Kirk Kerkorian collection

Descriptive Summary
Title: Kirk Kerkorian collection
Creator: Kerkorian, Kerkor , 1917-2015
Inclusive Dates: 1942-1951
Bulk Dates: 1942-1945
Language(s): English
Extent: 4.25 Linear Feet (1 box, 1 oversize folder, 1 trunk)
Collection Number: ms3962
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Kirk Kerkorian was born in California to Armenian immigrants in the year 1917. He left school in the eighth grade and found success as an amateur boxer. In anticipation of World War II, Kerkorian began taking flying lessons. After receiving his pilot's certification, Kerkorian flew for the British Royal Air Force and was based in Canada. Following the war, he worked as a pilot eventually settling in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kerkorian became well-known through his ventures in the airline, gambling resorts and film industries. Notably, he built the world's largest hotel in Las Vegas three times: the International Hotel (opened in 1969), the MGM Grand Hotel (1973) and the MGM Grand (1993). Kirk Kerkorian was also a very active philanthropist reportedly donating over one billion dollars to charity throughout his career.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of papers and artifacts from Kirk Kerkorian's service during World War II. A personal photograph album and several issues of the Gosport, a publication of the Morton Air Academy, are also included.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Kirk Kerkorian collection, ms3962, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

box

folder

Request box

1

1

Agreement between Air Ministry of the United Kingdom and Kirk Kerkorian, 1943

 

1

2

Letter from Ara Papian, Armenian Ambassador to Canada

 

1

3

Photograph album

 

1

4

Photographs- airplanes

 

1

5

TWA ticket receipt- New York to Los Angeles, 1942

 

1

6

Morton Air Academy (Blythe, CA) booklet

 

1

7

Gosport class 43-A, August 1942

 

1

8

Gosport v.1, no.4 class 43-D, November 1942

 

1

9

Gosport v.1, no.5 class 43-E, December 1942

 

1

10

Gosport v.1, no.6 class 43-F, January 1943

 

1

11

Gosport v.1, no.7 class 43-G

 

1

12

Gosport v.1, no.8 class 43-H

 

1

13

Clipping- "Used Transport Planes Are Scarce; Prices Double, Triple Pre-Korea" Wall Street Journal, 1951

 

1

14

Royal Air Force cuff links, patches, insignia, and bullets

 

1

15

Dalton Dead Reckoning Computer

 

oversized_folder

Request oversized_folder

1

RAF ID card, flight schedule, pay schedule (reproductions, matted), 1943-1945

 

1

RAF certificate of service

 

1

Signed photograph (reproduction)

 

item

Request item

1

Trunk with Royal Air Force uniform