Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation

MSS 16220, [Rheuben Allen] photograph album, 1st Balloon Squadron, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was purchased from Between the Covers by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on 7 April, 2015.

Scope and Contents

Photograph album of [Rheuben Allen] who could be from the Comanche tribe or African American], consists of approximately 120 black and white photographs taken in and around Fort Sill, Oklahoma where [Allan] was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps 1st Balloon Squadron.The album is covered in patterned black cloth and stamped "1st Balloon Squadron, Fort Sill, Oklahoma" in gold on the front cover.

There are also some photographs at the end of the album of bases in New Mexico, California, Kansas, George, and Florida. Most of the images are identified.

Images include various balloons in flight and on land, including an English barrage balloon, and experimental balloon, kite balloons, and one image captioned "this balloon exploded & killed Sgt. Tucker & Sgt. Rumple, 1936."

There are also images of a "balloon beded [sic] in a hangar", interior and exterior views of hangars and other aircraft including bombers and training planes. There are many images of base life and of members of the unit; almost all are identified.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African American soldiers
• Black-and-white photographs
• Comanche
• Scrapbooks
• World War, 1914-1918