William R. Melton papers

Finding aid prepared by Gwido Zlatkes, Special Collections Reference Librarian.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2007
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: William R. Melton papers
Date (inclusive): circa 1920-2004, undated
Date (bulk): 1944-1990
Collection Number: MS 233
Creator: Melton, William Robert
Extent: 24.15 linear feet (20 boxes, 2 flat file folders)
Repository: Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Riverside, CA 92517-5900
Abstract: The William R. Melton papers are contained within the Tuskegee Airmen Archive. This archive consists of materials related to those individuals who served at Tuskegee Army Air Field, and its predecessors, as well as materials pertaining to Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., a non-profit organization. The William R. Melton papers are comprised of both print and visual materials including newspaper clippings, photographs, lithographs, books, documents, and correspondence. The materials within this collection primarily relate to the military service and history of the Tuskegee Airmen. Additional items regarding Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., Melton's personal life, and aviation history are also included.
Languages: The collection is predominantly in English; select materials in French.

Access

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the University of California, Riverside Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [date if possible]. William R. Melton papers (MS 233). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Acquisition Information

The William R. Melton papers were acquired as a gift in 2006. Additional material received in 2009.

Processing History

Processed by Gwido Zlatkes, Special Collections Reference Librarian, 2007. Revised by Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts Curator, 2012.

Biographical Note

William R. Melton was born on October 24, 1920. During World War II he enlisted as a pilot in what was then the Army Air Corps. On July 28, 1943 Melton graduated at Tuskegee Army Air Field as a Second Lieutenant of class SE-43-G. He was a member of the original 332nd Fighter Group, serving with the 302nd Fighter Squadron. As a fighter pilot, Melton flew more than one hundred missions in North Africa and Europe. He also became part of the initial group to volunteer for bomber training with the 477th Bombardment Group. Melton later served as a flight instructor and remained active with the Tuskegee Airmen throughout his life, serving as a public relations officer and historian for Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. William R. Melton died on September 2, 1999 at the age of 78.

Collection Scope and Contents

The William R. Melton papers are contained within the Tuskegee Airmen Archive. This archive consists of materials related to those individuals who served at Tuskegee Army Air Field, and its predecessors, as well as materials pertaining to Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., a non-profit organization.
The William R. Melton papers are comprised of both print and visual materials including newspaper clippings, photographs, lithographs, books, documents, and correspondence. The materials within this collection primarily relate to the military service and history of the Tuskegee Airmen. Additional items regarding Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., Melton's personal life, and aviation history are also included.
Photographs in this collection have been distributed into the appropriate Series. All photographic material can be found in Boxes 3-5.
A portion of this collection remains unprocessed. Please contact Special Collections & Archives for additional information regarding this material.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is organized into five series as follows:
  • Series 1. African American history, 1986
  • Series 2. Aviation history, 1978-1989
  • Series 3. Military service and history, 1942-2004, undated
  • Series 4. Personal history, circa 1920-1984, undated
  • Series 5. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., 1974-1997, undated

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Squadron, 99th
United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Group, 332nd
African American fighter pilots
World War, 1939-1945

Genres and Forms of Materials

Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Documents
Lithographs
Photographs
Posters


 

Series 1. African American history 1986, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains newspaper clippings and other material regarding African American history.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.
Box 1, Folder 1

Publication titled "Newspapers and their Relationship to the Black Agenda in 1986" by Dexter D. Eure, Sr 1986

Box 1, Folder 1

Newspaper clipping titled "Bob Jones Re-elected to Head Black Public Relations Society" from the Tribune News (photocopy) 1986

Box 1, Folder 1

Newspaper clipping titled "Award of Appreciation Presented" from the Philadelphia New Observer (photocopy) 1986

Box 1, Folder 1

Newspaper clipping titled "Berry Gordy honors publicist Bob Jones" from the Chicago Defender (photocopy) 1986

Box 1, Folder 1

Newspaper clipping titled "Jones Beams with Joy" from the Texas Times (photocopy) 1986

Box 1, Folder 1

Roster for the Black Public Relations Society of California, Inc undated

 

