Our curator’s favorite object: U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey cap

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Every curator has their favorite pieces in a collection, and ours is no different. NOAA Heritage curator, Mark Weber, shares one of his: the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) hat in our Gateway to NOAA exhibit.
A U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) cap sits on a dark wooden background. The black cap is shaped like a beret with a wide band at the bottom. On the band, "U.S. C. & G. SURVEY" is written in gold.

U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) cap. This cap was worn by enlisted men in the USC&GS until 1963. (Image credit: NOAA Heritage)

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Black and white photo of a woman launching a weather balloon.

 

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Black and white photo of a woman launching a weather balloon.

 

The enlisted men of the USC&GS, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Coast Guard wore these caps.  Before 1917, the USC&GS borrowed enlisted men from the Navy; later, they employed their enlisted men directly.

A black and white photo of the officers and crew of USC&GS Ship Matchless. The ship's name is visible on the cap ribbons of some of the men.
The officers and crew of USC&GS Ship Matchless. The ship's name is visible on the cap ribbons of some of the men. Circa 1914. (Image credit: Public Domain)
A page from the 1918 USC&GS Uniform Regulations manual. It shows illustrations of specialty marks, rating marks, the cap device, and the cap ribbon.
USC&GS Uniform Regulations, 1918, note the cap ribbon at bottom right. (Image credit: U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey)

In earlier years, the caps had the name of the ship embroidered on the cap ribbon. Later the ribbons were changed to display the name of the agency, "U.S.C.& G. Survey." They were used in the sea services until 1963, although in the years after World War II they were rarely worn because corpsmen preferred the white "Dixie Cup" hat.

A black and white photo of USC&GS Sailors and a Chief Petty Officer, all in uniform. The sailors wear the "Dixie Cup," a round, white hat with an upturned brim all the way around.
USC&GS Sailors and Chief Petty Officer, 1949.  The sailors wear the preferred white hat, or "Dixie Cup." (Image credit: Public Domain)

In the 1960s, the enlisted personnel of the USC&GS were determined to be merchant mariners, civilian employees of the Department of Commerce, and as such not subject to wear uniforms and abide by military grooming standards.  With that ruling, the USC&GS stopped using this hat and other U.S. Navy style enlisted uniforms, leaving only the Commissioned Officers as a uniformed service.

A U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) cap sits on a dark wooden background, along with a plate, tea cup, and saucer from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, as well as a brass telescope. The black cap is shaped like a beret with a wide band at the bottom. On the band, "U.S. C. & G. SURVEY" is written in gold.
Artifacts from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, including dinnerware, a black cap worn by enlisted men until 1963, and brass telescope (Image credit: NOAA Heritage)
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You can see the USC&GS cap and other artifacts in our Gateway to NOAA exhibit at 1325 East-West Highway in Silver Spring, Maryland, just steps from the Silver Spring Metro Station. The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

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Black and white photo of a woman launching a weather balloon.