Descriptive Summary
Halff, Mayer H., 1905-1996.
Mayer H. Halff
Papers
1901-2004
Materials are in English.
MS 146
5 linear
feet (about 3,750 items)
University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections
Mayer H. Halff
was a twentieth century Texas military officer and businessman.
Collection spans the years 1904 through 2004 and includes correspondence, photographs,
memoirs, newspaper clippings, negatives, financial documents, legal documents,
yearbooks, newsletters, certificates, and publications that document the life
and work of a twentieth century military officer and businessman.
Biographical Note
Mayer Henry Halff, known as Hal to family and friends, was born in
San Antonio, Texas on December 12, 1905 to Henry Mayer Halff and Rosa Wechsler,
and had three siblings: Ernestine, Ray Elizabeth, and Albert. Halff attended
high school at West Texas Military Academy (now known as TMI) in San Antonio.
He went on to graduate from New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New
Mexico and was the youngest cadet at that time to do so. After two years at the
University of Texas at Austin between 1922 and 1924, Halff was appointed to the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1928 as a 2nd Lt. of
cavalry. Halff married Maureene Poole August 5, 1933 and with her had two
children, Evelyn Julia and Henry Richard. After 34 years of marriage, Halff and
Maureene were divorced. Halff then married his second wife, Winifred Joanna Van
Keulen Jogl, on February 28, 1969.
Halff's first military assignment was at Ft. Bliss, Texas with the 7th
Cavalry. He was involved in several of the last cavalry marches along the U.S.
border to keep Pancho Villa on the Mexican side. In 1933, Halff was assigned to
the Civilian Conservation Corps in Arizona, first as an officer, and then as a
civilian. He was called back to active duty in 1941 and assigned to
David-Monthan Air Base in Tucson, Arizona. Shortly thereafter, he was
transferred to Army General Staff in Washington, DC, where he was involved in
the acquisition of real estate for the expanding military. One of the purchases
he made was an airport near Washington that would later house the Pentagon. In
1942, Halff was asked to return to West Point as an instructor, where he taught
mechanics and chemistry until 1945. As a Lt. Colonel, Halff attended General
Staff Class at Ft. Leavenworth, KS and after graduation was assigned to General
MacArthur's staff in the Philippines and Japan.
After leaving the military, Halff settled in Dallas, Texas, where he
became involved in the oil business, real estate, and property management. In
1976, he retired to the Lakeway community in Austin, Texas, remaining active in
business, traveling, and playing golf. With the death of his wife, Winifred, in
1989, Halff married his third wife, Ione (Sissy) Edna Bishop. He died in 1996.
Scope and Content Note
The collection spans the years 1904 through 2004 and includes correspondence, photographs,
memoirs, newspaper clippings, negatives, financial documents, legal documents,
yearbooks, newsletters, certificates, and publications that document the life
and work of a twentieth century military officer and businessman. Most of the
papers are dated between 1989 and 1996, with a bible and a photograph from 1901
and 1906, some education documents dated in the 1920s, and some military
documents from the 1940s. The papers are arranged into two series:
Mayer H. Halff and Halff Family
and Friends.
The Mayer H. Halff series consists of items
pertaining to Halff, his military and social life, and two of his wives. It is
divided into six subseries: Biographical, Celebrations/Vacations, Clubs and
Organizations, Military, Winifred, and Ione (Sissy).
The Halff Family and Friends series
consists of items pertaining to Halff's family and friends. It contains
correspondence, photographic materials, and a Halff family tree placing Halff
and his immediate family in relation to the larger Halff family of Texas. There
are also a number of documents relating to the commercial enterprise of the
Halff family, Halff Interests. They invested in real estate, oil, and ranching,
as well as other business ventures.
Access Restrictions
This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the Collections Request Form.
Usage Restrictions
Please contact University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections for information about
permission to publish material from the collection.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Mayer H. Halff Papers, 1901-2004, MS 146, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Acquisition Information
Received as a gift from Ione Bishop Halff, 2006 (Acc. 2006-037).
Processing Information
Processed by Mathew C. Martin, Collections Assistant, October
2006.
Note to Researchers
A book on Upton County Texas, On the Last
Frontier: A History of Upton County, Texas, contains information about
the Halff family and is also located at University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Index Terms
Personal Names
Halff, Mayer H., 1905-1996.
Halff family.
Organizations
Halff Interests.
Subjects
Businessmen--Texas--San Antonio.
Businessmen--Texas--History--20th century.
Armed Forces--Officers--Texas.
Locations
San Antonio (Tex.)--History--20th century.
San Antonio (Tex.)--Social life and customs--20th century.
Genres/Formats
Correspondence.
Photographs.
Financial records.
Legal documents.
Clippings.
Yearbooks.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Mayer H. Halff
This series consists of items
pertaining to Halff, his military and social life, and two of his wives (Winifred and Ione (Sissy)).
