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Melvin Kranzberg Papers

Creator:
Kranzberg, Melvin, Dr., 1917-1995  Search this
Names:
Society for the History of Technology  Search this
Extent:
140 Cubic feet (433 boxes )
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Personal papers
Business records
Professional papers
Correspondence
Date:
1934 - 1988
Summary:
Personal papers of Dr. Kranzberg from his undergraduate years at Amherst College through his professional career. Collection documents his involvement with development of the new field of history of technology and his role as principal founder of the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT); work as consultant and advisor to domestic and international agencies, colleges, and universities; personal affiliations, lectureships, publications; and teaching and administrative activities for more than 40 years as a college professor.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of 140 cubic feet of material divided into nine series and housed in 359 document boxes. Several subseries remain organized in the original order as they were received. There has been no attempt by the archivist to rearrange them. Some folders did not have folder titles. The archivist has provided titles in those instances, and these folder titles have been put in brackets [] in the Container List. Melvin Kranzberg's personal activities from 1934 through 1968 are arranged chronologically in Series 4: PERSONAL ACTIVITIES, including his early education. Series 8: TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATION is divided into two subseries and is comprised of teaching and administrative files compiled by Dr. Kranzberg during his forty years as a college professor.

Series 2: Correspondence between Kranzberg and numerous colleagues in the U.S. and abroad, 1949-1988. He was actively involved with technically oriented societies, U.S. government agencies, and SHOT. Since he also wrote a textbook and several encyclopedia articles, subjects range from business to academic to personal.

Kranzberg's role as a consultant and advisor is located in Series 1: CONSULTATION AND ADVISEMENT. This series is further divided into nine alphabetically arranged subseries. Kranzberg's many professional affiliations are arranged in Series 5: PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS. This series is comprised of eight alphabetically arranged subseries. Series 2: CORRESPONDENCE is also arranged alphabetically and contains much of Dr. Kranzberg's correspondence during the years 1949 to 1988. He was actively involved with a number of technically oriented societies, United States government agencies, and the Society for the History of Technology. Since he also wrote a textbook and several encyclopedia articles, the subjects represented range from business to academic to personal.

Series 7: RESEARCH SUBJECT FILES is arranged alphabetically and documents nearly forty years of research by Kranzberg on hundreds of diverse topics. The results of some of this research is available in Series 6: PUBLICATIONS, which is divided into eleven subseries and contains manuscripts, research, correspondence, outlines, and reprints of various Kranzberg essays and books. In addition, much of Kranzberg's research results were delivered in a verbal format. Series 3: LECTURESHIPS is divided into three subseries, and not only details lectures and speeches delivered by Melvin Kranzberg, but also those given by his colleagues, and those delivered at the National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminars for Professional Journalists, which he organized. Series 9: SPECIAL PROJECTS consists of materials relative to a number of projects of varying importance and duration, such as engineering and human values and ethics in an age of pervasive technology.
Arrangement:
Collection is divided into nine series.

Series 1: Consultation and advisement, 1958-1987

Series 2: Correspondence, 1949-1988

Series 3: Lectureships and speeches, 1951-1988

Series 4: Biographical, 1934-1963

Series 5: Professional affiliations, 1961-1988

Series 6: Publications, 1942-1968

Series 7: Research subject files, 1940-1978

Series 8: Teaching and administration, 1947-1988

Series 9: Special projects, 1951-1980
Historical:
Kranzberg's Six Laws

As reported in the July 1986 Issue of Technology and Culture, Volume 27, Number 3, pages 544-561, Kranzberg's Six Laws are listed as follows in the SHOT Presidential Address.

"These are not laws in the sense of commandments but rather a series of truisms deriving from a longtime immersion in the study of the development of technology and its interactions with sociocultural change." 1.. Technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral.(p.545); 2. Invention is the mother of necessity, (p.548) 3. Technology comes in packages, big and small, (p. 549); 4. Although technology might be a prime element in many public issues, nontechnical factors take precedence in technology-policy decisions, (p. 550); 5. All history is relevant, but the history of technology is the most relevant, (p. 553); 6. Technology is a very human activity—and so is the history of technology, (p. 557); 7."But if ours is truly a man-made world, I claim that mankind can re-make it. And in that remaking process, the history of technology can play a very important role in enabling us to meet the challenges besetting mankind now and in the future."
Biographical:
Melvin Kranzberg (born St. Louis, Mo.) received his A.B. from Amherst College (1938), and his M.A. (1939) and Ph.D. (1942) in modern European history from Harvard University. When World War II commenced, Dr. Kranzberg went, with an Amherst professor, Charles W. Cole, to work at the Office of Price Administration in Washington, D. C. At that same time, he enlisted in the Signal Corps Reserve. Since he was regarded as "educable," he was sent for electronics training at Catholic University, and then to Johns Hopkins for a three-year course in electrical engineering that was crammed into sixteen weeks. Instead of receiving a commission, he was sent to Philco Radio Laboratories in Philadelphia for another three-month crash course, this one in radar.

By the end of his course of study, however, the Signal Corps no longer needed officers and he was put in the infantry. After basic training, he was assigned to the Army's Specialized Training Program. His language skills enabled him to engage in an intensive three-month study of Turkish. Since invasion of Turkey was not likely, he then entered a language program in German. This led to appointment in Military Intelligence, where he was charged with interrogating German POWs, often on the front lines. That assignment lasted from about September 1944 through the Battle of the Bulge, until the German surrender. He received three Battle Stars, a Combat Infantry Badge, and a Bronze Star. He was awarded honorary doctorates of letters (Litt. D.) by New Jersey Institute of Technology and Northern Michigan University, doctorates of engineering (D. Eng.) by Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Colorado School of Mines, and doctorates of humane letters (L.H.D.) by Denison University and Amherst College.

