Finding Aid for the Elizabeth Hiatt Gregory Collection of Material About American Aviation, 1900-1945

Processed by Manuscripts Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 1997
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Note

Engineering and Technology --Aerospace Engineering Arts and Humanities --Journalism Social Sciences --Area and Interdisciplinary Studies --Women's Studies History --History, United States (excluding California) --General Geographical (By Place) --United States (excluding California)

Finding Aid for the Elizabeth Hiatt Gregory Collection of Material About American Aviation, 1900-1945

Collection number: 313

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division



Los Angeles, CA

Contact Information

  • Manuscripts Division
  • UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
  • Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
  • Box 951575
  • Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
  • Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
  • Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
  • URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
Processed by:
Manuscripts Division staff, November 1962
Encoded by:
Caroline Cubé
Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:
Apex Data Services
Online finding aid edited by:
Josh Fiala, July 2002
© 1997 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Elizabeth Hiatt Gregory Collection of Material About American Aviation,
Date (inclusive): 1900-1945
Collection number: 313
Creator: Gregory, Elizabeth Hiatt, b. 1872
Extent: 6 boxes (3 linear ft.)
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Elizabeth Hiatt Gregory (1872- ) was a journalist and lecturer in the field of aviation. She was a correspondent for the Harpers Bazaar, Town and Country, the New York Times, the New York Tribune and the New York Sun. The collection consists of correspondence, photographs, clippings, and related ephemeral materials collected by Elizabeth Gregory. The collection materials focus on pioneer men and women aviators, balloons, the Hindenburg, and the role of aviation in World War I and World War II.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Restrictions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Purchase.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Elizabeth Hiatt Gregory Collection of Material About American Aviation (Collection 313). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 1470670 

Biography

Elizabeth Hiatt Gregory was born in 1872; journalist and lecturer in the field of aviation; claimed to be the only woman journalist present at the historic first successful flight of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; correspondent for the Harpers Bazaar, Town and Country, and the New York Times, New York Tribune and New York Sun; wrote a book, Show Window of Life (1955); died in Los Angeles, 1955.

Biographical Narrative

Elizabeth Hiatt Gregory, dean of aviation reporters, became the first woman journalist and lecturer in the field of aviation as it began with the Wright Brothers and continued until her death in 1955. Her collection was the basis of a book she wrote in 1944 entitled Show Window of Life. Her main desire was to collect information on the firsts of aviation which was to depict as many first time events in the field as possible. Her own lectures and articles in newspapers and magazines add a personal touch to this history of aviation collection.
The material listed in this register consists of correspondence, official and private photographs, photocopies, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, and lecture notes.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of correspondence, photographs, clippings, and related ephemeral materials collected by aviation journalist and lecturer Elizabeth Gregory. The collection materials focus on pioneer men and women aviators, balloons, the Hindenburg, and the role of aviation in World War I and World War II. Pioneer aviators mentioned in the collection include Orville and Wilbur Wright, Harriet Quimby, Amelia Earhart, and Glenn Hammond Curtiss.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:
  1. Collection arranged alphabetically by subject.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Gregory, Elizabeth Hiatt, b. 1872--Archives.
Women journalists--United States--Archival resources.
Air pilots.
Aeronautics--History.
Online resources.

Name Index

Doolittle, James Harold, 1896-
Ovington, Earle, 1879-1936
Balwin, Thomas Scott, 1860-1923
Martin, Glenn L., 1886-1955
Post, Augustus, 1873-
Curtiss, Glenn Hammond, 1878-1930
Hammer, William Joseph, 1858-1934
Mars, J.C. 1876-
Byrd, Richard Evelyn, 1888-1957
Hughes, Howard Robard, 1905-
Linbergh, Charles Augustus, 1902-
Post, Wiley, 1900-1935
Kingsford-Smith, Sir Charles, d. 1935
Turner, Roscoe, 1895-
Da Vinci, Leonardo, 1452-1519 see also Leonardo Da Vinci
Maxim, Sir Hiram Stevens, 1840-1916
Stringfellow, John, 1799-1883
Lilienthal, Otto, 1848-1896
Chanute, Octave, 1832-1910
Langley, Samuel Pierpont, 1834-1906
Paulhan, Louis, 1883-
Morriss, Percy George Brockhurst 1884-
Allen, James, 1906-
Chambers, Washington Irving, 1856-1934
Collings, Kenneth Brown, 1898-1941
Corrigan, Douglas, 1907-
Beachey, Lincoln, 1887-1915
Winslow, Alam, 1895-
Cochran, Jacqueline--orphan, no record of birth
Earhart, Amelia, 1898-1937
McQueen, Elizabeth (Lippincott),
Moisant, Matilde, 1888-1912
Miller, Bernetta, 1886-
Nichols, Ruth R. 1901-
Quimby, Harriet, 1884-1912
Thaden, Louise (McPhetridge), 1905-
Wright, Orville, 1871-1948
Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912
Selfridge, Thomas E. d. 1909
Brookins, Walter R., 1888-

