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Alan Campbell Cameron Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2008-043

Scope and Content

The papers of Alan Campbell Cameron consist of letters written to Cameron by family and friends and Chicago Daily Tribune clippings, including political cartoons. The predominant author of the letters is Cameron's father, John M. Cameron, a Chicago attorney at the law firm of Custer and Cameron, though one folder features the letters of Dorothy Abbott, a romantic interest of Cameron during his school years. The letters document Cameron's life as a college student, his service as an aviator in the war, and his post-service years while leasing the Sanford Hotel in San Pedro, California.

Please note: The collection may contain outdated language, which may be offensive to researchers.

Dates

  • 1914 - 1922

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Biographical Note

Alan Campbell Cameron was born on December 29, 1895, to Anna May Iverson (1866-1917) and John McRae Cameron (1867-1939), a Chicago attorney at the law firm of Custer and Cameron. He was a World War I fighter pilot from Riverside, Cook County, Illinois. He served as a first lieutenant in the 258th Aerial Squadron of the United States Air Service. Following the war, Cameron lived in San Pedro, California and went into business by leasing the Sanford Hotel. He moved back to Cook County by 1930 and worked as a civil engineer for a railroad company. Cameron died in 1960 and is buried with family in the Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Chicago.

External sources:

U. S. Federal Censuses, 1900-1910, 1930

"Alan C. Cameron" entry, Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169550818/alan-c-cameron, accessed Nov. 20, 2024.

"John McRae Cameron" entry, Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152236912/john-mcrae-cameron, accessed Nov. 20, 2024.

"Alan Campbell Cameron" in the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/records?recordId=8462878&collectionId=6482, accessed Nov. 20, 2024.

"Alan Campbell Cameron" in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/records?recordId=10167244&collectionId=60901, accessed Nov. 20, 2024.

Extent

0.3 Cubic Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection includes the papers of World War I fighter pilot Alan Campbell Cameron (1895-1960) of Riverside, Cook County, Illinois, including letters from relatives and friends, primarily his father John M. Cameron (1867-1939), a Chicago attorney at the law firm of Custer and Cameron, and Dorothy Abbott, a romantic interest of Cameron during his school years. The letters document Cameron's life as a college student, his service as an aviator in the war, and his post-service years while leasing the Sanford Hotel in San Pedro, California. The collection also includes Chicago Daily Tribune clippings.

Source of Acquisition

The Alan Campbell Cameron Papers were purchased by Special Collections in 1994.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Alan Campbell Cameron Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Alan Campbell Cameron Papers was completed in July 2008.

Title
Alan Campbell Cameron Papers, 1914-1922
Status
Completed
Author
Emily Bibby, Graduate Assistant
Date
2008 (CC0 1.0)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308