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USS Oneida Disaster

Archival and Government Records

This section includes primary source historical records made available through physical archival and digital collections outside the Library of Congress, as well as published research about the disaster. This list of resources is not comprehensive, but provides examples of the record sets that may be considered for further research.

The following archival collections represent personal papers or memoirs with connections to the USS Oneida and her crew, as well as the corporate archives of the British Peninsular & Oriental (P&O) Steam Navigation Company. Contact each repository to discuss access options.

USS Oneida

British Peninsular & Oriental (P&O) Steam Navigation Company

These documents reflect official proceedings and filings of the U.S. Congress and U.K. Parliament related to the collision of the United States Steamer Oneida and the British Peninsular & Oriental Line Steamer Bombay.

U.S. Congress

U.K. Parliament

The National Archives in Washington, D.C. is open to researchers by appointment. If the records you need are not in Washington, D.C., you can view research options at other NARA locations. Be sure to explore the online Catalog and Guides to identify the records that you want to request and determine if they have already been digitized. You can contact the National Archives directly or post an inquiry to their History Hub.

Archival Records: USS Oneida

The following are examples of record sets that may yield more details about the USS Oneida:

Archival Records: USS Oneida's Crew

The following are examples of record sets that may yield more details about the USS Oneida's officers and enlisted men:

The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) manages the official history program of the United States Navy. These selected highlights from their online resources are starting points to explore the information that they make available.

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Research Guides

The National Archives and the Navy Department Library are among the many critical repositories that are digitizing records for online access through subscription databases. Some of these records may also be available to access through their respective websites or by scheduling in-person research appointments; however, the convenience and searchability of subscription databases makes them important tools for researchers.

The subscription resources marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

Using Ancestry Library Edition for Records Related to the U.S. Navy

Begin your search through Ancestry's vast collections, by viewing the online catalogs for records related to the U.S. Navy External. The following are examples of record sets that may yield more details about the USS Oneida's crew:

The U.S. Federal Census was taken on 1 June 1870. It included a Mortality Schedule. If the household reported a death within the year, it will be included. Though not every sailor lost on the USS Oneida was reported to the Census takers, many were. Their entries may provide additional details.

  • U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs. Loss of the United States Steamer Oneida: Letter from the Secretary of the Navy in Answer to a Resolution of the House of March 2 Calling for Information Regarding the Loss of the Oneida. 41st Cong., 2d Sess. April 4, 1870. Washington: U.S. GPO, 1870. 86 p. H.Ex. Doc. 41-236 [part 1]. Serial Set 1425-11. PDF via ProQuest (14 MB).
  • U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs. Loss of the United States Steamer Oneida: Letter from the Secretary of the Navy in Further Reply to the Resolution of the House Calling for Information Regarding the Loss of the Oneida. 41st Cong., 2d Sess. May 11 1870. Washington: U.S. GPO, 1870. 30 p. H.Ex. Doc. 41-236, part 2. Serial Set 1425-11. PDF via ProQuest (14 MB).