This is a 1941 edition of "Naval Administration, Volume 1," published by the Department of Seamanship and Navigation. It was likely used as a textbook or reference manual for naval officers and personnel. The book covers aspects of naval administration relevant during the World War II era. 

Such manuals provide insights into the organizational structure, procedures, and policies of the U.S. Navy at that time. The U.S. Naval Academy was founded in 1845.