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William Adger Moffett Papers, 1904-1948 (bulk 1918-1933): Finding Aid

Published in 1989

Summary Information

  • Publisher: United States Naval Academy. Special Collections & Archives.
  • Publisher Address:
    589 McNair Road
    Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5029, USA
    Phone: 410-293-6917
    https://www.usna.edu/Library/sca/index.php
  • Call number: MS 198
  • Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
  • Title: William Adger Moffett Papers
  • Dates: 1904-1948
  • Bulk Dates: 1918-1933
  • Size: 10.65 linear feet
  • Container Summary: 27 half-manuscript boxes, 4 manuscript boxes, 2 flat boxes
  • Creator: Moffett, William A. (William Adger), 1869-1933
  • Language(s) of material: English
  • Abstract: William Adger Moffett was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, having served as first Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics. The Moffett Papers, consisting of correspondence, press releases, notes, and news clippings, pertain to such topics as the evolution of naval aviation, lighter-than-air technology, the London Naval Conference, coastal defense, budgetary matters, and relations between the military, political, and commercial spheres.

Biography of William Adger Moffett

Rear Admiral William Adger Moffett was born on October 31, 1863 in Charleston, South Carolina to George Hall and Elizabeth H. Moffett. Appointed to the United States Naval Academy as a Naval Cadet on September 6, 1886, Moffett graduated as a member of the Class of 1890.

During the Spanish American War, Moffett, then an Ensign, served aboard U.S.S. Charleston during the Battle of Manila Bay. Following the battle, Moffett was assigned by Admiral George Dewey to Cavite, where he was charged with the salvage of enemy vessels that had been sunk in Manila during the battle. Following the war, he served aboard U.S.S. Kentucky, U.S.S. Maine, and U.S.S. Maryland.

In 1914, Moffett was in command of the cruiser U.S.S. Chester during the occupation of Veracruz, Mexico by U.S. Naval Forces. On the night of April 21-22, he brought his ship into the inner harbor of Veracruz without the assistance of a pilot or navigational lights, and was in position on the morning of April 22 to bring his guns to bear. For his actions in Veracruz, Moffett was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

In March 1917, Moffett was made Commandant of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Naval Districts, in addition to his command of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, of which he had been in command since late 1914. Under his command, the station expanded during the War from a small station to the largest recruiting depot in the United States, supplying trained personnel for all of the various Naval Activities during the War. Moffett, then a Captain, received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service. From Great Lakes, Moffett went on to command U.S.S. Mississippi upon the conclusion of the War.

On July 25, 1921, President Harding appointed Moffett as first Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics with the rank of Rear Admiral. Moffett's appointment as Bureau Chief was renewed in 1925 and 1929. As Bureau Chief, Moffett oversaw an eight-fold expansion in Naval Aviation, including the development of the Navy's first aircraft carriers, the installation of airplane catapults on battleships and cruisers, and the development of the Navy's first rigid airships. Rear Admiral William Adger Moffett died on April 4, 1933, along with 72 other crew members and passengers when the airship U.S.S. Akron (ZRS-4) crashed off the coast of New Jersey.

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Description of Contents

The William Adger Moffett Papers, comprising 10.65 linear feet of documentation, span from 1904 until 1948. While ultimately spanning most of Moffett's U.S. Navy career, his papers are overwhelmingly the product of his time as Chief of the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics from 1921 until his death in the crash of the airship Akron in 1933.

The papers consist of incoming and outgoing letters, memoranda, press releases, news clippings, notes, reports, congressional documents, and speeches.

The Moffett Papers are arranged in three records series. The bulk of Moffett's personal and official correspondence appears in Series 1: Alphabetical Correspondence Files. Many of the collection's reports, news clippings, congressional documents, and speeches are found in Series 2: Chronological Files. The final series, Items A through R, is an assemblage of varying document types, including newspaper clippings on prohibition and the Lindbergh Kidnapping, press releases on Naval Aviation, and notes for testimony before the Standley Board. All three series cover a multitude of Naval and Naval Aviation topics, such as aeronautical education, U.S. air bases, commercial uses for rigid airships, aeronautical exhibits at the Century of Progress Exhibition, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber/Goodyear Zeppelin Company, coastal defense, naval aviator flight pay, the Great Lakes Naval Station, the London Naval Conference of 1930, seaplanes, feuds between Moffett and William "Billy" Mitchell, debates over a unified versus separate air services, various Navy boards and investigations, U.S. Navy airships (Akron, Los Angeles, Macon, and Shenandoah), and the internal structure and functioning of the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics. A number of documents also pertain to biographies of Moffett, his death in the wreck of the Akron, and reminiscences of Moffett and his impact in the years following his death.

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Arrangement

The William Adger Moffett Papers are organized into the following three series:

  • Series 1: Alphabetical Correspondence Files, 1911-1933
  • Series 2: Chronological Files, 1904-1936
  • Series 3: Items A through R, 1911-1948
  • Subseries 3a: Item A - Bureau of Aeronautics Reappointment Scrapbook, 1929
  • Subseries 3b: Items B through C - Aviation News Releases, 1921
  • Subseries 3c: Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1923-1934
  • Subseries 3d: Items E through L - William A. Moffett News Clippings, 1918-1933
  • Subseries 3e: Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1922-1933
  • Subseries 3f: Item N - Drafts and Notes, 1928 (approximate)
  • Subseries 3g: Item O - William A. Moffett Flight Logs, 1922-1933
  • Subseries 3h: William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), 1911-1948
  • Subseries 3i: Item Q - Akron (Airship) - Crash, 1933
  • Subseries 3j: Item R - William A. Moffett Opinion of Lindbergh Kidnapping, 1932
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Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted. In 1993, any papers in this collection which may have originally borne security restrictions were examined by S. Brewer, USNA Assistant Security Manager, and declared unrestricted and declassified.

Copyright and Permission

The William Adger Moffett Papers are the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Other Finding Aid(s)

The majority of the documents in the William Adger Moffett Papers have been indexed in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog, available in the Annapolis Room, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library. For Special Collections staff to locate and retrieve papers requested through the card catalog, the researcher must provide identifying information from the relevant catalog cards. Patrons should first locate their topic of interest in the card catalog, and then note the following information for each type of card:

1. Correspondence Section card: User notes primary correspondent [name in capitals] and first date appearing on card.

2. Chronological Section card: User notes first date appearing on card and first line of information following date.

3. Chronological Section card with no date ["n.d."]: User notes number which appears in upper right-hand corner of card.

4. Item card: User notes Item card letter [A through R] which appears in either the upper right-hand corner or to the left of the first line of the card.

A shelf list for Items A through R is found in the front of the first drawer of the Moffett Papers Card Catalog.

For examples of cards, see: Moffett Papers Card Catalog: Examples of Catalog Cards

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Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of William A. Moffett, Jr. via the Eugene Wilson Foundation in 1976.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional materials in Special Collections & Archives pertaining to William A. Moffett's life and career may be found in the William Adger Moffett Collection, MS 234 and in Moffett's Alumni Jacket and Conduct Record. Photographs of William A. Moffett and his family may be found in the Special Collections Picture File and the Transitional Picture File.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

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Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

William Adger Moffett Papers, MS 198

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was partially indexed prior to accessioning. Additional processing by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1989. Container list prepared by David D'Onofrio in March 2014. Finding aid written by Mary R. Catalfamo in 1989 and revised by David D'Onofrio in March 2014.

