John Kenneth Cannon photograph collection
Scope and Contents
The 834 images in this collection are mostly publicity photographs which document Cannon's duties (such as military parades, medal pinning ceremonies, graduation exercises, fund raising, inspections, retirements, visiting dignitaries, and high-level meeting) as an Air Force General. Nearly all the images were taken between 1947 and 1953.
Dates
- 1918-1953
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Restrictions
Open to public research.
Copyright
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the John Kenneth Cannon Photograph Collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical note
John Kenneth Cannon (1892-1955) had an illustrious career in the United States Air Force eventually becoming a Four Star General. Cannon was born in Salt Lake City in 1892 and he graduated from the Utah Agricultural College in 1914. After serving in the infantry during WWII, he took up pilot training from 1921 to 1922. He served in the Air Corps in Hawaii, Michigan, Texas, and California. In 1938 Cannon went to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for three years as chief of the U.S. Military Mission. Cannon was promoted to brigadier general in February 1942 and in World War II went overseas as commanding general of the 12th Air Support Command during the invasion of French Morocco. Through March and April 1943 Cannon organized an air training command for the Mediterranean Theater and in May became deputy commanding general of the Allied Tactical Air Force for the Sicilian campaign and the invasion of Italy. He was promoted to major general in June and by December became commanding general of the 12th Air force and the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force, being responsible for all air operations for the invasion of southern Europe. The following March he was promoted to lieutenant general and named air commander in chief of all Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater and in May became commanding general of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
General Cannon returned to the U.S. in April 1946 as commanding general of Air Training Command at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. In October 1948 he returned to Europe as commanding general, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. In March 1950, he was designated Commander in Chief of U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He was promoted to full general in October 1951 and appointed commanding general of Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
Cannon retired on April 1, 1954 and he died in Arcadia, California on January 12, 1955. Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico is named after him.
Information courtesy of Air Force Link Biographies, http://www.af.mil/bios/index.asp
Extent
3 Boxes (1.5 linear ft.)
Abstract
The 834 black & white and color photographs in this collection are mostly publicity photographs which document Cannon's duties (such as military parades, medal pinning ceremonies, graduation exercises, fund raising, inspections, retirements, visiting dignitaries, and high-level meetings) as an Air Force General; some black & white images also include negatives. Nearly all the photographs were taken between 1947 and 1953.
Arrangement
Topical. The detailed descriptions in the register came from typed captions on small pieces of paper accompanying the images. These captions probably came from the Air Force.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These photographs were removed from Manuscript Collection MSS 41. They were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by LaVon Bennion Cannon in 1976.
Processing Information
Register created by Kelly Lelegren, December 2008.
- Title
- Guide to the John Kenneth Cannon photograph collection, 1918-1953
- Author
- Encoded by Andrea Payant, January 2009.
- Date
- ©2008
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Revision Statements
- 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu