Adelbert Althouse (May 23, 1869 – May 17, 1954) was a United States Navy Captain who served as the 27th and 29th Naval Governor of Guam. Prior to his Governorship, he served on ships in the Navy and participated in both the Spanish–American War and World War I. He earned the Navy Cross for his actions commanding USS Brooklyn and serving as Chief of Staff for the Commander and Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet during the World War. As Governor, he focused on reforming the island's education system. He modeled a new system after that of co-educational California but also outlawed the speaking of the Chamorro language at schools in an effort to improve the English language skills of the local children. Most of his education reform took place in his first term.
Adelbert Althouse | |
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29th Naval Governor of Guam | |
In office December 14, 1922 – August 4, 1923 | |
Preceded by | John P. Miller |
Succeeded by | Henry Bertram Price |
27th Naval Governor of Guam | |
In office February 7, 1922 – December 8, 1922 | |
Preceded by | James Sutherland Spore |
Succeeded by | John P. Miller |
Personal details | |
Born | Channahon, Illinois | May 23, 1869
Died | May 17, 1954 | (aged 84)
Nationality | ![]() |
Alma mater | United States Naval Academy |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Rank | ![]() |
Commands | USS Brooklyn |
Awards | Navy Cross |
Life and legacy
editAlthouse was born in 1869 in Illinois.[1] He died on May 17, 1954.[2] In 1930, the Navy named a Guamanian school, the Adelbert Althouse School, after him.[3]
Naval career
editAlthouse entered the United States Naval Academy on May 21, 1887,[4] graduating in 1891.[2] He was commissioned as an ensign on July 1, 1893.[4] He achieved the rank of lieutenant 1900.[1] The same year, he served aboard USS New Orleans.[5]
As a lieutenant, he served as watch and division officer aboard USS Massachusetts.[6] During this time, he participated in the Spanish–American War.[7] In 1901, the navy assigned him to USS Constellation.[1] As a lieutenant commander, he served as navigating officer aboard USS Vermont.[8]
During World War I, Althouse served as chief of staff to the commander in chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet and commanded USS Brooklyn, for which he received the Navy Cross.[2] He retired with the rank of Captain.[9]
Governorship
editAlthouse served two terms as Naval Governor of Guam; he served his first term from February 7, 1922, to December 8, 1922.[10] During his first term, he made significant changes to the Guamanian education system. In an effort to promote the spread of English among local children, he burned a large number of Chamorro-English dictionaries and banned the use of Chamorro in the classroom and on playgrounds.[11] Do to a shortage of classrooms, classrooms were made co-educational. He based the new system on the educational system of California and demanded that teachers stick to a rigid syllabus.[12] His second term took place from December 14, 1922, to August 4, 1923.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c Thomas William Herringshaw, ed. (1909). Herrinshaw's National Library of American Biography. Chicago: American Publishers Association. p. 107. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- ^ "Photo #: NH 987". Online Library of Selected Images. Washington, D.C.: Naval History & Heritage Command. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ a b "US Navy Officers: 1798-1900 -- "A"". Officers of the Continental U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-1900. Washington, D.C.: Naval History & Heritage Command. 7 April 2006. Archived from the original on 9 May 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ "Stations". United States Congressional Serial Set (3982): 152. 1900. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ "Fire Directed at the Colon". Boston Evening Transcript. Boston. The Boston Transcript Company. 11 October 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ "Commander of Indiana Was Not Notified by Schley That Cereva Was Coming Out-Try at Colon". Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh. E. W. Scripps Company. 11 October 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ The Navy. Navy Publishing. 1908. p. 31. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
Althouse.
- ^ Sorensen, Stan (1 June 2010). "Historical Notes". Tapuitea. V (22). Government of American Samoa: 5. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Naval Era Governors of Guam". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ Clement, Michael (29 September 2009). "Language Policies". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- ^ Rogers, Robert (1995). Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 147. ISBN 0-8248-1678-1. Retrieved 3 March 2011.