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.
Collection Citation:
John H. White, Jr. Railroad Reference Collection, ca. 1830-1980, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Bitter, Karl Theodore Francis, 1867-1915 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 6
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1909
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Karl Theodore Francis Bitter papers, 1887-circa 1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Cover Illustration: Man with a bag and cane walking toward conductor who is calling, with a train in the background. Printed in red
Local Numbers:
03030028.tif (AC Scan No.: cover)
Series Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Series 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.
Printed caption on recto reads: "Black Power. Beira."
Additional printed text on recto reads: "Photo J. Wexelsen."
Manuscript and postage stamp on recto, postmark and address on verso.
Local Numbers:
EEPA MZ-47-05
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Provenance:
I.U.: Indiana University collection; Donation.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
The Falcon Trio Vaudeville Collection consists mostly of scrapbook pages that cover the career of the Falcon Trio. Included are photographs of the Trio while performing, those probably used for publicity purposes, some personal photographs, and photographs of fellow vaudevillians. Most of the images are unidentified, but beside the Trio, there are images of other acts that were on the same circuit. The collection also includes newspaper clippings of advertisements, write-ups featuring the Trio, and of the numerous theaters where they played for up to a week's engagement. There is also correspondence between Falcon and the many booking agents who handled the act. In addition, there are railroad stubs and ephemera belonging to Ed Maziarz, mementos of the Falcon's travels.
The material is not in chronological order making it difficult to compare the gains in salaries through the years, particularly from 1918 through the 1920s, and also to compare the cost of railroad travel.
Most of the contracts were between Ed Falcon, signing for the Trio, and the managers of the theaters where they performed. The terms of the contracts covered rehearsal time, publicity material the act was to provide, personal behavior, the commission percentage, billings, and
length of time of performance. Some letters from the Falcon's agents suggested ideas for publicity that might be utilized by the performers. One mimeographed letter from E. F. Albee (B. F. Keith circuit) to the vaudeville artists reminded them to provide good photographs, have good costumes, to keep up standards, to keep the act interesting, not to use old material, and to keep the act fresh and clean.
Many of the contracts, in the early years especially, provided that no act could play in the same city within a year or two years. The act's name may have been changed to get around these provisos.
Several letters are of special interest because they give an idea of the relationship with the booking agents and their efforts on behalf of their clients. Bookings were obtained keeping in mind that travel should be cheap and easy. Occasionally there was trouble with lost baggage. From the letterheads and from the contents of the letters, one can see the variety of specialties of the booking agents such as those only working with circuits, with fairs, or in certain geographic areas.
The collection should be of particular use to those interested in the vaudeville days and booking of acts.
Biographical / Historical:
Edward F. Maziarz (Eddie Falcon) was born on September 12, 1891 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By the fall of 1911, he, Edward Bykowski, and Anton (Tony) Walker had begun their aerial act. From photographs, it seems they did their stunts from airplanes. Once on the vaudeville circuit, their act was done on aerial rings on stage. In their publicity, they stressed the difference between rings and the use of bars and the trapeze. The latter provided a foundation on which to sit or stand or rest, aerial rings required the performers to continue the routine until it was accomplished without any stalling. There was comedy throughout the six to eight minutes of the trio's performance. It is assumed that Eddie Falcon was the comic because of several of the images in which he appears.
Except for an interruption while Eddie Falcon served in the Navy (1918-1919), the group performed quite steadily from 1912 to 1931. The Trio played tour circuits, such as Pantages, Keith, Lowes, Hippodrome, and state and county fairs. They had contracts with a number of booking agents to whom they paid a commission of 5%, and were solicited by other booking agents who wanted to represent them. From press write-ups and letters from their own agents and those soliciting them, it appears that the Falcon Trio had a good reputation and did not often have open dates.
Provenance:
Transferred from the Division of Home and Community Life, April 1985.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
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.
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.
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.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information. Use of archival audiovisual recordings and born-digital records with no duplicate access copies requires advance notice.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Jeff Donaldson papers, 1918-2005, bulk 1960s-2005. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the digitization of the Jeff Donaldson papers was provided by the Walton Family Foundation.
Gorrell, Edgar S. (Edgar Staley), 1891-1945 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 3
Type:
Archival materials
Text
Date:
1937
Scope and Contents:
Address delivered before the Boston Chamber of Commerce at the Transportation Conference, Boston, MA, Jan. 14, 1937
The Future of Transportation in the United States from the Viewpoint of: Air, Address delivered before the Chamber of Commerce of the United States at their 25th Annual Meeting, Apr. 28, 1937
Standing Upon the Threshold of a Profession, Address delivered at the graduation exercises of Norwich University, Northfield, VT, June 7, 1937 (2 copies)
America's National Policy on Aeronautics, Address delivered at Western Aviation Planning Conference, Sacramento, CA, Sept. 23, 1937 (2 copies)
Aviation, Yesterday and Today, Address delivered at the 8th Annual Mountain State Forest Festival, Elkins, WV, Oct. 9, 1937
Rationalization of Air Transport, Address delivered before the 7th Annual Convention of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, Miami, FL, Dec. 3, 1937 (2 copies)
The Why of S.2 and H.R.7273, Address delivered at the 7th Annual Convention of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, Miami, FL, Dec. 3, 1937 (2 copies)
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:
Edgar S. Gorrell Collection, Acc. XXXX-0057, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
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:
Charles Ingram Stanton, Sr., Papers, Acc. NASM.1987.0076, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
The first crossing of the United States by airplane was achieved by Calbraith Perry Rodgers in 1911 in his Wright EX biplane, named the Vin Fiz.
