Collection Summary
General William Mitchell Papers 1888-1946
(bulk 1907-1946)
1888-1946
(bulk 1907-1946)
MSS33142
Mitchell, William, 1879-1936
21,000 items
67 containers plus 1 oversize
25 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Army officer, farmer, and author. Diaries,
correspondence, writings, and other material relating to Mitchell's court-martial;
aerial operations of the army, the U.S. Army Signal Corps Aviation Section, later the
U.S. Army Air Service, during World War I; and subsequent developments of air
power.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
McSwain, John Jackson, 1875-1936--Correspondence.
Mitchell, William, 1879-1936.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945--Correspondence.
Organizations
United States. Army--History--World War, 1914-1918.
United States. Army. Air Service.
United States. Army. Signal Corps. Aviation Section.
Subjects
Aerial photography.
Air power.
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry.
World War, 1914-1918--Aerial operations, American.
Occupations
Army officers.
Authors.
Farmers.
Provenance
The papers of William Mitchell, army officer, farmer, and author, were given to the
Library of Congress by Elizabeth M. Byrd, William Mitchell, Jr., and Lucy Mitchell
Gilpin in 1949. Additional papers were received by gift, deposit, and transfer,
1953-1971.
Processing History
The papers of William Mitchell were processed in 1957. Revisions and additions were
made in 1980 and 1984. The finding aid was revised again in 2013.
Additional Guides
The Mitchell Papers have been described in the Library's
Quarterly Journal of
Acquisitions
6 (August 1949): 39-43 and 18 (May 1961): 136.
Copyright Status
Copyright in the unpublished writings of William Mitchell in these papers and in
other collections of papers in the custody of the Library of Congress has been
dedicated to the public.
Access and Restrictions
The papers of William Mitchell are open to research. Researchers are advised to
contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored
off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, General William Mitchell Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1879
Born, Nice, France
1898
Graduated, Racine College, Racine, Wis.
1898
Enlisted as a private, Company M, 1st Wisconsin Infantry, in Spanish-American
War
1899
B.A., George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
1901
1904
Oversaw construction of Washington-Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System
while stationed in Alaska
1904
Organized 1st Field Signal Company, Fort Leavenworth, Kans.; instructor in
Signal School, Infantry and Cavalry School
1906
Served in army in San Francisco, Calif., after earthquake and in Cuba
1908
Graduated with distinction, Army School of the Line
1909
Graduated, Army Staff College
1909
1911
Served in Philippines
1913
1916
Duty on General Staff
1917
1918
Commander, air force, American Expeditionary Forces, with rank of
brigadier-general, World War I
1919
1925
Director, Military Aeronautics in United States Air Service
1925
Court-martialed
1926
Resigned commission in United States Army
1926
1936
Retired to his farm near Middleburg, Va., where he engaged in stock raising
and writing books and articles
1936
Died; buried in Milwaukee, Wis.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of General William (“Billy”) Mitchell (1879-1936) span the years 1888-1946,
with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1907-1946. Consisting of
letters, diaries, clippings, photographs, writings, and other material, the collection
treats the early days of aviation as well as Mitchell's ideas and military career. The
papers are organized into six series: [
Diaries and Journals
](Diary); [
General Correspondence
](Gen); [
Family Correspondence
](Fam); [
Speech, Article, and Book File
](Speech); [
Subject File
](Subj); and [
Miscellany
](Misc).
Of particular interest among the unpublished writings are typescripts of books on Alaska
as the key to the air defense of the United States, the Pacific as the probable scene of
a second world war, and a history of aviation in World War I. These works, with
illustrations, are accompanied by the diaries, reports, and eyewitness notes on which
they were based. Other documents include typewritten transcripts of General Mitchell's
testimony before various committees of Congress, many portions of which do not appear in
the printed record; material relating to the court-martial of 1925-1926 that resulted in
his resignation from military service; correspondence with members of Congress,
especially John J. McSwain, chairman of the House Military Affairs Committee; letters
endorsing Mitchell for appointment as assistant secretary of war for air; and a series
of communications in 1932 and 1933 with Franklin D. Roosevelt whose candidacy for the
presidency Mitchell supported.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in six series:
-
[
Diaries and Journals, 1917-1928
](Diary)
-
[
General Correspondence, 1907-1946
](Gen)
-
[
Family Correspondence, 1888-1927
](Fam)
-
[
Speech, Article, and Book File, 1915-1928
](Speech)
-
[
Subject File, 1911-1945
](Subj)
-
[
Miscellany, 1918-1942
](Misc)
Container List
Container
Contents
1-5
Diaries and Journals, 1917-1928
1917-1928
Typescripts of diaries and clippings of portions of a diary published in
Liberty
magazine.
