Scope and Content Note
The scrapbooks of Frederic William Wile (1873-1941) span the years 1898-1941 and chiefly contain clippings of news stories, dispatches, and columns written during Wile's career in journalism. Except for a few items that were retained after the scrapbooks were microfilmed in 1986, the collection exists only on microfilm. Subjects include Wile's service as an intelligence specialist on German affairs with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, the London Naval Conference (1930), and the Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments, Geneva, Switzerland (1932-1934). Also included is a telegram of 1909 from Frederick Albert Cook regarding his alleged discovery of the North Pole. Although the scrapbooks contain some letters, calling cards, handbills, and memorabilia, the bulk of the material consists of clippings of Wile's columns, stories, and editorials. The scrapbooks are particularly useful for identifying his unsigned editorials.