Scope and Content:
This collection consists of the following material relating to Fred Howard and his role with the Vin Fiz Special: correspondence, newspaper clippings and articles, schedules and logs for both the Vin Fiz and the Vin Fiz Special, telegrams; train registration sheets, miscellaneous notes, passenger lists, and financial paperwork.
Arrangement:
Arranged by type of material.
Biographical/Historical note:
The first crossing of the United States by airplane was achieved by Calbraith Perry Rodgers in 1911 in his Wright EX biplane, named the Vin Fiz. Rodgers decided to attempt the coast-to-coast flight in response to publisher William Randolph Hearst's New York American challenge which offered a prize of $50,000 for the first transcontinental flight to be competed in 30 days. Rodgers began his journey from Sheepshead Bay, New York, on September 17, 1911, and as the flight was punctuated by numerous stops, delays, and accidents the 30-day time limit Hearst imposed for the prize had expired before Rodgers reached California on November 5, 1911.
To finance the trip, Rodgers had secured backing from the Armour Company, a Chicago firm which was then introducing a new grape-flavored soft drink called Vin Fiz. Armour provided Rodgers with a special train, called the Vin Fiz Special, with cars for the accommodation of Rodgers' family and his support crew, and a "hangar" car, which was a rolling workshop, filled with spare parts to repair and maintain the airplane over the course of the flight. There was even an automobile on board to pick up Rodgers after forced landings away from the rail line. Fred Howard, the division passenger agent for the Erie Railroad, was placed in charge of the Vin Fiz Special and soon also took charge of the command center, juggling both railroad matters and aviation repairs. In Chicago, Howard was commended for his effort and asked to continue with the flight to California, but he declined.
Provenance:
Eileen F. Lebow , Gift, 2006, NASM.2007.0002
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.
Approximately 200 lantern slides, of various scenes in America and Canada, many of them published by railroad lines, presumably to arouse tourist interest in travel by rail. New York State and California are especially emphasized. Some images depict the railroads, railroad stations and railroad equipment. One group of images is from the Nabisco factory.
Scope and Contents note:
Approximately 200 glass lantern slides [exactly 214], of various scenes in America and Canada, many of them published by railroad lines, presumably to arouse tourist interest in travel by rail. Especially emphasized are New York State and California. Some slides feature the railroads and railroad equipment. Some of the slides are scenes from a cereal factory, showing the manufacture of shredded wheat.
Some slide makers are unidentified. Captions quoted are from labels on the slides, except that descriptions in brackets are supplied by the cataloguer.
Slide manufacturers include Chas. Beseler Co.,
The two original wooden storage boxes in which the slides were received are included. Slides shown in boxes 1-10 were originally stored in one wooden box, while those in boxes 11-20 were originally in the second wooden box.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged into one series.
Provenance:
Immediate source of acquisition is unknown. Almost certainly transferred from one of the curatorial divisions, because it has an inventory tag (1980), predating the Archives Center's existence, but no other information is known.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research and access on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Rights:
Probably public domain, copyrights expired. Fees for commercial reproduction.
Three women in sleeping compartment, showing bunk bed and door to lavatory. Caption: "Compartment made up for night occupancy. Door at right is wardrobe. The door next to it open[s?] into enclosed toilet and lavatory."
Local Numbers:
AC0181-0000010 (AC Scan No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection 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.
African Americans -- Railroad employees Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
Circa 1940-1950
Arrangement:
In box 3, folder 21.
Local Numbers:
AC0181-0000001 (AC Scan No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection 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.
Caption glued to print: "Sliding partitions between connecting double bedrooms permit this family to breakfast in negligee privacy." Waiter is African American, women are white. Stamped on verso: "FRANK WILLMING / COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER / 154 E. ERIES ST. / SUP. 6064-6065 / CHICAGO, ILL."; "4092-41"; and "NOV. 18 1935".
Arrangement:
In box 3, folder 18.
Local Numbers:
AC0181-0000002 (AC Scan No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection 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.
Left to right: Conductor D. R. Stump, Attendant A. Batac, Porter L. Garner, Porter W. T. Bratton, Attendant H. H. Sewell, Porter C. Merritt, Porter W. Whitley, L. B. Walters, S. Claughton, and W. Williams. Acme news pictures Division of NEA Service, Inc. Tribune Tower, Chicago 11, ILL.
Arrangement:
In box 3, folder 18.
Local Numbers:
AC0181-0000003 (AC Scan No.)
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Collection 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.