Arranged by type of writing and therein date or title.
1
Diaries
1
April 20,1917
April 20,1917
(4 folders)
1
July.-Dec. 1924
July.-Dec. 1924
(6 folders)
2
“Before Pershing in Europe,” May 1917-Feb. 1919
May 1917-Feb. 1919
(4 folders)
3
“European diary,” Apr. 1917-Feb. 1919
Apr. 1917-Feb. 1919
(3 folders)
3
“Leaves from My War Diary,” sheets clipped
from
Liberty
magazine,
Apr.-Nov. 1919, 1928
Apr.-Nov. 1919, 1928
4
Journals
4
Jan. 1919-Dec. 1920
Jan. 1919-Dec. 1920
(8 folders)
5
Jan. 1921-Dec. 1923
Jan. 1921-Dec. 1923
(9 folders)
6-19
General Correspondence, 1907-1946
1907-1946
Letters sent and received.
Arranged chronologically. The period 1907-1920 is organized by month; 1921-1946
by year.
6
1907-1918
1907-1918
(2 folders)
7
1919-1933
1919-1933
(5 folders)
8
1920
1920
(2 folders)
9
1921-1922
1921-1922
(5 folders)
10
1923-1925
1923-1925
(5 folders)
11
1925
1925
(5 folders)
12
1926
1926
(3 folders)
13
1926-1927
1926-1927
(4 folders)
14
1928-1929
1928-1929
(4 folders)
15
1929-1930
1929-1930
(3 folders)
16
1931-1933
1931-1933
(3 folders)
17
1933
1933
(2 folders)
18
1933
1933
(3 folders)
19
1934-1946, undated
1934-1946, undated
(4 folders)
19A-19B
Family Correspondence, 1888-1927
1888-1927
Correspondence of family members.
Arranged chronologically.
19A
1888-1899
1888-1899
(7 folders)
19B
1899-1927, undated
1899-1927, undated
(7 folders)
20-30
Speech, Article, and Book File,
1915-1928
1915-1928
Writings by and about Mitchell, including three of his books.
The Opening
of Alaska
,
From Start to Finish of Our Greatest War
, and
Skyways
.
Arranged by title or type of writing.
20
The Opening of Alaska
(5 folders)
21
From Start to Finish of Our Greatest War
(41 folders)
22
(40 folders)
23
Skyways
(6 folders)
23
“Our Faulty Military Policy,” 1915
1915
23
Miscellaneous articles and speeches
24
“America Air Power, and the Pacific,” 1928
1928
(2 folders)
24
Drafts for article on conditions in the Pacific
24
“The Romance of the Tuna Fish”
25
Miscellaneous articles
(7 folders)
26
Speeches and articles
(7 folders)
27
Articles, statements, and related correspondence
(25 folders)
28
Articles and addresses
(17 folders)
29
Miscellaneous articles
(6 folders)
30
Miscellaneous articles, addresses, and
statements
(15 folders)
31-47
Subject File,
1911-1945
1911-1945
Memoranda, reports, notes, war journals, bulletins, circulars, press releases,
maps, charts relating to operations of the air corps in World War I and the
subsequent developments of air power in the United States and other countries.
Material on Mitchell's court-martial includes memoranda, reports, testimony,
hearings, evidence, charge sheet, statements, indictment, clippings, and
correspondence.
Mostly arranged alphabetically.