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Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

  • Aircraft carriers -- United States
  • Airships -- United States -- History
  • American Legion
  • Coast Defenses
  • Interservice rivalry (Armed Forces) -- United States
  • London Naval Conference
  • Mitchell, William, 1879-1936
  • Moffett, William A. (William Adger), 1869-1933
  • United States -- Armed Forces -- Pay, allowances, etc
  • United States. Navy -- Aviation -- History
  • United States. Navy Department. Bureau of Aeronautics

Genre Terms

  • Clippings (information artifacts)
  • Correspondence
  • Logs (records)
  • Manuscripts
  • Press releases
  • Reports
  • Scrapbooks
  • Speeches (documents)
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Contents List

Series 1: Alphabetical Correspondence Files, 1911-1933 Boxes 1-15

Series Description

Letters received and copies of letters sent by William A. Moffett to numerous correspondents. The correspondence pertains to a wide range of topics related to the U.S. Navy, Naval aviation, and the life and career of William A. Moffett.

All of the documents in this series have been indexed in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog.

Series Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by surname of correspondent.

Box 1 Folder 1

Illegible Signatures and Unsigned, 1918-1933

Box 1 Folder 2

Abbott, B. Vaughan - Adams, Mrs. Charles F., 1929-1933

Box 1 Folder 3

Adams, Porter, 1925 January 5-1930 October 10

Box 1 Folder 4

Adams, Porter, 1930 November 28-1933 March 8

Box 1 Folder 5

Adams, Randolph G. - Ailsworth, James R., 1925-1932

Box 1 Folder 6

Akron, Mayor of - Allard, J.S., 1924-1933

Box 1 Folder 7

Allen, Daniel C. - American Blue Book Publishers, 1921-1932

Box 1 Folder 8

Ames - Archibald, James F.J., 1918-1932

Box 1 Folder 9

Arey, G.R. - Atlantic City Press, 1921-1933

Box 1 Folder 10

B.G. Corporation - Bash, L.H., 1921-1932

Box 1 Folder 11

Battey, George M., Jr. - Berchtold, William E., 1922-1933

Box 1 Folder 12

Bergen, John J., 1926-1933

Box 1 Folder 13

Bernhard, Alva D. - Billin, Charles E., 1923-1933

Box 2-3 Folder 1

Bingham, Hiram, 1929-1933

Box 2-3 Folder 2

Black, S. Bruce - Byrne, F.J., 1917-1933

Box 2-3 Folder 3

Cabot, Godfrey L. - Carlisle, George, 1923-1933

Box 2-3 Folder 4

Carrigan, M.J. - Collis, W.P., 1921-1932

Box 2-3 Folder 5

Cone, H.I. - Cushman, E.S., 1923-1933

Box 2-3 Folder 6

Dallaghan, W.J.H. - Deese, D.E., 1924-1933

Box 2-3 Folder 7

Delaney, John J. - Dillingham, Charles K., 1923-1932

Box 2-3 Folder 8-10

Dillingham, George M., 1930 November 20-1932 July 19

Box 2-3 Folder 11

Dillon, W.M. - Dyrenforth, Harold, 1925-1933

Box 2-3 Folder 12

Earle, Horace C. - Egtoedt, Claire, 1923-1933

Box 2-3 Folder 13

Elliott, Alonzo - Farnsworth, A.E., 1923-1933

Box 2-3 Folder 14

Farrell, Morgan - Fisher, Earl D., 1923-1933

Box 4 Folder 1

