William S. Dudley
Encyclopedia
William Sheldon Dudley is a naval historian
of the United States Navy
, who served as Director of Naval History and Director, Naval Historical Center
, Washington, D.C.
from 1995 to 2004.
, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1958. After graduation, he joined the United States Naval Reserve serving from 1959 to 1963 in the grades of ensign to lieutenant. On leaving active service, Dudley became a history teacher at Poly Prep Country Day School
in Brooklyn, New York, while also earning his Master of Arts
degree in history at Columbia University
, between 1963 and 1966. Completing his master's degree
in 1966 with a thesis on "Pedro de Angelis, 1784-1859: journalist, historian and propagandist", he went on to work on his doctorate, which he completed in 1972 with a dissertation on "Reform and radicalism in the Brazilian Army, 1870-1889". On 21 August 1965, he married Julia Bartel, with whom he had two daughters. After her death, he married Donna Tully on 20 February 2001.
appointed him assistant professor of history. He remained there until 1977, when the Naval Historical Center
appointed him a supervisory historian. Dudley began work on the series "Naval Documents of the American Revolution," beginning with volume 8, under its editor Dr. William J. Morgan
. In 1982, Dudley succeeded Morgan as Head, Early History Branch from 1982–1990, during which period he initiated a similar series for the War of 1812, and then succeeded Morgan again as Senior Historian, 1990-1995. In 1995, the Navy Department selected Dudley for an Senior Executive Service
appointment to succeed Dr. Dean C. Allard
as Director of Naval History. Dudley held this post until his retirement in December 2004.
Dudley served as president of the American Revolution Roundtable in 1987, president of the Society for History in the Federal Government
in 1989-1990, and president of the North American Society for Oceanic History
, 1999-2003. He has been elected a corresponding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society
, a director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum, and a member of the Maryland Advisory Committee on Archaeology.
Naval historian
A naval historian is a student of maritime history, who specialises in the sub-discipline of naval history.-References:*Julian Corbett, 'The Teaching of Naval and Military History,' History, New Series, vol. 1 , pp. 12–19....
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, who served as Director of Naval History and Director, Naval Historical Center
Naval Historical Center
The Naval History & Heritage Command is the official history program of the United States Navy and is located at the historic Washington Navy Yard in the District of Columbia.-Mission :...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1995 to 2004.
Early life and education
The son of William Henry Dudley and his wife Dorothy Lawson Dudley, he attended Williams CollegeWilliams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1958. After graduation, he joined the United States Naval Reserve serving from 1959 to 1963 in the grades of ensign to lieutenant. On leaving active service, Dudley became a history teacher at Poly Prep Country Day School
Poly Prep Country Day School
'Poly Prep Country Day School is headquartered in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. Initially founded as part of the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute, Poly Prep now offers classes from the nursery grade to 12th grade, occupying buildings on two campuses...
in Brooklyn, New York, while also earning his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in history at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, between 1963 and 1966. Completing his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1966 with a thesis on "Pedro de Angelis, 1784-1859: journalist, historian and propagandist", he went on to work on his doctorate, which he completed in 1972 with a dissertation on "Reform and radicalism in the Brazilian Army, 1870-1889". On 21 August 1965, he married Julia Bartel, with whom he had two daughters. After her death, he married Donna Tully on 20 February 2001.
Academic and government career
In 1970, Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
appointed him assistant professor of history. He remained there until 1977, when the Naval Historical Center
Naval Historical Center
The Naval History & Heritage Command is the official history program of the United States Navy and is located at the historic Washington Navy Yard in the District of Columbia.-Mission :...
appointed him a supervisory historian. Dudley began work on the series "Naval Documents of the American Revolution," beginning with volume 8, under its editor Dr. William J. Morgan
William J. Morgan (historian)
William James Morgan was Senior Historian at the U.S...
. In 1982, Dudley succeeded Morgan as Head, Early History Branch from 1982–1990, during which period he initiated a similar series for the War of 1812, and then succeeded Morgan again as Senior Historian, 1990-1995. In 1995, the Navy Department selected Dudley for an Senior Executive Service
Senior Executive Service
The Senior Executive Service is a paygrade in the civil service of the United States federal government, somewhat analogous to the ranks of general or admiral in the U.S. armed forces...
appointment to succeed Dr. Dean C. Allard
Dean C. Allard
Dr. Dean Conrad Allard, Jr. , is a naval historian and archivist, who served as Director of Naval History and Director of the United States Navy's Naval Historical Center from 1989 to 1995....
as Director of Naval History. Dudley held this post until his retirement in December 2004.
Dudley served as president of the American Revolution Roundtable in 1987, president of the Society for History in the Federal Government
Society for History in the Federal Government
The Society for History in the Federal Government is a private non-profit organization established in 1979 to promote an understanding of the history of the federal government in the United States and to represent historians serving in the agencies of the U.S. Federal Government.The Society has...
in 1989-1990, and president of the North American Society for Oceanic History
North American Society for Oceanic History
The North American Society for Oceanic History is the national organization in the United States of America for professional historians, underwater archeologists, archivists, librarians, museum specialists and others working in the broad field of maritime history...
, 1999-2003. He has been elected a corresponding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Massachusetts Historical Society
The Massachusetts Historical Society is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history...
, a director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum, and a member of the Maryland Advisory Committee on Archaeology.
Honors and awards
- USS Constitution MuseumUSS Constitution MuseumThe USS Constitution Museum "serves as the memory and educational voice of , by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the stories of "Old Ironsides" and the people associated with her."...
, Samuel Eliot MorisonSamuel Eliot MorisonSamuel Eliot Morison, Rear Admiral, United States Naval Reserve was an American historian noted for his works of maritime history that were both authoritative and highly readable. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1912, and taught history at the university for 40 years...
Award, 1993. - National Trust for Historic PreservationNational Trust for Historic PreservationThe National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
, President's Award, 1997. - The United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's Navy Superior Civilian Service AwardNavy Superior Civilian Service AwardThe Navy Superior Civilian Service Award is the highest honorary award the Chief of Naval Operations or the Commandant of the Marine Corps may bestow on a civilian employee in the Department of the Navy and the highest award granted at the major claimant level. This is the second highest honorary...
, 2004. - Surface Navy Association, Special Recognition Award, 2005.
- North American Society for Oceanic HistoryNorth American Society for Oceanic HistoryThe North American Society for Oceanic History is the national organization in the United States of America for professional historians, underwater archeologists, archivists, librarians, museum specialists and others working in the broad field of maritime history...
, K. Jack Bauer Award, 2005.
Published works
- Going south: U.S. Navy officer resignations & dismissals on the eve of the Civil War by William S. Dudley. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Foundation, 1981.
- The Naval War of 1812: a documentary history, William S. Dudley, editor, Michael J. Crawford, associate editor; with a foreword by John D. H. Kane, Jr.. Washington: Naval Historical Center, Dept. of Navy: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., G.P.O., Volume 1, 1812, 1985; volume 2, 1813, 1992; volume 3, 1814-1815, 2002.
- Ned Myers; or a life before the mast, edited by James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
(1843); with an introduction and notes by William S. Dudley. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1989.
- The early republic and the sea: essays on the naval and maritime history of the early United States, edited by William S. Dudley and Michael J. Crawford. Washington, D.C.: Brassey’s, 2001.
- Maritime Maryland: A History. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010.