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Waterman (Waldo) Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10154
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Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Waldo Waterman Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10154
Physical Description:
.4 Cubic Feet
The collection of Waldo Waterman includes newspaper articles, magazine articles, manuscripts, photographs, blueprints and
correspondence regarding his invention of the Aeroplane. The collection includes original blueprints, correspondence with
patent offices and other people who were interested in his invention. There are several manuscripts of books written by Waterman
and several magazine articles were written about him. There are two boxes in this collection due to the oversized documents
that needed to be stored.
2 archival boxes
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: Waldo Dean Waterman an aviation pioneer from San Diego, California.
Waldo Dean Waterman an aviation pioneer from San Diego, California. He was born on June 16, 1894 in San Diego, CA. He was
an inventor of many types of aircraft and engines. His most notable contribution to aviation was the first tailless monoplanes,
the first aircraft with modern tricycles landing gear and the first successful low cost and simple to fly. It was resembled
a flying car and was commonly called a Flivver Aircraft. He built his first aircraft, a biplane hand-glider in 1909. In
1911, he partnered with Glenn Curtiss when he moved his winter headquarters to North Island. In 1912, Waterman attended the
University of California as a student of mechanical engineering. He became head of the Department of Theory of Flight, School
of Military Aeronautics at the University of California. He later became Chief Engineer at the U. S. Aircraft Corporation.
He moved to Santa Monica, CA where he became a test pilot for Bach Aircraft and established the Waterman Air Craft Manufacturing
Company. In 1960 he built and flew his last aircraft called The Early Bird based on the original Curtiss Pusher. He died
on December 8, 1976.
The collection is open to research by appointment
The collection of Waldo Waterman includes newspaper articles, magazine articles, manuscripts, photographs, blueprints and
correspondence regarding his invention of the Aeroplane. The collection includes original blueprints, correspondence with
patent offices and other people who were interested in his invention. There are several manuscripts of books written by Waterman
and several magazine articles were written about him. There are two boxes in this collection due to the oversized documents
that needed to be stored.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this collection were donated to the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 1976. The collection has been processed
and is open for research with no restrictions.
North Island Files
Waterman Aircraft Files
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North Island Naval Air Station
Waterman Arrowbile
Waterman Whatsit
Waterman, Waldo Dean
Curtiss, Glenn Hammond