASSUME you have the right!).
 
I’m surprised that people other than the actual person can view their records.
 
OK, sorry to cause a problem:
1) I was not in uniform because I am not in the military. My point was that access to Nimitz does not appear to be limited to military. When I walk into Nimitz it is obvious I am a civilian.

2) Re records: I have a particular interest in CDR. Ernest Evans. Died at the Battle of Samar in 1944; awarded the medal of honor. He looks to have lived an amazing life, but I haven't been able to find much information on him. I asked at the front desk if the USNA maintained any records on Grads like Cmdr. Evans. I was directed to the Third floor Archive where I filled out a request from to see Cmdr. Evan's file. After a short wait I was handed a fairly narrow sleeve with what I assume was public information that the USNA had archived on the man. Mostly things I already knew, but a few things I didn't, (like his son's USNA attendance and service in the USMC, and descriptions of the man in USNA yearbooks). I looked thru the file in archive reading room and was required to return it when I left. The second USNA Grad of interest was George Dewey, a family relation. Files/information you'd expect to find and access in a library archive.

My point was/is that In my experience, the Nimitz library appears to be generally open and friendly to civilian visitors. I was able to access the archive on the 3rd floor(?), I was not asked for military Id (might have been asked for my Dr Lic), or required to make any showing of authority to view these records, beyond stating my interest, and filling out a doc request form, (people seemed happy that I was interested).

I didn't know that admission/application records are stored in Nimitz..... But then how/why would I know that? The USNA doesn't hang a sign up to advertise the presence of admissions records at Nimitz: makes sense to me. It seems equally reasonable that any records containing private/confidential records on Mids are stored in secure areas of the library, whose specific locations within the building are not disclosed to the average visitor. Again, the question was "can civilian access Nimitz?" My experience has been that civilians are welcomed (pretty warmly) and allowed access to areas commonly associated with a library.
 
When I was looking for records on my grandfather and my dad (and a relative unknown to me from class of 1876--- that's an entertaining read of demerits, all done in painstakingly beautiful calligraphy), the Library archivist gave me this info:

"The Naval Academy does keep admissions and academic records for former midshipmen. However, these records are considered part of the midshipman's Official Military Personnel File, and as such access to them is restricted for 62 years after the Midshipman in question separates from their respective service."

I requested what information was legal for me to obtain and they sent the documents over in no time. Only on my Grandfather, my dad's data and my uncle and my 2nd cousins won't be available until 2027 at the earliest.
Looking forward to touring the library one day myself.
 
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As a follow-up to my initial inquiry, I was on the Yard this weekend and spent Sunday morning at Nimitz Library. The library staff could not have been more hospitable and they were very welcoming. I simply showed identification and signed a visitor’s book.
 
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