Textual materials, 1964-2009

Series

The Richard J. McWhorter Stearman Collection includes textual materials and approximately three hundred (300) photographs documenting the restoration of the Museum of Flight's Stearman C-3B as well as McWhorter's Stearman C-3R. It also includes additional negatives, slides, assorted ephemera, such as decals, and two reels of film, as well as a large painting of the Stearman C-3B in fight as an air mail plane, done by John Amendola.

The collection is organized into two series, I. Textual materials and II. Photographs and Audio-visual materials.

The Textual Materials series consists of a large amount of 1974-1976 correspondence between McWhorter and Western Airlines about the restoration of the Stearman C-3B, including paint color and markings. It also discusses the inclusion of the C-3B in the upcoming Western Airlines Bicentennial celebration and re-creation of C.A.M. 12. The correspondence includes letters, memo slips, invoices, and greeting cards from various Western Airline personnel, including Pat Navratil, Dave Jimenez, Pat Tomlin, and Linda Cole. There is also correspondence following the Bicentennial event, as well as materials from the event, such as a program, map of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and six (6) C.A.M. 12 Bicentennial Air Mail covers; three (3) are signed by Richard McWhorter.

Additional materials include assorted ephemera, such as Stearman decals in varying sizes, a 1980 wall calendar, certificates, and publications and clippings.

The bulk of the collection is photographs in Series II. Primarily color snapshots, the photographs extensively document the restoration process of the Stearman C-3R (#NC656K) and Stearman C-3B (#NC7550), as well as post-restoration, including shots of both planes flying. There are also snapshots of the C-3B arrival and permanent exhibit at The Museum of Flight. The photographs range in size from 3x5" to 8x10" and some include very brief captions on the back of image. Some photographs include people, including Dick McWhorter. Additionally, there color slides, negatives, and negative strips featuring both Stearman aircraft. There are also other aircraft featured, including a Douglas M-2, and other Stearman models, like the C-3H, the C-3L, and the C-3P. Some early airlines are also featured, including Barrett Airways, National Parks Airways, Inc. and Western Air Express.

Two reels of 16mm motion picture film at the end of the collection depict the Western Airlines celebration and promotion (C.A.M. 12 Bicentennial) using the Stearman C-3B. One is from the Public Relations Department of Western Airlines for Richard McWhorter and the other was produced by the Cally Curtis Company of Hollywood, CA for Richard McWhorter.