Rhode Island Tercentenary Issue First Day Cover
300th Anniversary of the Settlement of Rhode Island
Issued on May 4, 1936 in Providence, RI - Scott #777

Unofficial Town Cancel - Naval War College - Newport, RI
1st New Arcade Stamp Co -FR Hazard - Planty #39a
With Paste on Tercentenary Label

The Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy, William E. Chandler on October 6, 1884. The first building used for the college was the old "Newport Asylum for the Poor," (1820) located on Coaster's Harbor Island and the college's first president was Commodore Stephen B. Luce. The Naval War College is the oldest institution of its kind in continuous existence in the world. The history studies curriculum was developed by Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan who wrote the definitive book on the use of Sea-Power in 1890, "The Influence of Seapower upon History, 1660-1783."

Sources:
Check List of Rhode Island Post Offices 1790-1994 - Del Beaudreau
Rhode Island Postal History: The Post Offices - Merolla, Jackson & Crowther