David Aiken Collection

The David Aiken Collection consists of research materials assembled by historian David Aiken during his study of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the opening of the Pacific War. The collection documents Aiken's extensive research into the planning, execution, and aftermath of the attack through correspondence with historians, veterans, archivists, and historical organizations; copies of government records and congressional investigations; military reports; technical manuals; maps; photographs; published articles; newspapers; and reference materials.

Research topics include U.S. prewar planning, Pearl Harbor investigations, intelligence and communications, radar development, military installations in Hawaii, civilian experiences during the attack, Japanese aircraft and aviators, U.S. military aviation, naval vessels, casualties, medical response, and commemorative sites. The collection also contains documentation concerning individual servicemen, aircraft, ships, military units, and operational analyses compiled from archival repositories and published sources.

The materials represent Aiken's research activities rather than the official records of military organizations and provide insight into both the historical events of December 7, 1941, and the methods used to reconstruct those events through historical research.