The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Lillian Boyer Personal Papers. SDASM.SC.10241
AR
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
2022
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: The Lillian Boyer Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10241
Physical Description:
.75 Cubic Feet
The collection contains materials collected by and related to Lillian Boyer during her time as an aerial exhibitionist in
the 1920s. The material includes personal and biographic history from this time. The collection includes documents, correspondence,
news articles and clippings, photographs, and audiovisual material.
This is a two box collection, one measuring 12.5 x 5.5 x 5" and the other is an album box housing scrapbooks, measuring 15.5
x 12 x 5". The collection has been organized into series.
Date (bulk): 1920-2000
Abstract: The collection contains materials collected by and related to Lillian Boyer during her time as an aerial exhibitionist in
the 1920s. The material includes personal and biographic history from this time. The collection includes documents, correspondence,
news articles and clippings, photographs, and audiovisual material.
Physical Description: Description: This is a two box collection, one measuring 12.5 x 5.5 x 5" and the other is an album box housing scrapbooks,
measuring 15.5 x 12 x 5". The collection has been organized into series.
Content notes: The collection contains materials collected by and related to Lillian Boyer during her time as an aerial exhibitionist
in the 1920s. The material includes personal and biographic history from this time. The collection includes documents, correspondence,
news articles and clippings, photographs, and audiovisual material.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the Museum in 2021.
Bibliography
Lillian Boyer was most famously known as an aerial exhibitionist in the 1920s. She was born January 15, 1901, the youngest
of seven children. She had her first ride in an airplane in 1921, and on the second ride, she climbed out on the wing. From
late 1921 to late 1928, Lillian dazzled huge crowds at fairs in 22 states as she took to the air in a Curtiss Jenny biplane
piloted by the well-known flier William S. Brock. Throughout her career, she performed at 352 shows in 41 states and Canada,
completing 143 automobile-to-plane changes and 37 parachute jumps.
As an aerial daredevil, Boyer excelled at changing from a speeding to an airplane (the first woman to do so); change from
plane to plane; hang by her teeth (and toes, knees, or ankles); hang by one hand from the skid under a wing tip; balance on
her head; do stunts on a ladder, and also perform parachute drops. Boyer finished her stunting career on September 8, 1928,
in Bethany, Missouri. In 1937, she married Ernest Werner and moved to Los Angeles in 1944. She moved to San Diego in 1976
where she passed in June of 1989 at the age of 89.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Barnstorming
Stunt flying
Curtiss JN-4 Jenny
Standard J-1
Boyer, Lillian
Folder 1 – Biographical Information
Physical Description: Collection of papers documenting specific projects, including blue prints, design reviews, and structure tests (DC-10 ; POGO
(VTOL), and patents, awards and certificates
1 Typed biography
Physical Description: Collection of papers documenting specific projects, including blue prints, design reviews, XB-36 Design Development, and documents
on B-36 and XC99 development,
2. Typed bio "in Milwaukee paper, 1922"
3. "This is Your Life" bio, 20 Mar 1971
4. Notes on Lillian's career highlights
6. Lillian Boyer bio by Harold Hawkins for The San Diego Air & Space Museum's "Lillian Boyer Day", 16 June 1982
Folder 2 – "Part of Your Life" - Biography
Folder 3 – Agenda with travel notes from 1939 - 1985
Folder 4 – Notes by Lillian Miscellaneous notes handwritten by Lillian
Folder 5 – Legal documents
1. Film Reel loan contract with Channel 8 KFMB TV, 20 July 1983
2. Columbia Pictures Television consent form, 9 Sep 1982
3. You Asked for It Productions syndication offer for "Flying Circus Star" feature, 20 Jan 1960
4. An agreement between Lillian Boyer Werner and the Pacific Beach Historical Society for duplication of her film "Lillian
Boyer's Flying Circus", 13 Jan 1982
5. Wayne Steffner Productions verbal agreement confirmation for Lillian's appearance on "You Asked for It", 28 Aug 1957
Folder 6 – Correspondence
1. Correspondence to Howard Rozelle of the Pacific Beach Historical Society thanking him and Lillian for their presentation,
9 May 1984
2. Correspondence to Lillian from Jayne Brieher, 8 Sept 1982
3. Birthday Card to Lillian, 1982
4. Mem-O-Gram to Lillian from Hank Johnson, 22 June 1979
5. Envelopes to Lillian Boyer
Folder 7 – Awards and Recognitions
Folder 8 – Promotional Materials
1. OX5 Aviation Pioneers Commemoration Luncheon, 12 Oct 1981
2. Next last time see Lillian Boyer, 30 Oct (?)
3. San Diego Aero-Space Museum presents Lillian Boyer: "Empress of the Skies"
4. Four copies, some of them signed
5. Lillian Boyer's Flying Circus, 21 Aug (?)
Folder 10 – Pages from personal scrapbook
Folder 11 – Miscellaneous
Series II – Photographs, cont'd
Boyer Album 1 – Photographs 0001 – 0029
Boyer Album 2 – Photographs 0030 – 0130
Boyer Album 3 – Photograph 0131 – 0210
Boyer Album 4 – Photographs 0211 – 0375
