Zenos R. Miller World War I Diaries

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of two items: a diary that Miller entitled "Autograph Book and Diary of Zenos R. Miller: Containing the Names of my fellow Gefangeneners [sic] and a Brief Record of Events." The diary contains entries by 124 of Miller's fellow prisoners in which they write their name, address, and circumstances of capture. There are also descriptions, drawings, photographs, and mementos of prison camp life and the American, British, French and Russian prisoners of war held there. The second item is a diary entitled, "Daily Reminder 1918," which covers the time period January 1 to June 25, 1918, and describes Miller's training, aviation activities, and camp life. The entries were entered by Miller before he was shot down and became a prisoner of war. A memorial volume, "In Memory of Zenos Ramsey Miller" by William Alfred Eddy was included with the collection, and is now held by the National Air and Space Museum Library.

Biographical / Historical

Zenos R. Miller was a pilot with the 27th Aero Squadron of the United States Air Service during World War I. Miller was credited with shooting down four German aircraft before he was shot down on July 16, 1918. He was held as a prisoner of war at Landshut and Villingen before he was freed by the Armistice in November of 1918. Miller returned to the United States and was studying at Harvard Medical School when he decided to undertake a transcontinental flight during the summer of 1922. He died during the first leg of the trip when his aircraft crashed.