The papers of Henry Kent Hewitt (1887-1972) span the years 1903-1972 with the bulk of the material dating from the 1940s. The papers consist primarily of correspondence, naval planning memoranda, news clippings, and writings. Hewitt commanded United States naval forces in the Mediterranean during World War II and led naval operations and invasions in northern Africa , Sicily , southern Italy , and southern France. The Naval Operations series documents the logistical planning and intelligence gathering conducted in preparation for the invasions of southern France (Operation Anvil) and southern Italy (Operation Avalanche). The items were placed in notebooks and have been kept in their original order.

Hewitt divided his correspondence into official and personal correspondence. The Correspondence series has retained that division, although most items in the personal file deal with navy matters. Of special interest are the lengthy letters Hewitt wrote to his mother in 1908-1909 while voyaging around the world with the Great White Fleet.