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William B. Ellis papers
MS 347  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
This collection is comprised of both print and visual materials from Tuskegee Airman William B. Ellis, including documents, photographs, correspondence, books, newspaper clippings, audiovisual material, and realia. The bulk of materials within this collection relate to the military service and history of the Tuskegee Airmen, as well as to activities of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. at both the local (Los Angeles chapter) and national level. Additional items regarding Ellis's personal life, aviation and aerospace history, and African American history are also included.
Background
William B. Ellis was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1916. His family moved to Ohio in 1923, then to Washington DC where Ellis graduated Armstrong Technical High School in 1935. Ellis continued his education at Miner Teachers College (Wash., DC), where he was certified to teach at the Junior HS level, then at Robert H. Terrell law school, where he studied contracts and property law. When the United States became embroiled in the Second World War, Ellis enlisted in the US Army Signal Corps at Ft. Monmouth, NJ, where he graduated as a Lt. in 1942. He went on to train as a fighter pilot at Tuskegee Airfield Flying School in 1943, then as a bomber pilot at Mather Field in California in 1944. After leaving the Army Force in 1948, Ellis acquired a BS in business administration from American University in 1953. Following a move to Los Angeles, Ellis worked as an assessor for Los Angeles County from the mid-1960s until his retirement in 1992. Ellis was active in educational and other activities with Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. until his death in 2009.
Extent
23.40 Linear Feet (18 boxes, 4 flat file folders) material)
Restrictions
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. 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.
Availability
This collection is unprocessed. Please contact Special Collections & University Archives regarding the availability of materials for research use.