Scope and Content Note
The papers of George Webber Mixter (1876-1947) span the years 1855-1946, with the bulk of the material dating from 1933 to 1945. The collection consists of correspondence, writings, notes, problem sets, and calculations relating to Mixter’s study of navigation. Correspondence from the 1930s documents his efforts to improve and simplify existing works on navigation such as Air Almanac and Nautical Almanac that culminated in the publication of Mixter’s Primer of Navigation, with Complete Tables and Work Forms and Special Information for Yachtsmen and Other Mariners in 1940. Correspondents include Philip Van Horn Weems; Julius Frederick Hellweg, superintendent of the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.; James Robertson, director of the Nautical Almanac; and John Shesta. The book became the standard textbook on navigation not only for the American forces during World War II, but also for professional and amateur navigators. The printed matter contains annotations by Mixter. Papers relating to his schooner Teragram include the contract for its construction, navigation workbooks used during the Bermuda Races of 1932 and 1934, and correspondence.