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Historic Documents

Primary Sources of Coast Guard History, Including Historic Documents, Manuals, Regulations & Official Publications

We would like to thank historian and retired Coast Guardsman William R. Wells, II and retired Coast Guardsman Dana Lewis for their work in compiling, scanning and editing much of the following.

The files are in either pdf or asp format.

A page from the logbook of a Revenue cutter

1791: Alexander Hamilton's Letter of Instructions to the Commanding Officers of the First Revenue Cutters, June 4, 1791 (transcribed copy)

1791: Alexander Hamilton's Letter of Instructions to the Commanding Officers of the First Revenue Cutters, June 4, 1791 (a PDF copy of the original letter; the original is in the National Archives and Records Administration Northeast Region Branch in Waltham, MA)

1819: Circular from the Treasury Department to the Commanding Officers of the Revenue Cutters "For your government in performing the duties of your station."

1829: Instructions to Officers in the United States Revenue Cutter Service, December 17, 1829.

1833: Revenue Cutter Dexter Shipboard Regulations, 1833

1834: Instructions to Officers in the United States Revenue Cutter Service, October 3, 1834

1841: Instructions to Officers in the United States Revenue Cutter Service, November 1, 1841

1862: Regulations of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, 1862

1871: Revised Regulations for the Revenue Marine of the United States, August, 1871

1891: Uniform Regulations for the U.S. Revenue Marine, 1891

1893: U.S. Lighthouse Service Uniform Regulations, 1893

1894: Regulations for the Government of the Revenue Cutter Service, 1894.

1895: General Orders: U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. July, 1895. (Treasury Department, Document No. 2020. Office of Secretary. Division of Revenue Cutter Service.)

1897: U. S. Revenue Cutter Service General Order for Painting Ship, 1897

1899: U.S. Life-Saving Service Regulations, 1899; (Only Article VII which covers the authorized uniforms of the Service)

1904: U.S. Lighthouse Service Discharge Certificate, Light-House Board Form 77

1907: U.S. Revenue Cutter Service Regulations, 1907 (excerpt of relevant sections of the 1907 Regulations regarding the painting of all cutters and small boats)

1908: U.S. Revenue Cutter Service Uniform Regulations, 1908
1915: Creation of the Coast Guard: A Bill: To Create the Coast Guard By Combining Therein The Existing Life-Saving Service and Revenue-Cutter Service, May 26, 1913

1914: U.S. Lighthouse Service Tender Painting Regulations (only excerpt of relevant sections of the 1914 U.S. Lighthouse Service Regulations regarding the painting of tenders and lightships)

1914: U.S. Revenue Cutter Service Honorable Discharge Certificate, USRCS Form 2012

1916: U. S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulations, 1916 (asp file); (pdf file)

1916: U.S. Coast Guard Regulations (only excerpt of relevant sections of the 1916 U.S. Coast Guard Regulations regarding the painting of cutters and small boats).

1923: U.S. Coast Guard Regulations (only excerpt of relevant sections of the 1923 U.S. Coast Guard Regulations regarding the painting of cutters and small boats).