Williams (C.W.) collection of early ballooning and parachuting, approximately 1880-1892

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Summary

Title:
C.W. Williams collection of early ballooning and parachuting
Dates:
approximately 1880-1892
Creators:
Williams, C. W.
Abstract:
Material related to C.W. Williams, a member of Williams & Young, a prominent 19th century ballooning and parachuting duo.
Extent:
1.3 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. C.W. Williams collection of early ballooning and parachuting, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains printed and manuscript material compiled by C.W. Williams related to aeronautics and parachuting in the late 19th century. Contents include: newspaper clippings, several about falls and deaths of aeronauts, promotional broadsides/advertisements for Williams & Young's air show, a letter, pencil sketches of a parachute ascent and descent (probably done by Williams), a scrapbook, and other ephemera and printed items. There is also a 7-page manuscript entitled: "Biography of the World famed aeronaut C.W. Williams...." The scrapbook contains clippings about aeronauts, ballooning, and parachuting; it is in fragile condition and many items are loose.

Biographical / historical:

C.W. Williams was part of Williams & Young, a prominent 19th century ballooning and parachuting duo. They were most active from the early 1880s through the early 1890s (when Young perished in a ballooning accident). They were best known for their "Parachute Jump for Life," in which Williams ascended to 5000 feet and parachuted to safety below. The duo were also purported to have the largest hot air balloon in the world at the time, some 50 feet high and 70 feet in diameter. They worked throughout the United States and on both sides of the Atlantic.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from brian cassidy, bookseller, March 2018.
Processing information:

Processed by Brooke M. Black in July 2018. In October 2023, she created the finding aid.

Arrangement:

Organized in two series: Series 1. Papers; Series 2: Scrapbook.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Brooke M. Black
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-10-31 08:59:31 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. C.W. Williams collection of early ballooning and parachuting, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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