Series 2. Aviation history 1978-1990, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains publications, lithographs, and other material regarding aviation history.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.
Box 1, Folder 2

Publication titled "B-25 Mitchell in Action" by Ernest R. McDowell 1978

Box 1, Folder 2

Publication titled "P-39 Airacobra in Action" by Ernie McDowell 1980

Box 1, Folder 2

Publication titled "Messerschmitt BF in Action" by John R. Beaman, Jr 1983

Box 1, Folder 2

Publication titled "P-47 Thunderbolt in Action" by Larry Davis 1984

Box 1, Folder 2

Publication titled "T-6 Texan in Action" by Larry Davis 1989

Box 1, Folder 3

Newspaper clippings on George Lucas' Tuskegee Airmen film project (photocopy) 1990

Box 1, Folder 3

Newspaper clipping titled "Lucas' Next Movie: Tuskegee Airmen" by Elaine Dutka (photocopy) 1990

Box 1, Folder 3

Newspaper clipping titled "Telling it Like it Was" by Pat H. Broeske (photocopy) 1990

Box 1, Folder 3

Newspaper clipping titled "Dogfight?" by Elaine Dutka (photocopy) undated

Box 1, Folder 11

Press release titled "P-40 Warhawk Pilots Association" 1986

Box 1, Folder 11

Press release titled "Sixth Annual P-51 Mustang Pilots Association Reunion" 1986

Box 1, Folder 11

Press release titled "41st Annual Reunion China-Burma-India Hump Pilots and Support Personnel" 1986

Box 1, Folder 11

Press release titled "25th Annual P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association Reunion" 1986

Box 3, Folder 5

Photographs of restored World War II era aircraft undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Item 1

Lithograph of a T-43 Navigator Trainer undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Folder 2

Lithograph titled "The U.S. Air Force Lithograph Series" (Set Number 7) undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Folder 2

Lithograph titled "The U.S. Air Force Lithograph Series" (Set Number 8) undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Folder 2

Lithograph titled "The U.S. Air Force Lithograph Series" (Set Number 27) undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Folder 2

Lithograph titled "The U.S. Air Force Lithograph Series" (Set Number 11) undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Folder 3

Lithograph titled "The U.S. Air Force Lithograph Series" (Set Number 33) undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Folder 3

Lithograph titled "The U.S. Air Force Lithograph Series" (Set Number 5) undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Folder 3

Lithograph titled "The U.S. Air Force Lithograph Series" (Set Number 3) undated

 

Series 3. Military service and history 1942-2004, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains newspaper clippings, photographs, and other material regarding William R. Melton's military service, the Tuskegee Airmen, and military history.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.
Box 1, Folder 4

Documents from Pete Peters to William Melton including "Black Redtail Angels' gather with Eagles" by Pete Peters from the Las Vegas Sun (3 photocopies) 1996

Box 1, Folder 5

Newspaper clipping titled "Tuskegee Airmens Confab Attracted Top Black Military Brass" from the St. Louis Sentinel 1982

Box 1, Folder 5

Newspaper clipping titled "Black pilots broke segregation barrier" from the Star News 1983

Box 1, Folder 5

Newspaper clipping titled "Black Pilots Shatter Myths" from the Sacramento Union 1974

Box 1, Folder 5

Newspaper clippings titled "Tuskegee Alumni Honors Jenkins" and "Airmen Honor Doolittle" from the Los Angeles Sentinel 1983

Box 1, Folder 6

Publication titled "Tuskegee Airmen, The First Top Guns: 'The Last Hurrah'" 2004

Box 1, Folder 7

Brochure ttitled "Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group" (3 copies) undated

Box 1, Folder 8

Publication titled "Tony Brown's Journal" (2 copies) January/March 1983

Box 1, Folder 9

Notebook containing information on the Tuskegee Airmen undated

Box 1, Folder 10

Document titled "History of Godman Field" undated

Box 1, Folder 12

Document titled "Desegregation of the Armed Forces" undated

Box 1, Folder 13

Newspaper clippings pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen (multiple) undated