31
Aerial defense; press releases
31
Aerial mail route between South America and
United States
31
Aerial observation; American Expeditionary
Forces training section
31
Aero Club of America
31
Aerodynamics
31
Aeronautical devices; recent progress
31
Aeronautics, separate department
31
Curry Bill
31
Recommendations
(4 folders)
31
Air attaché in England
31
Air attaché in Holland
31
Air mail service
32
Air service
32
Army and navy, recommendations
32
Brief history and late developments
32
Bulletin, German organization, 1917
1917
32
Department organizations
32
Hearings, Mitchell's testimony
32
History of United States Army Air Service,
1862-1920
1862-1920
32
Information group, 1919
1919
32
Intelligence bulletin
32
Air Service, 1917-1925
1917-1925
32
Organization tables, 1920
1920
(2 folders)
32
Question by J. E. Cassidy, 1925
1925
32
War Department, committee report, 1925
1925
33
Aircraft
33
For military and commercial uses in U.S.,
1919-1920
1919-1920
33
Investigations
33
Research development and service in Europe
33
Types used in naval aviation, 1917-1920
1917-1920
33
United States, tables, 1918-1925
1918-1925
33
Versus battleships
33
Airplane accessories
33
Airplane, military
33
Airplanes
33
Air policy, United States Army
34
Air service investigation, press
releases 1926
1926
34
Air service organization, 1917, outline
34
Airship data, 1925
1925
34
Air units, 1912-1913, recommendations by
Mitchell
34
Airways
34
Alaska, invasion of North America by way of
34
Alaska flight, 1920, plan of operation
34
Alaskan air mail service, 1924
1924
34
American Express Co.; account with Mitchell,
1924
1924
34
American air service in Great Britain,
1917-1918; a history
34
Aviation in America
34
Aviation program in Europe, 1917; proceedings of
Board of Officers
34
Aviation, United States in zone of the advance,
1917-1918; 1st Army Corps, memoranda
34
Aviation policy, 1919; naval development of
34
Aviation, Handling of by War and Navy
Departments
34
Aviation medicine
35
Bangor flight, 1923, report
35
Biographical material
35
Bombardment group
35
Bombardment planes, 1923
1923
35
Bombing attacks on British Airdomes and depots,
1917-1918
1917-1918
35
Bombing maneuvers off Cape Hatteras, N.C., 1923,
report
35
Bombs, 1923, present status
35
Bomb sights tests of United States Navy
35
Budget statements and cost estimates of United
States Air Service, 1911-1925
1911-1925
35
Budget statements and cost estimates of air
service; army and navy, 1924-1926
1924-1926
36
Charts, 1923-1924, Naval and Airway Chemical
Warfare Association, 1925
36
Chemical warfare, first authoritative account,
1920
1920
36
Coast defense, 1920-1925, plans and functions of
army and navy, 1919-1920
36
Commercial and civil aviation, 1924
1924
36
Cooperation with other arms of service
36
Curtiss Eagle (United States Airplane SA664243)
crash, 1921, report
37
Court-martial,
1925
1925
37
Testimony of Mitchell before House Military
Affairs Committee, 1925
1925
37
Testimony of Mitchell before President's
Board, 1925
1925
(3 folders)
37
Miscellaneous papers to be used in court-
martial, 1919-1925
1919-1925
37
Evidence for and against Special Board
Report, 1925
1925
37A
Correspondence, 1925
1925
38
Aircraft defense, 1925
1925
38
Anti-aircraft tests, 1925-1926
1925-1926
38
Report of Lt. Sheridan, 1925
1925
38
Questions for General Summeral, 1922-1925
1922-1925
38
Statements from Mitchell's desk, 1925
1925
38
Statements leading to court-martial,
1926
1926
38
Charge sheet against Mitchell
38
Press releases of trial and court-martial,
1925
1925
38
Statements of Mitchell, 1925-1926
1925-1926
38
Statements of Mitchell on resignation
38
“A Nicois Who Has Made His Mark”
38
Posthumous recognition, 1936-1945
1936-1945
39
Daedalians-Order of, 1936, certificate and copy
of constitution
39
Daily journal of Office of Chief of Air Service,
1917-1918, 1st Army Corps, American Expeditionary Forces
39
Decorations bestowed on Mitchell, 1918-1923
1918-1923
39
Engineering Division inspection, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925
1921, 1922, 1924, 1925
40
Fatalities,
1919
1919
40
First Provisional Air Brigade activities,
Charleston, W. Va., 1921
1921
40
Report of operations
40
Langley Field, Va.
