The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Trudy Jean Smith Collection SDASM.SC.10247
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Trudy Jean Smith Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10247
Physical Description:
.35 Cubic Feet
Content notes: The collection contains material related to the career of flight attendant Trudy Smith (1947-2020). It includes
material related the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight #401, of which she was a surviving crew member. It also contains papers
of Trudy Smith's later career as a safety consultant.
Description: This collection is contained in one flip-top archival storage box, 12.5" x 10.5" x 5". The collection has been
organized into series.
one flip-top archival storage box, 12.5" x 10.5" x 5".
Date (bulk): 1950-2022
Abstract: The collection contains material related to the career of flight attendant Trudy Smith (1947-2020). It includes material related
the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight #401, of which she was a surviving crew member. It also contains papers of Trudy Smith's
later career as a safety consultant.
Physical Description: Description: This collection is contained in one flip-top archival storage box, 12.5" x 10.5" x 5". The collection has been
organized into series.
Content notes: The collection contains material related to the career of flight attendant Trudy Smith (1947-2020). It includes
material related the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight #401, of which she was a surviving crew member. It also contains papers
of Trudy Smith's later career as a safety consultant.
Language of Material:
English
.
Biographical / Historical
Trudy Smith (1947-2020) was a stewardess for Eastern Airlines and was one of the surviving crew members Eastern Airlines Flight
#401 that crashed in the Florida Everglades shortly before landing in Miami on December 29, 1972. After recovery from the
crash, Trudy completed her career with American Airlines in the scheduling department. She also worked as a consultant and
advocate for crew and passenger safety in the airline industry.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is open to research. Some restrictions may apply.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated in 2022.
Separated Materials
Transferred to Audio/Visual Archives:
1 casette tape, labeled "crash"
Transferred to Curatorial department:
1 Eastern Airlines stewardess crew tag
1 American Airlines plaque for 1993 Flight Attendant Recurrent Training Program
1 leather folder of Concorde informational booklet, stationary, menu, pocket book, and pen
2 serving smocks; 1 dark blue and 1 light blue and beige striped
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Eastern Airlines
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar
Aircraft accidents
Smith, Trudy Jean
Folder 01 – Flight Crew Logs
1. Flight Crew Log: September 1967 – April 1969
2. Flight Crew Log: April 1969 – September 1969
3. Flight Crew Log: September 1969 – January 1972
4. Flight Crew Log: August 1976 – October 1977
5. One undated Flight Crew Log
Folder 02 – Printed Material
1. One American Airlines postcard from "Dey"
2. American Airlines "occupied" sign
3. Republic Airlines "occupied" sign with beverage menu on reverse.
Folder 03 – Return to Work
1. Workmen's Compensation – Mileage Claim
2. Letter permitting return to work, July 7, 1973.
Folder 04 – Speaking Engagements
Folder 05 – Personal Notes
Series II: Correspondence
Folder 06 – Correspondence relating to Flight #401 Crash
1. Letter to Trudy from Colette Watson (another Eastern Airlines attendant survivor) dated October 17, 1974
2. Letter to Trudy from Colette Watson (another Eastern Airlines attendant survivor) postmarked May 16, 1974
Folder 07 – Correspondence relating to work as safety consultant, 1982-1983
Folder 08 – Employee Newsletters
1. "Cabin Crewster" January 1973, newsletter newsletter for Eastern Airlines Flight Attendants
2. "Cabin Crewster" July 1973, newsletter for Eastern Airlines Flight Attendants
Series IV: Newspaper Clippings
Folder 09 – Newspaper Clippings
1. 34 newspaper clippings from Miami Herald about the crash and aftermath
2. 1 envelope of newspaper clippings about the federal investigation hearing of the crash
1. 2 black & white photos from Eastern Airlines, July 1 1973.
2. 1 color photo of three Eastern Airlines attendants on aircraft stairs.
3. 2 mounted black & white 5"x7" photos
4. 1 mounted 8"x10" print of Postal Pilot Dorothy Worwick
