Frank Wilson papers 1873-1971

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Wilson, Frank, 1887-1970
Title: Frank Wilson papers 1873-1971 ( inclusive)
Quantity: 19.96 cubic ft. (22 boxes)
Collection Number: 08312
Summary: Papers of Frank Wilson, an investigator of Al Capone, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, and the assassination of Huey Long, as well as chief of the United States Secret Service during World War II.
Repository: American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions: Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
Languages: English
Sponsor: The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid has been made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Frank John Wilson was born in Buffalo, New York in 1887. He served briefly in the U.S. Army during WWI, but was discharged in 1919 due to poor eyesight. In 1919, Wilson was the Chief New York state investigator for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In 1920, he briefly worked for the Department of Justice Fair Price Commission, before becoming an agent with the U.S. Treasury Department Internal Revenue Bureau Intelligence Unit, a position he would hold until 1936. During this time he was involved with investigations of Al Capone, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping case, and the Huey Long assassination. As Chief of the U.S. Secret Service from 1937-1946, Wilson launched the anti-counterfeiting "Know Your Money" campaign, instituted increased security measures for the president and other dignitaries, and began an educational campaign against wartime black market activities. After his retirement from government service, Wilson was a security consultant and published a series of Secret Service articles and an autobiography, "Special Agent" (1965). He also remained active in the U.S. Treasury Agents Association and served as president of the National Association of Retired Civil Employees from 1952-1960. He died in Washington, D.C. in 1970.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

A large portion of the collection consists of articles, radio scripts, and other manuscripts written by Frank John Wilson relating to his career as a Secret Service agent, and based off many of his and his colleagues’ cases. Also present are many files relating directly to his civil service career (both as an agent with the U.S. Treasury Department and the Secret Service), including case files, correspondence, newspaper clippings, reports, scrapbooks, and photographs. Much of the correspondence and case files pertain to his anti-counterfeiting campaign and his protection of the President and other dignitaries. There are also files on the Lindbergh kidnapping case, Al Capone, and Huey Long. Some personal files are also present, including correspondence, diaries, and other ephemeral materials.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Frank Wilson at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Arthur E. Steffan in August 1975.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Emily Christopherson in May 2011

