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Addendum

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
191[?]-1990
Scope and Contents:
At the time of processing, the following books and one magazine were given to the National Air and Space Museum Branch Library for possible inclusion in their collection. After their review, it was decided that these items will remain with the Bellanca Collection. As with the books in box 142, these books are in alphabetical order by title. The magazine (The Aeroplane, June 22, 1951) is filed after the books.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Series 6
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg23e152e86-06d8-48a3-a9ba-266ceffcfb7d
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref2134

Aircraft Technical Data

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1919-1947
Scope and Contents:
Technical information found in the collection, that was not part of a formal report, is listed alphabetically by aircraft name and/or model number. In cases of the letters X (experimental) or Y (pre-production) preceding the military designations, the aircraft was listed as a production version. For example, the XRE 1 is listed under the letter R.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 2.2
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 2: Technical Data
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2d7cf64f7-f53f-406f-a2f2-bd7e0cfff092
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref735

Bellanca Aircraft Corporation -- Statement of Facts -- Subscription Agreement Prior to Organization

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 5
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1927
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life / 1.1: Core Records of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2b150af5b-81c9-47a7-8bd7-4f7a1422bde5
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref15

Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of America

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 4
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1927
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life / 1.1: Core Records of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg26ef0d439-8f35-4efc-9945-0a54f1e99f65
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref14

Core Records of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
undated
1922-1960
Scope and Contents:
This subseries contains the essential documents required to operate the corporation. It also includes material regarding Mr. Bellanca's involvement with other companies prior to the formation of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of New Castle, DE.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 1.1
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2d29709f6-1438-4693-a431-0f5ace164b81
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref10

Correspondence

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Container:
Box 7, Folder 12
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1930s
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life / 1.2: Correspondence / 1.2.1: Correspondence Filed Chronologically, and Alphabetically
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg25465e672-4369-445a-81d9-d5ab2302aaa4
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref115

Correspondence

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
undated
1917-1980
Scope and Contents:
This correspondence reflects the business endeavors of Bellanca from 1917-1960. Due to the inconsistent nature of the Bellanca filing system, the correspondence has been grouped into three sub-subseries. The first and largest sub-subseries is arranged chronologically. The next sub-subseries is arranged alphabetically by company or subject. The last sub-subseries contains Bellanca Aircraft Corporation internal memos arranged by individual or company department. This method was chosen in order to adhere, as closely as possible, to the original ordering of the documents. In some cases, when a certain group of documents was not dated, the processing archivist was able to provide the approximate dates based upon the subject matter, or the material accompanying it. When this has occurred, the researcher will find a set of square brackets [ ] around the dates. There are numerous pieces of correspondence written in other languages. At the time of processing, no attempt was made to translate these documents.
Arrangement:
Missing Title

1.2.1: Correspondence Filed Chronologically, and Alphabetically by Correspondent

1.2.2: Correspondence Filed Alphabetically by Company or Subject

1.2.3: Correspondence Filed Alphabetically by Correspondent
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 1.2
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg28ce9f620-476b-4ca1-aa3d-e5a15e71fffc
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref2152

Correspondence Filed Alphabetically by Company or Subject

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
undated
1918-1971
Arrangement:
This sub-subseries is arranged alphabetically by company, manufacturer, publication, government agency, country, and general subject.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 1.2.2
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life / 1.2: Correspondence
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg288c69079-a65c-4a5e-83a9-d422835bdc40
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref272

Correspondence Filed Alphabetically by Correspondent

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1929-1955
Arrangement:
This sub-subseries is arranged alphabetically by individual, department and then chronologically.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 1.2.3
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life / 1.2: Correspondence
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2ec97a3d0-ed1c-47ec-8be1-316ef5b38ace
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref340

Correspondence Filed Chronologically, and Alphabetically

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1917-1980
Arrangement:
This sub-subseries of correspondence is arranged chronologically, and then alphabetically by correspondent.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 1.2.1
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life / 1.2: Correspondence
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2cf687420-8be5-4021-baac-b9b0930b11d9
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref56

Financial and Legal Documents

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1918-1983
Scope and Contents:
The Financial and Legal Documents in the Bellanca Collection are arranged as follows:

