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Mitchell Higginbotham papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-234

Collection Scope and Contents

The Mitchell Higginbotham 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 Mitchell Higginbotham papers consists of newspaper clippings, programs, photographs, brochures, and documents. These items primarily relate to the military history of the United States, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., and Higginbotham's personal endeavors. This collection includes plaques recognizing Higginbotham's United States military service and personal accomplishments, materials documenting aviation history, and personal correspondence regarding Higginbotham.

Dates

  • Creation: 1944-2012, undated
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1991-2002

Creator

Languages

The collection is in English.

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.

Biographical Note

1945
Higginbotham graduated as a member of class TE-44-K at Tuskegee Army Air Field on February 1st.
1921
Mitchell Higginbotham was born on March 2nd in Amherst, Virginia.
1942
Higginbotham began active duty with the United States military during the summer.
1946
Higginbotham ended active duty and became a reserve in the United States military
1962
Higginbotham ended his role as a reserve in the United States military.
1996
Higginbotham was named "Man of the Year" by the Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Mitchell Higginbotham was born on March 2, 1921 in Amherst, Virginia. He began active duty in the United States military during the summer of 1942 and graduated at Tuskegee Army Air Field on February 1, 1945 as a member of class TE-44-K. Upon graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and was an original member of the famed 477th Bomber Group. He remained on active duty in the military until 1946 and was a reserve from 1946 to 1962. After his military service ended, Higginbotham served as a registrar at the Pittsburg Airport for the Los Angeles Airport Advisory Committee, and was also a probation officer with the Los Angeles County Probation Department for nearly three decades. In 1996, Mitchell Higginbotham was honored as the "Man of the Year" by the Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Extent

8.52 Linear Feet (8 boxes, 2 flat file folders)

Abstract

The Mitchell Higginbotham 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.

This collection includes newspaper clippings, programs, photographs, brochures, and documents. Most of these items are related to the military history of the Tuskegee Airmen, events of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., and African American history. This collection also contains some items pertaining to aviation history and Higginbotham's personal life.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is arranged into six series as follows:

  1. Series 1. African American history, 1967-2002, undated
  2. Series 2. Aviation history, 1991-2012, undated
  3. Series 3. Military history, 1944-2005, undated
  4. Series 4. Military service, 1945-1998, undated
  5. Series 5. Personal history, 1957-2012, undated
  6. Series 6. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., 1973-2005, undated

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Mitchell Higginbotham, 2006, 2007, and 2012.

Processing History

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

Title
Mitchell Higginbotham papers
Status
Processed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Gwido Zlatkes, Special Collections Reference Librarian.
Date
2007
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscript Collections Repository

Contact:
University of California
Rivera Library
P.O. Box 5900
Riverside 92517-5900 USA