Adelbert Althouse

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
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	May 23, 1869 Channahon, Illinois
Died	May 17, 1954 (aged 84)
Nationality	United States
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Rank	Captain
Commands	USS Brooklyn
Awards	Navy Cross

Life and legacy

Althouse 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

Althouse 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

Althouse 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

1. Thomas William Herringshaw, ed. (1909). Herrinshaw's National Library of American Biography. Chicago: American Publishers Association. p. 107. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
2. "Valor Awards for Adelbert Althouse". Military Times. Gannett Government Media. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
3. "Photo #: NH 987". Online Library of Selected Images. Washington, D.C.: Naval History & Heritage Command. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
4. "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 3 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
5. "Stations". United States Congressional Serial Set (3982): 152. 1900. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
6. "Fire Directed at the Colon". Boston Evening Transcript. Boston. The Boston Transcript Company. 11 October 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
7. "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.
8. The Navy. Navy Publishing. 1908. p. 31. Retrieved 3 March 2011. Althouse.
9. Sorensen, Stan (1 June 2010). "Historical Notes". Tapuitea. Government of American Samoa. V (22): 5. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
10. "Naval Era Governors of Guam". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
11. Clement, Michael. "Language Policies". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
12. 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.