Descriptive Finding Guide for Howard Waldorf Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10152
Daniel Schlache
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
July 23, 2013
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Howard Waldorf Personal Papers
source:
Waldorf, Howard
creator:
Oakland Chamber of Commerce (Oakland, Calif.)
creator:
Waldorf, Howard
creator:
Oakland Post Enquirer (Oakland, Calif.)
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10152
Physical Description:
0.36 Cubic Feet
One (1) box, 12.5” x 10” x 5”
Date (inclusive): 1916-1992
Abstract: The Howard Waldorf Personal Papers containns materials relating to and/or written by Waldorf. He was a prominent aviation
journalist in the San Francisco Bay area following his service as a test pilot in World War I.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by the mediums it contains, including photographs, business and personal correspondence, and many
newspaper and magazine articles written by Waldorf himself.
Biographical / Historical
Howard Waldorf began his career as a World War I test squadron pilot, afterwards entering journalism where he would eventually
come to be known as one of the foremost aviation writing specialists.
Howard Waldorf began his career in aviation by joining World War I as a teenager who falsified his age in order to serve with
a crack test squadron at Wilbur Wright Field. Once the armistice went into effect, Waldorf entered the newspaper profession
following John Taylor Waldorf, his father. Waldorf worked for the Oakland Post Enquirer, and soon after he began his writing
career he was recognized as one of “the earliest and best of the fast vanishing breed of aviation writing specialists.”
Waldorf covered all of the pioneering flights across the Pacific and maintained close relationships with famous pilots of
the day. He always took the opportunity to fly in newly released military and commercial aircraft, and he even participated
in the searches for lost fliers. When an airplane crash occurred, Waldorf always tried to promote passenger confidence in
airline safety by “taking the next plane out – day or night, and reporting on the comfort and convenience of this phase of
transportation.” His coverage was so extensive and accepted that he received a pass by United Air Lines to go anywhere at
anytime. In Waldorf’s life as a reporter, he flew on many momentous flights, including the dirigibles Akron and Macon, the
giant Mars Flying boat, the four engine F-32, Army gliders in “snatch” takeoffs, the B-36, the first B-17 bomber, the B-52,
and a ski plane carrying dynamite to the arctic.
Quoted content found in Papers of Howard Waldorf Collection, Folder 01, page 2 of the Quick Bio.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this collection were donated to the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 1992. The collection has been processed
and is open for research with no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Related Materials
A more detailed finding guide is available at http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/collections/collection_item.php?id=88
Digitized images from this collection are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/sets/72157634777885511/
Scope and Contents
The dimension of the box for this collection is 12.5”x 10”x 5.” This collection is arranged by the mediums it contains, including
photographs, business and personal correspondence, and many newspaper and magazine articles written by Waldorf himself.The
collection repeatedly uses the acronym O.P-E., which stands for Oakland Post-Enquirer.
General
The collection repeatedly uses the acronym O.P-E., which stands for Oakland Post-Enquirer.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945
Fire extinction
Douglas DC-3 Family
Cold-weather aviation
Fighter pilots
Douglas DC-4 Family
Aeronautics -- History
Aerospace writers
Flight training
Aeronautics, Commercial
Airships
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family
Air Mail Service
Air shows
Stunt flying
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
World War, 1914-1918
Women air pilots
Journalism, Aeronautical
Journalism
Oakland (California)
Newspapers
Waldorf, Howard
Waldorf, John Taylor
Oakland Chamber of Commerce (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland Chamber of Commerce (Oakland, Calif.)
Waldorf, Howard
San Diego Air and Space Museum -- Correspondence
Oakland Post Enquirer (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland Post Enquirer (Oakland, Calif.)
Akron (Airship)
Macon (Airship)
Folder 01 – Biographical Content
Folder 02 – Oakland Post-Enquirer (O.P-E) World War II News Articles
Folder 03 – O.P-E Miscellaneous News Articles
Folder 04 – Hiller Helicopter Articles (Some O.P-E.)
Folder 05 – China Clipper Articles, Rough Draft, and Magazine Article
Folder 06 – Items related to Oakland, CA (Bay Area) Aviation
Folder 07 – Waldorf Anecdotes
Folder 08 – Museum Correspondence
Folder 09 – Other Correspondence
Folder 10 – Miscellaneous
Folder 11 –Major Army, Navy, and Airforce Installations, USA Map
