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Clement Melville Keys Papers

Creator:
Keys, Clement Melville, 1876-1952  Search this
Names:
Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America  Search this
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company  Search this
Curtiss-Wright Corporation  Search this
Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc.  Search this
Keys, Clement Melville, 1876-1952  Search this
Extent:
16.3 Cubic feet (32 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Financial records
Drawings
Date:
1916-1952
bulk 1928-1931
Summary:
Clement Melville Keys (1876-1952) was a financier and corporate organizer who promoted aviation through the post-World War I decade. In 1916 he came to the aid of the financially-troubled Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co. and was made an unsalaried vice president. Keys accompanied the American Aviation Mission to Europe in 1919, returning to purchase a controlling interest in Curtiss in 1920. He remained president of Curtiss until the 1929 merger with Wright Aeronautical Corp. to form Curtiss-Wright Corporation, whereupon he became president of the new company. In 1931, however, Keys resigned as chairman of T&WA following a bitter struggle for control of the airline. Mental collapse followed and Keys surrendered all his remaining aviation interests and left Curtiss-Wright in 1933.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists primarily of Keys' business records and correspondence from the 1920s and early 1930s. The bulk of the material relates to the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company/Curtiss-Wright Corporation and related firms, as well as Transcontinental Air Transport. The material includes business (operating) correspondence and records relating to Keys' financial interests.

The collection is divided into three series. The first series consists of materials dated through Keys' withdrawal from his aviation interests in 1932, followed by a second series of materials post-dating 1932. The final series consists of a small number of legal-sized documents not marked by Keys or his secretary and not otherwise placeable in either of the first two series. Because of the small amount of legal-sized material in the collection, the bulk of the collection has been stored in letter-sized containers; all legal-size documents have been placed in legal-sized containers at the end of the collection (Boxes 29-31) and a cross-reference note entered in the appropriate place in basic folder list. Larger materials have been placed in a single oversized box (Box 32) with cross-references in the folder list as appropriate.

Note: The digital images shown for this collection were repurposed from scans made by an outside contractor for a commercial product which did not reproduce all materials found in this collection; some items have not been scanned.
Arrangement:
The processing of the Keys papers began as an intern project. The intern, however, was unable to complete the work before the end of the intemship period and I was assigned to rebox the materials that had been left unprocessed so that higher priority activities could continue. The long-term plan was that I would finish processing the collection when other projects had been completed. At this time I discovered two things: first, many of the documents had been marked for filing, apparently by Keys or Mr. Swan, his confidential secretary; second, much of the material was no longer in this order. When my work load allowed me to return to the processing of the Keys Papers, I surveyed the collection. The remaining original folder labels and cross-reference sheets appeared to confirm my first discovery - many of the documents had been marked for filing.

Most of my work since has been directed at undoing the mishandling from the initial work, most of which occurred in the files relating to the Curtiss group of companies. Almost all of the items dating from mid-1928 onwards carry some sort of filing marks: these items have been reorganized into the indicated filing units (see folder list, below). Unfortunately, enclosures often were not marked: some of these were refiled in 1987 and their provenance is, therefore, lost. A close textual analysis of the collection would be necessary to reunite enclosures with their cover letters; current work load and staff levels preclude this labor-intensive operation.

Almost all of the items dating from mid-1928 onwards carry some sort of filing marks: these items have been reorganized into the indicated filing units (see folder list). Unfortunately, enclosures often were not marked: some of these were refiled in 1987 and their provenance is, therefore, lost. A close textual analysis of the collection would be necessary to reunite enclosures with their cover letters; current work load and staff levels preclude this labor-intensive operation.

Materials pre-dating mid-1928 or otherwise unmarked have been filed by "best guess" from the correspondents and subject of the letters. Some materials doubtless remain misfiled. Researchers should examine folders that seem even marginally related to their topic for unmarked but related documents.

Titles appearing in brackets [ ] are the archivist's.

