| United States Marine Corps History Division | |
|---|---|
 The progenitor to the modern Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, this insignia was first used by Marines in 1804.[1] Seen today on uniform buttons, it also serves as the History Division's unofficial logo. | |
| Active | September 8, 1919 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Type | historical |
| HQ | Marine Corps Base Quantico |
| Commanders | |
| Director | Dr. Charles Patrick Neimeyer[2] |
The United States Marine Corps History Division is a branch of Headquarters Marine Corps tasked with researching, writing, and maintaining the History of the United States Marine Corps. It also provides reference and research assistance; preserves personal experiences and observations through oral history interviews; and deploys field historians to record history in the making. It is headquardered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
History[]
The History Division was formed on 8 September 1919, by Order Number 53 of Commandant of the Marine Corps George Barnett as the Historical Section of the Department of the Adjutant and Inspector.[3] After World War II, the organization was known as "Marine Corps History and Museums Division" until the current name was instituted in the early 2000s.
Organization[]
The United States Marine Corps History Division is a staff organization with the primary task of researching and writing the Marine Corps’ official history. The unit is not a division-sized military formation.[4] It is organized into four branches:[5]
- The Historical Branch prepares a wide variety of official publications that tell the Marine Corps story as accurately and comprehensively as possible. Publications include: articles, monographs, occasional papers, and definitive histories. The Branch also includes the Oral History Program, which obtains, catalogs, transcribes, and preserves personal narrative, experiences and observations of historic value from active duty and retired Marines for use as reference source material.
- The Historical Reference Branch provides historical research and reference services and historical analysis. In addition, the Branch supports specific programs: Unit Lineage and Honors, Commemorative Naming, Marine Corps Flag Manual, and Marine Corps Chronology.
- The Field History Branch deploys Individual Mobilization Augmentee detachment historians to collect historically relevant material (oral history, written/electronic plans, operation orders, maps, overlays and artifacts) for use as reference material. The Branch also consists of a Mobilization Training Unit whose members support the History Division with specific projects.
- The Editing and Design branch designs and lays out manuscripts, maps and other graphic materials to support the History Division’s publications.
Directors[]
Since its inception, the following individuals have served as director:[3]
| # | Rank | Name | Tenure began | Tenure ended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Major | Edwin N. McClellan | September 8, 1919 | May 31, 1925 |
| 2 | Major | Edward W. Sturdevant | June 1, 1925 | August 15, 1928 |
| 3 | Captain | Lucian W. Burnham | August 16, 1928 | July 31, 1929 |
| acting | Mr. | James C. Jenkins | August 1, 1926 | September 26, 1929 |
| 4 | Captain | Jonas H. Platt | September 27, 1929 | June 19, 1930 |
| 5 | Major | Edwin N. McClellan | June 20, 1930 | March 2, 1933 |
| 6 | Captain | Harry A. Ellsworth | March 3, 1933 | August 30, 1934 |
| 7 | Major | Alphonse DeCarre | August 31, 1934 | February 5, 1935 |
| 8 | Lieutenant colonel | Clyde H. Metcalf | February 6, 1935 | December 31, 1938 |
| acting | Mr. | James C. Jenkins | January 1, 1939 | October 4, 1942 |
| 8 | Colonel | Clyde H. Metcalf | October 5, 1942 | April 15, 1944 |
| acting | Captain | Philips D. Carleton | April 16, 1944 | May 2, 1944 |
| 9 | Colonel | John Potts | May 3, 1944 | January 2, 1946 |
| 10 | Colonel | Howard N. Kenyon | January 3, 1946 | October 15, 1946 |
| 11 | Lieutenant colonel | Ellsworth N. Murray | October 16, 1946 | December 20, 1946 |
| 12 | Lieutenant colonel | Robert D. Heinl Jr. | December 21, 1946 | June 12, 1949 |
| 13 | Lieutenant colonel | Gordon D. Gayle | June 13, 1949 | August 13, 1951 |
| 14 | Lieutenant colonel | Francis O. Hough | August 14, 1951 | June 8, 1952 |
| 15 | Lieutenant colonel | Harry W. Edwards | June 9, 1952 | July 17, 1955 |
| 16 | Colonel | Charles W. Harrison | July 18, 1955 | July 24, 1959 |
| 17 | Major | Hubard D. Kuokka | July 25, 1959 | August 17, 1959 |
| 18 | Major | Gerald Fink | August 18, 1959 | January 7, 1960 |
| 19 | Colonel | William M. Miller | January 8, 1960 | July 31, 1961 |
| 20 | Colonel | Thomas G. Roe | August 1, 1961 | June 30, 1962 |
| acting | Major | John H. Johnstone | July 1, 1962 | November 8, 1962 |
| 21 | Colonel | Joseph F. Wagner Jr. | November 9, 1962 | August 31, 1963 |
| 22 | Lieutenant colonel | Richard J. Schening | September 1, 1963 | November 14, 1963 |
| 23 | Colonel | Frank C. Caldwell | November 15, 1963 | November 30, 1970 |
| 24 | Brigadier general | Edwin H. Simmons | December 1, 1971 | July 1, 1978 |
| 24 | Brigadier general (ret.) | Edwin H. Simmons | October 21, 1978 | January 3, 1996 |
| 25 | Colonel | Michael F. Monigan | January 4, 1996 | July 11, 1999 |
| 26 | Colonel (ret.) | John W. Ripley | July 12, 1999 | August 31, 2005 |
| acting | Mr. | Charles D. Melson | September 1, 2005 | January 8, 2006 |
| acting | Colonel (ret.) | Richard D. Camp Jr. | January 9, 2006 | December 10, 2006 |
| 27 | Dr. | Charles P. Neimeyer | December 11, 2006 | incumbent |
Publications[]
The History Division maintains several publications, including the quarterly newsletter Fortitudine (ISBN 0-16-010404-1), which was a traditional motto of the Corps before semper fidelis was adapted in 1883. They also maintain an archive of all historical publications published since its founding.
See also[]
- History of the United States Marine Corps
- Naval History & Heritage Command
- United States Army Center of Military History
- Department of Defense Historical Advisory Committee
- National Museum of the Marine Corps & Marine Corps Museum
- Marine Corps University
- Bibliography of early American naval history
References[]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- ↑ Smith, Charles Richard; Charles H. Waterhouse (1975) (PDF). A Pictoral History: the Marines in the Revolution. United States Marine Corps Historical Division. http://www.marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/A%20Pictorial%20History-The%20Marines%20in%20the%20Revolution%20PCN%2019000317900.pdf. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ↑ "Staff Directorate". Marine Corps History Division. https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Staff/Staff.aspx. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Amerman, Annette D. (4th quarter 2009). "Celebrating 90 Years of Collecting, Preserving, and Promoting of Marine Corps History". Quantico, VA: United States Marine Corps Historical Program. pp. pp. 1925. ISBN 0-16-010404-1. http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=708-084-00000-0. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ↑ "Organization and Personnel - History Division". Marine Corps History Division. https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Organization.aspx. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
- ↑ "Mission Statement". Marine Corps History Division. https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Mission.aspx. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
External links[]
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The original article can be found at United States Marine Corps History Division and the edit history here.