Series is divided into six subseries: Biographical, Celebrations/Vacations, Clubs and
Organizations, Military, Winifred, and Ione (Sissy).
Biographical
This subseries contains
correspondence, writings, financial and legal documents (including wills,
trusts, powers of attorney, and estate planning documents), marriage
certificates and a wedding film, mementos, and photographic material. Of
particular interest is his memoirs, which he wrote in 1987. Files contain his
research notes, various revisions and edits, and two copies of the finished
memoir. The memoir chronicles over 80 years of Halff's life including his
military career and his involvement in the oil business and ranching. The
memoir also gives some information about the Halff family, which was one of the
largest ranching families in Texas.
1
1
Admission Tickets to U.S. House and Senate,
1987-1988
1
2
Autopsy documents,
1996
1
3
Baby cup (silver),
1905
1
4
Baby hair,
circa 1906]
1
5
Birth certificate,
1942
1
6
Commission for Admiral in the Texas Navy,
1993
Correspondence
1
7
Family,
1906, 1990-1996, and undated
1
8
Friends,
1991-1996
1
9
Organizations,
1995
1
10
Political,
1940, 1995-1996
1
11
Donation certificate for the Halff Greenbelt-Spring
Creek Forest Preserve in memory of Maureene Halff, to the city of Garland,
Texas,
1991
1
12
Estate planning documents,
1994-1995
Financial
1
13
General Material,
1988-1995 and undated
1
14
Planning notes on actions after Hal's death,
1996
Funeral
1
15
Contract and receipts,
1996
1
16
Memorial tributes book,
August 5, 1996
1
17
Photographic materials,
1996
1
18
Program for srvice and text of remarks,
August 5, 1996
1
19
Sympathy messages,
1996
1
20
Identification and membership cards,
1942-1993 and undated
Marriage to Ione (Sissy)
1
21
Prenuptial agreement,
1989
1
22
Wedding book,
1989
1
23
Wedding photographs,
1989
2
1
Marriage to Winifred: wedding film and marriage
certificate,
1969
2
2
Medical,
1988-1995 and undated
Memoirs
2
3
Copyright,
1987
2
4
Editor information, undated
2
5
Final copies of first edition,
1987
2
6
Research material,
1960-1996
2
7
Revisions and edits,
1987 and undated
2
8
Obituaries,
August 1996
2
9
Photographs: Hal,
1906, 1984-1996, and undated
2
10
Photographs: Hal with family and friends,
1986-1994 and undated
2
11
Power of Attorney/Declaration of Guardian,
1990-1995
2
12
Real estate,
1995-1996 and undated
Religion
3
1
Bible,
1901
3
2
Newspaper clippings,
1951-1956 and undated
3
3
Yarmulke, undated
Trusts
3
4
Correspondence,
1995-1996 and undated
3
5
Mayer H. Halff
Trust (aka Rosa Trust),
1955
3
6
M. H. Halff Family
Trust,
1990-1995
Will
3
7
December 11, 1989
3
8
December 19, 1994
3
9
January 11, 1995
3
10
September 22, 1995
4
1
Yearbook: University of Texas at Austin,
The Cactus,
1923
Celebrations/Vacations
The bulk of the subseries consists of materials relating to Halff's 90th birthday celebration, including
several photograph albums, correspondence, a guest book, and papers that record
the planning of the party. There is also correspondence and photographic
material from Christmas celebrations, Halff's 75th, 87th, and 89th birthdays,
and various vacations.
Christmas
4
2
Correspondence,
1995
4
3
Photographic Materials,
1986 and undated
4
4
Hal's 75th, 87th, and 89th birthdays: photographic
materials,
1980, 1992, 1994
Hal's 90th birthday,
1995
4
5
Birthday wishes: Family
4
6
Birthday wishes: Friends
4
7
Birthday wishes: Postcards
5
1
Birthday wishes: Postcards
5
Large party
5
2
Guestbook
5
3
Photograph albums
6
1
Photograph albums
6
2
Photograph
6
3
Planning documents
6
4
Tea party: photograph album
6
5
Park and hunting permits,
1978-1990 and undated
Vacations
6
6
Membership cards: hotel and travel clubs,
1994 and undated
6
7
Periodical: Travel Association
News,
Mid-January/February 1976
6
8
Photographic Materials,
1989-1991 and undated
6
9
Postcards,
1925, 1936, and undated
6
10
Souvenir change purse from Mexico, undated
6
11
Unknown celebrations: photographic materials, undated
Clubs/Organizations
This subseries
contains newsletters, correspondence, membership lists, yearbooks, awards,
patches and pins from the various organizations of which Halff was a member.
Organizations he belonged to include the Bonzai Society, the Lakeway Men's Golf
Associations, the Power Squadron, and the Rotary Club. Most material is from
his membership in the Power Squadron, a non profit, educational organization
dedicated to making boating safer and more enjoyable by teaching classes in
seamanship, navigation and related subjects, in which Halff was heavily
involved for years.
