WWI Collections, Page 1 of 2

This small collection is comprised of a program for an Air Memorial Day that took place at DeMille Field in Hollywood, California on May 18, 1919. The event honored American servicemen who died in World War I and was organized by the Los Angeles Branch of the National Aeronautic Committee. The event included a number of races and flight demonstrations by World War I aircraft.

The Arthur E. Easterbrook Collection contains photographs, clippings, and paper ephemera relating to Easterbrook's life and military career. The small collection relates primarily to Easterbrook's service in the U.S. Air Service during World War I, with a few items illustrating his continued service in the early Air Force.

The Bruce Whitman Aviation Art Collection is a collection of artwork including a drawing, posters, lithographs, photographs, and advertisements primarily related to American military aviation from about 1917 to the early 1950s. The majority of materials are related to either World War I or World War II.

The C. E. Roy U.S. Naval Aviation Photograph Album contains three hundred ninety-four (394) photographs and a few pieces of ephemera documenting the World War I service of Roy and depicting naval aviation activities at Key West Naval Air Station, Florida, 1917-1918. Images feature scenic views of Key West and other locations, aircraft such as blimps and float planes, fellow Navy men and women, and Navy facilities. The album also contains a few pieces of ephemera such as pressed flowers, correspondence, receipts, and other materials.

Please note that captions in the photograph album make use of derogatory terms toward certain peoples.

The Charles W. Drew Collection contains correspondence, photographs, clippings, and other materials relating to the World War I career of 13th Aero Squadron pilot Charles Drew. The majority of the collection is correspondence from Drew to his mother, documenting his training and daily life in both the states and overseas, along with letters from the military and sympathetic friends during the period Drew was missing. Other materials include various military documents such as memos, identification cards, discharge papers, and award and commission certificates, as well as photographs of Drew and fellow servicemen at training and in the field.

The Col. Frank Wilbur Wright Collection contains commissions, photographs, identification cards, and other materials relating to the military career of Frank W. Wright. Wright began his service prior to World War I, serving as an aviator during the war and remaining in the Army throughout the interwar and World War II periods. The commissions document his changing roles and ranks during World War I, and photos and ephemera illustrate his later service at numerous U.S. bases as a military engineer and then commanding officer.

The Colin Hunter Collection of U.S.A. Aerial Photography School Photograph Albums consist of two albums and some loose ephemera relating primarily to the U.S.A. Aerial Photography School in Rochester, New York. Both of the albums have been unbound due to preservation concerns, however they are stored in the original order. The albums contain photographs taken by soldiers at the Aerial Photography School, and they include both aerial photographs and shots of the soldiers enjoying day trips and leisure time. While the origin of the albums is unknown, one group photo from the first album is captioned "Walter Hunter" on reverse, which indicates that the albums may have belonged to a relative of the donor who likely attended the school. Also included is a soldier's portrait of undetermined relation to the photograph albums.

The Ed Power Photograph Collection contains one glass plate negative and one print from negative featuring an Albatros D.V (L24), circa 1917-1918. The image also includes three German soldiers standing in front of the aircraft.

The Edmonds Historical Museum Collection of World War I Photographs contains ten (10) photographs related to French aviation during World War I. The photos are primarily souvenir images with printed captions from a set entitled "Souvenir de la Grande Guerre 1914-1918." The images depict various French and German aircraft as well as significant figures such as fighter ace George Guynemer and the Lafayette Escadrille.

The Edward I. Sproull Photograph Album is comprised of a World War I-era photograph album assembled by Sproull while in training at Ohio State University and subsequently serving as a pilot with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Album contains three hundred twenty (320) photographs of family, friends, and fellow soldiers, as well as newspaper clippings, maps, paper ephemera, photos of battlefields in France, and aircraft and aerial images.

The Elvie A. Myers World War I Photographs is a small collection related to Elvie Myers, an aerial photographer in the United States Army Air Corps during World War I.

The Eric G. Peter Collection consists of photographs and manuscripts related to the Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) career of Eric Peter during and after World War I. Peter joined the R.A.F. in 1918, and spent 1918 and 1919 in England and France. The items in this collection primarily deal with his time in the R.A.F., but there is also a small amount of personal materials included.

The Floyd W. Shepard Collection consists of military documents such as orders, service records, identification, and some ephemera, documenting Shepard's training in the United States and activities abroad.

The Frederick Staples World War I Collection is a small collection relating to the military service of Frederick Staples, who flew with the 34th Aero Squadron of the United States Army, American Expeditionary Force from 1917-1919. The collection is comprised of a photograph album and a small amount of textual materials collected by Staples during his service.

The G. H. Frohn World War I Notebook contains training notes from Frohn's service in the 32nd Aero Squadron during the war. Topics include magnetism, electricity, regimental communications methods such as signal lamps, French and American phone systems, and other technologies. The notes are interspersed with line drawings of various communications and electrical systems.

