Deck logs of commissioned U.S. Navy ships are held by the Naval Historical Center (NHC) and the National Archives. There are none at NPRC. Link to the sources at the bottom of this page for definitions of deck logs and their contents.
NHC maintains the logs from approximately the past 30 years. When NHC obtains the most recent logs, they send the logs from the oldest year to the National Archives. For example, if a customer asks NPRC in 2003 for research access to logs from 1973 or any year after that, you should refer the requester to:
Deck Logs Section
Ships History Branch
Naval Historical Center
805 Kidder Breese SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5060
The deck logs at the National Archives are open for research. If you are working a request that asks for a research appointment and/or log information, refer the customer to the National Archives unit that holds the logs from the time period of interest.
Deck logs compiled between 1801 and 1940:
National Archives and Records Administration
Old Military & Civil Records (NWCTB)
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20408
Deck logs from 1941 through approximately 30 years ago:
National Archives and Records Administration
Modern Military Records (NWCTM)
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park MD 20740-6001