Missing Title

financial statements, 1928 --1955

financial institutions, 1934 --1941

business ledgers, 1923 --1932

company reports regarding expenses, 1918 --1954

insurance, 1930 --1953

sales, 1927 --1956

sales records

stocks, 1928 --1958

subcontracting pursuits, 1935 --1955

patents, 1930 --1941

employee relations, 1940 --1956

union relations, 1943 --1953

Bellanca Aircraft Corporation history

miscellaneous

Box 27 contains Sales Records. The first set of records are the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation's Domestic Sales records. They are arranged in alphabetical order by customer name. The next group are the records for Bellanca Aircraft sold abroad, also arranged in alphabetical order by customer name. The researcher should take note that some aircraft that were originally sold abroad eventually came back into the United States. These aircraft are still filed with the foreign orders. The final group are three different sets of Sales Prospects. The first set is in alphabetical order by salesman or distributor name. The second set of prospects is in alphabetical order by customer name. The third set is in order by name or model number of aircraft, or by type of prospect. The researcher may notice some duplication of subjects, as no effort was made to combine groups of cards.

The Bellanca Stock Transactions have been placed in the following order:

Agreements

Securities and Exchange Commission

Stock Exchanges

Stockholder Correspondence

Miscellaneous

Mr. Bellanca had other business ventures. For example, during the corporate refinancing of 1940, Mr. Bellanca was required to resign as president of the company. During this time, he worked at Higgins Industries of New Orleans, LA. Also included in this section, are the subcontracting pursuits of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation. In 1954, after selling the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation, Mr. Bellanca and his son, August, formed the Bellanca Development Company. After Mr. Bellanca's death, this company's name was changed to Bellanca Aircraft Engineering, Inc. These records are arranged by company name.

The Bellanca Patents are arranged numerically by Patent Number, or Patent Application Number.

The Collection contains material from the corporate history of the Bellanca Aircraft Company, and Giuseppe Bellanca's personal biography: handwritten notes, unpublished manuscripts for magazine articles and book chapters, historical exhibits, paintings, material regarding the 25th Anniversary of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation, and ephemera from the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation offices.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 1.3
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg27f930795-5809-47d1-ae92-55b0b9730030
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref373

Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection

Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Names:
Bellanca Aircraft Corporation  Search this
Wright Aeronautical Corporation  Search this
Chamberlin, Clarence  Search this
Extent:
248.5 Cubic feet (245 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Financial records
Newspaper clippings
Drawings
Photographic prints
Date:
1919-1959
Summary:
This collection consists of the archives of Giuseppe M. Bellanca and his company, including the following types of mediums: drawings, stress analysis tests, reports, photographs/negatives, documents, correspondence, patent information, newspaper clippings, business records, and financial statements.
Scope and Contents:
Series I: Mr. Bellanca's professional life

Here, the researcher will find documents regarding the day-to-day operations of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation. The material is generally divided into core documents of the corporation, correspondence, financial documents, subcontracting pursuits, patents, employee relations, and company history.

Series II: Technical Material

This material is separated into the following subseries: Miscellaneous Handwritten Notes and Sketches, Bellanca Aircraft Technical Data, Bellanca Aircraft Corporation Reports, Technical Research Files, Bellanca Aircraft Drawing Lists, Bellanca Aircraft Drawings, and Bellanca Aircraft Drawing Indexes. The Bellanca Collection is not a complete history of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation. Over the years, it appears that many items were loaned out by the Bellanca Family to researchers and not returned. Therefore, there are significant gaps in correspondence, formal, numbered reports, and other areas of the collection. For example, the earliest report in the Bellanca Collection is Report #28, the next report which appears is report #45.

The Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection contains over 10,000 drawings. (At the time of processing, not all drawings were entered into the Bellanca Drawings Database. These drawings will be entered as time allows.) The drawings vary in size from 8 x 11 inches to 36 x 185 inches. There are original pencil drawings, blueprints, and blueline drawings. Over 130 models of Bellanca aircraft are represented in the Collection. There are General Arrangement, or Three-View drawings for over 80 of these models. Bellanca drawings are not easy to decipher. Most of the drawings have data blocks which contain only a finite amount of information. Often the aircraft has been identified only by serial number. In some cases the model number of the aircraft is also the drawing number. Other times, the aircraft name would be given, but no model number, i.e. Skyrocket. Also, words were abbreviated and it was left up to the processing archivist to determine their probable meaning. Despite the explanation in the scope and content notes, the Bellanca Corporation was not consistent when assigning model numbers. Letters were sometimes assigned that reflected a United States War Department designation, i.e. the VSO and the VF. By using the Bellanca Drawing indexes, the processing archivist was able to supply model numbers for some of the drawings.

