The Robert W. Radoll Early Aviation Collection documents the professional and personal life of early aviator and airmail pilot Robert W. Radoll from circa 1920 to 1933. The collection consists of textual material, such as correspondence, clippings, and logbooks; as well as a total of 138 photographs. It is divided into two main series: Professional and Personal.

The Professional series has been further divided into subseries: Barnstorming, Northwest Airways, National Air Transport/United Air Lines, and General. The subseries are arranged chronologically to follow Radoll’s career path. Items in General are not related to any specific company that Radoll was affiliated with but are materials collected or used by him throughout his professional career. Materials in the Professional series include clippings, printed ephemera, such as business cards and decals; business documents, including reports, training materials, and correspondence; and logbooks. Of note is a menu from a banquet honoring Charles Lindbergh on August 23, 1927. It is signed by Lindbergh.

Also of note is the significant number of both textual and photographic materials in the National Air Transport (NAT), later United Air Lines, subseries. This grouping includes performance and incident reports, which detail problems pilots had during airmail and passenger flights, training materials, policy and procedure documents, and original clippings about NAT personnel, aircraft, and the company in general. There are also 63 black-and-white photographs. Photographs depict NAT aircraft, both in flight and on the ground, terminals, and personnel. Very few include contextual information such as name, date, or location. Identified aircraft include the Boeing Model 40 and Curtiss Carrier Pigeon. Identified pilots include D. A. Askew, J.M. Barnes, Louis M. Gravis, George Grogan, L. L. Lewis, Charles Peeples, Westly [?] Smith, and Jack B. Story. The photographs, both casual and posed in nature, vary in size, although most are 8x10 inches. Duplication occurs.

Also within the Professional series is a Photographs subseries. The 47 prints here have not been definitively identified as being NAT, Northwest Airways or barnstorming but are still related to Radoll's aviation career. Aircraft, air mail terminals, and unidentified people are depicted. Identified aircraft include a Bellanca Monoplane and a Curtiss P-1 Hawk.

The Personal series is relatively small and has not been further subdivided. Materials hereare arranged chronologically and includes licenses, membership documents, and clippings related to Radoll’s social life and marriage. There are several clippings that highlight the honeymoon of Radoll and his wife, Helen, as it was thought to be the first "aerial" honeymoon. There are also clippings related to his death and a photocopy of his 1933 death certificate. Additional materials include 19 vintage black-and-white photographs of Radoll, many of which include obscured aircraft or unidentified people. Some images depict Radoll with Northwest Airways and National Air Transport aircraft and personnel.