Dr. Kranzberg's major professional contribution has been the establishment of a new field of history: the history of technology. He was the principal founder of the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT), founding editor (1959-81) of its quarterly journal, Technology and Culture, and served as SHOT Secretary (1959-74) and President (1983-84). A cofounder of ICOHTEC (International Committee for the History of Technology, a Scientific Section of the International Union for the History Science [UNESCO], he served as its vice-president from its inception in 1968. When he retired from that post at ICOHTEC'S 17th International Symposium (Hamburg, 1989), he was elected honorary president for life. In 1979-1980 Dr. Kranzberg was national president of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (120,000 active members in 500 chapters and clubs). Over the years, he has been a Sigma Xi National Lecturer and has served on various committees of the honorary organization. He was Chairman (1966, 1979) of Section L (History and Philosophy of Science) of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Chairman (1978-81) of the AAAS Committee on Science Engineering, and Public Policy. From 1977-1980, he chaired the Advisory Committees of the Policy Research and Analysis (PRA) and Science Resources Studies (SRS) Divisions of the National Science Foundation (NSF). An original member (1964) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's History Advisory Committee (Chairman, 1966-71, 1984-87), he also served on NASA's National Advisory Council (1984-87). In 1989, Dr. Kranzberg was elected to the newly founded Board of the National Association for Science, Technology, and Society (NASTS), an "umbrella organization for educators, scientists, engineers, public policy analysts, public interest groups, media, and individuals interested in the impact of scientific and technological development on society." At its 1992 Annual Technological Literacy Conference, Kranzberg was honored by being the initial recipient of a NASTS Honorary Lifetime Membership.

Other activities include: Vice-President, AAAS (1966); Chairman (1957-58), Humanistic-Social Division, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEEO; Vice-President (1959), Society for French Historical Studies; Trustee (1979-), Charles Babbage Foundation; and Chairman (1972-73), U.S. National Committee of the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science. He has served on the Technology Assessment Panel of the National Academy of Sciences and the NAS Committee on the Survey of Materials Science and Engineering, The National Research Council's Committee on the Education and Utilization of the Engineer, and various advisory committees of the National Academy of Engineering.

Kranzberg has been a member of the Editorial Advisory Boards of the following journals: Engineering Education; Science, Technology & Human Values; Knowledge in Society; History and Technology; and Research in Philosophy and Technology; and the "Inside Technology" book series of the MIT Press. In 1980, he coordinated the Course-by-Newspaper on "Energy and the Way We Live" with 400 newspapers and was awarded a $10,000 prize by the Academy for Educational Development. He was a TV commentator on the PBS "Connections" series and lectured throughout the world, including USIA tours to India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. He has written or edited: The Siege of Paris, 1870-1871 (1950; reprinted 1970); 1848: A Turning Point? (1959, 14 printings); the two-volume

Technology in Western Civilization (1967; Japanese, 1976; Spanish, 1980); Technology and Culture: an Anthology (1972; Arabic, 1976; Spanish 1980); By the Sweat of Thy Brow: Work in the Western World (1975 [an alternate selection of the Fortune Book Club]; Italian, 1976); Technological Innovation: A Critical Review of Current Knowledge (1978); Energy and the Way We Live (1980); Ethics in an Age of Pervasive Technology (1980); Bridge to the Future: A Centennial Celebration of the Brooklyn Bridge (1984); Technological Education/Technological Style (1986); and Innovation at the Crossroads Between Science and Technology (1989). He is also the author of over 150 articles in encyclopedias, learned journals, and scholarly collections on topics in European history, engineering education, history of technology, science-technology policy, and science-technology-society interactions.

Dr. Kranzberg taught at Harvard, Stevens Institute of Technology, Amherst College, and Case Western Reserve University, where he established the first graduate program in the history of technology at an American university. From 1972 to 1988, he was Callaway Professor of the History of Technology at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). He is a member of the honorary societies Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Epsilon Pi Tau, and Phi Kappa Phi. His awards include: Leonardo da Vinci Medal, Society for the History of Technology (1968); Apollo Achievement Award, NASA (1969); Special Research Day Citation, Case Western Reserve University (1970); Special Recognition Award, American Industrial Arts Association (1978); and the Roe Medal, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1980). Dr. Kranzberg was one of 100 Americans presented the State of Israel's Jabotinsky Centennial Medal (1980) for eminence in the sciences and letters, and was elected (1985) an Honorary Foreign Member of the Czechoslovak Society for the History of Science and Technology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. In 1991, the Liberal Education Division of the American Society for Engineering Education presented him its Olmsted Award for "outstanding contributions to engineering education by bringing the humanities and technology together for the mutual benefit of both." In November 1991, the Society for Social Studies of Science (SSSS) and the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) presented him the Bernal Award for "outstanding contributions to the social studies of science." At its 1994 meeting in Zaragoza, Spain, the prestigious International Academy of the History of Science elected Dr. Kranzberg to its membership.

The January-September 1976 issue (Vol. 12, Nos. 1-3) of Lex et Scientia (The International Journal of Law and Science) was devoted to Kranzberg's 1975 Mellon Lectures at Lehigh University, and the French Centre de Recherche sur la Culture Technique dedicated its June 1983 (No. 10) issue of Culture Technique to him. In 1985 The Society for the History of Technology and the MIT Press co-published John M. Staudenmaier's, Technology's Storytellers: Reweaving the Human Fabric as a "tribute" to him, and Lehigh University Press published (1989) Stephen H. Cutcliffe and Robert C. Post's, In Context; History and the History of Technology — Essays in Honor of Melvin Kranzbergr containing articles by major historians of technology. When Dr. Kranzberg became emeritus in June 1988, the Georgia Tech Foundation established the Melvin Kranzberg Professorship in the History of Technology. The first occupant of this chair was Dr. Bruce Sinclair, former head of the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology at the University of Toronto and a former student of Dr. Kranzberg. Dr. Melvin Kranzberg married tLouise Lester Clark.
Provenance:
Collection donated by Georgia Institute of Technology, through Dr. Melvin Kranzberg, August 24, 1988.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Technology -- Societies, etc. -- 1930-1990  Search this
Educators -- 1930-1990  Search this
Technology -- History -- 1930-1990  Search this
Genre/Form:
Personal papers -- 20th century
Business records -- 20th century
Professional papers -- 20th century
Correspondence -- 1940-1990
Citation:
Melvin Kranzberg Papers, 1934-1988, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0266
See more items in:
Melvin Kranzberg Papers
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep85d8b6f8c-41af-47e9-bc13-6e209c9fdc71
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0266

