Works of Alfred T. Mahan

Help the NWC Archives transcribe the works of Alfred T. Mahan, considered to be the theortical founder of the 20th century Navy, held in their collections.

Mahan had a significant impact on the U.S. Naval War College and naval strategy globally. His theories on the importance of sea power and its influence on global politics reshaped maritime strategy and naval education. Mahan, who served as a lecturer and later as the president of the Naval War College, emphasized the strategic dimensions of naval power and its crucial role in achieving national objectives. His teachings and writings, particularly "The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783," became seminal texts for naval officers and strategists worldwide.

The archives at the Naval War College include Alfred Thayer Mahan papers, which document his contributions and enduring influence on naval doctrine and education, as well as his personal and family life. In addition to his lectures, reserach notes, NWC holds many family letter between Mahan and his children and wife. These papers serve as a valuable resource for understanding the development of naval warfare strategy as taught and studied at the College, as well as the the man behind them.

These transcriptions helps scholars, strategists, and enthusiasts around the world access Mahan's professional and personal character, providing insight into the man and his work.