Howard E. Huntington, Jr. papers, 1921-1952

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Huntington, Howard E., Jr., 1913-1980
Abstract:
Personal papers of Howard E. Huntington, Jr., son of Howard Edwards Huntington, and grandson of Henry E. Huntington, with an emphasis on his military experience in World War II and his interest in avaiation.
Extent:
378 items
Language:
The records are in English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains the personal papers of Howard E. Huntington, Jr., chiefly related to his military experience and interest in aviation. There is some information regarding the estate of his grandfather Henry E. Huntington.

The Personal Papers series contains personal correspondence, photographs, ephemera, and newspaper clippings regarding Howard E. Huntington, Jr. There is a letter written to Huntington by his mother while he was away during the war. There are photographs of Huntington with his plane, camping with friends, etc., as well as photographs of the Rose Parade in Pasadena [1926]. The ephemera includes a copy of Huntington's birth certificate, his membership cards to the Boy Scouts of America (1927-1928), and clippings announcing Huntington's engagement to Lorraine Hopkins in 1940.

The Huntington Estate Documents series contains financial documents related to Henry E. Huntington, the Huntington Land and Improvement Company, as well as legal documents related to Henry E. Huntington's estate (1940-1947).

The Military Records series contains documents and items related to Huntington's time in the Naval Reserve from 1942 to 1945. This series consists of Huntington's military appointments, requests for leave of absence, general military records, photographs, and his separation papers. Also included are several military publications including the booklets "Shark Sense" and "Tactical Use of Smoke."

The Aviation series is chiefly made up of material related to Thomas H. Smith, a pilot who attempted to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1939. Howard Huntington helped Smith financially with the flight. Smith never made it to London, and in 1941, his plane was found in the wilderness of Newfoundland with a note stating that he was going to walk for help; it is assumed he died - he was never seen again and his body has never been found. The collection contains material leading up to Smith's flight and correspondence to Huntington after Smith disappeared. There is also some information about the Santa Anita Air Show held in 1941.

Biographical / historical:

Howard E. Huntington, Jr., was the son of Howard Edwards Huntington and grandson of Henry E. Huntington. He was born in Pasadena, California, in 1913 and attended Andover Academy and Stanford University. At a young age, his father died of cancer and his mother, Leslie Green Huntington, later married James Brehm. Howard was a licensed pilot and worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation from 1935 to 1937, as well as Southwest Aircraft. In 1939 he was Secretary-Treasurer of Pacific Discount Corporation. He served with the Royal Air Force in 1941 and 1942, until transferring to the U.S. Army Air Force and the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1940 he married Lorraine Hopkins, the daughter of another prominent Pasadena family - they had three children: Wendy Lee Osmers; Howard Edwards Huntington III; and Robert Prentice Huntington. Howard and Lorraine divorced in the 1960s and Howard married Shirley Hull. He died in Los Angeles in April 1980.

Acquisition information:
The collection was a gift of the Estate of Ernest A. Bryant III, May 2015.
Arrangement:

Organized in the following series: Personal Papers and Huntington Estate Documents; Military Records and Aviation.

Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website