Early Birds of Aviation, Inc. Collection

Creator:
Early Birds of Aviation (Organization).  Search this
Names:
Early Birds of Aviation (Organization).  Search this
Extent:
22.05 Cubic feet (49 Boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Publications
Financial records
Correspondence
Date:
1928-circa 1980s
Summary:
This collection consists of the records and historical materials of the Early Bird organization, including correspondence; photographs; the organization's newsletter, Chirp; financial records; reunion memorabilia; biographical material of members; and membership lists. This material was donated to the Museum after the National Air Museum was designated as the official repository for Early Bird records.
Scope and Contents:
The Early Birds of Aviation, Inc. Collection (acc. XXXX-0566) contains approximately 18 cubic feet of material relating to this group of early pilots. The material includes correspondence, financial records, periodicals, photographic material, published materials and various other media containing information on the organization and its individual members.

The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) was designated by the Early Birds as the official repository for the organization in 1960 and the Museum has obtained materials at different times from various members. Much of the material in the collection is comprised of the records and memorabilia of the organization's officers, including Paul Garber, past President as well as Archivist/Historian for the group. In addition to the records contained in this collection, members have donated to NASM aircraft, plaques and other items of historical interest.

Some preliminary processing work had been done on this collection by 1996, but much of the material remained without obvious order. Original order, when identified, has been maintained.

Material was added from the Museum's Archives' Technical Files on organizations but researchers seeking information on individual members may wish to cross-reference the biographical section of the Technical Files located in NASM's Archives downtown which includes folders for most of the Early Birds.

Some members of the Early Birds remained quite active with the organization until the late 1980s. The material in the collection therefore spans over eighty years.
Arrangement note:
Container List: Series I: Core organizational documents; Series II: Organizational correspondence and records; Series III: Publications; Series IV: Events; Series V: Individual members; Series VI: Miscellaneous; Series VII: Scrapbooks

Appendices. Appendix I: Chronological List of Officers Appendix II: Membership list Related collections in NASM's holdings
Biographical / Historical:
Founded after the National Air Races of 1928, the Early Birds (later to be known as the Early Birds of Aviation, Inc.) consisted of pioneer aviators banded together for the purposes of preserving aviation history, advancing interest in aeronautics and the enjoyment of good fellowship. Membership in the group necessitated documentary evidence of solo flight in heavier- or lighter-than-air craft before December 17, 1916. This date was of some significance to the Early Birds, being the thirteenth anniversary (that number being considered propitious) of the first sustained, powered, heavier-than-air flight by the Wrights at Kitty Hawk. Those interested in flying in this pre-World War I period were often required to build their own craft and instruct themselves in the necessary skills to pilot it and members took great pride in this evidence of initiative. (For nationals of countries other than the United States which were engaged in the War the conditional date was set at August 4, 1914.)

As an organization, the Early Birds was responsible for the preservation of aircraft and records, the erection of numerous markers and monuments and the education of the public on the importance of aviation. With members including Glenn Curtiss, Blanche Stuart Scott, Matilde Moisant, Grover Loening, Roy Knabenshue, Sir Thomas Sopwith, Katherine Stinson, Marjorie Stinson, Earle Ovington, Matty Laird, Anthony Fokker and Giuseppe Bellanca, their contributions as individuals were incalculable.

Numbering nearly 600 members at its peak, the Early Birds was conceived of as a "last man's club" whose existence would cease with the passing of its last surviving member.
Related Collections in NASM's Holdings:
NOTES FOR STAFF

