Scope and Content Note
The papers of Henry Croskey Mustin (1874-1923) span the years 1886-1924, with the bulk of the material falling between the years 1903 and 1920. The collection consists of journals, correspondence, subject files, lectures and articles, and miscellaneous material chiefly relating to Mustin's inventions and his interest in the developing field of aviation.
In 1903 Mustin designed a turret sight mount; his continued improvements in telescopic ordnance sights made possible the long-range gunnery for battleships, then called dreadnoughts. In the invention file are letters from George N. Saegmuller concerning Mustin’s inventions and royalties. There are also letters from Ernest Wilkinson concerning foreign and domestic patents on Mustin’s inventions.
Mustin was one of the first naval officers to advocate air power for the United States Navy and commercial air service for the United States. He was a member of the American Aviation Mission to Great Britain, France and Italy to study and report on aviation organizations abroad; he aided in the establishment of an air base in Pensacola, Fla.; and later he commanded the Air Detachment, United States Pacific Fleet. He also testified before the United States Senate in support of a proposed Department of Air. As Mustin’s interest in aeronautics increased, he designed a sea sled capable of launching landplanes at sea, water brakes, and other devices to improve seaplanes.
In the correspondence file are typed copies of Mustin’s letters to his wife, Corinne M. Mustin. Among his correspondents are William Shepherd Benson, Mark L. Bristol, Josephus Daniels, William Sowden Sims, William H. Stayton, and John Crittenden Watson. The collection is organized by type of material.