Fisher, Hugh W. - Fleet, R.H., 1924-1933

Box 4 Folder 2

Fletcher, Duncan, U. - Friedrick, Ernest, 1924-1933

Box 4 Folder 3

Fries, Amos A. - Gage, Arthur G., 1922-1932

Box 4 Folder 4

Galey, Thomas M. - Goldberg, Jacob, 1921-1933

Box 4 Folder 5

Golden, John - Gove, Stella, 1921-1933

Box 5 Folder 1

Grow, Harold B. - Haggarty, Joseph F., 1925-1933

Box 5 Folder 2

Haines, J. Allen - Haines, W.O., 1923-1933

Box 5 Folder 3

Hale, Frederick - Hall, Mabel Ely, 1923-1932

Box 5 Folder 4

Hall, N. Earl - Hanna, Mark A., 1928-1933

Box 5 Folder 5

Hanrahan, D.C. - Harter, Herold M., 1925-1932

Box 5 Folder 6

Hartney, Harold E. - Healy, Thomas H., 1918-1933

Box 6 Folder 1

Hearst, William Randolph - Heyworth, Martica, 1924-1933

Box 6 Folder 2

Hibbard, Angus - Hooper, F.H., 1923-1933

Box 6 Folder 3

Hoover, W.H. - Hyatt, Frank K., 1921-1933

Box 6 Folder 4

Imbrie, James, Jr. - Irwin, N.E., 1921-1933

Box 6 Folder 5

Isbester, George C. - Jahncke, Ernest L., 1921-1933

Box 6 Folder 6

James, C.M. - Joyce, Temple N., 1921-1933

Box 7 Folder 1

Kahn, Florence P. - Kennedy, John F., 1918-1932

Box 7 Folder 2

Ketridge, C. Riley - Klemin, Alexander, 1923-1932

Box 7 Folder 3

Klemperer, Wolfgang - Kurfess, W.F., 1921-1933

Box 7 Folder 4

Lafrenz, W.F. - Latimer, Jules L., 1922-1933

Box 7 Folder 5

Lavan, John - Lewis, W.M., 1923-1932

Box 7 Folder 6

Leydig, Raymond A. - Loftis Brothers and Company, 1921-1932

Box 8 Folder 1

Long, H.F.D. - Lyon, Norman M., 1921-1933

Box 8 Folder 2

Maas, Melvin J. -McCord, C.G., 1922-1932

Box 8 Folder 3

McCormick, Harold F. - McCutcheon, John T., 1918-1933

Box 8 Folder 4

McDonald, E.F., Jr., 1925-1933

Box 8 Folder 5

McDonnell, E.O. - McGowan, Robert, 1921-1933

Box 8 Folder 6

McGowan, Samuel - McKinney, 1921-1933

Box 8 Folder 7

MacLean, George E. - McNeary, W.F., 1923-1933

Box 8 Folder 8

McNulta, Herbert - Magruder, T.P., 1921-1932

Box 8 Folder 9

Maier, George J. - Mason, Francis H., 1922-1932

Box 8 Folder 10

Masterson, James F. - Mayo, William B., 1923-1933

Box 8 Folder 11

Mead, A.R. - Merrill, Keith, 1921-1933

Box 8 Folder 12

Michaud, Ralph W. - Miller, William B., 1921-1933

Box 8 Folder 13

Mingos, Howard - Moore, Harvey, 1921-1933

Box 9 Folder 1

Moore, John - Myers, Milton A., 1922-1923

Box 9 Folder 2

Nagle, P.E.D. - Nelson, Frank A., 1923-1933

Box 9 Folder 3

Nettleton, J. Gilbert - Nutt, Weimar D., 1922-1932

Box 9 Folder 4

Oakland. Board of Port Commissioners - O'Keefe, James, 1925-1932

Box 9 Folder 5

O'Laughlin, John C. - Owens, Thomas, 1923-1933

Box 9 Folder 6

Palmer, C.D. - Patten, Fred E., 1925-1932

Box 9 Folder 7

Patterson, A.R. - Pease, L.A., 1922-1933

Box 10 Folder 1

Peck, Mrs. B.F. - Peoples, Christian J., 1927-1933

Box 10 Folder 2

Perkins, Albert T. - Pickering, Woodell A., 1921-1933

Box 10 Folder 3

Pierce, M.R. - Popper, Joseph W., 1926-1933

Box 10 Folder 4

Potter, Edward C. - Pynchon, George M., 1921-1932

Box 10 Folder 5