NameMaterialAccession NumberLawrence M. AllisonBiographical material1988-0021Charles A. ArensScrapbooksXXXX-0016Ralph S. BarnabyPersonal Papers1987-0048Carl T. Batts Collection1992-0048George W. BeattyCollection 1989-0013/1991-0069Lucielle A. Belmont Exhibition AdvertisementXXXX-0078Edward R. BolandMemorabiliaXXXX-0063Frank T. CoffynScrapbookXXXX-0065Harry D. CoplandSlide CollectionXXXX-0439H. Paul CulverScrapbookXXXX-0401H.P. Culver Airmail Scrapbook & InvoicesXXXX-0401Glenn CurtissScrapbookXXXX-0320Glenn H. CurtissCollectionXXXX-0053Charles H. DayScrapbookXXXX-0028Curtiss LaQ. DayScrapbookXXXX-0292William Carl Diehl CollectionXXXX-0469Early Aviation ('06-'10)ScrapbooksXXXX-0404Early Aviation (ca. '10)ScrapbooksXXXX-0299Early AviationPhotograph ScrapbookXXXX-0322Early AviationPhotograph ScrapbookXXXX-0048Early AviationScrapbookXXXX-0291"Early Birds"Reunion AutographsXXXX-0124Luis DeFlorezScrapbook/MemorabiliaXXXX-0069Paul E. GarberScrapbookXXXX-0246Thomas Foster Hamilton Collection1989-0129Edward HoltermanScrapbookXXXX-0223S. Jerwan/MoisantScrapbookXXXX-0231Walter E. JohnsonScrapbook1987-0068Ernest Jones AeronauticalCollectionXXXX-0096Roy KnabenshueAutobiography ManuscriptXXXX-0136Frank P. LahmCollection1984-0044Lahm Airport Memorial& DedicationScrapbook S-118XXXX-0268R.F. MacFieScrapbookXXXX-0296Glenn L. MartinScrapbookXXXX-0018James V. MartinScrapbookXXXX-0236Thomas deWitt MillingPersonal PapersXXXX-0133Harold E. Morehouse "Flying Pioneers" BiographiesXXXX-0450George A. PageCollectionXXXX-0126Evan J. Parker ScrapbookXXXX-0348Fred ParkerScrapbookXXXX-0224Edwin C. ParsonsScrapbookXXXX-0308Roland RohlfsScrapbookXXXX-0278Martin F. Scanlon ScrapbooksXXXX-0037Blanche Stuart ScottMemorabiliaXXXX-0062William H. Sheahan Early Aviation PhotographsXXXX-0523Thomas SteptoeScrapbookXXXX-0229Paul R. StocktonWorld War I Aviation ScrapbookXXXX-0283Paul StudenskiCollection1989-0012Henry ToncrayScrapbook1989-0012John H. TowersWorld War I Aviation ScrapbookXXXX-0033Victor VernonScrapbookXXXX-0221John B.R. VerplanckScrapbookXXXX-0012Clifford L. Webster CollectionXXXX-0559Elling D. Weeks (E.D. "Hud" Weeks)Early Aviation Collection1984-0004, 1984-0006Bernard L. Whelan Photographs1992-0055Orville & Wilbur WrightMemorabiliaXXXX-0079
Provenance:
Early Birds of Aviation, Inc., gift, 1960s-1980s, XXXX-0566, NASM
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Topic:
Periodicals  Search this
Aeronautics -- 1903-1916  Search this
Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this
Aeronautics  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Publications
Financial records
Correspondence
Identifier:
NASM.XXXX.0566
See more items in:
Early Birds of Aviation, Inc. Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg20ee50635-5fc1-481e-8f06-a3efd25fe64c
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0566
Online Media:

Ninety-Nines, Inc. History Books Collection

Creator:
Ninety-Nines (Organization)  Search this
Names:
Air Race Classic  Search this
Angel Derby  Search this
Ninety-Nines (Organization)  Search this
Powder Puff Derby  Search this
Earhart, Amelia, 1897-1937  Search this
Thaden, Louise (McPhetridge), Mrs, 1905-1979  Search this
Extent:
8.73 Cubic feet (23 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Publications
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Date:
1929-1981
Summary:
The Ninety-Nines, Inc. History Books Collection consists of scrapbooks (yearbooks) complied by the officers of the Ninety-Nines to document the organization. Included in the yearbooks are the following: photographs of the members and officers; news clippings of the organization, individual chapters and sections, and about individual members; programs from air races, including Air Race Classic, Angel Derby, and the Powder Puff Derby; minutes from the annual meetings; and newsletters of the organization, The 99news, Ninety-Nine News, and Ninety-niner.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of 19 bound scrapbooks and 34 unbound scrapbooks chronicling the history of the Ninety-Nines. Some of the volumes are described with a date range (September 1, 1937 -- September 1, 1938), while others are described with a volume number and date range (Volume 28, 1956 -- 1957). Organization of the Ninety-Nines History Books varies somewhat over the years. Usually, the books begin with photographs of the officers of the national organization, followed by minutes and a program from the annual meeting. The books end with copies of The Ninety-Nines Newsletters from the previous year. Additional contents of each book are dependent upon the events that happened in a particular year. In the early years of the organization, the books include further refinements of the constitution and by-laws, and various newspaper and magazine articles regarding accomplishments of the organization or individual members. In subsequent years, the history books focus more on the air races in which members participated or various events sponsored by the organization.

The researcher will note that in 1953 volume numbers were assigned to the books. For the sake of continuity and clarity in the finding aid, the processing archivist assigned volume numbers where appropriate. These numbers appear in square brackets where appropriate, i.e. [35]. Due to the fragile nature of the bound scrapbooks, photocopying may not be possible.
Arrangement:
The Ninety-Nines, Inc. History Books Collection is arranged chronologically, by date and/or volume number.
Biographical/Historical note:
On November 2, 1929, twenty-six licensed women pilots gathered together at Curtiss Field, Valley Stream, Long Island, New York, to discuss the formation of a club "to promote women pilots among themselves, and to encourage other women to fly, as well as to break down general opposition to aviation." (1) After that first meeting, letters were sent out to the 117 licensed women pilots in the United States, giving all of them the opportunity to become charter members in the new club. The name of the club was to be determined by the number of women who wished to join. When 99 letters were returned by the approved date, the club became known as The Ninety-Nines. Many famous female pilots of the time, including Amelia Earhart, Ruth Elder, Viola Gentry, Phoebe Omlie, and Louise Thaden were charter members.

In the succeeding years, The Ninety-Nines have ably fulfilled the purpose set forth in the original letter. Many aviation records have been set by members of The Ninety-Nines. Amelia Earhart was the first woman to pilot an aircraft across the Atlantic and, in 1936, Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes won the Bendix Trophy Race. Since 1941, the organization has bestowed a variety of scholarships and grants to members who are seeking advanced training in specialized branches of aviation. Today, the Ninety-Nines, Inc. has grown to include 6,500 members in 35 countries.

