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Descriptive Finding Guide for the Charles Harding Babb Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10009
SDASM.SC.10009
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Title: Charles Harding Babb Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10009
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.8 Cubic feet
2 manuscript boxes
Date (inclusive): 1920-2001
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, prototypes, blueprints and other documents from Charles Harding Babb, founder of
The Babb Company.
creator:
Babb, Charles Harding, 1899-1952
Charles Harding Babb was born in Eugene, Oregon in 1899 and went on to study at the University of Oregon. Though injured as
a youth in a hunting accident that took his right forearm, in 1919 Babb learned to fly in Venice, California, receiving FAI
pilot certificate number 5074 and expert aviator certificate 302. However, it would not be as a pilot that Babb would leave
his mark in aviation. In the 1920s, Charlie certified pilots (he issued Amelia Earhart her first license), and while N.A.A.
Governor from 1920 to 1928, he was actively involved in organizing air races. From 1928 until 1952, Charles Babb operated
The Babb Company, selling new and used aircraft, as well as aircraft parts. His company had a reputation for knowledge, quality,
and service; the Babb Company became known as the world's largest international aircraft brokerage. It was in this capacity
that Babb met and befriended some of the most influential aviation greats of the period. His peers included Donald Douglas,
Jimmy Doolittle, Reuben Fleet, Wiley Post, Jackie Cochran, and Howard Hughes. In addition to running the Babb Co, Mr. Babb
also was a founding member and, in 1951, voted president of the Conquistadores del Cielo, an exclusive aviation association.
In 1940, Babb was granted the seminal patent on an aircraft cargo fuselage design which allowed for easy front loading nose
access. The Babb Co. was selected in 1951 as the exclusive North American distributor for De Havilland's "Beaver" aircraft.
Babb passed away unexpectedly in 1952.
Conditions Governing Access note
This collection is open to the public by appointment.
For copyright and use restrictions please consult the library director.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The collection was donated to the SDASM in two installments.
The collection includes correspondences, the original prototype model of the front-nose loading aircraft, blueprints/illustrations
of the front-nose loading aircraft, one of kind photos, many of which are signed by some of Babb's famous friends, and collection
appraisal report.
[Item], The Personal Collection of Charles Harding Babb, Archives, San Diego AIr & Space Museum
Related Archival Materials note
Pima Air Museum Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA Smithsonian, National
Air & Space Museum, Washington D.C.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Conquistadores del Cielo.
De Havilland Aircraft Co., ltd..
The Babb Company.