Subjects

Aeronautics--History
Aeroplanes, Company
Air mail service--U.S.
Aeroplane facing
Air-ships
Clipper-ships
Aeronautics--Flights
Air pilots
Aeroplanes--Models
Aeronautics, Military
European War, 1914-1918--aerial operations
World War, 1939-1945--aerial operations
Parachutes
Aeroplanes, Private
Aeroplanes, Military
Women in Aeronautics
Aeronautics--U.S.


Box 1, Folder 1

Aeronautical History.

Scope and Content Note

General articles on aviation progress including bibliographies, chronologies, and summaries.
Letters answering requests by Miss Gregory for information.
Box 1, Folder 2

Aircraft Companies--Boeing.

Scope and Content Note

Their planes and affiliation to United Airlines.
Box 1, Folder 3

Aircraft Companies--Lockheed.

Scope and Content Note

The Electra; the company magazines (2).
Jimmie Doolittle flying a Lockheed plane.
Box 1, Folder 4

Aircraft Companies--Douglas and others.

Scope and Content Note

The Douglas Sleeper; their affiliation with American Airlines Smaller companies.
Commericial flights to Bermuda, Alaska, and South America.
Box 1, Folder 5

Air Mail.

Scope and Content Note

History of air mail service and statistics.
Earl Ovington--first air mail pilot including letters from his wife to Miss Gregory; radio scripts.
Letters answering Miss Gregory's request for air mail information.
Box 1, Folder 6

Air Races.

Scope and Content Note

Review of air races up to 1936.
Belmont Park Race of 1910; National Air Race of 1936.
Racers winning the Thompson Trophy 1929 to 1936.
Vincent Bendix Trophy.
Box 2, Folder 1

Balloons--Early Ones.

Scope and Content Note

Early development of the balloon including its uses in the Civil War.
Thomas Baldwin--builder of the first dirgible balloon and his letters to Miss Gregory.
The first stratosphere balloon for the army.
Box 2, Folder 2

Balloons--Army and Navy.

Scope and Content Note

Its uses in World War I.
The Navy Blimps; the Army barrage balloons for national defense.
Box 2, Folder 3

Clipper Ships.

Scope and Content Note

The evolution of the China Clipper by Glenn L. Martin and the life of Martin.
A competitor, the Boeing 314 Clipper.
Letters answering Miss Gregory's request for information.
Box 2, Folder 4

Correspondence on Lectures.

Scope and Content Note

Letters in response to Miss Gregory's invitation to hear her lectures.
Lecture programs.
Box 2, Folder 5

Correspondence on Collection.

Scope and Content Note

Letters answering Miss Gregory's wish to sell part of her collection.
Miscellaneous correspondence--concerning Augustus Post, the Stinson family, etc.
Box 2, Folder 6

Glenn H. Curtiss.

Scope and Content Note

The achievements of Curtiss made in the field of aviation: inventor, designer, builder, and first licensed pilot.
The Curtiss airplanes.
A letter concerning Curtiss by Major William Hammer; several letters by or concerning his wife.
Famous Curtiss aviator--Bud Mars--photos and letters.
Box 2, Folder 7

Engines and Parts.

Scope and Content Note

A few photographs on the mechanical workings of a plane.
Box 2, Folder 8

Engineering Profession.

Scope and Content Note

The Curtiss-Wright Technical School of Aeronautics and its training program.
Box 2, Folder 9

European Aeronautics.

Scope and Content Note

Miscellaneous material on what Europe is doing in the field of air travel; growth of British air power.
Box 2, Folder 10

Expeditions.

Scope and Content Note

Individual men who have made historic flights of unusual types: Commander Richard Byrd, Lincoln Ellsworth, Howard Hughes, Charles Lindbergh, Wiley Post, Kingsford-Smith and Roscoe Turner.
Box 3, Folder 1

Hindenburg.

Scope and Content Note

Photographs and articles on the Graf Zeppelin, the first of the dirgibles, and its successor the Hindenburg showing its interior, passengers, and the famous destruction.
Box 3, Folder 2

Inventors up to the Wright Brothers.

Scope and Content Note

In order of their inventions: Leonardo Da Vinci, James Stringfellow, Hiram Maxim, Otto Lilienthal, Clement Ader, Octave Chanute, and Dr. Samuel Langley.
Box 3, Folder 3

Men of Aviation.