(1) Clara Trenckmann to Mr. Skinner and Mr. Mellen, October 1, 1929. "September 1, 1929 -- September 1, 1930," Folder 1, Box 1, Ninety-Nines, Inc. History Books Collection (Acc.XXXX-0470). Archives Division, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
Provenance:
Ninety-Nines, Inc., unknown, XXXX-0470
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Topic:
Periodicals  Search this
Aeronautics  Search this
Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this
Air pilots  Search this
Women in aeronautics  Search this
Genre/Form:
Publications
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Citation:
Ninety-Nines Inc., History Books Collection, Acc. XXXX-0470, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.XXXX.0470
See more items in:
Ninety-Nines, Inc. History Books Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg28db66224-3a8d-41dc-91ed-7b0cbecaec29
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0470
Online Media:

Jahrbuch der Deutschen Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt

Author:
Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt  Search this
Physical description:
volumes illustrations 29 cm
Type:
Periodicals
Date:
1913
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
Aeronautics--Societies, etc  Search this
Aéronautique--Associations  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1160136

John Matthew Miller III Collection

Creator:
Miller, John Matthew, III, 1896-  Search this
Names:
Kellet Autogiro Corp  Search this
Miller Aviation Corp (John Matthew Miller III) (Aircraft manufacturer) (1927-1929)  Search this
New Brunswick (NJ) Aero Club  Search this
Pitcairn (Pitcairn-Cierva)  Search this
Pitcairn Autogiro Co, Inc.  Search this
Pitcairn Aviation  Search this
Johnson, Robert Woods  Search this
Miller, John Matthew, III, 1896-  Search this
Extent:
0.8 Cubic feet (1 legal document box, 1 slim legal document box, 1 map folder (18 x 48 inches))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Financial records
Correspondence
Clippings
Pamphlets
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Logs (records)
Date:
1910-1973
Summary:
John Matthew Miller III (born June 3, 1896) was active in aviation throughout his life, as a naval aviator, air mail pilot, transport pilot, autogiro pilot, flight instructor, aircraft manufacturer, airport operator, agricultural pilot, and helicopter test pilot, working at different times for the United States Navy, the U.S. Aerial Mail Service, Pitcairn Aeronautical Corporation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture; from 1927-1929 Miller operated his own business, the Miller Aviation Corporation of New Brunswick, New Jersey. The collection includes Miller's pilot licenses and log books, scrapbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings and assorted ephemera, predominantly from the 1914 to 1939 period of Miller's life.
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains both original materials and photocopies of materials loaned by the donor for copying. Original materials include Miller's United States Navy Naval Aviator Certificate, an aircraft log book for the Curtiss Seagull "Jacques Cartier" (owned by The Chicago Tribune), a photo album entitled "The Miller Corporation, New Brunswick Airport" featuring images of the Miller (Corp) MCA-1 Amphibian Biplane, assorted loose photographs, correspondence from Robert Woods Johnson (of Johnson & Johnson), two panoramic group photographs of the US Navy Flight A Naval Aviation detachment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1917, newspaper clippings (several covering James G. Ray's autogiro flight over Washington, DC in 1934), assorted ephemera relating to Miller's aviation career, and two bound books: Flying Officers of the U.S.N. (US Navy): 1917-1919 and Saga of the US Air Mail Service: 1918-1927, (Air Mail Pioneers, Inc., 1962). Photocopied materials include two of Miller's pilot log books, two of Miller's pilot licenses, a scrapbook, and selected pages from additional scrapbooks from which individual photographs were copied by the National Air and Space Museum in 2001. The collection also includes Smithsonian Institution numbered copy prints of these selected photographs.
Arrangement:
Materials in this collection are grouped into Series by type; materials within a series are generally arranged chronologically, grouped by subject.
Biographical / Historical:
John Matthew Miller III was born June 3, 1896, at Tacoma, Washington. As a teenager, Miller came east to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and found summer employment with the Burgess Company aircraft manufacturers at Marblehead, Massachusetts. In 1917, following the entry of the United States into World War I, Miller was accepted into the Massachusetts School for Naval Air Service (Flight A Naval Aviation detachment at MIT), and, after two months, moved on to elementary flying instruction at Hampton Roads, Virginia, and then advanced instruction at Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned into the United States Naval Air Service as an Ensign on March 16, 1918, and stationed at Naval Air Station Rockaway Beach, New York, where he performed patrol and convoy work off New York harbor, until ordered to inactive duty on December 15, 1918. Miller promptly joined the US Aerial Mail Service; after training in Dayton Wright DH-4 air mailplanes at Belmont Park, Long Island, Miller was posted to Bustleton, Pennsylvania, as station manager. Following his two years of air mail service, Miller worked at a number of aviation jobs, including time with the America Trans Oceanic Company (Miami, Florida, 1920), survey flights in Quebec (Canada, 1922), and managing operations for Pitcairn Aeronautical Corporation at their base adjacent to Hadley Field in South Plainfield, New Jersey (the New York terminal for the New York to Chicago and New York to Atlanta air mail routes). Miller was an active member of the New Brunswick (NJ) Aero Club, owners of a Pitcairn PA-3 Orowing based at Pitcairn's field. On August 1, 1927, Miller organized the Miller Aviation Corporation, operating out of New Brunswick Airport (a.k.a. "Miller Field"), a short-lived airfield located southwest of the city of New Brunswick. Miller Aviation offered flying instruction, local sightseeing flights, and charter passenger flights in the mid-Atlantic seaboard region. In 1928-1929, the Miller Aviation Corporation designed, constructed, and tested the Miller (Corp) MCA-1 Amphibian Biplane; sadly, the aircraft crashed during its first ground landing. After his company failed, Miller returned to Pitcairn Aeronautical as an autogiro pilot, making a number of flights through the 1930s for Pitcairn, the US Department of Agriculture, and others. During World War II, Miller temporarily rejoined the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander, serving as a helicopter test pilot at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Miller later worked for the Department of Agriculture until his retirement in 1956.

