Auburn University Special Collections and Archives

• Rickenbacker Papers
• Finding Aid
• Rickenbacker Digital Collection
• Aviation and Aerospace Collection

Date Span: 1922-1991

Size of Collection: 1.25 cubic feet

Scope / Content:Materials relative to the Life of Eddie Rickenbacker. Diaries, Scrapbooks, letters and pictures from President Hoover and letters from President Eisenhower (with signatures), EVR contracts for early books, 141 photographs for biography. Arranged into 3 series: Series 1: Documents; Series 2: Photographs; Series 3: Scrapbooks.

Note: Most of Series 2 is available digitally in the Auburn University Digital Library.

SERIES 1: DOCUMENTS--various reports, maps, condolence letters and EVR obituaries--mixed with SERIES 3: SCRAPBOOKS regarding EVR and AFR trip to Orient, 1962, and AFR trip to Peru, 1981.

SERIES 1: Documents. and SERIES 3: Scrapbooks.

Box 1:

1. Cover, Marriage Service Book; EVR Photo
2. Marriage Service Book
3. Scrapbook of Estate
4. Cover of EVR's Aleutian Island Report, 11-15-43
5. EVR's Aleutian Island Report, 11-15-43
6. Miscellaneous Letters, 1950s
7. Scrapbook of Beverly Griffith's Birthday, 1961
8. Scrapbook of Trip to Orient, 1962
9. Scrapbook of Trip to Orient, 1962, Lacquerware
10. Scrapbook of Trip to Orient, 1962, Lacquerware
11. Scrapbook of Trip to Europe; Africa, 1964
12. Condolence Letters re: EVR death, dated July 1973
13. Condolence Letters re: EVR death, dated August 1973
14. Condolence Cards re: EVR death, undated, [1973]
15. Scrapbook of Trip to Peru, 1981
16. Guide Materials to Peru, 1981
17. Correspondence re: Rickenbacker Commemorative Stamp
18. Cover to "Captain Eddie, Book 2"; Photographs

Box 2:

1. EVR-Driggs Agreement to Serialize EVR Stories, 1918
2. EVR-McClure Serialization Agreement, 1919

SERIES 1: Documents. Subseries: Travel Maps

Oversized Folder 1

1. Maritime Map of Norway, used by EVR and AFD on 1939 Sailing Trip. EVR Handwritten Notes, "Blad 1"
2. Maritime Map of Norway, used by EVR and AFD on 1939 Sailing Trip. EVR Handwritten Notes, "Blad 2"
3. "Industrial and Archaeological Map of Southern Peru," used by AFD on 1981 Peru trip

SERIES 1: Documents. Subseries: Condolence Letters to William Rickenbacker on EVR's Death

Box 2:

4. From Martin Tressel, 7-23-73, w/ LA Times Obituary
5. Indianapolis News Obituary, 7-23-73
6. From George Pearson, 7-24-73, w/ San Francisco Chronicle Obituary
7. From Gary Joe Connolly, 7-24-73, w/ London Times and Daily Express Obituaries
8. Memo From George Pearson, 7-25-73, w/ Palo Alto Times Obituary
9. New York Times Obituary, 7-29-73
10. Springfield Sunday Republican Obituary, 7-29-93
11. From Bill Schwager, 8-10-73, w/ Zion-Benton News (Waukegan, IL) obituary
12. From Dr. Henry C. Petray, 8-10-73, w/ Oakland (CA) Tribune obituary [incomplete]
13. From Donald H. Rowe, 8-14-73, w/ Oakland (CA) Tribune obituary [complete]
14. Obituary of Marguerite Hazel Shepherd, EVR's long-time secretary, New York Times 11-13-83
15. News Item: "Cheney Recommends Closing 31 U.S. Bases" [re: Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio] Investor's Daily, April 15, 1991, p. 1, 36.
16. Rickenbacker Scrapbook, Last Stop--All Out, 12-19-36 Eastern Airliner Crash

SERIES 2: Photographs. Organized by subject. Includes many 8x10s considered for inclusion in EVR's autobiography: EVR in World War I; the Rickenbacker Family and its individual members; Rickenbacker's businesses--motorcars and Eastern Airlines; and photographs relative to EVR and crew being lost at sea in 1942.