Scope and Content Note

General articles on the early birdmen of aviation and their planes.
Early attempts by aviators Thomas Baldwin, Andrew Houpert (including letter to Miss Gregory), Clifford B. Harmon, John Moisant, Louis Paulhan, P.G.B. Bud Morriss (including a series of letters to Miss Gregory).
Box 3, Folder 4

Models--Jimmie Allen Club.

Scope and Content Note

Boys entering model building contests.
A series of club newspapers for the year 1934-1935.
Box 3, Folder 5

Models--Junior Birdmen Club.

Scope and Content Note

Photographs of models made by members, and competition material for model contests.
Box 3, Folder 6

Naval Aviation.

Scope and Content Note

This contains a series of articles explaining the organization of the air division, its progress, problems, the type of naval aircraft employed, and its position with the Army.
A letter to Miss Gregory from Captain Washington I. Chambers Book on Naval Institute Proceedings, April 1933.
Box 4, Folder 1

Parachutes.

Scope and Content Note

A brief history on the parachute including information on the Switlik Safety Chutes.
Woman jumper--Adeline Gray.
Box 4, Folder 2

Private Aircraft.

Scope and Content Note

Information concerning Beechcraft planes and other makes of private airplanes such as Lockheed, Northrop, Bellanca, Howard, and Taylor Cubs.
Articles on learning how to fly.
Box 4, Folder 3

Stunt Flyers.

Scope and Content Note

A series of stories on various air-devils such as Cliff Bergere, Kenneth B. Collings, Douglas Corrigan, and Lincoln Beachy.
Box 4, Folder 4

War Planes--World War I to 1935.

Scope and Content Note

Seven articles, some by Miss Gregory, on the influence of airplanes during wartime.
Several articles on Lieutenant Alan Winslow--first officer to down an enemy plane.
A bibliography of World War I photographs of aviation activities.
Box 4, Folder 5

War Planes, 1935 to World War II.

Scope and Content Note

The bombers of the war; bombadier school; aircraft carriers. Magazines during the war: RAF Aces, Air Progress, American Aviation, and Three Years of War.
Box 5, Folder 1

U.S. Department of Commerce.

Scope and Content Note

A set of photographs showing the governments inspection and affiliation with the aircraft industry.
Box 5, Folder 2

Women in Aviation, A - D.

Scope and Content Note

General introduction on the woman's part in aviation with a list of woman pilots and magazine reference guide.
Alphabetical order: Jean Batten, Nellie Bly, letter concerning Julia Clarke, Jackie Cochran, Mlle Daity, Mlle Helene Dutrieu, and Lady Drummond-Hay.
Box 5, Folder 3

Women in Aviation, E - M.

Scope and Content Note

Alphabetical order: Amelia Earhart, Ruth Elder (letter to Miss Gregory), Lady Mary Heath (two letters to Miss Gregory), Mrs. Maurice Hewlett, Alma Heflin, Mrs. Bennie Howard, Laura Ingalls, Mrs. Nancy Harkness Love, letter by Bella Landauer, Mrs. U.G. McQueen (letter to Miss Gregory), Matilde Moisant (two letters to Miss Gregory), Ruth Matthews, Frances H. Marsalis, Mlle Marie Marvingt, and Bernetta Miller (four letters to Miss Gregory).
Box 5, Folder 4

Women in Aviation, N - Z.

Scope and Content Note

Alphabetical order: Ruth Nichols (four letters to Miss Gregory), Phobe Omilie, Theresa Peltier, Harriet Quimby, Dr. Bessica Raiche (three letters from her husband, Frank (Francois) Raiche to Miss Gregory), Ruth Katheryn Rhodes, Miss Helen Richey, Elfrede Riolte, Baroness De La Roche, Blanche Scott, Eleanor Sears, Louise Thaden (Three letters to Miss Gregory), Lillian Todd, Mrs. Virginia Vanderbilt, and two miscellaneous pictures. Woman workers: the Woman's Army, aviation careers, and jobs in factories.
Box 5, Folder 5

Wright Brothers.

Scope and Content Note

Orville and Wilbur Wright's accomplishments at Kitty Hawk. Their invitation to the White House.
Articles on Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge--first air casualty; Walter Brookins--first Wright aviator.
Box 6, Folder 1

Miscellaneous Information.

Scope and Content Note

Aero Club of America with a book on its organization and four letters from Mr. Henry Woodhouse, associate editor.
Airports--Grand Central in Glendale and others.
Gliders and flying boats.
The uses of Seapak soundproofing in airplanes.
Operations manual--All American Aviation, Incorporated.