Phillip H. Ault Aviation Collection, 1898-1992 and undated

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Ault, Phillip H.
Abstract:
Photographs of Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis in France at the conclusion of his 1927 trans-Atlantic flight, including photographs of Lindbergh with other famous aviators and of the dismantling of the Spirit of St. Louis for inspection and shipment back to the United States. Also materials, primarily reproductions of prints, drawings, and photographs documenting the history of aviation from 1783 to 1978, collected by Ault to illustrate his book By the Seat of Their Pants, published in 1978. These materials emphasize in particular the history of aviation in the United States from 1900 to 1950, including the Wright brothers, barnstormers, the first flight around the world in 1924, early air mail carriers, Charles Lindbergh, the Dole Derby of 1927, Amelia Earhart, and Douglas "Wrong-Way" Corrigan.
Extent:
1.4 Linear Feet (1 document box, 1 flat box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English .

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises photographs and other materials relating to the history of aviation from the first balloon ascent in 1783 to 1978. It consists of two distinct series:

The first series is a collection of photographs and other materials concerning the reception of Charles Lindbergh upon his arrival in France at the conclusion of his 1927 trans-Atlantic flight. Those photographs documenting the dismantling, for inspection and shipping back to the United States, of the Spirit of St. Louis, are of particular interest.

The second series consists of materials collected by Phillip Ault to illustrate his book By the Seat of Their Pants, published in 1978. While the book covers the period 1783-1978, it concentrates on the history of aviation in the United States from 1900 to 1950, with special emphasis on the Wright brothers, barnstormers, the first flight around the world in 1924, early air mail carriers, Charles Lindbergh, the Dole Derby of 1927, Amelia Earhart, and Douglas "Wrong-Way" Corrigan. Although the great majority of the photographs are copies of originals held elsewhere, the collection contains four original photographs from the period 1910-1920. Ault makes particularly extensive use of the collections of Lawrence Bell, founder of Bell Aircraft, one of the finest private collections of material on the early history of aviation in the United States, but one that is under-utilized by aviation historians.

Acquisition information:
Series 1 (Lindbergh Photographs), gift to the Aviation Special Collection, Sprague Library, by Phillip H. Ault, 1992. Series 2 (Photographs for By the Seat of Their Pants ), gift to the Aviation Special Collection, Sprague Library, by Phillip H. Ault, circa 1995.
Arrangement:

This collection has been organized into the following series:

  • Series 1: Lindbergh Photographs, 1927-1992
  • Series 2: Photographs and other materials to illustrate By the Seat of Their Pants, 1898-1977 and undated
Physical location:
Please consult repository.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
800 N. Dartmouth Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711, US
Contact:
(909) 607‑3977
specialcollections@claremont.edu
Website