Wesley Anthony Brown entered the Naval Academy in 1945, precisely 100 years after the school was founded. During that century, five African Americans had become midshipmen, only to be driven out before they could graduate. Brown persevered to become, in June 1949, the first black Annapolis graduate. He then served the next 20 years in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps.
Several years ago, Commander Brown consented to participate in a Naval Institute oral history, recording his life story in his own words. Editorial work on the project—transcribing, proofreading, footnoting, and compiling an annotated index—has finally been completed.
The Naval Institute thanks Commander Brown for the hundreds of hours he donated to this project. In addition, we thank the following supporters for their assistance in underwriting the Brown oral history:
- Douglas M. Bomarito
- Michael J. Farmer
- Captain Thomas M. Hutcheson Jr., USN (Ret.)
- Robert S. Regan
- Dr. Robert W. Selle
- Lieutenant Colonel James A. Storey, USMC (Ret.)
- Captain Peter S. Swanson, USN (Ret.)
- Everett P. Weaver
- USNA Class of 1949
The Brown volume and all Naval Institute oral histories are available for sale in hardbound, softcover, and CD versions. For information on purchasing histories, contact our Member Services department at (800) 233-8764 or (410) 268-6110, or write to [email protected].
The Naval Institute accomplishes oral histories solely through charitable gifts received by its Foundation. There are opportunities to underwrite dozens of worthy history projects and to provide much-needed general program support. Tax-deductible gifts can be mailed to the Naval Institute Foundation; 291 Wood Road; Annapolis, MD 21402, or made online at the Institute's website, www.usni.org (click on "Donate"). For more information, please contact Sue Sweeney at (410) 295-1054 or at [email protected].
Recent Honorary and Memorial Gifts
Gifts of support to the Naval Institute have been made in honor of the following individuals:
- Captain Edward L. Beach, USN (Ret.), by Eric S. Beckjord
- Carl F. Elvin, E. Victor Wilson, Charles Johnson, Robert H. Wilson, and James Bradford, by Charles and Cheryl Elvin
- Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, USN (Ret.), by Vice Admiral and Mrs. Emmett H. Tidd
- John F. Hayes, by Ralph and Sylvia Hallberg
- Susan Donnell Konkel, by Captain Harry W. Konkel, USN (Ret.)
- Mr. and Mrs. James Lewis, by Preston C. Jumonville
- Robert Luke, by Ronald and Eleanor Luke
- Father William Lynch, S. J., by Professor John S. deCani
- Colonel John G. Miller, USMC (Ret.), by Colonel Joseph and Gale Alexander
- Captain Louis A. Oberle, USNR (Ret.),by Barbara B. Oberle
- Captain Melvin Schweiger, USNR (Ret.), by Ernest and Gretel Posner
- Lieutenant Colonel Richard M. Seamon, USMCR (Ret.), by Christopher Wolf
- DC "Chief" Stewart, by Anonymous Donor