American Historical Ephemera & Photography Online

Military officers include: 

BYRD, Richard Evelyn (1888-1957), RADM, USN, American polar explorer, aviator and a recipient of the United States Medal of Honor. Signature ("R.E. Byrd") on 4 x 5 in. piece of paper. 

GREELY, Adolphus Washington (1844-1935), Major General US Army. Medal of Honor recipient. Served in the Civil War and retired in 1908. Autograph inscription signed ("A.W. Greely"), to "Mary Atwood, a Washington Student," affixed to loose album page. 

PERSHING, John J. "Black Jack" (1860-1948), one of America's most famous Army officers (served 1886-1924) rose to "General of the Armies." Signature "John J. Pershing") clipped from bottom half of a check.

RICKENBACKER, Edward Vernon "Eddie" (1890-1973), famous WWI US Army Air Service fighter ace (26 kills). Commanded the 94th Aero Squadron. Signature ("Capt. E.V. Rickenbacker, 1932") on 5 x 3 in. card. Forwarded with letter to Mary Atwood from M.H. Shepherd, Secretary to E.V. Rickenbacker. New York, 22 August 1932.

MARSHALL, George Catlett (1880-1959), General, US Army, was Chief of Staff 1939-1945; Secretary of State 1947-1949; Formulated the Marshall Plan, an unprecedented program of economic and military aid to foreign nations. Partially printed check drawn on Pentagon Office First and Merchant's National Bank, signed ("G.C. Marshall"). Payable to General Officers' Mess No. 1 for the sum of $4.95. Richmond, VA 14 December 1945 (punch cancellation through check, tape repair to left edge). 

MACDONALD, Ishbel (1903-1982), daughter of Ramsay MacDonald, the illegitimate son of a servant who became British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. Signature ("Ishbel MacDonald") on approximately 3 x 5 1/4 in. card embossed with "The Hillocks, Lossiemouth." (Moray, Scotland, UK)

Authors include:

NICOLAY, John G Nicolay (1832-1901), personal assistant to President Lincoln and custodian of the Lincoln papers. Author of the official Lincoln Biography. Signature ("Jno. G. Nicolay") on 2 1/8 x 3 5/8 in. card. 

NICOLAY, Helen, author. Daughter of John G Nicolay, President Lincoln's personal assistant and custodian of the Lincoln papers. 4 autograph letters signed ("Helen Nikolay,") each addressed to Miss Atwood. Highlighted by 10 February 1935 letter from Washington, DC, to Mary Atwood conveying the card described above with John Nicolay’s signature. Additional letters to Mary Atwood dated 10 January 1935, 11 July 1935, and 7 August 1936, written from Washington, DC, or Holderness, NH. 

BARTON, Bruce Fairchild (1886-1967), author, publicist, magazine editor, co-founder of BBDO advertising agency, and friend of President Herbert Hoover. Typed letter signed ("Bruce Barton"), to Miss Mary Atwood. New York, 18 January 1934. 

HALIBURTON, Richard (1900-1939), American traveler, adventurer, and author. Autograph inscription signed ("Richard Halliburton"), to Mary Atwood, dated 23 February 1933. 

MAUGHAM, W. Somerset (1875-1965), English playwright and author. Tellers of Tales. New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., 1939. Half title page signed “W. Somerset Maugham," and inscribed "For Mary Pool / Washington Dec. 2, 1940." 

GILLIAM, Strickland (1869-1954), author of The Reading Mother. Autograph note signed ("Strickland Gilliam," to Miss Atwood. Washington, National Press Club, n.d. 

RINEHART, Mary Roberts (1876-1958), American author of mystery books. Coined the expressions, "The butler did it" and "Had I but known." Signature ("Mary Roberts Rinehart") on loose album page. 

WRIGHT, Harold Bell (1872-1944), bestselling author of books and stage plays. More than 20 movies based on his stories. Autograph inscription on card signed ("Harold Bell Wright"), from Tucson, Arizona, 1931. 

POLLOCK, Channing (1880-1946), American playwright, author and lecturer. Autograph quote signed ("Channing Pollock"), affixed to loose album page. 

BERRYMAN, Clifford (1869-1949), political cartoonist for the Washington Post, Washington Evening Star. Card signed ("Clifford Berryman"), with original cartoon of a bear, dated 1933, Washington, DC, approx. 3 x 5 in.

MERRITT, Mary E. Private Secretary to the Acting Secretary of the Navy, Charles Edison. In 1937 President Roosevelt appointed Charles Edison, son of Thomas A. Edison, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, then as Acting Secretary on 2 January 1940. Typed letter from Mary E. Merritt to Mary Pool. Washington, 5 December 1939. On "Department of the Navy" letterhead. Merritt acknowledges Ms. Pool's letter of 27 November 1939 inquiring about obtaining an autograph of the late Thomas A. Edison. She advises that Mr. Edison had nothing to send her.

Aviators include:

GATTY, Harold Charles (1903-1957), American aviator Wiley Post’s navigator on circumnavigational flight (1931). Signature ("Harold Gatty") on 5 1/4 x 4 in. piece of paper affixed to loose album page. 

MOLLISON, Jim and Amy. Jim Mollison (1905-1959) was a famous Scottish pioneer aviator and set many aviation records during the 1930s. His wife, Amy Johnson Mollison (1903-1941) was a pioneering English aviatrix that disappeared over the English Channel 5 January 1941. Clipped signatures on same piece of paper ("J. Mollison" / "A. Mollison"), mounted on a loose album page. 

Together, 20+ signatures of military figures, authors, and other personalities of the late 19th-early 20th century. Condition generally good. 

Provenance: Descended directly in the family of Mary Atwood Pool (1914-2009). Washington, DC, resident Mary Atwood Pool began collecting autographs of notable American historical figures at the age of 14, with each autograph acquired by her direct communication with the historical figure, their staff, family members, or attorneys.