Series 1

Materials through 1932

Series 2

Post-1932 Material

Series 3

Miscellaneous Materials
Biographical / Historical:
Clement Melville Keys (1876-1952) was a financier and corporate organizer who promoted aviation through the post Word War I decade. Canadian-born, Keys graduated from Toronto University (B.A. 1897) and taught classics before coming to the United States in 1901 (naturalized, 1924). He went to work for the Wall Street Journal, first as a reporter (1901-1903), then as railroad editor (1903-1905) before becoming financial editor for World's Work (1905-1911). In 1911 he founded C. M. Keys & Co., an investment counseling firm and bond dealer. In 1916 he came to the aid of the financially-troubled Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co. and was made an unsalaried Vice President. Keys accompanied the American Aviation Mission to Europe in 1919, returning to purchase a controlling interest in Curtiss in 1920. He remained president of Curtiss until the 1929 merger with Wright Aeronautical Corp. to form Curtiss-Wright Corporation, whereupon he became president of the new company. During his tenure as president of Curtiss (1920-1929) and its successor, Curtiss-Wright Corp. (1929-1933), Keys brought the company from the brink of bankruptcy to a position as one of the leading aircraft manufacturers in the world. Curtiss also became the center of a group of aviation-related companies which served to market and operate Curtiss aircraft. At the same time, Keys expanded his own holdings until he was at the head of twenty-six corporations, including aviation holdings companies, such as North American Aviation and National Aviation Corp., as well as the first American transcontinental air service, Transcontinental Air Transport (later Transcontinental & Western Airline). In January 1932, Keys withdrew from all his aviation interests, citing ill health. He remained connected with C. M. Keys & Co., concentrating mainly on financial and real estate interests. Upon retiring from Keys & Co. in 1942, he started a new company, C. M. Keys Aircraft Service Co. and, after World War II, helped organize Peruvian International Airways, which began operating in South America in 1947.
Provenance:
Donated by Elizabeth Keys Stoney.
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, Commercial -- United States  Search this
Genre/Form:
Correspondence
Financial records
Drawings
Citation:
Clement Melville Keys Papers, Accession XXXX-0091, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.XXXX.0091
See more items in:
Clement Melville Keys Papers
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg28e00e54d-1905-41ce-8b49-47f970892346
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-0091
Online Media:

Newspaper and Journal Articles: General

Collection Creator:
Junkin, Hattie Meyers, 1896-1985  Search this
Container:
Box 5, Folder 5
Type:
Archival materials
Text
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.
See more items in:
Hattie Meyers Junkin Papers
Hattie Meyers Junkin Papers / Series 3: General materials of Hattie Meyers Junkin
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2f9c2563e-5c4a-47d6-abbb-276111be86a4
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-0171-ref141
2 Page(s) matching your search term, top most relevant are shown: View entire project in transcription center
  • View Newspaper and Journal Articles: General digital asset number 1
  • View Newspaper and Journal Articles: General digital asset number 2

Humbert Travel Service

Collection Creator:
Jacques Seligmann & Co  Search this
Container:
Box 49, Folder 15
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1927-1948
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
Jacques Seligmann & Co. records, 1904-1978, bulk 1913-1974. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Jacques Seligmann & Co. records
Jacques Seligmann & Co. records / Series 1: Correspondence / 1.3: General Correspondence
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw90fa5f702-ab52-4678-a155-20159661dc94
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-jacqself-ref10127
2 Page(s) matching your search term, top most relevant are shown: View entire project in transcription center
  • View Humbert Travel Service digital asset number 1
  • View Humbert Travel Service digital asset number 2

[Trade catalogs from Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc.]

Company Name:
Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc.  Search this
Related companies:
Trans World Airlines, Inc. ; TWA ; T&WA  Search this
Notes content:
Located in Oversize. Airline information and fares.
Includes:
Trade catalog and price lists
Black and white images
Color images
Physical description:
2 pieces; 1 box
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Aviation (aircraft; balloons; etc.)  Search this
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
Airplanes  Search this
Airships  Search this
Balloons  Search this
Record ID:
SILNMAHTL_26279
Location:
Trade Literature at the American History Museum Library
Collection:
Smithsonian Libraries Trade Literature Collections
Data source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:SILNMAHTL_26279

Badge, Cap, Flight Attendant, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Silver Plating
Enamel
Gold Plating
Dimensions:
3-D: 5.1 × 2.7 × 0.8cm (2 × 1 1/16 × 5/16 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688001
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv94a211c4f-33a5-4b8b-8818-e36e9bf9e778
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688001
Online Media:

