Montgomery (John J.) Personal Papers, 1858-1911

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Summary

Title:
John H. Montgomery Personal Papers
Dates:
1858-1911
Creators:
Wright, Wilbur and Montgomery, John J. (John Joseph)
Abstract:
John J. Montgomery was born in Yuba City, California on February 15, 1858. He attended St. Ignatius College and received a degree in physics. In 1883 he moved from Oakland, CA, to his family’s ranch on Otay Mesa. He began conducting flight experiments culminating in a glider which he launched in August 1883.
Extent:
1.44 Cubic Feet Four archival boxes 5” X 10” X 12.5”. Many of the items in this collection were damaged by a fire at the museum in 1978.
Language:
English
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:

Four archival boxes 5” X 10” X 12.5”. Many of the items in this collection were damaged by a fire at the museum in 1978. Due to space and preservation requirements, the original collection has been reorganized within the original order. The original Monuments and Memorials folder was divided in two folders: Monuments and Memorials, and Montgomery Monument, focusing on the monument in Chula Vista.

Due to size, the John J. Montgomery folder was divided into two parts. The Glider Drawings and Information Files were divided into two parts. Additional materials found loose in the original container were assembled into The Additional Montgomery Articles and Information folder numbers I and II.

Note: Only items of particular relevance have been individually listed in the Box Listing.

Biographical / historical:

John J. Montgomery was born in Yuba City, California on February 15, 1858. He attended St. Ignatius College and received a degree in physics. In 1883 he moved from Oakland, CA, to his family’s ranch on Otay Mesa. According to his biography, in that year he saw a flock of pelicans, studied their movements, and their shapes, and reasoned that if birds could be supported in the air, why not a man?

He began conducting flight experiments culminating in a glider which he launched in August 1883. This glider flew a total of 600 feet and landed safely. He continued his experiments with gliders, making a different design in 1894. In 1905 he moved to Santa Clara, CA, and became a Professor at the University of Santa Clara, and in the meantime designed and flew the Evergreen glider and continued his experiments. During this time, he patented various control systems. In October 1911, Montgomery was killed while flying his latest design.

Decades later, however, there emerged some controversy regarding the viability of his first glider design, though it is still largely believed to have taken place. In 1973 a contest was proposed to settle this controversy. There were no clear winners.

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:
Alan Renga
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2016-03-10 15:26:34 +0000 .

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
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