A huge collection, hundreds of pieces of printed Army General Orders, official announcements, ledges, registers, etc. all owned and used by WILLIAM J. DONOVAN (1883-1959) 'Wild Bill', American brigadier general chosen by Roosevelt to head the O.S.S. (precursor to the C.I.A.). Donovan planted over 16,000 people behind enemy lines and developed elaborate plans to subvert Axis military operations. Donovan served as the commander of the U.S. 165th Regiment, originally the famous 69th New York Infantry 'Fighting Irish'. The regiment would distinguish itself at the Second Battle of the Marne, the Ourcq River during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Donovan himself would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in mid-October, 1918. This lot is comprised of: 20 8vo. stationer's volumes of Army General Orders, virtually all issued between 1916-1919 and comprising thousands of pages, as well as several hundred such loose orders; periodical indices for these orders, named to the 165th Regiment; a bound compilation of order from 1881-1915; a 1916 69th New York petty cash disbursement account book; seven monthly copies of the 'Digest of Opinions' issued by the Judge Advocate General (Donovan was an attorney himself); a blank 'Field Message Book'; a list of equipment issued by the Quartermaster, undated; and a 10pp. log of leaves issued to enlisted men, with dates and places indicated as well. A huge wealth of information in this great archive.