Button, Flight Attendant, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Silver Plating
Gold Plating
Solder
Dimensions:
3-D: 1.9 × 1cm (3/4 × 3/8 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688002
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv966012951-c522-47cb-bb75-5c326f77659e
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688002
Online Media:

Insignia, Flight Attendant, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Natural Fabric
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Dimensions:
3-D: 4 × 1.1cm (1 9/16 × 7/16 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688003
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv957e6dfc5-6d91-4f49-b534-6ef89ac5f483
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688003
Online Media:

Badge, Sky Scout, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Silver Plating
Enamel
Gold Plating
Dimensions:
3-D: 4.8 × 2.5 × 1cm (1 7/8 × 1 × 3/8 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688004
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9c2c224ad-f96c-41e8-814b-282df9ccd9dc
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688004
Online Media:

Insignia, Mechanic, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Natural Fabric
Dimensions:
3-D: 6.5 × 0.2cm (2 9/16 × 1/16 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688005
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9da8a62cd-0b21-4435-889a-bc3e8db1ba3f
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688005
Online Media:

Insignia, Mechanic, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Natural Fabric
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Dimensions:
3-D: 6.2 × 1.3 × 1.3cm (2 7/16 × 1/2 × 1/2 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688006
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9f223fdfa-0ec2-427a-84be-91d74d6fbfc9
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688006
Online Media:

Pin, Lapel, Pilot's 5 Year Service, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Sterling Silver
Copper Alloy
Silver Plating
Enamel
Dimensions:
3-D: 1.4 × 1.4 × 0.8cm (9/16 × 9/16 × 5/16 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688007
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv97c03fee2-fe80-4ad3-86d8-f5ba108e4702
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688007
Online Media:

Insignia, Flight Personnel Service, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Dimensions:
3-D: 1.9 × 0.8 × 0.6cm (3/4 × 5/16 × 1/4 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688008
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv91acf1d2c-d01c-48a2-8306-232c9e7f4ecb
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688008
Online Media:

Pin, Lapel, Pilot's 10 Year Service, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Enamel
Silver Plating
Dimensions:
3-D: 1.4 × 1.4 × 1cm (9/16 × 9/16 × 3/8 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688009
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9247a879b-7900-4994-952e-99bdfd1455e3
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688009
Online Media:

Badge, Cap, Pilot, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Dimensions:
3-D: 6.4 × 4.6 × 1cm (2 1/2 × 1 13/16 × 3/8 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688010
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv94345d228-a469-4721-8e62-f931338a7915
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688010
Online Media:

Badge, Cap, Station Manager & Foreman, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Enamel
Dimensions:
3-D: 7.1 × 4.1 × 1.1cm (2 13/16 × 1 5/8 × 7/16 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688011
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9d03af4e4-0256-4c3a-be60-8cd00eda2975
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688011
Online Media:

Badge, Pilot, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Dimensions:
3-D: 8.6 × 2.4 × 0.8cm (3 3/8 × 15/16 × 5/16 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688012
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv92b9b3875-92db-4ee5-98ce-3466650c49a2
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688012
Online Media:

Pin, Lapel, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Enamel
Dimensions:
3-D: 2.4 × 1.3 × 0.6cm (15/16 × 1/2 × 1/4 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688013
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv902eda375-eecd-4ea1-9a9c-477dba310658
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688013
Online Media:

Pin, Lapel, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Enamel
Solder
Dimensions:
3-D: 2.4 × 1.3 × 0.6cm (15/16 × 1/2 × 1/4 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688014
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9271e8c61-65bf-47c5-a82d-52e4b60d3582
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688014
Online Media:

Pin, Lapel, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Silver Alloy
Dimensions:
3-D: 1.9 × 0.8 × 0.6cm (3/4 × 5/16 × 1/4 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688016
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv93302dc08-8f0e-499e-9a4d-70b6c2186d14
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688016
Online Media:

Badge, Cap, Mechanic, Transcontinental & Western Air Inc. (TWA)

Materials:
Copper Alloy
Gold Plating
Enamel
Dimensions:
3-D: 4.4 × 4.4 × 1cm (1 3/4 × 1 3/4 × 3/8 in.)
Type:
AWARDS-Insignia
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by Miss Katherine M. Smart
Inventory Number:
A19710688017
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9418f6ace-6d02-4715-9fc9-c88c1361803f
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19710688017
Online Media:

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