40
Naval ordnance tests
40
Report of flight surgeon's work
40
Report of Joint Board
40
Flight of Mitchell, 1917-1918
1917-1918
40
Foreign Air Service
40
France, 1918
1918
40
United States Air Service Station
40
Date
41
Report of inspection trip, France, Germany,
Holland and England, 1921-1922
1921-1922
(4 folders)
41
Fullam, Willam Freeland, statement
42
Great Britain, British air minister's remarks,
1920-1925
1920-1925
42
Hawaiian Islands, 1923, airways
42
Hawaiian maneuvers, 1925, proposed
Australian-New Zealand cruise of U.S. fleet
42
Hawaiian Department, preliminary report of
inspection
42
Helium program, 1920-1925
1920-1925
42
India, aviation
42
Industrial mobilization plan, 1925-1926; course
in Army War College
42
Instrument flying training, 1933-1935; fog-eye
42
International air code, 1922-1923
1922-1923
42
Japanese aviation
42
Report of inspection, Langin Field and other
air bases in United States and Canada, 1923
1923
42
Report on Hawaiian installation
43
Maps and photographs, 1917-1918
1917-1918
43
Depots de Munitions ennemis, 1917-1918
1917-1918
(3 folders)
43
Gares importantes, 1917-1918
1917-1918
43
Gares ď importance recordaire, 1918
1918
43
Gares tres importantes
44
Gares ennemis, 1917-1918
1917-1918
44
Maps
44
France, 1918
1918
44
Railroad from Epernay to Vitry-de-Francois
44
World War I
44
McCook Field
44
Report of inspection of Air Service,
1921-1925
1921-1925
(4 folders)
44
Program of visit by Mitchell
45
Meteorology reports, 1920-1921
1920-1921
45
Military Appropriations Committee; testimony,
1924
1924
45
Miscellaneous accounts, 1926-1933; invoices
45
National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics, 1921
1921
45
National Defense
45
Complete reorganization of air power
45
Miscellaneous, 1924-1925
1924-1925
45
National Defense Act, 1920-1927
1920-1927
45
National Defense Department
45
Proposed bill to establish index
45
Proposed plan, 1926
1926
45
Why?
45
National organization in war, 1915
1915
45
Naval aviation policy, 1919-1920
1919-1920
45
Navy data, 1919-1920
1919-1920
45
Navy propaganda, 1925
1925
45A
Operation reports, 1917-1924
1917-1924
45A
1st Army
(7 folders)
45A
2nd Army, 1918
1918
45A
3rd Army,
1918-1919
1918-1919
45B
Orders
45B
1st Army, 1918
1918
(2 folders)
45B
Mitchell, William, 1917-1925
1917-1925
46
Pacific problems, 1924; strategical aspect
46
Passport; Mitchell
46
Philippine Islands; Reports of inspection of Air
Service, 1924
1924
(2 folders)
46
Poem, “To Daddy”
46
Proposal for United Air Service, 1924
1924
46
Reenforcements statistics; branch memoranda,
1918
1918
46
Royal Air Force, 1923
1923
46
Secretary of war data, 1920-1925
1920-1925
46
Signal Corps, 1925; promotion, Mitchell
46
Sperry device; report of inspection, 1923
1923
47
Third Army
47
American Expeditionary Forces
47
History
47
Plan of employment and manual of
operations, 1918-1919
1918-1919
47
Transcontinental flight, 1919
1919
47
War Department, 1919-1925
1919-1925
47
News releases
47
Statements before Board of Inquiry, 1925
1925
47
World flight, 1923-1924; complete account,
1923-1924
(5 folders)
48-63
Miscellany, 1918-1942
1918-1942
Reports, memoranda, memorabilia, printed matter, clippings, and scrapbooks
containing photographs, clippings, diagrams, and maps.
Arranged by type of material.
48
Reports, 1918-1927
1918-1927
(4 folders)
49
(7 folders)
50
Memorabilia and miscellaneous items
(4 folders)
51
Printed matter
(6 folders)
52
(13 folders)
53
Scrapbook and clippings
54
Clippings and miscellaneous items
55-59
Clippings, 1925-1942
1925-1942
60
Photocopy of a scrapbook of cartoons about
Mitchell
60
Copy of
L'Illustration
, Sept. 24, 1927
Sept. 24, 1927
60
Maps and aerial photographs
OV 61
Oversize
OV 61
Diagrams (charts for Asiatic report)
OV 61
Notes on the preparation of charts for
Mitchell
OV 61
Billboard posters advertising a talk by
Mitchell, 1926
1926
OV 61
Russian posters on air power, 1925
1925
OV 61
Map of India
OV 61
Map of the United States showing air bases
62
Scrapbooks
62
1925
1925
63
1923-1925
1923-1925