John J. Hospers Papers

This collection contains personal reports, expense statements, financial statements, business reports, telegrams, memoranda, newspaper articles, press releases, publicity documents, Chance Vought contracts, personal correspondence, Chance Vought business correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, and notebooks that were created and/or collected by Hospers during his career with Chance Vought. The John J. Hospers Papers are housed in thirty-three boxes of various sizes totaling 14.0 linear ft.

The collection arrived in good condition. The processing archivist identified seven series with the first series being the John J. Hospers Personal Papers Series, which includes biographies, resumes, awards and recognitions, personal reports and expense statements, and documents related to his civic involvement and hobbies.

The second series is the Chance Vought Corporation Series, which houses information about Chance Vought, and its predecessor and successor companies and is further organized into twelve subseries: 1. Chance Vought History, 2. Chance Vought Financial Information, 3. Chance Vought Employee Information, 4. Chance Vought Communications, 5. Chance Vought Public Relations and Publicity, 6. Chance Vought Reports, 7. John J. Hospers Chance Vought Inspection Trips, 8. Chance Vought Facilities, 9. Chance Vought’s Move to Dallas/Grand Prairie, 10. Chance Vought Aircraft, 11. Chance Vought Production Contracts, and 12. Chance Vought and the United States Navy.

Subseries 1. includes a number of historical sketches and articles detailing the history of Chance Vought.

Subseries 2. contains financial reports, order charts, invoices, expense reports, and other material connected with the financial activities of Chance Vought and its predecessor and successor companies.

Subseries 3. houses payroll lists, corporate rosters, employee policies and procedures, and other material about those who worked for Chance Vought.

Subseries 4. includes telegrams, memoranda, notes and other types of communications issued by Chance Vought.

Subseries 5. contains newspaper articles, press releases, brochures, advertisements, and other material publicizing Chance Vought.

Subseries 6. houses inspection reports, trip reports, reports on business processes, and other reports generated by Chance Vought or its employees.

Subseries 7. includes John J, Hospers’ report on inspection trips of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Marine Aviation Groups in the Korean War, and French Naval Aviation squadrons in France and Tunisia.

Subseries 8. contains documents detailing Chance Vought facilities in Stratford, CT and Grand Prairie, TX.

Subseries 9. houses reports, procedures, Texas familiarization materials, and instructions regarding Chance Vought’s move from Connecticut to Texas.

Subseries 10. includes specifications, reports, and descriptions of aircraft manufactured by Chance Vought.

Subseries 11. contains productions contact between Chance Vought and the United States Military.

Subseries 12. includes contracts, requests for proposals, inspection reports, questions, and statements by the United States Navy on Chance Vought aircraft and operations.

The third series is the Correspondence Series, which is further organized into three subseries: 1. John J. Hospers Personal Correspondence, 2. Chance Vought Correspondence, and 3. Other Business Correspondence.

Subseries 1. contains personal correspondence to and from John J. Hospers.

Subseries 2 houses business correspondence to and from Chance Vought.

Subseries 3. includes correspondence with other aviation companies and government agencies.

The fourth series is the Non-Chance Vought Material Series, features letters, fliers, newsletters, articles, and other information about things that interest John J. Hospers, but do not relate to Chance Vought.

The fifth series is the Photographs Series, which includes photographs of Chance Vought people, places, and aircraft; United States Naval operation in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam; and activities involving John J. Hospers.

The sixth series is the John J. Hospers Notebooks Series, which consists of notebooks kept by John J. Hospers documenting his daily activities at Chance Vought.

The seventh series is the Oversize Items Series, which includes John J. Hospers nameplates, reel to reel audio tapes, two decks of playing cards, a scrapbook from the USS Ranger, and several posters and images too large for a box in any other part of the collection.