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Career, 1873-1969 (bulk 1917-1969)Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by file name. Material in this series reflect Wilson’s civil service career, both as an agent in the U.S. Treasury Department Internal Revenue Bureau Intelligence Unit and as Chief of the Secret Service. Materials include case files, correspondence, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and research materials. His anti-counterfeiting campaign while Chief of the Secret Service is the most documented, but there are also files on presidential protection, the Lindbergh kidnapping, Al Capone, and Huey Long.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
4	Al Capone case - correspondence	1931-1940
4	Al Capone case - speech	1962
2	Appointment book	1944, 1946
2	Article - "Dual Personality and Crime" by Dr. Carleton Simon	1939
2	Bureau of Internal Revenue rules and regulations	1923, 1930
14	Card file of individuals who called Frank John Wilson's office	1944-1945
3	Cartoons	1934, 1946
3	Case summaries	undated
3	Checklist of confidence schemes	undated
2	Civil Service Exam results	1920
3	Codes	undated
2	Correspondence - American Peace Mobilization Unit	1941
2	Correspondence - general	1921-1948
22	Correspondence - President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt	1937-1945
2	Correspondence - German fiscal transactions	1939-1940
2	Correspondence - Henry L. Grey	1934-1946
22	Correspondence - J. Edgar Hoover	1947
22	Correspondence - John W. McCormack	1937-1945
2	Correspondence - letters of recommendation	1917-1920
2	Correspondence - promotions, duties, and salary	1920-1941
2	Correspondence - Secret Service radio broadcasts	1940-1946
22	Correspondence - Winston Churchill	1942
4	Counterfeiting - "Billtector" by Thomas B. Logue	1936
4	Counterfeiting - circulars	1937
4	Counterfeiting - correspondence	1937-1946
4	Counterfeiting - Counterfeit detector book (German currency)	undated
21	Counterfeiting - Detect-A-Coin silver coin tester	1941
4	Counterfeiting - educational materials	undated
4	Counterfeiting - "Heath's Infallible Counterfeit Detector, At Sight" by authority of the United States Treasury	1873, 1877
18	Counterfeiting - informational poster	undated
4	Counterfeiting - reports	1938-1945
4	Counterfeiting - research file	1940-1944
14	Counterfeiting - scrapbook	undated
18	Counterfeiting - scrapbook	undated
4	Counterfeiting - statistics	1884-1945
2	Department of the Treasury organizational table	1935
3	Fingerprint card	undated
15	"First Lady of China - Historic Visit of Mme. Chiang Kai-Shek to the U.S.,"	1943
14	Gestapo badge, Secret Service badger, and letter regarding the capture of a Nazi Gestapo Agent	1945
4	Huey Long case - affidavit	1934
4	Huey Long case - research file	1934-1942
3	International Association of Chiefs of Police	1938-1964
3	Lindbergh case - correspondence	1932-1947
3	Lindbergh case - exhibits	1932-1935
22	Lindbergh case - handwriting samples used as evidence against Bruno Richard Hauptmann	1929-1931
22	Lindbergh case - letter possibly written by Charles Lindbergh concerning the kidnapping of his son	circa 1931
3	Lindbergh case - memoranda	1932-1935
3	Lindbergh case - notes	undated
3	Lindbergh case - reports	1932-1936
3	Lindbergh case - statements	1934
3	Lindbergh case - subject file	1932-1935
3	Lists	undated
15	Magazines about the assassination of John F. Kennedy	circa 1960s
2	Memorandum regarding Secret Service	circa 1938
3	Newsletters - law enforcement related	1945-1960
3	Newsletters - Narcotics Intelligence bulletin	1945
3	Newsletters - The Record	1941-1943
13	Newspaper and magazine clippings	circa 1920s-1960s
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings	circa 1920s-1960s
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - "The Struggle for Prohibition,"	1922-1923
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - Chief John Wilkie	1941
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - book reviews	1949-1964
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - fourth inaugural	1945
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - Al Capone	undated
14	Newspaper and magazine clippings - Al Capone scrapbook	undated
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - jewel and silk smugglers	undated
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - National Crime Commission	1967-1968
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - "The President Was My Boss,"	1953