Quandt, H.F. - Rand, Rufus, R., 1922-1932

Box 10 Folder 6

Randolph, Harrison - Reeves, Mary A., 1921-1932

Box 10 Folder 7

Rehr, Roe - Ring, Stanhope, C., 1921-1933

Box 11 Folder 1

Ritter, Henry S. - Robinson, F.M., 1921-1933

Box 11 Folder 2

Robinson, Joseph T. - Rosendahl, Charles E., 1921-1932

Box 11 Folder 3

Rosenwald, Julius - Ryan, William B., 1918-1933

Box 11 Folder 4

Sabath, A.J. - Satterlee, Herbert L., 1923-1933

Box 11 Folder 5

Saunders, J.A. - Schenk, Nicholas M., 1923-1932

Box 11 Folder 6

Schick, Charles W. - Schiff, William, 1924-1933

Box 11 Folder 7

Schmidt, Karl - Scott, William F., 1918-1932

Box 11 Folder 8

Selfridge, J.R. - Sheppard, E.W., 1921-1933

Box 12 Folder 1

Sherfesee, M.F. - Shoemaker, Mrs. H.E., 1930-1932

Box 12 Folder 2

Shore, John D. - Slatnik, Maurice, 1918-1932

Box 12 Folder 3

Sloan, Bernard - Soulby, Stanley R., 1921-1932

Box 12 Folder 4

Sousa, John Philip - Speir, George G., 1923-1933

Box 12 Folder 5

Spencer, E.W. - Stevenson, W.L., 1921-1933

Box 12 Folder 6

Stewart, Alexander M. - Sturms, Carlton K., 1925-1933

Box 12 Folder 7

Sullivan, Franklin B. - Symington, Powers, 1925-1933

Box 13 Folder 1

Taylor, T. Talmage - Tibbetts, Milton, 1921-1932

Box 13 Folder 2

Tichenor, Frank A. - Time, 1926-1933

Box 13 Folder 3

Todd, H. Stanley - Toole, G.Glen, 1923-1933

Box 13 Folder 4

Towers, John H., 1930-1933

Box 13 Folder 5

Townsend, Ben F. - Turnbull, A.D., 1924-1933

Box 13 Folder 6

Turner, Fred J. - Twitty, Brice L., 1921-1932

Box 13 Folder 7

Ullman, E.S. - Utz, Earl R., 1921-1933

Box 13 Folder 8

Van Auken, W.R. - Vernou, W.N., 1925-1933

Box 14 Folder 1

Victory, John F. - Vose, F.P., 1921-1933

Box 14 Folder 2

Wagenseil, E.W. - Warburton, C.W., 1922-1933

Box 14 Folder 3

Ward, Charles E. - Watson, D.C., 1921-1933

Box 14 Folder 4

Wead, Frank W. - Weed, George L., 1927-1932

Box 14 Folder 5

Weichelt, G.M., 1923 July 31-1931 May 19

Box 14 Folder 6

Weichelt, G.M., 1932 January 5-1933 February 27

Box 14 Folder 7

Wess, J. Howard - Westover, O., 1933-1935

Box 14 Folder 8

Wethrell, Helen - Wilbur, Harry C., 1921-1933

Box 15 Folder 1

Wild, H.J. - William, Mrs. Lloyd W., 1923-1932

Box 15 Folder 2

Williamson, Charles - Woodbine, Mrs. A.H., 1924-1933

Box 15 Folder 3

Woodruff, Edward L. - Wright Aeronautical Corporation, 1925-1932

Box 15 Folder 4

Wrigley, Philip K. - Wrigley, William, Jr., 1911-1932

Box 15 Folder 5

Wrigley, William, Jr. - Wynne, Edward C., 1926-1932

Box 15 Folder 6

Yakura, M. - Young, W.C., 1924-1933

Box 15 Folder 7

Zogbaum, R.F. - Zouck, George P., 1927-1932

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Series 2: Chronological Files, 1904-1936 Boxes 16-24

Series Description

The series consists of documents such as letters, memoranda, publications, congressional documents, Navy Department reports, and speeches pertaining to the U.S. Navy, Naval aviation, and William A. Moffett's life and career.

