This collection consists of research material used by National Air and Space Curator Claudia Oakes to prepare the publication United States Women in Aviation through World War I (Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1978).
Scope and Contents:
The material in this collection consists of photographs, photocopies of news clippings, correspondence, and biographies of the women who participated in the aviation field, not only in the United States but throughout the world, from 1880 through World War I. The women highlighted include: Ada Acosta, Ruth Law, Helene Dutrieu, Julia Clark, Alys McKey Bryant, Tiny Broadwick, Bernetta Miller, Matilde Moisant, Mary "Carlotta" Myers, Bessica Raiche, Harriet Quimby, Blanche Stuart Scott, Neta Snook, and Katherine and Marjorie Stinson.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged accordingly:
Series I: Photographs
Series II: Claudia Oakes' Notes
Series III: Subject Files
The first group of materials contains photographs of the women who participated in the aviation field, not only in the United States but throughout the world, from 1880 through World War I. Most photographs are identified by subject (pilot or aircraft name), date, captions, and, whenever possible, by Smithsonian's negative numbers.
The second group of materials includes the author's written notes and correspondence.
The third group of documents provides valuable biographical information about specific aviatrixes. These files are arranged in alphabetical order by subject.
Biographical / Historical:
This collection of photographs, written notes, articles, photocopies of news clippings, correspondence, and biographies was used by Claudia M. Oakes to prepare the publication, United States Women in Aviation Through World War I (Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, D.C., 1978). She donated these materials sometime after the book's completion.
Provenance:
Claudia M. Oakes, transfer, 1989
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.
This collection consists of two cubic feet of research material gathered for Eileen F. Lebow's book, Before Amelia: Women Pilots in the Early Days of Aviation. The research material was gathered from a variety of repositories, and consists mostly of copies of newspaper articles and photographs.
Biographical / Historical:
Author Eileen F. Lebow wrote a book about early women pilots entitled, Before Amelia: Women Pilots in the Early Days of Aviation. The book, published by Brassey's Inc. in 2002, highlights the following pilots: Raymonde De Laroche; Hélène Dutrieu; Marie Marvingt; Melli Beese; Lydia Zvereva; Eugenie Shakhovskaya; Lyubov Golanchikova; Helena Samsonova; Hilda Hewlett; Cheridah de Beauvoir Stocks; Winnie Buller; Lillian E. Bland; Blanche Scott; Bessica Raiche; Harriet Quimby; Matilde Moisant; Katherine and Marjorie Stinson; Ruth Law; Julia Clark; Bernetta Miller; Florence Seidell; Mrs. Richberg Hornsby; Dorothy Rice Peirce; Helen Hodge Harris; Hilder Smith; Alys McKey Bryant; and Lily Irvine.
Provenance:
Eileen F. Lebow, Gift, 2006
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
Before Amelia: Women Pilots in the Early Days of Aviation Collection, Accession number 2007-0001, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
The Shakir S. Jerwan Scrapbooks Collection contains material from the period 1911-1919. During this period, Jerwan was Chief Pilot at the Moisant School of Aviation, Garden City, New York, and Director of Military Aviation for the government of Guatemala.
Scope and Contents:
This collection documents events in Shakir S. Jerwan's career during the period of 1911 to 1919. Scrapbook photographs (many signed) feature Jerwan's pupils and pilots at the Moisant School and of the Moisant International Aviators, including Harriet Quimby, Matilde Moisant, Bernetta Adams Miller, Roland Garros, René Barrier, René Simon and Edmond Audemars. Other photographs include John Frisbie and his man-carrying kites, Charles Niles and his Looper, and Monoplane, Jerwan's flying dog. Also included are a brochure and drawings for the Aeromotor Boat, designed by Shakir Jerwan and his brother, Fuad (Fred) Jerwan. Correspondence includes letters between Shakir Jerwan and Manuel Estrada Cabrera, president of Guatemala, and Venustiano Carranza, later president of Mexico.
Arrangement:
The collection consists of one photographic album and one scrapbook.
Biographical / Historical:
Shakir Saliba Jerwan (1881-1942), the son of a Protestant minister, was born in Beirut, Lebanon, then part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1904, Jerwan immigrated to the United States and became a citizen in 1910. In 1911, he learned to fly, earning F.A.I. license number 54. Jerwan was chief pilot for the Moisant School of Aviation, Garden City, New York from 1912 to 1914. From 1915 to 1919 he served as Director of Military Aviation in Guatemala. Jerwan returned to the United States in 1919. His later career was as a hotelier. He was a member of the Early Birds of Aviation.
Provenance:
Shakir S. Jerwan, gift, date unknown, XXXX-0231
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
Cover-leather edges have red rot. Paper-very brittle. Newspaper Clippings-deteriorating The Scrapbook appears to have water damage. There is evidence of past mold activity (inactive at present). Damage due to general use. HANDLE VERY CAREFULLY.
Container:
Box 3
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1911
Scope and Content:
Press releases about the activities of the Moisant aviators. Also contains basic handbook of the Moisant School of Aviation, Hempstead Plains Aviation Company, March 1911.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Moisant Family Scrapbooks, Acc. XXXX-0535, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
The scrapbook has rot, a torn canvas cover, brittle paper, and general deterioration. HANDLE VERY CAREFULLY.
Container:
Box 1
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1911-1913
Scope and Content:
Activities of the Moisant Aviation School between 1911-1913. Male and female aviators such as Harriet Quimby are mentioned.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Moisant Family Scrapbooks, Acc. XXXX-0535, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Please handle the scrapbooks very carefully, as they are in poor condition due to general use.
