Peter A. Klover World War I Collection

The Peter A. Klover World War I Collection is a small collection consisting of documents and photographs from approximately 1917-1935 related to Klover's service in World War I as an aviation mechanic in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

The documents in the collection include an undated clipping from later in his life detailing his military service and post-war work; an undated form from the U.S. Civil Service Commission for temporary appointment, transfer, reinstatement, or promotion; and a handwritten document explaining his military and work experience from 1917 to about 1934, possibly an addendum to the previous form.

There are ten black-and-white photographs in the collection. A panoramic group portrait depicts an unidentified military squadron, though probably from the Signal Corps. Peter Klover's brother, Nicholas Cornelius Klover, is pictured in this group in the 2nd row, seventh from left, seated. This image was possibly taken at Kelly Field, Texas. An 8x10" image depicts an American Multiplane Company's John's Multiplane, likely at Langley Field, Hampton Virginia in 1919, with a Thomas-Morse Scout in the background. Two 8x10" aerial views show the Fairfield Air Intermediate Depot in what was then Fairfield, Ohio (the area was renamed Fairborn in 1950) with numerous pursuit planes lined up. One of these aerials is dated 1931. A black album page includes six snapshots, four of which are personal in nature. One of the images is captioned, "planes on line, victory liberty loan, Chicago," and depicts Curtiss Jennies (including JN-4Hs) at Grant Park. The last photo is captioned, "captured German Fokker 'V' L.L. Chicago May 1919" and depicts two men on a Fokker D.VII with lozenge camouflage.

Though Klover worked closely with dirigibles during World War I, there are no materials related to dirigibles in the collection.

Digitized Materials: Items related specifically to aviation have been digitized from this collection.