All of the documents in this series have been indexed in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog.

Series Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Box 16 Folder 1

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 1-12

Box 16 Folder 2

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 13-19

Box 16 Folder 3

Chronological Files, undated No. 20

Box 16 Folder 4

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 21-25

Box 16 Folder 5

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 26-30

Box 16 Folder 6

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 31-39

Box 17 Folder 1

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 40-41

Box 17 Folder 2

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 42-47

Box 17 Folder 3

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 48-55

Box 17 Folder 4

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 56-62

Box 17 Folder 5

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 63-68

Box 17 Folder 6

Chronological Files, undated Nos. 69-77

Box 17 Folder 7

Chronological Files, 1904 March 31-1920 December 27

Box 18 Folder 1

Chronological Files, 1921

Includes a transcript of Moffett's Flight Log, spanning from 1922 to 1933.

Box 18 Folder 2

Chronological Files, 1921 May 10-1922 December

Box 18 Folder 3

Chronological Files, 1923 December 15-1924 January 5

Box 18 Folder 4

Chronological Files, 1924 February 29-December 2

Box 18 Folder 5

Chronological Files, 1925 January 15-September 21

Box 19 Folder 1

Chronological Files, 1925 September 28-October 27

Box 19 Folder 2

Chronological Files, 1926 January 18-May 19

Box 19 Folder 3

Chronological Files, 1926 October 27-December 23

Box 19 Folder 4

Chronological Files, 1927 January 3-April 21

Box 19 Folder 5

Chronological Files, 1927 May

Box 19 Folder 6

Chronological Files, 1927 May-September 24

Box 20 Folder 1

Chronological Files, 1927 October-December 22

Box 20 Folder 2

Chronological Files, 1928 January 3-11

Box 20 Folder 3

Chronological Files, 1928 January 17-February 25

Box 20 Folder 4

Chronological Files, 1928 March 2-19

Box 20 Folder 5

Chronological Files, 1928 March 23-27

Box 21 Folder 1

Chronological Files, 1928 April-May 24

Box 21 Folder 2

Chronological Files, 1928 June 4-August 16

Box 21 Folder 3

Chronological Files, 1928 August 17

Box 21 Folder 4

Chronological Files, 1928 August 18-30

Box 21 Folder 5

Chronological Files, 1928 September 1-December 1

Box 22 Folder 1

Chronological Files, 1929 January 29-May 9

Box 22 Folder 2

Chronological Files, 1929 June-October 30

Box 22 Folder 3

Chronological Files, 1929 November 7-December 17

Box 22 Folder 4

Chronological Files, 1930 January 11-April 21

Box 22 Folder 5

Chronological Files, 1930 May 11-30

Box 22 Folder 6

Chronological Files, 1930 June 11-August

Box 23 Folder 1

Chronological Files, 1930 October 6-December 18

Box 23 Folder 2

Chronological Files, 1931

Box 23 Folder 3

Chronological Files, 1931 January 8-March 19

Box 23 Folder 4

Chronological Files, 1931 May 9-30

Box 23 Folder 5

Chronological Files, 1931 August 8-December 3

Box 23 Folder 6

Chronological Files, 1932 January 15

Box 24 Folder 1

Chronological Files, 1932 January 20

Box 24 Folder 2

Chronological Files, 1932 January 23-December 15

Box 24 Folder 3

Chronological Files, 1933 January 28-February 17

Box 24 Folder 4

Chronological Files, 1933 February 17

Box 24 Folder 5

Chronological Files, 1933 March-1936 October

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Series 3: Items A through R, 1911-1948 Boxes 25-34[OS]

Series Description

Documents of interest to and pertaining to William A. Moffett. The materials pertain to such topics as U.S. Navy rigid airships, Moffett's position as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, the crash of U.S.S. Akron, the Lindbergh Kidnapping, and Prohibition. Included in the series are originals and copies of correspondence, clippings, log books, notes, drafts, press releases, and a scrapbook.

