Page Text: Contact the Archives
The Naval Institute is home to a special library, housing multiple resources in the areas of interest for naval enthusiasts, naval historians, authors and students. In addition to over 6000 books, we house complete sets of Naval Institute Proceedings magazine, Naval History magazine and the only known complete collection of Our Navy magazine which was purchased from James Fahey when he discontinued publishing.
Within our library, the Naval Institute Archives features two priceless, highly popular resources:
Oral History Program
The Naval Institute Oral History program preserves a wealth of primary source material accumulated through decades of personal interviews conducted and vetted by naval historians. This engaging collection includes written transcripts and audio clips that bring these first person narratives to life.
About the Oral History Collection
Photographic Collection
Our vast Historic Photograph Collection is a rich assembly of images that engage our eyes, hearts and minds in the stories they tell of our naval and national heritage.
View the Online Photo Collection
An oral history with Ms. Patty Maddocks recalling the history of the photo archive was recorded in 2001 and can be read below:
Since 2001, the staff has focused on collecting new holdings while digitizing, cataloguing and highlighting our existing holdings. Our digital archive is continually growing and it allows the Naval Institute to expand and expedite the availability of it resources to a worldwide audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I help preserve the Naval Institute's photo collection?
Funds raised allow the U.S. Naval Institute to undertake preservation projects too costly to accomplish with operating funds alone. Tax-deductible gifts to the Photo Archive are used to protect the original photo images and to digitize them so they may be more widely shared. Click here to make a gift.
How do I know what you have to offer if I do not see it in the online galleries?
Approximately 15,000 images are available onlne . However, our collection contains more than 450,000 images from the Civil War to the present.
If you cannot find the photograph you would like to order in our online photo catalog, please send an email to [email protected] or call (410) 295-1022 to speak with our photo archivist.