The G. W. Charters Notebooks are comprised of three notebooks containing training notes of a World War I Army pilot. The books contain notes and some diagrams on training and policy for members of the U.S. Army Air Service. Topics include gunnery, wireless radio, meteorology, theory of flight, flight and aircraft mechanics, engines, aerial observation and navigation, first aid, methods of modern warfare, gas defense, care of barracks and personal hygiene, guard duty, Army regulations and conduct, rules on military correspondence, military law. One of the notebooks includes the inscription "U.S.S.M.A. Urbana Ill." on the front cover, likely indicating that Charters was a student at the U.S. School of Military Aeronautics at the University of Illinois during the course of his training.

The Halden H. Emrick Collection contains materials relating to Emrick's personal life and varied aviation career. Materials span his service as a pilot's instructor during World War I with the 820th Aero Squadron, to work as the chief pilot for Curtiss-Wright and other aircraft companies, to his escapades as a stunt pilot during the heyday of barnstorming in the 1920s and 1930s. The collection is predominantly comprised of photographs, most of which are personal snapshots relating to Emrick's aviation activities in Ohio, as well as hunting and camping trips with his wife Peggy in later years. Images feature numerous views of airfields, aircraft, and fellow aviators. Further supporting materials include a pilot log book from the 1930s, clippings documenting Emrick and his colleague's activities, correspondence, and various membership, guest pass, and pilot cards for air shows and organizations.

The Hamilton Coolidge World War I Collection contains materials related to the wartime experience of Hamilton Coolidge, a fighter ace who served with the 94th Aero Squadron and who was killed in action. Most of the collection contains official military documents related to Captain Coolidge and his squadron, such as memos and orders from Headquarters and his personnel record. The collection also contains some photographs, a plane manual, and awards and certificates granted to Captain Coolidge.

Please note that some of the items contain graphic images of wartime casualties.

The Hans Eibl Collection contains materials relating to the World War I service and post-war life of German soldier Hans Eibl. A photograph album of one hundred twenty (120) photos documents Eibl's service in the German Army during the war.

The Harold A. McGinnis Collection relates to World War I- and World War II-era aircraft and military personnel. The collection contains five pilot log books belonging to McGinnis that pertain to World War I. It also includes photographs and five photograph collages consisting of 79 individual photographs that feature portraits and World War I- and pre-World War II-era military aircraft.

The Harold E. Hartney Collection contains photographs, correspondence, clippings, and paper ephemera relating to Hartney's World War I and postwar career, as well as some family materials. The bulk of the collection was gathered by his wife Irene Hartney and assembled into a scrapbook, then later disassembled for digitization by the family. The materials trace Hartney's life from his service as a squadron and group commander in France during World War I; to the interwar period in which he raced aircraft, wrote a book on his World War I experience, and served as an air safety investigator; to his air transport efforts during World War II.

The Herman Butler Collection contains correspondence, photographs, and ephemera relating to Butler's World War I military career. Letters and postcards from Butler to his aunt and uncle, along with a collection of black-and-white photographs, trace his wartime activities from training in California to travel across the country to New York, shipping out to England, service in France, and postwar service in Virginia. Additional materials include military and wartime ephemera, the bulk of which is from the U.S.A. School of Aerial Photography in Langley Field, Virginia.

The Herman J. Sommerhauser World War I Photograph Album contains seventy-two (72) photographs from the World War I service of Sommerhauser. Photos are primarily snapshots, with a few studio portraits, most with handwritten captions. Images are primarily of servicemen and aircraft at Orly Field, France, with a few snapshots from Paris and a ship journey on the U.S.S. Caserta (possibly the return home post-war). Several groups of men are identified as the 650th Aero Squadron, although it is unclear if Sommerhauser himself belonged to the squadron.

The Irwin Bryan Meyers Photograph Album relates to the World War I military service of Meyers, who served as an airplane mechanic for the 88th Aero Squadron. The album contains one hundred twenty-nine (129) photographs and features squadron and group photos, often posed with aircraft; maps and aerials; souvenir copy photos; shots of servicemen, aircraft, offices, and construction at Orly Field, France; airships and hangars, aircraft; numerous views of troops on the move. Locations primarily follow the movements of the 88th around France and their post-war station in Trier, Germany. Aircraft pictured include Caudron, de Havilland, Hannover, Junkers, Royal Aircraft Factory, Rumpler, Salmson, Sopwith, and SPAD planes.

Please note that some of the images in this album contain graphic images of wartime casualties.

The J. M. Wilson Notebook is comprised of a notebook and the assorted loose materials enclosed in it. The notes are primarily on World War I-era aircraft engines. Additional materials include various articles on engines and a receipt.

The Jim Bergstrom Collection of World War Aviation Stereographs contains five (5) stereograph images of World War I scenes. The stereographs were published by the Keystone View Company and photographs were taken from approximately 1914-1919.

The Jules Verne (J. V.) and Harley Hyde Collection consists of documents and photographs relating to the military service of the Hyde brothers. J. V. Hyde's military career and post-war activities, including his tenure as the first manager of Boeing Field and later work as a Boeing inspector, are documented with military orders, memos, letters, clippings and photographs. Harley Hyde's military service and death are documented with letters, certificates, clippings and photographs. Assorted photographs, an oversize scrapbook, and photograph album related to the Hyde Family are also included.