Descriptive Finding Guide for the Horace Clyde Balsley Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10013

Finding aid prepared by Alan Renga
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA, 92101
(619) 234-8291
10/15/2014


Title: Horace Clyde Balsley Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10013
Contributing Institution: San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 0.36 Cubic feet One Archival Box
Date (inclusive): 1893-1942
Abstract: Primarily, this collection focuses on Balsley’s service as a member of the Lafayette Escadrille. A significant item is a reprint of Balsley’s war-time diary. This collection contains many newspaper clippings concerning injuries sustained when his airplane was shot down in service. Balsley gained some fame and therefore generated much publicity when making appearances or speeches during his subsequent service during war bond drives. Several letters seem to detail Balsley’s efforts to claim benefits from the Veteran’s Administration. The collection also includes Balsley’s wedding announcement to actress Miriam MacDonald and references to her sister, actress and producer Katherine MacDonald.

Related Archival Materials note

Photos of Balsley from the San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives are available for viewing on Flicker.com. Catalog numbers BIOB00048–BioB00054.
Related Research Institutions: Allan H Muhr Photograph Collection, Hoover Institution Archives, Hoover Institution, 434 Galvez Mall Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305-6010 650-723-1754; http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt809nf5wt/admin/#P2 Secondary Sources: Mason, Herbert Mason, Jr. The Lafayette Escadrille: (New York, Random House, 1964) Gordon, Dennis, Lafayette Escadrille Pilot Biographies: (Missoula, Mont, First American Printing 1991).
Photos from the Collection have been digitized and are available for viewing.

Conditions Governing Access note

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Conditions Governing Use note

Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

Preferred Citation note

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

Biographical/Historical note

Capt. Horace Clyde Balsley (July 27, 1893 – July 23, 1942) was a member of the Lafayette Escadrille and the first American whose plane was shot down during World War I, in effect, the first American pilot to be shot down in aerial combat. Lafayette Escadrille was a French fighter squadron mostly comprised of American volunteers to aid France. The group hoped to encourage America to abandon neutrality. Balsley was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. In 1915, he chose to go to France and participate in the European conflict seeing it as a chance to see the war and to learn aviation. He was first a part of the American Ambulance Hospital. In early 1916, he was accepted to the Air Guard of Paris, and he trained on the Nieuport 23. He became the ninth American pilot of Lafayette Escadrille. Balsley’s combat career was short: his plane was shot down June 18, 1916. Association of American Volunteers in the Foreign Legion 1914–1918. Upon his return to the US, Balsley served as a flight instructor at Gerstner Field, near Lake Charles, Louisiana. Later, he was assigned to participate in recruiting and war bond drives. He married silent film actress Miriam MacDonald in 1919. Never quite recovering from his combat injuries, Balsley became a general manager for the Merle Norman cosmetics firm in Los Angeles until his death in 1942.

Scope and Contents note

Primarily, this collection focuses on Balsley’s service as a member of the Lafayette Escadrille. A significant item is a reprint of Balsley’s war-time diary. Telegrams, newspaper articles, letters, certificates, military documents, photos, address book, calling cards, post cards, military base charge slips, orders, affidavits, Cross and Cockade journal.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Balsley, Horace Clyde, 1893-1942
France. Armée. Escadrille Lafayette.
Naval Air Station North Island. (Calif.)
Nieuport 23
Rockwell Field
World War, 1914-1918

 

Box 01

 

Series 01: Records

 

Folder 01 - Diary of Horace Clyde Balsley

Physical Description: Photocopy of “The Diary of Horace Clyde Balsley,” Cross and Cockade Journal (Vol. 18, Number, Summer 1977).
 

Folder 01 - Certificates – Lafayette Escadrille

 

Folder 03 – Correspondence, Personal

Physical Description: H.A. Halverson photocopy – sole source. 3 Letters to Mrs. Balsley from Amy Otis Earhart, mother of Amelia Earhart. 2 Photocopies of letters on Congressional letterhead, photocopy. One is typed, one is handwritten, Sole Source. Telegram of funeral information. Notice from title company. 1913 letter on letterhead from The Bishop’s House 21 Washington St, Newark, New Jersey. Transcript of July 8, 1915 letter to Balsley. Transcript dated April 19, 1982 by R.M. McClung 1917 Telegram from Balsley to his mother, photocopied. Photocopy of letter to Balsley – sole source. Photocopies of two deposits to the Bank of Coronado, and photocopy of request for birth certificate – sole source.
 

Folder 04 – Correspondence, Military – Veterans Administration

Physical Description: 20 photocopies of letters between Balsley and the Veteran Administration concerning his retirement and sick pay.
 

Folder 05 – SDASM Correspondence

Physical Description: 16 letters from Author Robert M. McClung, 1982–1985. Letters contain addition information about Balsley garnered through McClung’s research. 2 letters from Mr. & Mrs. Craig.
 

Folder 06 – Military Documents and Correspondence

Physical Description: 2 photocopies of Oct. 1919 pay voucher – sole source. Photocopy Office of Inspection Department – sole source. 2 Photocopies property list Rockwell Field – sole source. Photocopy memo from property officer – sole source. Photocopy memo from Col. Henry H. (Hap) Arnold. Photocopy memo Transportation Officer. Photocopy telegram. 3 Photocopies of orders from Special Operations 2 Photocopies of memos concerning living quarters at Rockwell Field. Photocopy Flight Surgeon’s Office report. Photocopy memo from Letterman General Hospital.
 

Folder 07 – Newspaper Clippings 1916-1920

Physical Description: Photocopy of photo of Balsley with actress Mary Pickford and cutline. 43 clippings. 8 fragments – Photocopied. 1 clipping about war injuries – Photocopied. 1 clipping of marriage to Miriam MacDonald.
 

Folder 08 - Newspaper Clippings 1916-1920

 

Folder 09 – Newspaper Clippings 1916-1920

 

Folder 10 – Correspondence, Military – Lafayette Escadrille

Physical Description: Photocopy of March 1, 1919 letter – sole source. 2 Photocopies of orders – sole source.
 

Folder 11 – Certificates – Other

Physical Description: Photocopies – Sole source. West Texas Military Academy, 1910. The Early Birds, July 1937.
 

Folder 12 – Address Book

Physical Description: Restricted – delicate condition.
 

Folder 13 – Photos – Military and Personal

Physical Description: 12 Photos
 

Folder 14 – Miscellaneous

Physical Description: Photocopy of undated page from Who’s Who in Aviation – Sole source. Bill for the Hotel Del Coronado dated July 11, 1920. Folded and photocopied. Clipping of marriage announcement (stuck to hotel bill), photocopied. Envelope addressed in French. Dated July 1, 1918. 8 business cards and calling cards Clayton Knight and Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, “Hall of Fame of the Air,” Comic Weekly, April 25, 1937. Honors Balsley in comic strip form. Folded and photocopied.