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - counterfeiting and taxes	circa 1940s
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - President McKinley and Frank Costello	undated
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - "Father of Secret Service Chief Once Guarded McKinley,"	1941
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - Lindbergh case	undated
16	Newspaper and magazine clippings - Edward de Roulhac Blount	undated
3	Orders	undated
2	Organizational history of the Secret Service	undated
15	Pamphlets - articles about the capture of Al Capone	1933-1947
15	Pamphlets - counterfeiting and currency	circa 1940s
15	Pamphlets - miscellaneous	undated
15	Pamphlets - related to law enforcement	circa 1930s-1960s
2	Personal history statement	1932
2	Personnel roster	undated
18	Plaque - U.S. Secret Service seal	undated
2	Position classification	undated
3	Presidential event guest list	1940
4	Presidential protection - correspondence	1938-1945
4	Presidential protection - diagrams	undated
4	Presidential protection - exhibits	1943-1944
4	Presidential protection - itineraries	1942-1943
4	Presidential protection - log of President's inspection trip	1942-1943
4	Presidential protection - log of President's trip to Berlin	1945
4	Presidential protection - log of President's trip to Canada	1943
4	Presidential protection - log of President's trip to Casablanca	1942
4	Presidential protection - log of President's trip to Malta	1945
4	Presidential protection - manual	1941
4	Presidential protection - orders and assignments	1943-1944
4	Presidential protection - protection plans	1944-1945
4	Presidential protection - reports	1938-1946
4	Presidential protection - reports - Joseph Doldo bombing case	1933-1943
4	Presidential protection - schedule of ceremonies	1945
4	Presidential protection - subject file	1945-1949
4	Presidential protection - table of organization	1942
4	Presidential protection - White House tunnel	undated
3	Press releases	1939-1969
2	Pre-Treasury Department	1918-1919
3	Programs	1940
2	Protection of dignitaries - correspondence	1939-1958
2	Protection of dignitaries - itinerary	1939
2	Protection of dignitaries - manuscript	undated
2	Protection of dignitaries - report and procedures	undated
2	Report - Atlantic City investigation	1942
2	Report - Bureau of Prisons Annual Report	1937
3	Report - Crime Prevention Activities	1945
3	Report - development of the Secret Service	undated
3	Report - fraud in Air Force contracts	1948
2	Report - Intelligence Unit - "Boss Tom" Pendergast and Kansas City Gang investigation	1943
3	Report - Investigation of Samuel Shulder	1945
2	Report - La Guardia Pyke bomb carrying truck	undated
2	Report - legal conference	1938
3	Report - National Council of Crime Prevention and Delinquency	undated
2	Report - parole committee	1939
3	Report - Resolution Committee - 31st annual convention	1945
3	Report - Retirement benefits	1946
3	Report - Secret Service - "Paper Money, and How a Knowledge of Its Circulation May Assist Law-Enforcement Officers" by Frank John Wilson	circa 1940
2	Report - Secret Service misconduct investigations	1943-1944
3	Report - Secret Service semi-annual reports	1943
3	Report - Secret Service survey	1944-1945
3	Report - statement of J.B. Coltrane regarding registration blotter at Yadkin Hotel	1945
3	Report - To prevent fraud of Air Force contracts	1948
3	Report - transfer of Frank John Wilson from position as Chief of Secret Service	circa 1946
2	Report - Treasury Department - Bureau of Internal Revenue - Intelligence Unit - narrative of activities from 1919-1936	1936
3	Report - use of LSD	1966
3	Report - War Department - Advisory Committee on Military Justice	1946
2	Reports - regarding Secret Service survey and personnel	1935
3	Research file	undated
17	Scrapbook of Frank John Wilson's career	circa 1930s-1960s
14	Seating lists for dinners and luncheons	1944-1946
3	Secret Service functions	undated
2	Secret Service rules and regulations	1906
3	Sheet music - "United States Secret Service March" by William Boos, dedicated to Frank John Wilson	1943
2	Special Operative William J. Flynn work log and diary	1897-1898
3	Speeches by Frank John Wilson	1940-1961
3	Speeches by others	1940-1968
3	Training materials	undated
2	Travel records	1935-1936
2	Treasury Enforcement Agencies - District of Coordination meeting minutes	1946
19	White House - maps, diagrams, floor plans	circa 1939
15	"Who's Who and Why" with entry on Frank John Wilson	1946
3	WWII cartoons	undated