NOTE: John Matthew Miller III (born 1896, died circa 1980s), the subject of this collection, should not be confused with fellow air mail and autogiro pilot John McDonald "Johnny" Miller (1905-2008), occasionally referenced in this collection. Johnny Miller was more closely associated with the Kellett Autogiro Corp (Philadelphia, PA), and was famous for being the first to land an aircraft on the roof of a building.
Provenance:
Lee M. Gunther-Mohr, Gift, 2001, NASM.2001.0036.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
Burgess Aircraft Family  Search this
Autogiros  Search this
Aircraft industry -- United States  Search this
Aircraft industry  Search this
Airplanes  Search this
Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States  Search this
Aeronautics, Commercial  Search this
Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this
Aeronautics  Search this
Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro  Search this
Miller Corp MCA-1 Amphibian Biplane  Search this
Kellett Autogiro Family  Search this
Pitcairn PA-3 Orowing  Search this
Waco 10 Family (Aircraft)  Search this
Genre/Form:
Financial records
Correspondence
Clippings
Pamphlets
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Logs (records)
Scrapbooks
Citation:
John Matthew Miller III Collection, Acc. NASM.2001.0036, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.2001.0036
See more items in:
John Matthew Miller III Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2a83059ef-9c92-493a-968b-5c76acd10a91
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-2001-0036
Online Media:

The history of the Wings Club, 1942-1967; the first twenty five years

Author:
Knight, Clayton 1891-1969  Search this
Subject:
Wings Club (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Physical description:
vii, 307 p. illus., ports. 24 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
New York (State)
New York
Date:
1967
1967]
Topic:
Aeronautics--Societies, etc  Search this
Call number:
TL501.W53 K5X
TL501.W53K5X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_41118

Royal Aeronautical Society, 1866-1966

Subject:
Royal Aeronautical Society  Search this
Physical description:
299 p. : ill. ; 30 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Great Britain
Date:
1966
Topic:
Aeronautics--Societies, etc  Search this
Aeronautics--History  Search this
Call number:
TL526.G7 R88r 1966
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_457217

Transactions of the Society of Automotive Engineers

Author:
Society of Automotive Engineers  Search this
Physical description:
9 v. : ill. ; 24 cm
Type:
Periodicals
Date:
1918
1926
C1918-c1928
Topic:
Automobiles--Design and construction  Search this
Aeronautics--Societies, etc  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_471196

For the greatest achievement: A history of the Aero Club of America and the National Aeronautic Association / Bill Robie

Author:
Robie, William  Search this
National Aeronautic Association (U.S.)  Search this
Subject:
National Aeronautic Association (U.S.) History  Search this
Physical description:
xix, 378 p., [16] p. of plates : ill. ; 24 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
United States
Date:
1993
Topic:
Aeronautics--Societies, etc--History  Search this
Aeronautics--History  Search this
Call number:
TL521.R56 1993X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_436910

The Aeronautical journal

Author:
Aeronautical Society of Great Britain  Search this
Royal Aeronautical Society  Search this
Physical description:
v. : ill. ; 26-28 cm
Type:
Periodicals
Date:
1897
1922
[1922]
Topic:
Aeronautics--Societies, etc  Search this
Aeronautics  Search this
Call number:
TL501 .A2555
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_485421

International aeronautic organizations and the control of air navigation / a lecture delivered by John Jay Ide under the James Jackson Cabot Professorship of Air Traffic Regulation and Air Transportation at Norwich University, February 3, 1935 ; revised and brought up to date as of May, 1938

Author:
Ide, John Jay 1891-1962  Search this
Norwich University James Jackson Cabot Professorship of Air Transportation  Search this
Former owner:
United States Civil Aeronautics Board DSI Library  Search this
Physical description:
iii, [1], 37 p. ; 23 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1938
C1938
Topic:
Aeronautics--Societies, etc  Search this
Aeronautics--Law and legislation  Search this
Call number:
TL500 .I29 1938
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_469181

Pilotes brevetés de la Fédération aéronautique internationale

Author:
International Aeronautic Federation  Search this
Subject:
International Aeronautic Federation  Search this
Physical description:
14, [2] p. ; 27 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1911
Topic:
Air pilots--Directories  Search this
Aeronautics--Societies, etc  Search this
Call number:
TL512.7 .I62 1911
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_468449

Handbuch des Kaiserlichen Aero-Clubs

Author:
Kaiserlichen Aero-Clubs  Search this
Physical description:
82, [10] p., [4] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1914
Topic:
Aeronautics--Societies, etc  Search this
Call number:
TL503 .K13 1914
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_468443

American Flying Club

Author:
American Flying Club  Search this
Former owner:
Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (U.S.) DSI  Search this
Subject:
American Flying Club Rules and practice  Search this
Physical description:
112 p. ; 19 cm
Type:
Directories
Place:
United States
Date:
1920
[1919]
Topic:
Aeronautics--Societies, etc  Search this
Air pilots  Search this
Call number:
TL501 .A52 1919
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_463064

Institute of Aeronautical Sciences Photograph Collection

Creator:
Institute of Aeronautical Sciences  Search this
Names:
Institute of Aeronautical Sciences  Search this
Extent:
2.16 Cubic feet ((4 15x18x3 flatboxes) (1 20x24x1 flatbox))
6.67 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
1928-1957
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of photographs of prominent members of the IAS. Many of the photographs are signed or otherwise inscribed.
Biographical / Historical:
The Institute of Aeronautical Sciences (IAS) was established in 1932 as a society of aeronautics-related professionals after the model of the British Royal Aeronautical Society. The stated purpose of the IAS is to "advance the art and science of aeronautics [and] to publish works of literature, science, and art for such purpose...."
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
No donor information, gift, XXXX-0206, Unknown
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Identifier:
NASM.XXXX.0206
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2069f367e-7040-426f-b2a9-19e7d3d5dd72
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0206