Box 1, Folder 13

Newspaper clipping titled "One Pilot Killed Another Injured" (photocopy) undated

Box 1, Folder 13

Newspaper clipping of Lieutenant Stoudmire's obituary (photocopy) undated

Box 1, Folder 13

Newspaper clippings pertaining to the Distinguished Flying Cross award undated

Box 1, Folder 13

Newspaper clippings pertaining to Captain Robert Tresville and other World War II soldiers missing in action undated

Box 1, Folder 13

Newspaper clipping titled "Aviation Medicine" 1944

Box 1, Folder 13

Newspaper clipping titled "Army Pilots Prime to Meet Enemy in Combat" from the Pittsburgh Courier (photocopy) 1942

Box 2, Folder 2

Documents regarding Wendell O. Pruitt (includes photocopies) undated

Box 2, Folder 7

Program for the Tuskegee Airman Memorial Statue Dedication Ceremony 1988

Box 3, Folder 2

Photographs pertaining to individuals that served in the United States Military including Daniel "Chappie" James Jr undated

Box 3, Folder 8

Sketches of buildings at Ramitelli Airfield 1944

Box 3, Folder 9

Photograph composites pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II including the 332nd Fighter Group's Italian Campaign in 1944-1945 undated

Box 4, Folder 1

Photographs (5" x 7") pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II circa 1941-1945

Box 4, Folder 2

Photographs (4" x 5" and smaller) pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II circa 1941-1945

Box 4, Folder 3

Photographs (8" x 10") pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II circa 1941-1945

Box 4, Folder 4

Photographs (8" x 10") pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II circa 1941-1945

Box 4, Folder 5

Photographic prints (8" x 10") pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II circa 1941-1945

Box 4, Folder 6

Photographs reproduced from publications pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II circa 1941-1945

Box 4, Folder 7

Photographic prints pertaining to African American nurses that served during World War II circa 1941-1945

Box 4, Folder 8

Photograph composites pertaining to African American nurses that served during World War II circa 1941-1945

Box 4, Folder 9

Photograph composites pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II circa 1941-1945

Box 5

Photographs pertaining to the Tuskegee Airmen during and after World War II including images of Tuskegee Army Air Field and Daniel "Chappie" James Jr circa 1941-1980

Flat-File-Folder 1

Panoramic photograph of the 332nd Fighter Wing at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio 1948

Flat-File-Folder 2, Item 2

Photograph of Joe Louis with the Tuskegee Airmen undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Items 3-4

Lithograph titled "Red Tail Fury" by A. Ric Druet (2 copies) 1994

Flat-File-Folder 2, Items 5-6

Lithograph titled "On Target" by A. Ric Druet (2 copies) 1994

Flat-File-Folder 2, Item 7

Lithograph titled "Button Up Time" by A. Ric Druet 1994

Flat-File-Folder 2, Items 8-9

Lithograph titled "Drop Tanks, Follow Me" by A. Ric Druet (2 copies) 1994

Flat-File-Folder 2, Item 10

Poster titled "Tuskegee Airman World War II Tribute Celebration" by the County of Los Angeles 1999

Flat-File-Folder 2, Item 11

Poster titled "Tuskegee Airmen Honor Roll. Those Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice" undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Item 12

Poster of the General Daniel "Chappie" James painting by Charles Lilly undated

Flat-File-Folder 2, Item 13

Poster for Book Signing Reception for Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.'s Autobiography American 1991

 

Series 4. Personal history circa 1920-1984, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains correspondence, photographs, and other material regarding William R. Melton's personal life.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.
Box 2, Folder 3

Correspondence from William R. Melton to his mother during World War II (photocopy) March 10, 1944

Box 2, Folder 3

Correspondence from William R. Melton to his mother during World War II (photocopy) May 2, 1944

Box 2, Folder 3

Correspondence from William R. Melton to his mother during World War II (photocopy) May 23, 1944

Box 2, Folder 3

Correspondence from William R. Melton to his mother during World War II (photocopy) May 25, 1944