Bonzai Society
6
12
Bonzai care and maintenance,
1989 and undated
6
13
Catalogs from the Bonzai Farm,
1991
7
1
Nametag, undated
Newsletters
7
2
Bonzai Notebook,
1989-1991
7
3
Texas Bonzai,
1989
7
4
Yearbooks and membership directories,
1989-1991
Lakeway Men's Golf Association
7
5
Membership directory,
1986
Power Squadron
7
6
Awards, undated
7
7
Blazer patches, undated
7
8
Boat flag, undated
7
9
Correspondence,
1994-1996
7
10
Membership cards,
1990-1994 and undated
7
11
Newsletter: The
Plotter,
1995-1996
7
12
Periodical: The Ensign,
September 1995 and September
1996
7
13
Photographic Material, undated
7
14
Rosters,
1987-1995
7
15
Tie Tack, undated
7
16
Window Decal, undated
Rotary Club
7
17
Award, undated
7
18
Roster, undated
Military
This subseries comprises the bulk
of the Halff series, and contains correspondence, photographic materials,
publications, and promotion certificates, chronicling Halff's military career.
Also included is his record of involvement in the West Point Association of
Graduates and the West Point Society of North Texas. Of particular interest is
a collection of photographs from Halff's time in the army at Ft. Bliss c.1929.
Another interesting item is a copy of the
Political
Handbook of Japan 1949 which Halff used while working on General
MacArthur's staff in Japan. The book was used by servicemen in occupied Japan
to help them function more easily within Japanese culture and politics. There
are also books relating to religion in the military, as well as books on the
subject of travel for retired and active military personnel.
New Mexico Military Institute
7
19
Alumni Association membership card, undated
7
20
Correspondence,
1995
7
21
Photographs, undated
7
22
Publications,
1995-1996
7
23
Yearbooks,
1921-1922
Retirement
8
1
American Legion membership card,
1991
Correspondence
8
2
TROA (Texas Retired Officers Association),
1995-1997
8
3
VA (Veteran's Administration),
1942, 1996, and undated
8
4
Flyer for Lakeway Military Memorial Dedication,
1995
8
5
Marines-Memorial Club membership cards,
1993-1994
8
6
Travel books for military and retired military
personnel,
1972-1975
8
7
TROA membership card, undated
Service
8
8
Buttons (jacket), undated
8
9
Certifications,
1945-1960
8
10
Correspondence,
1942
8
11
First aid textbook,
1940
8
12
Military discharge wallet, undated
8
13
Patches, undated
8
14
Photographs,
circa 1929 and undated
8
15
Political Handbook of Japan
1949,
1949
8
16
Promotions,
1931-1952
Religious Publications
8
17
Army and Navy Service
Book,
1918
9
1
Jewish Bible – Army Issue,
1942
9
2
Soldiers' Book of
Worship, undated
9
3
Think on These
Things,
1941
West Point
Association of Graduates
9
4
Correspondence,
1995-1997 and undated
9
5
Memorial Book for Hal's 90th Birthday,
1995
9
6
Newsletters,
1995-1996
9
7
Class of 1928, South Texas Area, Roster,
September 1987
9
8
Prints, undated
Publications
9
9
The 2004 West Point
Fund: Annual Report of Gifts,
2004
9
10
Assembly,
July/August 1997, July/August
1999
10
1
Official Register of
Officers and Cadets,
1928
10
2
Register of Graduates and
Former Cadets,
1995
10
3
Register of Graduates and
Former Cadets,
1998
11
1
West Point: A Way of
Life,
1963
11
2
Reunions/Founders' Day Dinners,
1993-1997 and undated
11
West Point Jewish Chapel
11
3
Lapel Pins, undated
11
4
Membership Card,
1994
West Point Society of North Texas
11
5
Calendar,
1994
11
6
Correspondence,
1994-1996
11
7
Newsletters,
1994-1996
11
8
Rosters,
1987-1996
Winifred
Includes correspondence, photographs, funeral materials, and a
will, pertaining to Halff's second wife, Winifred.
11
9
Correspondence, undated
11
10
Funeral materials,
January 22, 1989
11
11
Photographic materials, undated
11
12
Will,
1987
Ione (Sissy)
Includes contain correspondence and photographs about Ione (Sissy), Halff's third wife.
11
13
Correspondence,
1971 and undated
11
14
Medical,
1995
11
15
Negatives,
1994-1998 and undated
11
16
Photographs,
1998 and undated
11
17
Photograph keychain, undated
11
18
Trust, undated
Halff Family and Friends
Family
11
19
Birthdays and anniversaries list, undated
11
20
Family history,
1993-1996 and undated
11
21
Family trees, undated
11
22
Halff Interests documents,
1994-1996
11
23
Newspaper Article: Albert H. Halff (Hal's brother),
Dallas Morning News,
1992
11
24
Obituaries: Betty Halff Llewellyn (Hal's sister),
1995
11
25
Photographs, undated
Friends
11
26
Photographs, undated