Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Related Materials
Biographical / Historical
Language of Material:
Multiple languages
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Maurice Garbell papers
Creator:
Garbell, Maurice
Identifier/Call Number: M2144
Physical Description:
4.5 Linear Feet
(8 boxes, 1 half box, 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): c. 1934-1960
Abstract: The papers of aeronautical engineer and pilot Maurice Garbell consist of articles, reports and other writing, photographs,
personal corresondence, memorabilia, and other material.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Maurice Garbell papers (M2144). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase; 2016. Accession MSS 2016-163.
Related Materials
Related publications about the 1936 German Olympics are cataloged individually here:
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/catalog?q=%22Maurice+Garbell+papers.%22&search_field=subject_terms
Biographical / Historical
Maurice (sometimes spelled "Maurizio") Adolph Garbell was born in Moscow in 1914 but was a Latvian citizen through his father.
Garbell and his family moved to Germany during the Russian Revolution. There he studied at technical institutions in Heidelberg
and Berlin. In 1933 Garbell moved to Milan to enroll at the Polytechnic Institute where he earned a doctorate in engineering
writing about the design of aircraft engines. He also became interested in soaring, and he earned an instructor license from
the Italian Air Ministry (1935) and participated in numerous gliding meets. Garbell was trainer and vice captain in the national
Italian Glider Team and was part of the team's demonstration flights at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. In 1937 Garbell
was made a Manager of the Research Institute for Motorless Flight in Milan, designing and building three high-performance
sailplanes, one of which won an Italian championship in 1938.
Garbell was also interested in meteorology; in 1937 and 1938, he wrote a column on the subject for the Italian magazine "L'Aquilone"
as well as other articles. In 1947 his textbook "Tropical and Equatorial Meteorology" was published by Pitman Publishing Company.
In 1939, Garbell emigrated to the United States, working first for the Aerodynamics Research of Consolidated Vultee Aircraft
Corp. in San Diego, briefly for Pan American Air Ferries in Miami, and then teaching at the Boeing School of Aeronautics (owned
by United Air Lines) at the Oakland airport. After the war he established his own office in San Francisco as a consulting
engineer, specializing in issues pertaining to aviation such as air traffic control, noise mitigation, and landing aids. Garbell
passed away in 1990 after a short illness.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Aeronautics.
World War, 1939-1945.