A Guide to the Mayer H. Halff Papers, 1901-2004

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.

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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.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing photographic materials. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on these materials.

Usage Restrictions

Please contact the UTSA Archives for information about permission to publish material from the collection.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Mayer H. Halff Papers, 1901-2004, MS 146, Archives and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio Library.

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.

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 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 in the University of Texas at San Antonio Archives.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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