Series II. Writings, 1932-1970Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by file name. The bulk of this series consists of radio scripts and manuscripts written by Wilson for radio, television, and periodicals. Most are accounts of actual cases with which he was involved, or “true crime” stories based off his or his colleagues’ work as civil service intelligence agents. This series also contains drafts and copies of Wilson’s published book “Secret Agent.” Some correspondence and research files are also present.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
11	"Abraham Ralph Reeder Counterfeiting Case and Others,"	circa 1930s-1960s
5	Advertisements	1965
6	"Airplane Age,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Airplane Industry,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Anarchist, Fanatics and Other Haters of Government Plot Assassination of Our Presidents,"	circa 1930s-1960s
5	Appearance schedules	1965
6	"Armour and Company,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Atomic Age,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Atomic Age: Do You Want the Morals of the Racketeer Era to Contaminate the Atomic Age?,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Attempted Assassination Teddy Roosevelt at Milwaukee -1912,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Autobiographical - "Appointment as Chief of Secret Service,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Autobiographical - "Courtship,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Autobiographical - "Early Life of Frank J. Wilson,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Autobiographical - "Family and Home Items,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Autobiographical - "Frank J. Wilson - Youth,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Autobiographical - "Memoirs of Frank J. Wilson,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Autobiographical - "Re: Proposed Transfer From the Secret Service,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Autobiographical - "Regarding Home Life of Frank J. Wilson,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Autobiographical - "Secret Service Career,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Automobile Thefts and Juvenile Offenders,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Battling the Big Shots of the Racketeer Era,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Beginning of the U.S. Secret Service,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Bill Brockway,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Black Bag and Frank Burke Case,"	undated
6	"Boss Justice vs. American Justice,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Boss McLaughlin,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Brain Storms Make Crime Waves,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Breaking a Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Bribery and Extortion by Revenue Employees,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Briefs of Various Cases,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Bunco Game - San Francisco,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Burnt Money Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Burtan Case - One Hundred Dollar Bills Counterfeited in Chicago,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Capone Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Captain Tom Foster,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Casablanca Conference,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Case of Kingfish Huey Long,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Catching Clever Counterfeiters,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Champion Counterfeiter of Coins,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Chicago Counterfeiting Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Classified Column Clue,"	circa 1930s-1960s
5	Contracts	1947-1964
5	Copyright transfers	1947
5	Correspondence	1946-1968
7	"Count Cheney's Three Wives,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Count Lustig,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Bills and Coin Cases,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Cases,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Coins from New Rochelle to Miami,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Gasoline Ration Coupons,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Half Dollars Confound Secret Service,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Money" (for Encyclopedia Americana)	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Money Switch Racket,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Plant Discovered Thru Laundry Mark,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Plant Seizure, Upstate New York,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeit Violations and Methods to Suppress Them,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Counterfeiters Are Queer Ducks,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Counterfeiters Entice Children Into Crime - New Crime Prevention - TV Programs Contaminate Children,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Counterfeiting,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Counterfeiting and Other Cases in Which the Secret Service Participated During 85 Years as Watchdog for the Treasury,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	Counterfeiting articles	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Counterfeiting - Crime Against the People,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Counterfeiting Inside Moyamensing Prison,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Counterfeiting Over the Centuries,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Crime at Dead Men's Gulch,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Crime at the Lincoln Tomb,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Crime Difficulty and Methods of Control,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Crime Prevention Programs,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Dallas Tragedy,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	David Burnet (Commissioner of Internal Revenue) interview - "How Uncle Sam Collects Your Income Tax,"	1932
8	"Denver Mint Holdup in 1922,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Desperate Counterfeiter/End of the Klinger Gang,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Early Environment of Public Enemies,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Edward De Rouhlac Blount,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Edward Donegan,"	circa 1930s-1960s
7	"Eugene Casey - Aide to FDR,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Every President Had Bitter Enemies,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Ex-Confederate Officer Alleges Giant Counterfeit Conspiracy,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"FDR Escapes Assassination at Miami 1933,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"FDR Is the Guest of President Camacho at Monterrey, Mexico,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Federal Reserve Bank Truck Robbed of $200,000,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Fifty Bars of Gold Stolen from U.S. Mint,"	circa 1930s-1960s
5	Fleet Publishing Company book catalog	1962
8	"Foiling the Gold,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Foodstuff and Bad Stuff,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Forged Check Racket,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Forty-Five Threatening Letters to Roosevelt from Mrs. Hannah Bremer,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Fourth Inaugural,"	circa 1930s-1960s
13	Fragments	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Frank Anderson Gang,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Frank Burke - WWII,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	Frank John Wilson interview at WBEN in Buffalo, New York	undated
11	"Franklin Roosevelt and Churchill Attend Church,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Fugitive Murderer Takes Up Counterfeiting,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	Gang Busters - "Case of Hanoi Shan,"	1947