Box 2, Folder 3

Correspondence from William R. Melton to his mother during World War II (photocopy) May 31, 1944

Box 2, Folder 3

Correspondence from William R. Melton to his mother during World War II (photocopy) June 18, 1944

Box 2, Folder 3

Correspondence from William R. Melton to his mother during World War II (photocopy) July 16, 1944

Box 2, Folder 3

Correspondence from William R. Melton to his mother during World War II (photocopy) July 25, 1944

Box 2, Folder 4

Correspondence from the Foreign Service of the United States of America to William R. Melton, Jr 1961

Box 2, Folder 5

Correspondence from the Republique du Congo to William R. Melton, Jr 1961

Box 2, Folder 5

Receipt from the Hotel de France Conakry for William R. Melton 1960

Box 2, Folder 5

Receipt and ticket stub from Air France undated

Box 2, Folder 5

International Certificate of Inoculation and Vaccination issued to William R. Melton 1951

Box 2, Folder 5

Handwritten notes on politics undated

Box 2, Folder 5

Ticket sleeve from TWA airline 1961

Box 2, Folder 5

Ticket sleeve from Air France airline undated

Box 2, Folder 5

Ticket sleeve from Eastern Air Lines undated

Box 2, Folder 5

Certifact d'exercice for William R. Melton 1960

Box 2, Folder 5

Curriculum Vitae for William R. Melton undated

Box 2, Folder 5

Receipt and ticket from Air France 1961

Box 2, Folder 5

Advertisement for Well's Restaurant in New York 1960

Box 2, Folder 5

Advertisement for "The New War Chest" undated

Box 2, Folder 5

Ticket from Eastern Air Lines flight from Montreal to Newark for William R. Melton 1961

Box 2, Folder 6

Letterhead for William R. Melton undated

Box 2, Folder 6

Correspondence from UCLA to William R. Melton 1973

Box 3, Folder 1

Photographs pertaining to the personal life of William R. Melton including images from his childhood and life after his World War II military service circa 1920-1984

Box 3, Folder 3

Photographs (black and white) pertaining to an event attended by Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. and B.O. Davis Jr undated

Box 3, Folder 4

Photographs (color) pertaining to an event attended by Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. and B.O. Davis Jr undated

Box 3, Folder 6

Photographs (color) from various events undated

Box 3, Folder 7

Photographs (black and white) from various events undated

 

Series 5. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. 1974-1997, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains press releases, programs, and other material regarding Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.
Box 2, Folder 1

Membership application for Tuskegee Airmen, Inc undated

Box 2, Folder 7

Publication titled "The Tuskegee Airmen Story (A Speech Guide)" published by the East Coast Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc undated

Box 2, Folder 7

Program for the Tuskegee Airmen Distinguished Achievement Award Dinner honoring Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle presented by Tuskegee Airmen, Inc 1983

Box 2, Folder 7

Newsletter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. titled "The Tuskegee Airmen", vol. 6, no. 1 1986

Box 2, Folder 7

Program for the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. National Convention 1997

Box 2, Folder 7

Program for the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. National Convention 1990

Box 2, Folder 7

Program for the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. National Convention (3 copies) 1974

Box 2, Folder 8

Handwritten notes regarding Tuskegee Airmen, Inc undated

Box 2, Folder 9

Agenda for the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Board of Directors meeting 1985

Box 2, Folder 9

Press release from Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. titled "USAF Trail Blazer for Black Fliers Featured at Kelly AFB" (2 copies) undated

Box 2, Folder 9

Press release from Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. titled "Eastern Sponsors Black Aviators' Forum" undated

Box 2, Folder 9

Press release from Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. for Colonel Edward C. Gleed's death 1990

Box 2, Folder 9

Press release from Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. announcing a lecture by Percy E. Sutton (2 copies) undated

Box 2, Folder 9

Information sheet for Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (3 copies) undated

Box 2, Folder 10

Roster for the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Ohio Chapter 1983

Box 2, Folder 10

Roster for the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Ohio Chapter 1986

Box 2, Folder 11

Manuscript titled "Molding a Black Legacy: The Chronicles of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc" undated