Hanoi March, 2008

The Jon A. Reynolds papers consist primarily of correspondence and office files; photographs and slides; maps, guides, and brochures; newspaper clippings and periodicals; military service awards; and artifacts and ephemera which document his life and career as a command pilot in the U.S. Air Force and later as an employee of Raytheon Company, after retirement from the military.

Series 1, the largest in the collection, consists of files related to Reynolds’ career military service in the U.S. Air Force and includes correspondence, photographs and slides, travel files, periodicals, maps, brochures, and other print publications. The series is divided into three subseries which cover specific assignments: Southeast Asia (Vietnam), U.S. Air Force Headquarters (Pentagon), and U.S. Embassy, Beijing, China. The Southeast Asia subseries comprises files related to Reynolds' time as an Air Force pilot flying missions in Vietnam, his subsequent experience as a POW for seven years, and his repatriation to the U.S. The Air Force Headquarters subseries includes files from his tenure working at the Pentagon in three different capacities during three different time periods: first, in the Directorate of Plans office (1979-1980); next, as senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force (1988-1989); and last, as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency's Attaché System (1989-1990). The U.S. Embassy, Beijing subseries includes files from Reynolds' work as Air and Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China from 1984 until 1988. [Arranged chronologically]

Series 2 includes files related to Reynolds’ work with Raytheon Company after his retirement from the military in 1990. Files within this series cover the different divisions within Raytheon where Reynolds worked: first, at United Engineers and Constructors; then, as President of Raytheon China; and last, as a private consultant (JReynolds International, Inc.). The series also includes an extensive sub-series of photographs and a scrapbook. [Arranged chronologically]

Series 3 includes a small amount of files related to a variety of events Reynolds attended as a guest speaker. Some, but not all files include the speech Reynolds delivered. Dates span from 1978 to 2012. [Arranged chronologically]

Series 4 is also small, and includes files of materials generated by Reynolds as the author of journal articles and book reviews and other written work, both published and unpublished. Two reviews in the series were authored by someone other than Reynolds. It is apparent that Reynolds was working on re-writing and translating Chinese General Wang Hai's autobiography--these files are here. In addition, two articles co-authored by Reynolds but published years after the collection was received (2021-2023), are here as well. [Arranged chronologically]

The subject files in Series 5 pertain to individuals, institutions, and organizations with whom Reynolds had a significant connection. Other files in the series reflect his interests in a particular subject area. [Arranged alphabetically]

Series 6 is divided into two sub-series which cover Reynolds’ educational pursuits as a student and later as a teacher. Files pertain to Reynolds’ years as an undergraduate and alumnus at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut; pilot training in the U.S. Air Force; as a graduate and doctoral student at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; and additional education and training necessary for military service assignments. Other files include those related to Reynolds’ appointments as an instructor in the History Department at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and at the National War College in Washington, D.C. [Arranged chronologically]

Series 7 includes files of a personal nature such as correspondence with friends and family members, family photographs, news clippings, and travel. Biographical narratives and resumes are here also. [Arranged alphabetically]

Series 8 comprises awards and honors bestowed upon Reynolds both as a member of the military and as a civilian, and includes school diplomas, awards for military service, and certificates of recognition from a variety of institutions and organizations. The military awards in this series are the paper certificates and citations--accompanying medals such as the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Distinguished Flying Cross may be found in Series 9. [Arranged chronologically]

The artifacts and ephemera in Series 9 are loosely grouped according to topic and include items pertaining to Reynolds’ military service, Raytheon Company, and Trinity College. Examples include signed commemorative photographs and prints; military insignia worn on Reynolds’ uniform; military service medals; scrapbook of military service compiled by Reynolds’ parents; commemorative Chinese postage stamps; Freedom Day posters; Trinity College Class of 1959 beanie. [Arranged alphabetically]

Series 10 comprises print publications and print ephemera collected by Reynolds mostly while living in China during his tenure at the U.S. Embassy, Beijing from 1984 until 1988, and includes books, magazines, journal articles, travel brochures and maps, as well as military and other miscellaneous publications. The series also includes a group of Chinese language periodicals and periodical titles specific to China but published in the English language. Of note in this series is Chinese General Wang Hai's autobiography. [Arranged alphabetically]