Thorley (Onita Topping) Personal Papers, 1931-1939

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Summary

Title:
Onita Thorley Topping Personal Papers
Dates:
1931-1939
Abstract:
Onita Thorley Topping, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Thorley of Cedar City, UT, was a popular and noted pilot of the 1930s. She learned to fly at the Von Hoffman School of Aviation at Lambert Field in St. Louis, MO. Onita earned her pilot’s license in 1930, her commercial rating in 1931, and subsequently secured a rating as Master Mechanic.
Extent:
0.21 Cubic feet one box 15”x 2.5”x 10”
Language:
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of one box 15”x 2.5”x 10” and contains newspaper clippings, pilot’s license, certificate of graduation, and photographs dating from 1931-1939.

Biographical / historical:

Onita Thorley Topping, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Thorley of Cedar City, UT, was a popular and noted pilot of the 1930s. She learned to fly at the Von Hoffman School of Aviation at Lambert Field in St. Louis, MO. Onita earned her pilot’s license in 1930, her commercial rating in 1931, and subsequently secured a rating as Master Mechanic.

In addition to being one of Utah’s only female pilots of the era, Onita participated in one of the most important air events of the west coast; the 1935 Women’s Championship Air Races and Pacific Air Pageant for the Shell Trophy. The derby, only available for members of the elite 99s Club, consisted of an over-124 mile course from Glendale to San Diego. The winners were judged for their ability to gauge speed and altitude on the course, which stretched from Glendale to Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano to Oceanside, and finally ending at Lindbergh Field in San Diego.

After spending several years in the private aviation industry via the Los Angeles Municipal Airport, Onita Thorley married the oilman Roger Keyes in 1939 and appeared to retire from the aviation industry.

Acquisition information:
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Alan Renga
Date Prepared:
11/14/2014
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2014-11-14T15:02-0500

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

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

Location of this collection:
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 234-8291
archives@sdasm.org
Website