7136 Bellanca Aircraft Company Drawings have been added to the National Air and Space Museum Miscellaneous Drawings Database. As time allows, the remaining Bellanca Drawings will be added to this database. An Archives Staff member will assist researchers in retrieving these materials from the database finding aid.

The Bellanca drawings were stored for over thirty years in less-than-ideal conditions. Many of the drawings were drawn on poor-quality tracing paper, and have become extremely brittle and fragile. Therefore, many of the drawings in the Bellanca Collection may not be available to researchers.

During processing of the collection, the project archivist has gained some insight about how Mr. Bellanca chose the model designations for his aircraft. The earliest system of model designations was based upon letters of the alphabet. No model designations appear for any Bellanca design until his work for Maryland Pressed Steel in 1916. The CD, which he designed for that company, was his fourth aircraft design that was built, and the letter D is the fourth letter of the alphabet. This pattern continues through the Bellanca CF. During 1926, when Mr. Bellanca worked for the Wright Corporation, he already had in mind an improved version of the CF, which was designated the CG. This aircraft received the designation WB-1 from the Wright Corporation.

When Mr. Bellanca formed his own company in 1927, the letter pattern described above reasserted itself for a time with the introduction of the Bellanca CH. It was a common practice of manufacturers of the time to also include the engine horsepower as part of the model number, so the Bellanca CH actually received its Approved Type Certificate (ATC) as the CH-200. When the next model came out, it was the CH-300 with a 300 horsepower Wright Whirlwind engine. This system remained in place through the CH-400. Names were given to some Bellanca aircraft. It appears that the names were a marketing tool meant to appeal to the buying public. With this idea in mind, the CH-300 became the "Pacemaker", the CH-400 became the "Skyrocket", and the P 100 was christened the "Airbus". In the early 1930's, the Bellanca Corporation moved away from the alphabetical designations and moved to numerical designations. Later Bellanca aircraft model designations consist of a series of numbers, such as 31-50. The first number was the wing area, in this case, 310 square feet, divided by 10. The second number was the horsepower of the engine, 500, divided by 10. This resulted in a distinctive system of model designations, which lasted until Mr. Bellanca sold the company.

Series III: Mr. Bellanca's personal material.

In this series, the researcher will find personal correspondence among family members, from both Giuseppe and Dorothy Bellanca's families and personal, legal and financial records for Bellanca family. As the lines between Mr. Bellanca's personal and professional lives were sometimes blurred, a fine line of separation between the two was not always possible. For example, at one time or another, two of Mr. Bellanca's brothers, John and Frank, worked for the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation and Andrew Bellanca, Mr. Bellanca's nephew, was his lawyer throughout his life. Therefore, the processing archivist suggests that the researcher look in the professional series of documents as well as Mr. Bellanca's personal papers for a more complete representation of Mr. Bellanca's correspondence.

After processing was completed, publications which previously had been offered to the NASM Branch Library were returned to the collection. They are listed in an addendum at the end of this finding aid.

Series IV: Photographs.

The researcher will find photographs of Bellanca aircraft, including the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation's Master Photograph Files, photographs of the Bellanca factory and factory workers, and photographs of Giuseppe M. Bellanca, business associates, and family members.

Series V: Miscellaneous and Oversize Materials.

This series contains ephemera of the Bellanca Collection: Scrapbooks, Loose Newspaper Clippings, Artwork, Ephemera and Magazine Clippings.

The Bellanca Collection included 27 motion picture films. In May of 2000, this film was transferred to the NASM Film Archives. Researchers wishing to access this part of the collection should contact the NASM Film Archivist.
Arrangement:
Series I: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life

Series II: Technical Data

Series III: Personal Papers

Series IV: Photographs

Series V: Miscellaneous and Oversize Materials
Biographical / Historical:
Giuseppe Mario Bellanca was born in 1886 in Sciacca, Sicily. As a young man, he attended the Technical Institute in Milan, graduating with a teaching degree in mathematics in 1908. During his quest for a second mathematics and engineering degree, he became enamoured of aviation, and set out to design and build his own airplane. Bellanca's first aircraft design was a "pusher" aircraft, somewhat similar to the Wright Flyer. Lacking funds for such an endeavor, he joined with two partners, Enea Bossi, and Paolo Invernizzi. The union of the three produced the first flight of a totally Italian-designed and Italian-built aircraft in early December of 1909. The flight was short, but it was a start. Bellanca's second design was a tractor-type aircraft. Although the aircraft was successfully constructed, it was never flown due to insufficient funds for an engine.