6	Gang Busters - "Case of Phil Chadwick, part 2,"	1947
8	"Gibson Gang,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Growth of Racketeerism - Racketeerism vs. Americanism,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Guarding the Mails - History of Postal Inspection Service,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Guarding the Mighty,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Guil Barber Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Gutzon Borglum,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Happy and Serious Times with Teddy Roosevelt, Taft, Harding, and FDR,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Harry Mills,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Hassen Hoseph Kafigian Alias Joe the Turk and Noseen Karam,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"He Only Passed Counterfeits at Race Tracks,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Helping the Atomic Energy Commission and the Air Force,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"High Hat Terry Druggan and Fireman Frankie Lake,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"History of Early Protection,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Hocus - Bogus,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Homemade Crime Prevention,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Houghton's Cases,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"How to Fox a Forger,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Huge Theft Prelude to Note Destruction System,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"I Got Kicked Around By the Ohio Gang,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	Inside the Secret Service	circa 1930s-1960s
13	Inside the Secret Service - index	circa 1930s-1960s
6	Inside the Secret Service - "1902-1909 Louisiana Lottery,"	undated
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Attempt to Assassinate Teddy Roosevelt,"	undated
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Crime at Dead Men's Gulch,"	undated
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Crime at the Lincoln Tomb,"	1950
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Czolgosz, The Anarchist, Strikes Down President McKinley,"	undated
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Daring Dick Faraeux Hides From Uncle Sam (Giles Gang),"	1950
6	Inside the Secret Service - "End of the Klister Gang,"	1950
6	Inside the Secret Service - "German Espionage Exposed,"	undated
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Innocent Girls Enticed Into Counterfeit Racket,"	undated
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Mystery of the Fifteenth Hole,"	undated
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Protection of the President,"	undated
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Smarty Steve and His Southern Sugar Suddenly Slapped By the Secret Service,"	1950
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Spanish Spy Ring,"	1950
6	Inside the Secret Service - "Sucking Teenagers Into the Rackets,"	undated
9	"Intelligence Unit Cases,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"International Counterfeit Operations,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"I've Seen It Happen,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Jack Kofoed,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Jack O'Dwyer,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Jake Lingle,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Jake the Barber Factor,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Jim the Penman,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"John and Edward Mueller of Berlin,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Juvenile Delinquency,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Keep the Good Boy Good,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Keyes Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"King of the Counterfeiters in the Sixties and Seventies,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Know Your Money Crime Prevention Program,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Know Your Endorsers,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Krakauer - Cain Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Lancaster Case - Philadelphia Conspiracy,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Land Frauds,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Lincoln Assassination,"	circa 1930s-1960s
9	"Lindbergh Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
5	Lists of cases and story titles	undated
10	"Lone Wolf - A Mail Order Business Selling Counterfeits,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Louisiana Scandals,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Luis Eduardo De Shelley - International counterfeiter,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Mafia and the Secret Service,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Mary Saves the Life of Agent Eddie Tyrell,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Mary Saves the Life of Agent Eddie Tyrell,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"McConnell Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
13	"Memoirs of Secret Service Chief" index	circa 1930s-1960s
5	Memorandum summarizing Secret Service cases	undated
10	"Miguel Lisboa,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Million Dollar Counterfeit Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Milwaukee Counterfeit Note Case - Jack Sorcey and Jack Rizzo,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Miracle - Whiskey Changed to Water,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Miscellaneous Tax Cases Involving Rich Aliens,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Molnar Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Money to Burn,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Money Truck Holdup, Brooklyn, NY,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"My Impression of Leavenworth,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"My Introduction to a New Type of Criminal,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"My Thirty Years Battling Big Shot Racketeers,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Myrtle Tarner Blacklidge, IRS Collector - Chicago,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Mysterious Career of a Millionaire Widow and Her Mysterious Death,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Mysterious Mike Malone,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Mystery of the Fifteenth Hole,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Nationwide Counterfeit Ring Smashed/Zrnety and Father Balaban,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"New Horizons in the Secret Service,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"New Techniques By Secret Service in Crime Suppression By Public Education,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"New Techniques in Fighting Crime,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Norman Demetrackis, Champion Check Thief Gets Fifteen Years,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Observation Pays Off,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"On the High Seas - Three Treasury Agents Murdered,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Pacific Coast Counterfeit Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Pearl Harbor Day at the White House,"	circa 1930s-1960s
