The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Almerian R. Boileau Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10019-O/S
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
11/4/2015
Title: Almerian R. Boileau Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10019-O/S
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.6 Cubic feet
There are five different sized boxes. One box holds the majority of the collection, and its measurements are 15 ¼ x 10 ¼ x
5 inches. The other four boxes hold the log books, and their measurements are 9 ¾ x 6 ½ x 1 ½ inches
Date (inclusive): 1904-2000
Abstract: Almerian (Al) Robinson Boileau graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1926. He ranked up from ensign to lieutenant junior
grade to commander. He received his wings in 1929. He was involved in Naval Aviation for several years.
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The materials in this collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Preferred Citation note
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Biographical/Historical note
Almerian (Al) Robinson Boileau graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1926. He ranked up from ensign to lieutenant junior
grade to commander. He received his wings in 1929. He flew on the Navy’s first converted aircraft carrier, the USS Langley,
and the first real aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington. He toured the Panama Canal Zone, but his health deteriorated due to
poor diet and he was forced to stop flying. From this point forward, Boileau remained out of the air for the rest of his 22-year
Navy career. He then began to study atmosphere and visibility as a physics researcher at the University of California (Berkeley).
Around 1967, Boileau got his private license, and began to teach his wife Laura Little how to fly. Both Boileau and Little
also got their commercial licenses. Little was an adept pilot which enabled her to enter the Powder Puff Derby.
Almerian Boileau passed away December 26, 2000 at 96 years old. The collection contains many photographs, orders, booklets,
identification papers, certificates, logbooks, and scrolls. The collection – organized by material type – covers Boileau’s
life experiences.
This collection includes uniform artifacts that are in curatorial’s possession. It also includes logbooks that are separated
from this collection (LB 286A – LB 286C, LB 287A – LB 287I).
Scope and Contents note
The collection contains many photographs, orders, booklets, identification papers, certificates, logbooks, and scrolls. The
collection – organized by material type – covers Boileau’s life experiences.
This collection includes uniform artifacts that are in curatorial’s possession. It also includes logbooks that are separated
from this collection (LB 286A – LB 286C, LB 287A – LB 287I).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Boileau , Almerian R. Boileau , 1904-2000
United States Naval Academy.
Naval Aviation
Powder Puff Derby
USS Langley (CV-1)
Folder 1 – Identification, Licenses, Permits
Physical Description:
This folder contains the Al Boileau’s American and Panamanian licenses and permits. There is an American passport, a booklet
for certificate of vaccinations, an international driving permit.
Not included in this folder are the licenses and permits of Laura T. Little, Al Boileau’s wife. The first black logbook in
Series II Subseries 2 contains an envelope with all the information she carried with her.
Folder 2 – Orders, Telegram, class list
Physical Description:
This folder contains a telegram, a list of the class of 1926 US Naval Academy graduates that were still alive on June 12,
1997, and several orders from the U.S. Naval Air Station in San Diego, CA, and the Navy Department Bureau of Navigation.
Folder 3 – Articles
Physical Description:
1. (Laminated newspaper & scanned) – Bob Redding “Boileau: He’s no spring chicken, but he still flies,” San Diego Union, c.1987.
2. “Lieut. Almerian Boileau, Flyer in Naval Squadron Tells of Life in Canal Zone,” The Steuben Courier, Bath, New York, February
19, 1932.
Folder 4 – Certificates
Physical Description:
1. Certificate for becoming an Ensign, June 3, 1926.
2. Certificate for the Golden Anniversary of Al Boileau, presented May 22, 1976 by the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S.N.A.
Alumni Association.
3. Certificate honoring A.R. Boileau as a Golden Wings member, presented in 1928 by the Silver Wings Fraternity of San Diego
for Boileau’s first solo in a powered aircraft.
4. Certificate awarding Al Boileau for becoming a member of the United Flying Octogenarians, attesting that he flew as a pilot
in command after he turned 80 years old, January 12, 1987.
Folder 5 – Scrapbook
Physical Description:
In this folder is a scrapbook of Boileau’s projects and achievements, created by his coworkers at VisLab. There are several
photographs of instruments, aircraft, and Boileau, all of them paired with entertaining captions.
Folder 6 – U.S. Naval Academy class of 1926 and class of 1926 in 1947 Booklets
Physical Description:
1. “Present or Accounted For” – The Class of 1926.
2. “21 Years After” – Class of 1926, U.S.N.A., June, 1941.
Folder 7 – Booklet of the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1926 in 1932 and the 1947 Booklet supplement
Physical Description:
1. “Supplement to ’21 years after,’” Class of 1926, U.S.N.A., April, 1956.
2. “The Bulletin – Class of Nineteen Twenty-Six, United States Naval Academy,” December, 1932.
Folder 8 – Photographs
Physical Description:
This folder contains several dozen photographs of Boileau in uniform, pictures with his classmates and peers, graduation and
ceremonial pictures, aerial and shipside photographs, and a few of Boileau in Panama.
Items - Scrolls
Physical Description:
There are four scrolls. Two of the photographs are of Boileau’s class at the U.S.N.A. One of the photographs is a ceremony
of the graduates from the U.S.N.A. in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1926. The fourth scroll is an aerial view picture of the U.S.N.A.
facilities in Annapolis, Maryland.
Subseries 1: Al Boileau’s Logbooks (LB 287A-286I)
Physical Description:
1. Orange-brown Aviator’s Flight Logbook; Ensign; July, 1926 – July, 1930.
2. Bronze; Lt. (jg) Aviator’s Flight Logbook; July, 1930 – February, 1932.
3. Red Steele Pilot’s Logbook; May, 1967 – July, 1971.
4. The Standard Pilot Logbook; July, 1971 – May, 1973.
5. The Standard Pilot Logbook; May, 1973 – May, 1975.
6. The Standard Pilot Logbook; June, 1975 – December, 1977.
7. The Standard Pilot Logbook; December, 1977 – July, 1981.
8. The Standard Pilot Logbook; July, 1981 – October, 1988.
9. The Standard Pilot Logbook; October, 1988 – October, 1992.
Subseries 2: Laura T. Little’s Logbooks (LB 286A-286C)
Physical Description:
1. Black; July, 1969 – February, 1973.
2. Red; March, 1973 – July, 1987.
3. Black (peeled); July, 1987 – November, 1992.
Series III: Oversized Certificates (removed and placed with Special Collections Oversize Materials)
Physical Description:
1. Certificate for becoming a Lieutenant junior grade.
2. Certificate for becoming a midshipman.
Series IV: Artifacts (removed and transferred to the Curatorial Department)
Physical Description:
1. 4 Commander (silver) pins.
2. 2 gold cufflinks.
3. 1 pearl jacket button.
4. 1 dual sided jacket button.
5. 1 metal officer wristband.