At the urging of his brother Carlo, who was already established in Brooklyn, New York, Giuseppe Bellanca immigrated to America in 1911. Before the end of the year, he began construction of his third airplane design, a parasol monoplane. After construction was completed, he took the small craft to Mineola Field on Long Island, NY, and proceeded to teach himself to fly. He began by taxiing. He then, taxied faster, which gave way to short hops. The hops got longer, until, on May 19, 1912, there was not enough room to land straight ahead, and Bellanca had to complete a turn in order land safely. Having successfully taught himself to fly, Bellanca then set about teaching others to fly, and from 1912 to 1916, he operated the Bellanca Flying School. One of his students was a young Fiorello La Guardia, the future mayor of New York City. In return for flying lessons, La Guardia taught Bellanca how to drive a car.

In 1917 the Maryland Pressed Steel Company of Hagerstown, MD hired Bellanca as a consulting engineer. While there, he designed two trainer biplanes, the CD, and an improved version, the CE. With the conclusion of WWI, Maryland Pressed Steel's contracts were cancelled and the company entered into receivership. Thus, the CE never went into production.

In 1921, a group of investors lured Bellanca westward to Omaha, NE, in hopes of establishing that town as a center for aircraft manufacture. Before the aircraft could be built, the company went bankrupt, but construction of the aircraft continued under the financial backing of a local motorcycle dealer named Victor Roos. The resultant aircraft, the Bellanca CF, was called by Janes's All the World's Aircraft "the first up-to-date transport aeroplane that was designed, built, and flown with success in the United States." Among the local people helping to build the aircraft was the daughter of Bellanca's landlord, Dorothy Brown. Giuseppe and she were married on November 18, 1922.

Despite its advanced design, the Bellanca CF could not compete with the economics of the time. In the days just after World War I, a surplus Curtiss Jenny could be purchased for as little as $250.00. A Bellanca CF, with a price tag of $5000.00, was just too expensive and the aircraft never went into production. After the disappointment of the CF, Bellanca designed wings for the Post Office Department's DH-4's. His new wings were a tremendous improvement over the original design, but only a few aircraft were so modified.

In 1925, Bellanca went to work for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation of Paterson, NJ. His assignment there was to develop an aircraft around the new Wright Whirlwind engine. He already had a design in mind, which was an improved version of the CF, called the CG. This design evolved into the Wright-Bellanca WB-1.

The WB-1 enjoyed a short, but successful flying career. The aircraft had already won one race and efficiency contest before an untimely accident destroyed the craft during preparation for an attempt to break the world's non-refueled endurance record. Fortunately, at the time of the crash, Bellanca was already working on an improved version, of the WB-1 designated the WB-2.

During 1926, the WB-2 won two efficiency trophies at the National Air Races in Philadelphia. Wright considered putting the aircraft into production, but decided against it to avoid alienating other aircraft companies that were potential customers for their engines. Disappointed by Wright's decision, Bellanca left the company and joined with a young businessman named Charles Levine to form the Columbia Aircraft Company. Wright sold the WB-2 and all drawings and production rights to the new company. The WB-2 went on to a long and fruitful flying career starting with establishing a new world's non-refueled endurance record of 51 hours, 11 minutes, and 59 seconds in April of 1927.

In the latter half of 1926, Charles Lindbergh wanted to buy the WB-2, now named the 'Columbia', for his proposed flight from New York to Paris. He was rebuffed by Levine who also had designs on the flight and the $25,000 prize money. Lindbergh then went to Ryan for his specially designed NYP. Meanwhile Levine, in choosing the crew, managed to promise two seats to three people. So while the Columbia was grounded by a court order brought by the third party, Lindbergh took off on his successful flight to Paris.

Eventually, the 'Columbia' was cleared of litigation and took off on its successful transatlantic flight on June 4, 1927. In the cockpit were Clarence Chamberlin, one of the pilots of the endurance record and Charles Levine, who became the first transatlantic passenger. The plan was to fly all the way to Berlin, and Chamberlin had vowed to fly until they ran out of fuel. Forty-three hours later, they landed in Eisleben, Germany, the first of two successful Atlantic crossings for Bellanca's most famous aircraft.