Howard Franklin Wehrle Scrapbook

Creator:
Wehrle, Howard Franklin, 1890-1964  Search this
Names:
Wehrle, Howard Franklin, 1890-1964  Search this
Extent:
0.28 Cubic feet (1 flatbox)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Clippings
Scrapbooks
Date:
1923-1931
Summary:
The Howard Franklin Wehrle Scrapbook Collection consists of a scrapbook compiled by Wehrle including newspaper articles on aviation, copies of Wehrle's 1929 column, "Flying – America's Path to Greatness," and articles detailing Wehrle's activities in the aviation industry.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of a scrapbook compiled by Howard Franklin Wehrle, containing newspaper articles on aviation, including a Wehrle's 1929 column, "Flying – America's Path to Greatness", and other articles detailing Wehrle's activities in the aviation industry.
Arrangement:
The collection consists of one scrapbook, the pages of which were dismounted at an unknown date. The scrapbook pages have been left in their original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Howard Franklin Wehrle was born in Charleston, West Virginia on January 20, 1890. In April 1916, Wehrle entered the Curtiss Aviation School. He made his first solo flight on June 16, 1916. Wehrle served overseas as a pilot in World War I, and returned to the United States in December 1918 as a major. He was secretary of the National Aeronautic Association in 1924, and general manager of the Cessna Aircraft Company in 1929. Wehrle also wrote a newspaper column, "Flying – America's Path to Greatness." Howard Franklin Wehrle died on December 14, 1964, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Provenance:
John Ross, Gift, 2000, 2000.-0069.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
Aeronautics, Military  Search this
Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this
Aeronautics  Search this
World War, 1914-1918  Search this
Aircraft industry  Search this
Cessna Aircraft Company  Search this
National Aeronautical Association (U.S.)  Search this
Genre/Form:
Clippings
Scrapbooks
Citation:
Howard Franklin Wehrle Scrapbook, Acc. 2000.0069, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.2000.0069
See more items in:
Howard Franklin Wehrle Scrapbook
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg26d615d4e-7458-4912-a963-c25f0815651b
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-2000-0069
Online Media:

William J. Powell Collection

Topic:
Craftsmen Aero News (journal)
Creator:
Powell, William J., 1899-1942  Search this
Names:
"Five Blackbirds" Demonstration Team  Search this
Bessie Coleman Aero Club  Search this
Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc.  Search this
United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces  Search this
Powell, William J., 1899-1942  Search this
Extent:
0.31 Cubic feet (1 shared legal-size box 1 flat box 1 oversize folder)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Clippings
Logs (records)
Date:
1917 - 1942
Summary:
The William J. Powell Collection consists of materials concerning the career and personal life of African-American entrepreneur and pilot William J. Powell, including his service in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I, his automobile business in Chicago, and his advocacy for African-American aviation as the founder of Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc., author of Black Wings, and a primary organizer of the Bessie Coleman Aero Club and the "Five Blackbirds" demonstration team. Materials include identification and membership cards, flight logs and officer records, newspaper clippings, advertisements, and photographs.
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains materials concerning the career and personal life of African-American entrepreneur and pilot William J. Powell, including his service in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I, his automobile business in Chicago, and his advocacy for African-American aviation as the founder of Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc., author of Black Wings, and a primary organizer of the Bessie Coleman Aero Club and the "Five Blackbirds" demonstration team.

The following types of materials are included: AEF identification card and records book, advertisements for his automobile business, his 1938-1939 flight logs, legal documents, marriage license, diploma, membership cards, burial and funeral records, and newspaper clippings. The collection also includes photographs from his time with the AEF and Bessie Coleman Aero Club, as well as portraits of Powell and his family. Materials found in the collection seem to indicate that some photographs have come from individuals other than Powell.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into three categories: Aviation Career (American Expeditionary Forces and African-Americans in Aviation), Personal Materials (marriage and death records, automobile business, and memberships), and Photographs (AEF, aviation, portraits and family, and albums). Within these categories, materials are arranged chronologically.
Biographical Note:
William J. Powell (1899-1942) was a prominent African-American entrepreneur and pilot who urged African-Americans to become part of the future aviation industry.

Powell was born in Henderson, Kentucky, on July 29, 1899. He moved to Chicago at the age of eight. He entered the University of Illinois in 1916. He went to Officers' Training Camp in Fort Des Moines, Iowa, in June 1917, and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the American Expeditionary Forces at the completion of training camp. He served with the 317th Engineers and 365th Infantry during World War I. After his honorable discharge in 1919, he returned to the University of Illinois, graduating with honors and a degree of Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1922.

He worked as an electrical engineer and electric welding instructor for Rock Island Railroad for two years. In 1924, he opened his first filling station and in two years' time, he had built a successful automobile business in South Chicago before moving to Los Angeles in 1928.

During the late 1920s and 1930s, Powell worked tirelessly to promote airmindedness in the black community. Under his umbrella organization, Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc., Powell wrote a thinly disguised autobiography, Black Wings, in 1934; wrote and directed a 1935 documentary film, Unemployment, the Negro and Aviation; and published a trade journal entitled Craftsmen Aero News (1937-1938). Powell was also instrumental in organizing the Bessie Coleman Aero Club and the "Five Blackbirds" demonstration team. William J. Powell died in July 1942.
Provenance:
Donated by William H. Powell, III, gift, in 1999. Materials found in the collection seem to indicate that some photographs have come from individuals other than Powell.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Permissions Requests
Topic:
African Americans in aeronautics  Search this
Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this
Aeronautics  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Clippings
Logs (records)
Citation:
William J. Powell Collection, Accession 1999-0049, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1999.0049
See more items in:
William J. Powell Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2b3997754-b155-4e14-a9ec-6ea4bf0582c2
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-1999-0049
Online Media:

William J. Powell (Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc.) Photograph Collection

Topic:
Craftsmen Aero News (journal)
Creator:
Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc.  Search this
Names:
Bishop, Myrtle  Search this
Dickerson, Marie  Search this
Powell, William J., 1899-1942  Search this
Extent:
0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder in a shared box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
1928-1939
bulk 1937-1939
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of 9 copy prints and 14 copy negatives. The bulk of the images were copied from issues of Craftsmen Aero News and relate to the Craftsmen of Black Wings organization, including photographs of William J. Powell, Marie Dickerson, and Myrtle Bishop.
Historical Note:
William J. Powell (1899-1942) was a prominent African-American entrepreneur and pilot who urged African-Americans to become part of the future aviation industry.