SERIES 2: Photographs. Subseries: "Captain Eddie, Book 2"

Box 1

19. EVR as Captain, World War I, [w/neg.]
20. EVR After World War I
21. EVR in World War I, w/ Unit Mascot (dog)
22. EVR w/ AFR and Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia, NYC 1943
23. EVR w/ Medal of Honor, presented by Herbert Hoover
24. EVR w/ airplane, World War I
25. EVR w/ 94th Squadron SPAD, World War I
26. EVR and Lieutenant posing w/ downed Albatross, WW I
27. EVR in Flight Suit w/ "Hat in the Ring" SPAD
28. EVR w/ Motorcycle and AEF Soldiers, WW I
29. EVR in Uniform, w/ Bombs, WW I
30. EVR at 94th Squadron Headquarters, 1918
31. EVR in Cockpit, "Hat in the Ring" SPAD 1
32. "Hat in the Ring" Insignia, Port Side, Autographed
33. "Hat in the Ring" Insignia, Starboard Side
34. Fuselage, Two-Seated Airplane, WW I
35. Certificate, EVR's Distinguished Service Cross, 5-17-18
36. Certificate, EVR's DSC Oak Leaf Cluster, 5-28-18
37. Certificate, EVR's DSC Oak Leaf Cluster, 5-22-18
38. Certificate, EVR's DSC Oak Leaf Cluster, 9-15-18
39. Certificate, EVR's DSC Oak Leaf Cluster, 5-30-18
40. Certificate, EVR's DSC Oak Leaf Cluster, 9-26-15
41. Certificate, EVR's Croix de Guerre, 11-30-18
42. Certificate, EVR's Croix de Guerre, 5-9-18
43. Certificate, EVR's Medal of Honor, 9-25-18
44. Certificate, EVR's Distinguished Service Cross, 4-29-18
45. Citation for Bravery, 8th Army of France, 5-9-18
46. Citation for Bravery, Army of the East, 11-30-18
47. Abie Karp, EVR Mechanic, WW I
48. Abie Karp, EVR Mechanic, w/ uniform and sidearm, WW I
49. Abie Karp, EVR Mechanic, w/ uniform and sidearm, WWI
50. Abie Karp, EVR Mechanic, in AEF Overcoat, WW I
51. Abie Karp's Sewing Machine Shop, Exterior, n.d.
52. Abie Karp in his Sewing Machine Shop
53. Abie Karp in his Sewing Machine Shop
54. Abie Karp in his Sewing Machine Shop
55. General Billy Mitchell, 1918
56. Billy Mitchell with H. H. (Hap) Arnold
57. General Billy Mitchell in Fully-Decorated Uniform. WWI
58. Mechanics Bertrandias, Olsen, and Worden of 94th, SPAD inspection
59. Pilots Schroder and Coombs, France, WWI
60. Lt. Bertrandias (94th Mechanic) Listens to General Mangin deliver Memorial Day Speech, WWI
61. Lt. Bertrandias (94th Mechanic) attends General Mangin at Memorial Day Services, WWI
62. German "Albatross" Shot Down by Lt. Alan Winslow, Being Towed to Toul, France, 1918
63. Lt. Alan Winslow with downed Albatross, March 1918
64. Albatross downed by Winslow at Toul Aerodrome, 1918
65. Hangar used by U.S. Air Corps, WWI
66. Lt. Alan Winslow and Unidentified Officer with downed Albatross, March 1918
67. Officer of 94th Awaiting Flight Duty Call, WWI
68. Aerial-Bombed Apartment Building, Nancy, France, 10-16-17
69. Sgt. Bertrandias in Nieuport with Lt. Rankin standing, WWI
70. EVR in a "Characteristic Pose," [WWII]
71. EVR Telling Story of 24 Days Lost At Sea [post-WWII]
72. Burris Jenkins's Drawing of EVR in Atlanta Hospital After Airliner Crash, 1941
73. Sgt. Crique, 94th Squadron, Toul, France, WWI
74. Capt. Hamilton Coolidge at Toul, France [killed in action]
75. EVR in Middle Age
76. EVR, October 1934
77. EVR Shooting Craps at Eastern Air Lines Picnic, 1940
78. Presbyterian Church where EVR and AFD were married, 1922
79. Wedding Party pose before Church, September 16, 1922 [Pastor Jacob Pister in White Suit]
80. EVR / AFD on Honeymoon, 1922
81. EVR / AFD Honeymoon, St. Mark's Cathedral, Venice, Italy, 1922
82. AFD at St. Mark's Cathedral, Venice, 1922
83. EVR / AFD Honeymoon, with Pigeons, Venice, 1922
84. EVR / AFD with sons David and William [1930s]
85. EVR / AFD with sons David, in uniform, and William, December 19, 1942
86. EVR / AFD with sons David and William, New York City, December 1942 [Fiorella LaGuardia cropped from this pix]
87. EVR with AFD, both sons, and his mother [1930s]
88. AFD with sons David and William [1930s]
89. EVR with sons David and William in cockpit of race car [1930s]
90. EVR with sons David and William, other kids, and gliders, [1920s-early 1930s]
91. EVR with sons firing BB guns [1930s]
92. EVR / AFD, with sons
93. AFD Portrait [1920s]
94. "Glamour" Portrait of AFD [1920s]
95. AFD Portrait [1920s]
96. Portrait of AFD in "Flapper" Dress [1920s]
97. AFD Portrait [1920s]
98. Oil Painting of AFD, n.d.
99. AFD in Middle Age (wearing suit and diamond "wings" broach)