Disappointed because the 'Columbia' was not the first aircraft to accomplish the New York to Paris flight, Bellanca severed all relations with Levine, and started his own company, the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of America, and rented facilities on Staten Island, NY. The new Bellanca model was designated the CH, and was basically a commercial version of the WB-2. The new company also had two other models that were built for special orders, the Bellanca Model J and the Model K.

It was not long before Bellanca caught the attention of the Du Pont family of Delaware. They wanted to start aircraft manufacturing in Delaware, and in late 1927, an agreement was made with Bellanca to locate his factory outside of Wilmington. The site was large enough for a first-class airfield, with a seaplane ramp on the nearby Delaware River.

This was a busy time in Bellanca's life. Along with all that was happening in his professional life, he and Dorothy celebrated the birth of their son August T. Bellanca in March of 1927.

With the exception of a few years immediately before and during the early stages of WWII, Bellanca was President and Chairman of the Board from the corporation's inception on the last day of 1927 until he sold the company to L. Albert and Sons in 1954. After his departure from the company, Giuseppe and his son, August, formed the Bellanca Development Company with the purpose of building a new aircraft. It would have increased performance due to the use of lighter materials for its structure. Work on this aircraft was progressing when Giuseppe Bellanca succumbed to leukemia and died on December 26, 1960. After his father's death, August continued the project, and under his guidance, the aircraft first flew in 1973.

In 1993, August Bellanca donated his father's personal and professional papers to the National Air and Space Museum Archives. Prior to that time, they were kept in the Bellanca home near Galena, MD, and administered by Dorothy and August Bellanca.

1886 -- Born in Sciacca, Sicily

1909 -- Built first airplane. It completed the first flight of an Italian-designed, Italian-built, aircraft on December 8, 1909.

1911 -- Immigrated to America, settled in Brooklyn, NY.

1912 -- Completed construction of parasol monoplane. Successfully learned to fly this aircraft at Mineola, Long Island, NY.

1912 - 1916 -- Taught others to fly the parasol monoplane, including Fiorello LaGuardia.

1917 - 1920 -- Employed as a consulting engineer for Maryland Pressed Steel Company of Hagerstown, MD. While there, Bellanca designed and built the Bellanca CD and CE tractor biplanes.

1921 - 1922 -- Moved to Omaha, NE, and with Victor Roos, formed the Roos-Bellanca Aircraft Company. Bellanca designed and built the Bellanca CF. Married Dorothy Brown on November 18, 1922, in Omaha, NE.

1923 -- Moved back to New York, and designed and built new sets of wings for the Post Office Department's DH-4 mailplanes

1925 -- Employed by the Wright Aeronautical Corporation of Paterson, NJ, designing an aircraft around their new "Whirlwind" engine. The Wright-Bellanca 1, or WB-1, was the result, and was first flown in the latter part of that year.

1926 -- First flight of the WB-2.

1927 -- Bellanca started the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of America, on Staten Island, NY. Bellanca established the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of New Castle, DE. Wright decided not to enter into quantity production of the WB-2. Bellanca entered into a partnership with Charles A. Levine, and together, they formed the Columbia Aircraft Corporation. From Tuesday, April 12 to Thursday, April 14, Clarence Chamberlin and Bert Acosta set a new world's non-refueled endurance record in the WB-2, which was shortly thereafter, renamed the "Columbia". On June 4th, the Columbia set off across the Atlantic, and landed in Eisleben, Germany.

1941 - 1943 -- Head of the aviation department at Higgins Industries, Inc., in New Orleans, designing large cargo aircraft for troop movement during the war.

1954 -- Formed the Bellanca Development Company, to conduct research in lightweight aircraft construction materials.

