MS-214 Harold R. Harris Papers

Access and Provenance

Series Listing

Brief Biographical Sketch

Harold began his flying career during World War I when in 1917 he attended the School of Military Aeronautics in Berkeley, California. He was then sent overseas with a group of American pilots to Foggia, Italy, for Caproni Bomber Operations.

After World War I, from 1918 to 1925 Harris served as Test Pilot and Chief of Flight Test Research for the Army Air Corps at McCook Field. He played an active role in setting up and operating the first lighted airway, an 80-mile stretch of land between Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. In 1922, while a test pilot at McCook Field Harris, then a Lieutenant, became the first pilot in this country to resort to a parachute in an emergency when he bailed out of his disintegrating experimental pursuit plane near Dayton, Ohio. Also during this time Harris competed in many Aviation meets, and in 1926 held thirteen world flying records.

After leaving the Army Air Corps Harris helped establish Huff Daland dusters. In 1928 he helped to found Peruvian Airlines, which later became Pan American-Grace Airlines (PANAGRA ), and held the positions of Vice President and General Manager. Between 1929-1942 when Peruvian Airlines became Pan American-Grace Airlines Harris held the positions of Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.

In 1942 Harris accepted a commission as Colonel in the Army Air Transport Command, resigning his position with Pan American-Grace Airways to do so. During World War II Harris served as Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans; Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations: Commanding Officer of the Domestic Transportation Division; and was Chief of Staff of the Air Transport Command, with the rank of Brigadier General when he left the service in 1945 to join American Overseas Airlines.

Harris was Vice President and General Manager for American Overseas Airlines until 1948(?) when the airlines was incorporated into Pan American Airlines. Once again working for Pan American Airlines, Harris became Vice President in charge of the Atlantic Division. He remained with Pan American Airlines until 1954(?) when he resigned his position to become President of North West Airlines. Harris was President of North West Airlines until he resigned in 1955 due to irreconcilable differences between himself and the North West Airlines Board of Directors.

Decorations which Harris has received are the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Air Medal(U. S.); Commander British Empire (Great Britain); Corona di Italia, Fatiche de Guerra (Italy); Abdon Calderon (Ecuador); and the Orden del Sol (Peru).

After retiring Harris began work on a book of the early days of PANAGRA (Pan American Grace Airways), however it was never finished and remains unpublished. Harold R. Harris died in 1989 at the age of 92.

Scope and Content

Series I. Correspondence is divided into two parts, business correspondence and private correspondence. The business correspondence consists of letters concerning Pan American Airlines, of which Harris was a vice-president and chief operating officer. These letters are correspondences to and from Harris and another Pan American vice-president John D. MacGregor. The business correspondence also consists of letters from Harris to the Pan American board of directors, and correspondence Harris wrote while on business trips for Pan American Airlines. The correspondence covers such topics as flight schedules, business trips,pilot personnel. Pan American's competition, airplanes and various other topics. This correspondence is arranged chronologically and spans the years 1929-1939. The second part of this series is Harris' private correspondence. This correspondence is mainly letters to and from old colleagues and friends. Much of this private correspondence deals with the early years of Pan American-Grace Airlines(PANAGRA), in Harris' attempt to gather information and documents for his book on PANAGRA. This section is arranged in alphabetical order and each correspondent is given its own file folder. Span dates for this entire series are 1929-1988.

Series II. Pan American Airlines, contains Harris' travel diaries, reports, correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings, articles, a pre-trial brief and statement of evidence (concerning anti-trust laws), and Harris' unpublished book about PANAGRA. Some of the more interesting materials are the Pan American Clipper newsletters, PANAGRA history, and the unpublished book about PANAGRA. Span dates for this series are 1929-1952.

Series III. American Overseas Airlines, contains articles, correspondence. and reports. One of the most interesting parts to this series is the correspondence concerning the last days of American Overseas Airlines. This series spans the years 1946-1950.

Series IV. North West Airlines, contains Presidential Reports, Supplementary Reports, Operating Statement and Financial Reports, Board of Directors minutes, correspondence, and miscellaneous papers and reports. Some of the more interesting materials in this series are the letters and papers concerning Harris' resignation from North West Airlines, and a letter Harris received from President Dwight D Eisenhower, and a letter to the President of Korea, Dr. Rhee, from Harris. Span dates for this series are 1952-1954.

Series V. Personal logs, contains Harris' personal logs from 1931-1937, odd years only, and from 1948-1954, even years only. These logs tell where Harris went, who he met, how he traveled, and what he did. This series also contains a diary for the year 1979.

Series VI. Speeches, contains miscellaneous speeches given by Harris. They deal mainly with aviation and Harris' own personal experiences. This series also contains 'Tail daggers and Props', which is recollections from Harris' log books from 1917-1925. "Tail Daggers and Props" highlights old records and plans, flight test personnel, and the rebuttal of false claims. Span dates for this series are 1917-1982.

The Photographs in Series VII are arranged into several categories including portraits, World War I, World War II, Huff Daland Dusters, Airplanes, and award ceremonies. There are three photo albums in this series. The first contains pictures from Harris' trip to South America in the 1920's, the second pictures from World War II, and the third pictures from Pan American Airlines. Two of the more interesting items in this series are a film of the Barlane Bomber and of PANAGRA in Argentina and a Citation from King George VI of England to Harris. Also there is an a file in the oversized drawers that has World War II photographs along with various other photographs. These photographs span the years 1917 to 1988.

Series VIII: Miscellaneous contains various files concerning aviation records and meets, Harris' emergency parachute jump, Huff Daland Dusters, World War II material, various newspaper clippings, articles, and miscellaneous aviation material. There is also the U.S. Air Force Museum Friends Bulletin in which Harris has a continuing article. However. the file is missing the third installment of the Bulletin. This series also contains Harris' Passport from the 1920's, medals, and a map of Europe that is marked with an unknown route. Several "Grace Logs" and a "Peruvian Times" are located in this series.

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