10	"Pete McCartney, the King of Counterfeiters,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Philadelphia Arsenic Murder Ring,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Piracy in Great Activity,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Poison Pen Letters to Roosevelt from Henry Wentzler, Elevator Operator,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Political Racketeers,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"President Teddy Roosevelt at World's Fair in St. Louis (1904) Lady Luck and the Counterfeit Dollar,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Presidential Protection - FDR,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Presidential Protection,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Prince Among Counterfeiters" by Allen Pinkerton	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Protection of the President By the U.S. Secret Service From 1936-1946,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Protection of the President Inside the White House,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Protection Surveys, etc.,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Protective Research Station,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Protectors of the President Meet Sudden Death in the Performance of Their Duty,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Racketeer Era - 1920 to 1950,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Racketeerism Is Born in Chicago - Big Boss McLaughlin,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Racketeers Pass $17,400 in One Hundred Dollar Bills on Detroit Bank,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Raid on Hawthorne Smoke Shop,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Raw Deal Justice, Square Deal Justice, American Citizens and the American Press,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Real Estate Experts,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Reese B. Brown and Sarah Smith-Scollard,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Reorganization of Secret Service,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Responsibility of Parents to Keep Young Americans Out of Crime,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Ringling Brothers Tax Fraud,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Safe-Crackers and Stick-Up Men Turn to Counterfeiting,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"San Jose Case $100,000 Counterfeit Seizure,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Secret Service Chief Wilkie - Counterfeit Case 1898,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Secret Service Crime Prevention Program,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Secret Service Makes History,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Secret Service Men Closest to the President During His Travels,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Secret Service Regulation re: Use of Revolver By an Agent,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Secret Service Stories,"	circa 1930s-1960s
14	"Secret Service Stories" concept and story ideas - scrapbooks	1970
11	"Secret Service" (for Britannica Junior)	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Seven Year Old Elizabeth Helped Secret Service Agent Bill Houghton,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Shooting of President McKinley,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Silent Saboteur and Other WWII Counterfeiting Operations,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Sing Sing for Twenty-Five Years For Virgil Reynolds,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Sixty-Eight Year Old Counterfeiter Escapes From His Guards in the Federal Building at Philadelphia,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	Special Broadcast - "Know Your Money,"	1940
11	"Sketch Drawn By Housewife Leads to Arrest of Mailbox Thief and First Aid Demonstration For Eleanor Roosevelt,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Some Famous Counterfeit Cases,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Spanish Spy Ring - 1898,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Spanish-American War,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Special Agent,"	circa 1930s-1960s
5	"Special Agent" by Frank J. Wilson and Beth Day	1965
5	"Special Agent" - book reviews	1965
5	"Special Agent" - galley proofs	circa 1930s-1960s
5	"Special Agent" - press releases	1965
12	"Square Deal Justice,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Stadig Counterfeit Case Las Vegas, Nevada,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Stories From Other Federal Agencies and Other Sources,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Summary of Post Office Inspector Cases,"	circa 1930s-1960s
13	Synopsis for television series idea about post office inspector cases	circa 1930s-1960s
13	Synopsis for television series idea about Secret Service and Federal Agencies	circa 1930s-1960s
13	"T Men In Action" - list of income tax cases	circa 1930s-1960s
13	Tales of the Secret Service - case list	circa 1930s-1960s
6	Tales of the Secret Service - "Counterfeit Plan on Long Island,"	undated
6	Tales of the Secret Service - "Education Against Crime,"	undated
6	Tales of the Secret Service - "Protectors of the President Meet Sudden Death in the Performance of Their Duty,"	undated
6	Tales of the Secret Service - untitled regarding counterfeiting case	undated
12	"Tax Liability of Amounts Received from Annuities,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Tea Pot Dome Oil Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Ten Eventful Years,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Thefts From the Bureau of Engraving and Printing - Numbers Racket,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"They Said I Had Ice Water In My Veins,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Thirty-Eight Years In Six Prisons,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Threats Against Churchill and Roosevelt,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Threats Against Presidents,"	circa 1930s-1960s
5	Title pages of books regarding the Secret Service and criminal activities	1868-1934
7	"Tom Callaghan,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Tom Foster Case,"	undated
11	"Tony Spinelli, Frank Sernak, Zrenty Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Toothbrush Twins,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Treasury Agents,"	1937
6	True Secret Service Stories - "Baron Buloff,"	undated
12	"Twenty-Three Cases Handled By the Secret Service in the Middle of the Last Century,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Two Hundred Thousand Dollar Counterfeit War Savings Stamps,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Undercover Child,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Undercover Man" series in Collier's	1947
12	"United Front in Fighting Crime,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"United Front in Law Enforcement,"	circa 1930s-1960s
5	"United States Secret Service: It Can Happen To You" - motion picture script regarding the DeMora case by Frank John Wilson	circa 1930s-1960s
6	Untitled draft regarding an attempt to steal the body of Abraham Lincoln	undated
6	Untitled script for Coordination Meeting of Treasury Department Enforcement Agencies at WCAU (not by Wilson)	undated
6	Untitled scripts for a series of cooperative broadcasts with local police departments	undated
12	"Untouchables - Bad Effects of Television Programs,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"U.S. Food Administration,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"U.S. Mint Employee with Wooden Leg Steals $100,000,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"U.S. Secret Service Counter-Espionage Work/WWII	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"U.S. Secret Service Services to Banks and to the Public,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Various Cases,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Various Income Tax Cases,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Veteran Secret Service Agent at the White House - Jim Sloan,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Vicious Check Racket/Forging,"	circa 1930s-1960s
11	"Virgil Reynolds Case at Buffalo,"	circa 1930s-1960s
6	"Walter Best Case,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"War Time Christmas, 1941,"	circa 1930s-1960s
8	"Waxie Gordon - Notorious Gangster,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Weldon Case - Wife of Counterfeiter Spends Money at Chinese Laundry,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"Wilkin Case, San Francisco and LA Captain Tom Foster,"	circa 1930s-1960s
12	"With the Cooperation of the Public" by Richard Hirsch	circa 1930s-1960s

