The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Onita Topping Thorley Personal Papers SDASM.SC.0097
Finding aid prepared by Alan Renga
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
11/14/2014
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA, 92101
(619) 234-8291
Title: Onita Thorley Topping Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.0097
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.21 Cubic feet
one box 15”x 2.5”x 10”
Date (inclusive): 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.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
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.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
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.
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.
Related Archival Materials note
Related SDASM Resources: Onita Thorley Topping Special Collection: Topping_001 to Topping_016 Helen Richey Collection Women
of Flight Collection John Underwood Collection Related Research Institutions: International Women’s Air and Space Museum 1501
N Marginal Rd #166 Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, OH 44114 Phone: (216) 623-1111 http://iwasm.org/wp-blog/
Secondary Sources: Holden, Henry. Ladybirds: The Untold Story of Women Pilots in America. New Jersey: Black Hawk Publishing
Co., 1991. Owens, Bessie. Aerial Vagabond. New York: Liveright, 1941.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Consolidated Aircraft (Firm).
Thorley, Onita Topping
All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (ATWAR)
Ninety-Nines (Organization)
San Diego International Airport
Women air pilots
Box 01
Folder 01 – Personal Papers
Physical Description:
1. Certificate of Graduation, Von Hoffman Air College, May 4, 1931.
2. Pilot’s License, June 8, 1939.
3. Letter from News-Press Publishing Company, July 6, 1935.
4. Women’s Championship Air Races and Pacific Air Pageant, Long Beach, November 10, 1935 (sticker) – 2 total.
Folder 02 – Photographs
Physical Description:
1. 6 Black & white photographs depicting Onita Thorley Topping and others.
2. 1 Autographed Ralph W. Baker photograph.
Folder 03 – Newspaper Articles and Press
Physical Description:
1. “Hawaiian Pilot Lands Second in Air Derby,” Los Angeles Examiner, c.1935 (original and photocopy).
2. Francis, Devon, “Fledgling Pilot Bares Thrill of Passing Test,” Sept. 28, c.1930s (original and photocopy).
3. “Derby Prizes Given Flyers,” Los Angeles Times, August 1, 1937 (3 originals).
4. “Cedar Aviatrix Joins Navigation Air Derby,” c.1935 (2 originals).
5. “Aeronautical Art Winners Plan…,” Hollywood Citizen-News, c. 1930s (original).
6. Lynn, George W., “Men and Women of the Heavens,” July 5, 1935 (original).
7. “Aviatrices Race to Oxnard Today,” July 1935 (original).
8. “Women Fliers Visited Here for Meeting,” c.1930s (original).
9. “Earhart Trip Stirs Parley,” July 30, c.1930s (original).
10. White, Bob, “Skyways,” Los Angeles Times, June 21, 1936 (original).
11. “Winners in Women Fliers’ Oxnard Air Derby,” The Ventura (Calif.) County Star-Free Press, August 2, 1937 (original).
12. “’Lady Birds’ Talking Shop,” c.1937 (3 originals).
13. “Dignity and Impudence 1936,” c.1936 (2 originals).
14. “Women Plane Racers Land in Dead Heat at Oxnard,” Los Angeles Times, July 12, 1937 (2 originals).
15. “They Seek Honors in Southland Flight,” Los Angeles Times, October 19, 1935 (original and photocopy).
16. “Dedicate Oxnard Airport,” c.1930s. (original).
17. “Woman Fliers Compete in Precision Hop,” November 12, 1935 (original).
18. “Women Flyers Discuss Plans for Air Fete,” c.1935 (2 originals).
19. “Miss Onita Thorley Ties in Air Derby,” Iron County Record, July 29, 1937 (2 originals).
20. “Aeronautical Art Awards Made,” c.1935-37 (original).
21. 99s Club poster for “Zoom” Dinner Dance, May 25, 1934.
22. Aviation Book Company Envelope, contained news clippings (now empty).
Folder 04 – Scrapbook
Physical Description:
1. Scrapbook with 2 pages of press clippings (originals interleaved with photocopies)