The personal papers of Rear Admiral Richard W. Bates (1892-1973) cover the years 1915-1973. He was a commanding officer on many ships in the Navy. His collection consists of correspondence, subject files, writings, speeches, and miscellaneous items. The papers are arranged in four series based on an established file system. They mainly encompass Bates career as a Naval Officer, family, and social life in Newport, as well as other aspects of his career including published and unpublished writings, notes, photographs, slide presentations, and reports.

Architectural plans of Commanding Officer's Quarters at Fort Adams, Newport, RI, prepared by George C. Mason & Sons, Architects, 1872. With comments of Major General G.K. Warren, U.S. Army, Major of Engineers, March 15, 1876.

This collection consists of single manuscripts items from past NWC presidents, faculty, and staff, as well as other other naval officers and military service members from Rhode Island and the surrounding area. These items include correspondence, journals, reports, certificates, commissions, scrapbooks, and other ephemera that relate to the history of the U.S. Naval War College, the history of navies in the Narragansett Bay region, and the history of naval warfare and strategy.

Black and white 4x5 photograph of a sick ward at the Naval Hospital featured unidenitifed patients with nurses and doctors. The patients are lying in beds, while medical staff poses aside a bed for the photo. The floor features a checkered stone or linoleum pattern in a stripe, with a solid border around the room's perimeter.

Records: Historical Subject Files including correspondence, memoranda, chronologies and reports pertaining to administrative matters, base activities and command facilities, 1942–1969; Presidential visits of Eisenhower and Kennedy, 1957–1958, 1960–1961; History and transfer of Fort Adams, 1951–1960; Planning and construction of Narragansett Bay Bridge, 1944–1966; Use of Prudence Island 1913–1917; Consolidation of the office of Industrial Relations, 1950–1963; Housing Plans, 1967–1968; German Submarine survivor burial, 1959–1966; Effects of Hurricane Donna, et.al., 1954–1960; War Diaries, 1942–1946; Miscellany, including Serial Number Books, Manuals, Operational order and Instruction Books, guest books and plaques. Newport, RI, 1913–1969.

Correspondence and subject files pertaining to administration, organization, mission, functions and buildings of the Naval Training Station and Naval Station, 1885–1974; Historical subject files of Coasters Harbor Island, Fort Adams, USS Constitution, USS Constellation, visits of Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon, 150th Anniversary of landing of General Rochambeau, 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Rhode Island, hurricanes, fires, Public Works Department, Tercentenary of city of Newport, Naval Air Station, Naval Torpedo Station, Naval Operating Base, and Goat Island, 1885–1974; Command Histories, 1958–1974; War Diaries, 1941–1943; Publications including Our Naval Apprentice, Newport Recruit and Newport Navalog; Photographs and photograph albums of the Naval Base, Naval Station, recruit training and special events, 1890–1963; Picture book, log book, leave books, and organization and regulation books, 1885–1974.

This collection consists of materials regarding Wellings’ assignment as U.S. observer of the British Home Fleet, including his reminiscences of the sinking of the Bismarck in May 1941, as well as correspondence, writings, speeches, subject files, and other documentation relating to his naval career.