Series III. Personal files, 1887-1971Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by file name. Contains primarily correspondence, certificates and awards, and various mementos and ephemeral materials.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Application to practice in the Treasury Department	1947
18	Adolph Hitler book - copies of certificate of marriage, will, and political testament	1946
1	Army discharge papers	1917
1	Biographical files	circa 1946-1967
19	Book - "The Life of William McKinley,"	1901
19	Certificates	1940
1	Certificates and awards	1887-1966
19	Christmas card from Secret Service staff	1940
1	Correspondence - congratulatory	1936-1937
1	Correspondence - general	1919-1968
1	Correspondence - International Association for Identification	1943-1946
1	Correspondence - International Association of Chiefs of Police	1940-1946
1	Correspondence - Lafayette High School	1943-1945
1	Correspondence - National Association of Retired Civil Employees	1958-1965
1	Correspondence - organizations	1935-1968
1	Correspondence - political	1918-1960
1	Correspondence - religious organizations	1921-1970
1	Correspondence - retirement	1946-1947
1	Correspondence - spouse	circa 1926
1	Correspondence - United States Treasury Agents Association	1953-1967
1	Correspondence regarding Frank John Wilson's death	1970-1971
1	Crimes notebook (while at University of Buffalo)	1919-1920
1	Crusade for Freedom trip	1954
1	Diaries - Frank John Wilson	1904-1905, 1910, 1930
1	Diaries - Judith Wilson (wife)	1945-1946
1	Diaries - Mae Wilson	1912
14	Ephemera	undated
1	Financial files	1923-1974
1	Greetings cards	1937-1967
1	Handwriting analysis	1923
1	Identification and membership cards	1917-1969
1	Insurance policies	1935-1936
1	Invitations	1936-1959
14	Key to the city of Atlantic City, New Jersey	undated
1	Legal agreement	1925
1	List of cousins	undated
14	Medals	undated
1	Miscellaneous	1943-1945
14	Name tags and ribbons from various conventions	undated
1	New York itinerary	1946
18	Plaque - National Association of Retired Civil Employees	1953
22	Presidential mementos - engraving of White House autographed by Theodore Roosevelt	undated
14	Presidential mementos - Franklin Delano Roosevelt	1941-1945
14	Presidential mementos - Harry Truman	1945
14	Presidential mementos - John F. Kennedy funeral service announcement	1963
22	Presidential mementos - John F. Kennedy funeral service prayer card	1963
1	Reports	1952-1966
1	Retirement file	1946
14	Seal of the Order of Yun Hui	undated
19	Steel engraving portraits of U.S. presidents	undated
1	United States Treasury Agents Association - minutes	1962, 1965
1	United States Treasury Agents Association - roster	undated
1	Voter registration certificate	1926, 1940
1	Wedding announcement	1926