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Scrapbooks
Date:
1910-1912
Summary:
This Moisant Family Scrapbooks consist of three oversized scrapbooks containing newspaper accounts of the Moisants' flying escapades, as well as press releases and writings. The articles also discuss the following aviators who were involved with the Moisants: Harriet Quimby, Roland Garros, Rene Barrier, Rene Simon, John J. Frisbie, Charles Hamilton, and Shakir S. Jerwan.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of three oversized scrapbooks containing newspaper accounts of the Moisants' flying escapades, as well as press releases and writings. The articles also discuss the following aviators who were involved with the Moisants: Harriet Quimby, Roland Gerros, Rene Barrier, Rene Simon, John J. Frisbie, Charles Hamilton, and Shakir S. Jerwan. Dates, condition of scrapbooks, and a brief description of content for each scrapbook are listed below.
Arrangement:
Three stand-alone scrapbooks; no arrangement.
Biographical/Historical note:
The Moisant Family -- John, Alfred and Matilde -- helped spark America's early interest in aviation. John Moisant (1868-1910) trained at the Bleriot School in France and made the first successful cross-country, passenger-carrying flight from Paris to London in 1910. That fall he competed in the Gordon-Bennett Trophy Races but was killed in December while flying an exhibition in New Orleans, LA. His brother Alfred was president of the Moisant Aviation School and of the Hempstead Plains Aviation Company, 1911. Alfred also organized the Moisant International Aviators, Inc., which embarked upon a series of flight exhibitions in the United States and Mexico, 1911-1912. The Moisants' sister, Matilde (1887-1964), joined the family's exhibition tour and was the second American woman to become a licensed pilot. Matilde established two altitude records before giving up exhibition flying in 1912.
Related Archival Materials:
The National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Archives Division also holds additional materials about the Moisant Family. Biographical information can be found in the biographical fiche collection at the NASM Archives/Garber Facility. In the NASM archives downtown facility, we recommend the Biographical Files which contain additional newspaper and journal articles, letters, memorabilia and photographs. For more information on John Moisant, please see the John B. Moisant Scrapbook Collection (Accession number XXXX-0536) on microfiche.
Related Materials:
The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Archives also holds additional materials about the Moisant Family. Biographical information can be found in the Biographical series of the National Air and Space Museum Technical Reference Files, NASM.XXXX.1183, which contain additional newspaper and journal articles, letters, memorabilia, and photographs. For more information on John Moisant, please see the John B. Moisant Scrapbook Microfiche, NASM.XXXX.0536.
For photographic materials please see the Videodisc Imagery Collection, NASM.XXXX.1000. In some cases, there are original print photographs available in the NASM Archives and copy negatives at the Smithsonian Institution Archives. Please consult a staff member for more details and information about ordering reproductions.
Provenance:
Lt. Col. John L. Miles, Gift, 1942, NASM.XXXX.0535.
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.
Cover-leather edges have red rot. Paper-very brittle. Newspaper Clippings-deteriorating. The scrapbook appears to have water damage. There is evidence of past mold activity (inactive at present). There are also insect casings on one corner (inactive at present). Damage due to general use. HANDLE WITH EXTREME CARE.
Digital image scans of Scrapbook 2 have not yet been produced due to the extremely fragile condition of the original scrapbook.
Container:
Box 2
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1910-1912
Scope and Content:
Activities (mostly air/meet shows) of the Moisant Aviators both nationally and internationally from 1910-1912. The scrapbook has subject headings which are listed below (please note that these headings are not inclusive of the topics found in the scrapbooks--headings were made by the creator of the scrapbooks).
Scrapbook Headings
Richmond, VA, November 1910
Chattanooga, TN, November/December 1910
Memphis, TN, November/December 1910
Tupelo, MS, December 1910
New Orleans, LA, December 1910
Dallas, TX, December 1910 and January 1911
Fort Worth, TX, January 1911
Oklahoma City, OK January 1911
Waco, TX January 1911
Temple, TX, January 1911
Houston, TX, November 1910 and January 1911
San Antonio, TX, January/February 1911
El Paso, TX, January/February 1911
Monterrey, Mexico, February/March 1911
Mexico City, Mexico, February/March 1911
Havana, Cuba, March 1911
Hutchison, KS, March/April 1911
Pueblo, CO, March/April 1911
Denver, CO, April 1911
Newton, KS, April 1911
St. Joseph, MO, April 1911
Omaha. NB, April/May 1911
Des Moines, IA, May/June 1911
Ottumwa, IA, June 1911
Davenport, IA, June 1911
Galesburg, IL, June 1911
Detroit, MI, May/June 1911
The scrapbook also contains information about other aviators, such as Harriet Quimby.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Moisant Family Scrapbooks, Acc. XXXX-0535, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
This collection consists of the twelve microfiche sheets which were shot from nine scrapbooks loaned to NASM by the donor. The scrapbooks contains newspaper clippings from American, English and French newspapers relating to Moisant and his aviation activities.
Biographical / Historical:
John B. Moisant (1868-1910) had been a farmer, sugar planter, banker and revolutionary before entering the aviation field in 1909. Moisant trained at the Bleriot School in France and in August of 1909 began his fifth flight which was also the first successful cross-country passenger-carrying flight from Paris to London. That fall he competed in the Belmont Park International Aviation Meet, where he won the Statue of Liberty Race and took second place in the Gordon Bennett Cup. In December 1910 Moisant was killed in New Orleans, Louisiana, while competing for the Michelin Cup prize -- a prize awarded to the pilot who could stay in the air longest.
General:
These scrapbooks were reportedly compiled by Matilde Moisant. Matilde was John's sister and the second American woman to become a licensed pilot.
NASMrev
Provenance:
John Weyl, Loaned and microfilmed, 1978, XXXX-0536, 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