SERIES 2: Photographs. Subseries: Rickenbacker Family

Box 1:

100. David and William Rickenbacker as Teenagers [1940s]
101. David Rickenbacker [1930s]
102. William Rickenbacker at Piano [early 1930s]
103. William Rickenbacker as a Young Boy
104. David Rickenbacker as a Young Boy
105. EVR sits in a rubber raft [1943]
106. William Rickenbacker as a Toddler [1929-1930]
107. Rickenbacker Home in New York City
108. Rickenbacker Home in New York City
109. View of East River from Rickenbacker Home in New York

SERIES 2: Photographs. Subseries: EVR Office

Box 1:

110. EVR Office in Rockefeller Plaza, with US Air Route Map, 1943
111. EVR Office in Rockefeller Plaza, 1943
112. EVR Office in Rockefeller Plaza, 1943
113. EVR Secretary, Ms. Marguerite Shepherd, in NYC Office
114. Map of US Air Routes, EVR Office, 1943

SERIES 2: Photographs. Subseries: Photographs of B-17 Crew Lost with EVR in Pacific (1942)

Box 1:

115. Col. Hans Adamson, 1943
116. Col. Hans Adamson, 1943
117. Col. Hans Adamson, standing in uniform, 1943
118. Col. Hans Adamson, standing in uniform, 1943
119. Major William Cherry, 1943, [w/neg.]
120. Major William Cherry, 1943
121. Major William Cherry, 1943
122. Major William Cherry, 1943
123. Major William Cherry, 1943
124. Major William Cherry, standing in uniform, 1943
125. Major William Cherry, standing in uniform, 1943
126. Major William Cherry, standing w/o hat, 1943
127. Major William Cherry, standing w/o hat, 1943
128. Capt. William Cherry, in dark uniform, 1942
129. Capt. William Cherry, w/ drawn-in goatee, 1942
130. Lt. James Whittaker, 1943
131. Lt. James Whittaker, 1943
132. Lt. James Whittaker, informal, 1943
133. Lt. James Whittaker, informal, 1943
134. Lt. John DeAngelis, 1942-43
135. Lt. John DeAngelis, informal, 1943
136. Lt. John DeAngelis, in flight coverall, 1943
137. Sgt. James Reynolds in uniform and coverall, 1943
138. Sgt James Reynolds, 1943
139. Sgt. James Reynolds, informal, 1943
140. Sgt. John Bartek, 1943
141. Sgt. John Bartek, 1943, [w/neg.]
142. Sgt. John Bartek, standing, 1943
143. Sgt. John Bartek, standing, 1943
144. Sgt. John Bartek, standing, double portrait, 1943
145. Lt. DeAngelis and Sgt. Reynolds in uniform, 1943
146. Lt. DeAngelis and Sgt. Reynolds in coveralls, 1943
147. Lt. DeAngelis and Sgt. Reynolds, standing in uniforms, 1943
148. Lt. DeAngelis and Sgt. Reynolds, standing in coveralls, 1943

SERIES 2: Photographs. Subseries: Photos Taken After Rescue, 1942

Box 1:

149. EVR arriving in Pago Pago after Rescue, 1942, [w/neg.]
150. EVR After Rescue, dated 11-28-42, (autographed, w/neg.)
151. EVR Being Transported after Rescue, 11-28-42, [w/neg.]
152. Lt. DeAngelis and Lt. Whittaker after Rescue, 11-42, [w/neg.]
153. Lt. DeAngelis with Escort after Rescue, 11-42, [w/neg.]
154. Capt. Cherry Recuperating after Rescue, [1942-43], [w/neg.]
155. Bartek, Cherry, DeAngelis, Whittaker, in PBY, 1943, [w/neg.]
156. Rickenbacker Crew" after Recuperation. Shown w/ PBY and Crew. [w/neg.]
157. Sgt. Alex Kaczmarczyk, died in Pacific Ordeal, 1942
158. Parents of Sgt. Alex Kaczmarczyk [1943]

SERIES 2: Photographs. Subseries: Rickenbacker Motor Company Product

Box 1:

159. "Super Sport" Coupe, pre-1927, [w/neg.]
160. "Super Sport" Coupe, 1925-1927
161. "Super Sport" Coupe, 1925-1927

Box 2:

3. Autographed Photo of Herbert Hoover