1960 -- Died of leukemia in New York, December 26.
Provenance:
Mr. and Mrs. August Bellanca, Gift, 1993, NASM.1993.0055
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
Bellanca WB-2 "Miss Columbia"  Search this
Transatlantic flights  Search this
Genre/Form:
Correspondence
Financial records
Newspaper clippings
Drawings
Photographic prints
Citation:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg271dc0842-f969-4959-847e-2fe8d6d09920
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-1993-0055
Online Media:

Maryland Pressed Steel

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Container:
Box 15, Folder 11
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1918-1920
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 1: Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life / 1.2: Correspondence / 1.2.2: Correspondence Filed Alphabetically by Company or Subject
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg220a2a299-5978-4d99-bab5-94b4465699ee
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref301

Miscellaneous Handwritten Notes and Sketches

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1915-1953
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 2.1
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 2: Technical Data
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg29aee380f-26a4-4263-86d2-21cbe47b3148
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref706

Miscellaneous and Oversize Material

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1923-1976
Scope and Contents:
This series contains ephemera of the Bellanca Collection: Scrapbooks, Loose Newspaper Clippings, and Artwork, Ephemera and Magazine Clippings.

Boxes 169-174 contain broken drawing fragments that are too fragile for viewing at this time. If it was possible to determine the drawing numbers, those numbers have been listed in their respective boxes.
Separated Materials:
The Bellanca Collection included 27 motion picture films. In May of 2000, this film was transferred to the NASM Film Archives. Researchers wishing to access this part of the collection should contact the NASM Film Archivist.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Series 5
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2e3bdef6d-da4d-42d8-9265-d5306189da7f
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref2074

Mr. Bellanca's Professional Life

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1922-1960
Scope and Contents:
This series follows the history of Mr. Bellanca's professional life. Most of the material concerns the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation of New Castle, DE, of which Mr. Bellanca was Chairman of the Board from 1927 until selling the company in 1954.

Here, the researcher will find documents regarding the day-to-day operations of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation. The material is generally divided into core documents of the corporation, correspondence, financial documents, subcontracting pursuits, patents, employee relations, and company history.
Arrangement:
Missing Title

1.1: Core Records of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation

1.2: Correspondence

1.3: Financial and Legal Documents
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Series 1
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2b5b85384-0290-40c3-88bd-8e9ad21e55d8
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref9

Personal Correspondence

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1912-1993
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 3.1
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 3: Personal Papers
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg29bd75726-b4da-40b8-b191-81cfc590c59e
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref1585

Personal Papers

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1908-1993
Scope and Contents:
In this series, the researcher will find personal correspondence among family members, from both Giuseppe and Dorothy Bellanca's families and personal, legal and financial records for Bellanca family. As the lines between Mr. Bellanca's personal and professional lives were sometimes blurred, a fine line of separation between the two was not always possible. For example, at one time or another, two of Mr. Bellanca's brothers, John and Frank, worked for the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation and Andrew Bellanca, Mr. Bellanca's nephew, was his lawyer throughout his life. Therefore, the processing archivist suggests that the researcher look in the professional series of documents as well as Mr. Bellanca's personal papers for a more complete representation of Mr. Bellanca's correspondence.

After processing was completed, publications which previously had been offered to the NASM Branch Library were returned to the collection. They are listed in an addendum at the end of this finding aid.

The Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection also contains many personal papers. As Mr. Bellanca had numerous business associates, who were also his friends, it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between his personal and professional lives. All materials are related to G.M. Bellanca unless otherwise identified as those of a specific family member.
Arrangement:
Missing Title

3.1: Personal Correspondence and Financial Material, Giuseppe, Dorothy and August Bellanca

3.2: Publications
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Series 3
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2313558a3-fcf1-4c5f-8932-7427a0e6be6b
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref1584

Publications

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1908-1991
Arrangement:
The following books are in alphabetical order by title. Additional books are contained in Box 175.

The following United States Government publications are in alphabetical order by title.

The following magazines are in alphabetical order by title. There is one additional magazine in Box 175.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 3.2
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 3: Personal Papers
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg23d2dd17d-da5e-41b2-aa94-7598eab77347
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref1786

Reports

Collection Creator:
Bellanca, Giuseppe M., 1886-1960  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1929-1955
Scope and Contents:
The following boxes contain the formal, numbered reports. These reports are in order by report number. The Bellanca Collection is not a complete history of the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation. Over the years, it appears that items have become separated from the collection. Therefore, the Collection does not contain a complete set of formal Bellanca Corporation reports.
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:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0055, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.1993.0055, Subseries 2.3
See more items in:
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection
Giuseppe M. Bellanca Collection / Series 2: Technical Data
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg200ecde77-fa57-461f-9f3e-5bd7e66ba4a2
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-1993-0055-ref859

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