Series IV. Photographs, 1931-1966Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by file name. Primarily contains photographs from his career as Chief of Secret Service, including numerous Presidential events and conferences. Also includes some photographs pertaining to specific issues and cases on which Wilson worked, such as counterfeiting and the Lindbergh kidnapping case. A few personal photographs are also present.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
19	Annual dinner of the National Press Club - Harry Truman is guest of honor	1945
20	Armored cars	circa 1942
20	Berlin Conference	1945
20	Casablanca conference	1943
19	Charles Lindbergh	1939
20	Convicted counterfeiters	undated
19	Counterfeiters	undated
19	Eleanor Roosevelt	1937-1941
20	Explosive devices	undated
19-20	Frank John Wilson - personal and professional	undated
19	Henry Morgenthau	1941
20	John Wilson (father)	undated
19	Judith Wilson (wife)	undated
19	Juliana, Princess of Netherlands and family	undated
20	King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother portraits	1939
20	"Know Your Money" campaign	circa 1940s
20	La Guardia-Pyke bomb-carrying truck	undated
20	Lindbergh case	1934
20	Miscellaneous	undated
19	Officers of Intelligence Unit, IRS	1936
19-20	President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)	1937-1941, undated
20	President Harry Truman	circa 1940s
19	President Harry Truman at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier	1946
20	Protective Research Office	undated
19	Secret Service - Banquet for National Conference	1941
19	Secret Service - military company	undated
19	Secret Service - Testimonial dinner in honor of William H. Moran, retiring Chief	1937
19	Secret Service - White House reception for officials of the Treasury Department	1931
19	Supervisory heads of Coordinated Treasury Enforcement Agencies	1944
20	Talk concerning Otto Graham	1966
19-20	Unidentified	undated
20	United Nations	1945
19	White House guards	undated
20	White House Police Force Pistol Team	undated
20	White House protection during WWII	circa 1940s
19-20	Winston Churchill	undated
20	Yalta conference	1945

Series V. Reel-to-reel audiotapes, 1959-1965Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by title. Includes three reel-to-reel audiotapes which appear to be interviews or speeches by Frank John Wilson.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
13	Address by Frank John Wilson at California Federal convention in Sacramento	1959
13	"People" - WLKW in Providence, Rhode Island - Chief Wilson	undated
13	Secret Service - WABC reports	1965

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Counterfeits and counterfeiting--United States.
Crime--United States.
Criminals--United States.
Kidnapping--United States.
Presidents--Protection--United States.
Secret service--United States.

Personal Names

Capone, Al, 1899-1947.
Hauptman, Bruno Richard, 1899-1936.
Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974.
Long, Huey Pierce, 1893-1935.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.

Corporate Names

United States. Bureau of Internal Revenue.
United States. Secret Service.

Form or Genre Terms

Case files.
Photographs.
Radio scripts.
Scrapbooks.

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents