The collection contains the personal papers of Howard E. Huntington, Jr., chiefly related to his military experience and interest in aviation. There is some information regarding the estate of his grandfather Henry E. Huntington.
The Personal Papers series contains personal correspondence, photographs, ephemera, and newspaper clippings regarding Howard E. Huntington, Jr. There is a letter written to Huntington by his mother while he was away during the war. There are photographs of Huntington with his plane, camping with friends, etc., as well as photographs of the Rose Parade in Pasadena [1926]. The ephemera includes a copy of Huntington's birth certificate, his membership cards to the Boy Scouts of America (1927-1928), and clippings announcing Huntington's engagement to Lorraine Hopkins in 1940.
The Huntington Estate Documents series contains financial documents related to Henry E. Huntington, the Huntington Land and Improvement Company, as well as legal documents related to Henry E. Huntington's estate (1940-1947).
The Military Records series contains documents and items related to Huntington's time in the Naval Reserve from 1942 to 1945. This series consists of Huntington's military appointments, requests for leave of absence, general military records, photographs, and his separation papers. Also included are several military publications including the booklets "Shark Sense" and "Tactical Use of Smoke."
The Aviation series is chiefly made up of material related to Thomas H. Smith, a pilot who attempted to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1939. Howard Huntington helped Smith financially with the flight. Smith never made it to London, and in 1941, his plane was found in the wilderness of Newfoundland with a note stating that he was going to walk for help; it is assumed he died - he was never seen again and his body has never been found. The collection contains material leading up to Smith's flight and correspondence to Huntington after Smith disappeared. There is also some information about the Santa Anita Air Show held in 1941.