Series Arrangement

Organized into ten subseries by document type and topic.

Subseries 3a: Item A - Bureau of Aeronautics Reappointment Scrapbook, 1929 Box 34[OS]

Subseries Description

Scrapbook consisting of letters of support and congratulations, as well as news clippings and notices pertaining to William A. Moffett's reappointment as Chief of the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics.

All letters in the scrapbook are indexed by correspondent and pertinent topics in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog. Notices and new clippings have not been indexed.

Subseries Arrangement

The scrapbook comprises a single volume.

Box 34[OS] Folder 1
Item A - Bureau of Aeronautics Reappointment Scrapbook, 1929

Subseries 3b: Items B through C - Aviation News Releases, 1921 Box 33[OS]

Subseries Description

Two binders consisting of 96 U.S. Navy press releases on aviation. The press releases, numbered 001 to 090, span from March 10 through August 26, 1921. At the front of each binder is a listing of all releases in that binder.

The materials in Items B and C have not been indexed in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog.

Subseries Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Box 33[OS] Folder 1
Item B - Aviation News Releases, 1921

Cover title: Book #1 Captain Moffett News Releases #1-50

Box 33[OS] Folder 2
Item C - Aviation News Releases, 1921

Cover title: Book #2 Captain Moffett News Releases #51-

Subseries 3c: Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1923-1934 Box 25

Subseries Description

Letters received by William A. Moffett requesting his autograph.

Subseries Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by surname of requester.

Box 25 Folder 1
Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1924-1933

Aaron, Harry W. - Braun, Howard

Box 25 Folder 2
Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1923-1932

Briddell, York - Everett, Margaret

Box 25 Folder 3
Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1925-1934

Faloon, John E. - Hartman, Donald

Box 25 Folder 4
Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1925-1932

Hayes, Frank R. - Kurchman, Fred

Box 25 Folder 5
Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1926-1932

Ladd, Edward M. - Norris, Howes

Box 25 Folder 6
Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1928-1931

Ohtersen, August G.E. - Shaffer, Mary

Box 25 Folder 7
Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1924-1932

Shedd, John B. - Timbers, Jimmy

Box 25 Folder 8
Item D - Requests for William A. Moffett's Autograph, 1923-1933

Van Sciver, Richard - Wood, Russell M.

Subseries 3d: Items E through L - William A. Moffett News Clippings, 1918-1933 Boxes 26-27

Subseries Description

Newspaper clippings pertaining to William A. Moffett and Naval aviation topics such as the airships Akron and Los Angeles, and naval parity. Other specific topics include the Standley Board, which investigated aviation facilities (1928); a West Coast airship base, Moffett's 1929 reappointment as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, the airship Graf Zeppelin, and Al Williams (1929); the London Naval Conference and Treaty, Moffett's statements on prohibition, and the need for a strong Merchant Marine (1930); the Herbert Hoover-Navy League controversy over Navy budget cuts, impacts of the London Naval Treaty on naval construction, and the Charleston Navy Yard (1931); and the Vinson naval construction bill and Moffett's support thereof, Moffett's American Legion speeches, and Japan (1932).

Items E through L have not been indexed in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog.

Subseries Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Box 26 Folder 1-2
Item E - William A. Moffett News Clippings, undated
Box 26 Folder 3
Items F & G - William A. Moffett News Clippings, 1918-1925
Box 26 Folder 4-5
Item H - William A. Moffett News Clippings, 1929
Box 26 Folder 6-7
Item I - William A. Moffett News Clippings, 1930
Box 27 Folder 1-2
Item J - William A. Moffett News Clippings, 1931
Box 27 Folder 3-4
Item K - William A. Moffett News Clippings, 1932
Box 27 Folder 5
Item L - William A. Moffett News Clippings, 1933

Subseries 3e: Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1922-1933 Box 28

Subseries Description

Speeches, articles, and pamphlets kept by William A. Moffett, originally kept as a compilation entitled "Admiral William A. Moffett's Speeches and Articles, Also, Articles and Pamphlets of Interest to Him."