Powell was born in Henderson, Kentucky, on July 29, 1899. He moved to Chicago at the age of eight. He entered the University of Illinois in 1916. He went to Officers' Training Camp in Fort Des Moines, Iowa, in June 1917, and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the American Expeditionary Forces at the completion of training camp. He served with the 317th Engineers and 365th Infantry during World War I. After his honorable discharge in 1919, he returned to the University of Illinois, graduating with honors and a degree of Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1922.

He worked as an electrical engineer and electric welding instructor for Rock Island Railroad for two years. In 1924, he opened his first filling station and in two years' time, he had built a successful automobile business in South Chicago before moving to Los Angeles in 1928.

During the late 1920s and 1930s, Powell worked tirelessly to promote airmindedness in the black community. Under his umbrella organization, Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc., Powell wrote a thinly disguised autobiography, Black Wings, in 1934; wrote and directed a 1935 documentary film, Unemployment, the Negro and Aviation; and published a trade journal entitled Craftsmen Aero News (1937-1938). Powell was also instrumental in organizing the Bessie Coleman Aero Club and the "Five Blackbirds" demonstration team. William J. Powell died in July 1942.
Provenance:
NASM Generated. Images in this collection were copied by the NASM Branch Photo Lab from issues of Craftsmen Aero-News, which were loaned to Von Hardesty by Ted Robinson for copying and inclusion in the 1994 edition of Powell's book Black Wings.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Permissions Requests
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this
African Americans in aeronautics  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Citation:
William J. Powell (Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc.) Photograph Collection, Accession 1996-0008, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1996.0008
See more items in:
William J. Powell (Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc.) Photograph Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2c0179227-5c69-4649-a6aa-1f9e30b3acdf
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-1996-0008
Online Media:

John B. Walker Collection

Creator:
Walker, John B. (John Byrnes), 1898-1986  Search this
Names:
Conquistadores del Cielo  Search this
United Air Lines, Inc.  Search this
Walker, John B. (John Byrnes), 1898-1986  Search this
Extent:
0.1 Cubic feet ((2 folders))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Publications
Biographies
Photographs
Date:
[ca. 1930s-1980s]
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of materials from both John B. Walker's personal life and his association with the "Conquistadores del Cielo." Included are a photograph of Walker's office at United Airlines (featuring a large wall map of air routes), an eight page biographical sketch of John Byrnes Walker, a paperback booklet of the "Conquistadores del Cielo Initiation Scenario," a hardcover history of the "Conquistadores del Cielo," printed in 1982, based in part on the original account of John B. Walker, and a commemorative photo souvenir of the 1938 gathering of the "Conquistadores del Cielo" at the Brush... Valley and Forked Valley Ranches in New Mexico.
Biographical / Historical:
John B. Walker (1898-1986) was, at different points in his career, the founding Vice-President of TWA, the Assistant to the President for United Airlines, and the President of Walker & Crenshaw, Inc. Published works included two books, War in the Air and How to: Get Into Aviation. In addition to his professional positions, he was also a member of many associations and clubs, particularly aviation-related, including being an OX 5 Certified member of Aviation Pioneers and a founding member of the Wings Club. Significant to this collection was his extensive involvement with the creation and activities of the "Conquistadores del Cielo" (Conquerors of the Sky), of which he was a founding member, president, and chairman. The Conquistadores del Cielo were first thought up by Walker and TWA President Jack Frye while on a weekend trip to the Forked Lightning Ranch in New Mexico. After inviting fellow aviation executives and enthusiasts to share in a later weekend retreat, Walker and Frye developed the idea to begin a "club" with the spirit of aviation as its centerpiece. The original retreat was held in 1937. Conquistadores del Cielo was organized by the following year's (1938) retreat at the Brush... Valley and Forked Lightning Ranches.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Constance M. Walker, Gift, 2001, 2001-0015, unknown
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States  Search this
Aeronautics, Commercial  Search this
Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this
Aeronautics  Search this
Genre/Form:
Publications
Biographies
Photographs
Identifier:
NASM.2001.0015
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2ac2d1bfb-8bfd-48f8-adcc-9c63f81de0bf
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-2001-0015

Women Flyers of America Collection

Creator:
Women Flyers of America (WFA)  Search this
Names:
Women Flyers of America (WFA)  Search this
Extent:
3.05 Cubic feet ((1 flatbox) (2 records center boxes))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Minutes
Newsletters
Financial records
Correspondence
Biographies
Date:
1940-1955
bulk 1942-1953
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains items relating to the WFA. The material consists of correspondence, membership applications, organizational newsletters, minutes, bulletins, flyers, by-laws and financial reports, biographical information on some members, and a scrapbook on the organization.
Arrangement:
Arrangements: 1) File cards; 2) Correspondence; 3) Printer's type and logo stamps; 4) Minutes notebook; 5) Miscellaneous notebooks on aviation; 6) Membership applications; 7) Organization newsletters ( 1950-1951) 8) Bulletins to supervisors; 9) Special flyers to members; 10) Receipt books; 11) Finance notebooks 12) Organization scrapbook
Biographical / Historical:
The Women Flyers of America (WFA), established in July 1940, invited any women over the age of 18 to join their organization if they were interested in flying 'for sport, profession, or national emergency.' This organization helped to guide and prepare women in the various phases of aviation, and local chapters could be found in major cities across the United States. The organization folded in 1954.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Vivian Gilchrist Nemhauser, Gift, 1987, 1987-0050, not NASM
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
Aeronautics -- Societies, etc.  Search this
Women in aeronautics  Search this
Aeronautics, Commercial  Search this
Aeronautics  Search this
Women air pilots  Search this
Flight training  Search this
Genre/Form:
Minutes
Newsletters
Financial records
Correspondence
Biographies
Identifier:
NASM.1987.0050
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg264f87df7-51ef-4cdd-9439-38e54dc036ad
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-1987-0050

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