Murray Stuart and Noel Rae Papers

Collection

Identifier: 2017-02-23

The Murray Stuart and Noel Rae Collection relates to husband and wife, Murray Stuart and Noel Rae. Materials primarily date from 1929-1959 and the first series, Murray Stuart, covers his varied early career and time as a Pan American Airways pilot. It includes thirty-nine (39) photographs; twelve (12) that accompany Pan American records regarding an emergency landing undertaken by Stuart in Tokyo, Japan and twenty-seven (27) depicting various aircraft and people. It also includes personal and business documents such as a Pan American Master Pilot Diploma, a photocopy of Stuart and Rae's marriage license, and identification and business cards; and ephemera, such as a Pan Am Quarter Century Club menu and an Arctic Circle travel certificate. The second series, Noel Rae, documents Rae's career with clippings, printed materials, and photographs.

Dates

circa 1920s-1973
1999

Creator

Rae, Noel (Person)

Language of Materials

All materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.

Conditions Governing Use

The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.

Extent

0.25 Cubic Feet (1 half width legal size document box and 1 oversized folder)

Additional Description

Abstract

Native Washingtonians Murray Stuart (1909-1960), and Noel Rae (b. 1909), married in 1929 and were both pilots. The collection contains clippings, photographs, correspondence, business records, and certificates relating to both their flight careers and personal lives.

Biographical Note: Noel Rae

Noel Rae was born either April 3 or April 9, 1909 [records vary] to John and Maggie Rae in Seattle, Washington. Rae was a pilot and the first woman to fly solo at Boeing Field (Seattle, Washington) on July 27, 1928. She married Murray Stuart on April 30, 1929. Noel Rae Stuart died in the late 1970s.

Source:

Biography derived from collection materials and donor information.

Biographical Note: Murray Stuart Murray H. Stuart was born August 8, 1909 to Murray E. and Nellie Stuart in Seattle, Washington. On April 30, 1929, he married Noel Rae. At various times, Stuart worked as a transport pilot, a mechanic, and a commercial diver. He also spent time in Montana as a barnstormer.

Starting in 1939, he flew as a pilot for Pan American Airways for 25 years. During one of his Pan Am flights from Tokyo, Japan, an engine exploded and Captain Stuart was able to turn back and safely land the aircraft. He was awarded the key of the city for successfully doing so. Murrary Stuart died on November 8, 1960 after an illness.

Biography derived from collection materials and donor information.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

Related Archival Materials at Other Institutions

There are photographs related to Stuart Murray in the Alaska State Library Historical Collections:

Lloyd Jarman Photograph Collection, 1920s to 1988, PCA 337, Online finding aid at http://library.alaska.gov/hist/hist_docs/finding_aids/PCA337.pdf

Related Archival Materials at The Museum of Flight The following collection at The Museum of Flight also relate to early women pilots in the Pacific Northwest region:

Dorothy (Hester) Stenzel Collection, Stenzel was one of the first female stunt pilots. The items primarily date from 1929-1933, the height of Stenzel's fame.