All materials in Item M have been indexed in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog.

Subseries Arrangement

Arranged by item number as imposed by George H. Moffett.

Box 28 Folder 1
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1922-1926 M1-M6
Box 28 Folder 2
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1928-1929 M7-M13
Box 28 Folder 3
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1929-1930 M14-M18
Box 28 Folder 4
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1930 M19-M23
Box 28 Folder 5
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1930 M24-M29
Box 28 Folder 6
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1931 M30-M37
Box 28 Folder 7
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1931-1932 M38-M46
Box 28 Folder 8
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1932 M47-M49
Box 28 Folder 9
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1933 M50-M53
Box 28 Folder 10
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, 1933 M54
Box 28 Folder 11
Item M - William A. Moffett Miscellany, undated M55-M56

Subseries 3f: Item N - Drafts and Notes, 1928 (approximate) Boxes 29-30

Subseries Description

Rough drafts, copies, notes, corrections, and attachments largely pertaining to William A. Moffett's testimony before the Board investigating the charges against Moffett and Navy aviation made by R.H. Leigh, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, in his letter of April 19, 1928.

Subseries Arrangement

Indeterminable.

Box 29 Folder 1-7
Item N - Drafts and Notes, 1928 (approximate)
Box 30 Folder 1-7
Item N - Drafts and Notes, 1928 (approximate)

Subseries 3g: Item O - William A. Moffett Flight Logs, 1922-1933 Box 33[OS]

Subseries Description

Two Aviators Flight Log Books detailing William A. Moffett's flying experiences.

Subseries Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Box 33[OS] Folder 3
Item O - William A. Moffett Flight Log, 1922 July-1929 October
Box 33[OS] Folder 4
Item O - William A. Moffett Flight Log, 1929 November-1933 April

Subseries 3h: Item P - William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), 1911-1948 Box 31

Subseries Description

Photocopies of miscellaneous letters, memoranda, speeches, and articles, including reminiscences about William A. Moffett.

The materials in Item P have been indexed in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog.

Subseries Arrangement

Arranged by item number.

Box 31 Folder 1
Item P - William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), undated P1-P8
Box 31 Folder 2
Item P - William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), undated P9-P18
Box 31 Folder 3
Item P - William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), 1921-1948 P19-P-50

Unsigned - Zogbaum, R.F.

Box 31 Folder 4
Item P - William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), 1911 December 2-1922 January 27 P51-P59
Box 31 Folder 5
Item P - William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), 1924 January 11-1924 May 29 P60-P62
Box 31 Folder 6
Item P - William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), 1925 January 5-1926 January P-63-P67
Box 31 Folder 7
Item P - William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), 1927 February 10-1933 March 7 P68-P79
Box 31 Folder 8
Item P - William A. Moffett Miscellany (Photoduplications), 1933 April 6-1942 June 13 P80-P84

Subseries 3i: Item Q - Akron (Airship) - Crash, 1933 Box 32

Subseries Description

News clippings concerning the April 4, 1933 crash of the airship U.S.S. Akron and the resulting death of William A. Moffett.

The materials in Item Q have not been indexed in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog.

Subseries Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Box 32 Folder 1-4
Item Q - Akron (Airship) - Crash, 1933

Subseries 3j: Item R - William A. Moffett Opinion of Lindbergh Kidnapping, 1932 Box 32

Subseries Description

Photocopies of letters and news clippings pertaining to Moffett's public statements asserting that Prohibition was responsible for the Lindbergh Kidnapping, due to the financing of kidnappings through criminal profits from bootlegging.

The materials in Item R have not been indexed in the Moffett Papers Card Catalog.

Subseries Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Box 32 Folder 5-6
Item R - William A. Moffett Opinion of Lindbergh Kidnapping, 1932
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