Naval History and Heritage Command

This Chief of Naval Operations instruction requests that all ships and stations forward two copies of published Navy cruise books and unit histories to the Navy Department Library. The instruction goes on to say that if “published volumes cannot be furnished gratis [for free], forward the information concerning publication and price.” Please note that the Navy Department Library has an extremely limited budget and relies on cruise books being donated by Navy commands. The library has the nation’s largest collection of cruise books. When Navy personnel, veterans and their families, scholars and other researchers look for specific cruise books, it can be almost impossible to locate them if they have not previously been donated to the Navy Department Library. Unfortunately, many sailors depart their ship or unit prior to the distribution of cruise books, and thus never receive them, or the books are lost due to fire and flood etc. Donating cruise books to the Navy Department Library will ensure that your fellow sailors will be able to consult or obtain a reproduction of their ship or unit’s cruise book into the distant future. Please contact the library for mailing instructions prior to sending cruise books and other publications.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000

OPNAVINST 5070.1C
N09BH
21 Aug 03

OPNAV INSTRUCTION 5070.1C

From: Chief of Naval Operations
To: All Ships and Stations

Subj: ACQUISITION OF CRUISE BOOKS AND UNIT YEARBOOKS OF NAVY AND MARINE CORPS UNITS

1. Purpose. To request all ships, stations, and Marine Corps Units make available copies of published cruise books and unit histories or information concerning the publishing of such items, to the Navy Department, in order to enable the Department to assemble a comprehensive reference source of such historical information.

2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 5070.1B.

3. Background. There is considerable historic data contained in the cruise books and unit histories published by various commands. Since these materials are generally published and paid for privately, there has been no comprehensive reference collection or bibliography, and the historic value of these publications has not been fully exploited.

4. Action

a. Forward two copies of published Navy cruise books and unit histories to:

Director
Navy Department Library
805 Kidder Breese Street SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5060

b. Forward Marine Corps cruise books and unit histories to:
Marine Corps Historical Center
History and Museums Division Bldg 58
1254 Charles Morris St SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5040

c. If published volumes cannot be furnished gratis, forward
the information concerning publication and price.

P. A. TRACEY
Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy
Director, Navy Staff

Distribution:
SNDL Parts 1 and 2
MARCORPS PCN 71000000000 and 71000000100