The Doris Miller Archive contains a compilation of information including Miller’s early years in his hometown of Waco, Texas, up to his heroic service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and his tragic death while serving on the USS Liscome Bay in 1943. Many of the documents have detailed accounts of Miller’s actions on December 7, 1941, during the attack on Peal Harbor when he bravely returned fire on several enemy aircraft and became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross, among many other honors. Other important items describe his bravery while persuasively arguing the further need for recognition of Miller and his actions that day. For example, several items include information relating to the re-naming of Veteran’s Affairs facilities in Waco after him as well as documents regarding the construction of memorials, sculptures, and other tributes throughout his hometown that honor his sacrifice. Also included is correspondence that relates to obtaining duplicates of Doris Miller’s military medals for his mother, Henrietta Miller, after his originals were lost in a fire, and much more.
Types of materials included are correspondence, news clippings, brochures, photographs, publications, government documents, etc. The contents of the Doris Miller Archive are sourced from multiple collections within The Texas Collection and University Archives as well as the Baylor Collections of Political Materials at W.R. Poage Library.
The Doris Miller Archive contains a compilation of information including Miller’s early years in his hometown of Waco, Texas, up to his heroic service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and his tragic death while serving on the USS Liscome Bay in 1943. Many of the documents have detailed accounts of Miller’s actions on December 7, 1941, during the attack on Peal Harbor when he bravely returned fire on several enemy aircraft and became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross, among many other honors. Other important items describe his bravery while persuasively arguing the further need for recognition of Miller and his actions that day. For example, several items include information relating to the re-naming of Veteran’s Affairs facilities in Waco after him as well as documents regarding the construction of memorials, sculptures, and other tributes throughout his hometown that honor his sacrifice. Also included is correspondence that relates to obtaining duplicates of Doris Miller’s military medals for his mother, Henrietta Miller, after his originals were lost in a fire, and much more.
Types of materials included are correspondence, news clippings, brochures, photographs, publications, government documents, etc. The contents of the Doris Miller Archive are sourced from multiple collections within The Texas Collection and University Archives as well as the Baylor Collections of Political Materials at W.R. Poage Library.
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Using This Resource In Your Research?
If you're a researcher or scholar and you've found a use for our materials in your work, email us at
digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu and tell us about it! We may feature your work on our Digital Collections blog or work with you to promote your work via our other social media outlets.