Lorraine C. (Coccio) Ditsworth Western Airlines Flight Attendant Collection
Collection — Box: One
Identifier: 2009-02-20
The Lorraine C. (Coccio) Ditsworth Western Airlines Flight Attendant Collection is comprised of texual materials and sixteen (16) photographs. The bulk of the material was collected by Ditsworth during her 1953-1956 service as a Western Airlines (WA) flight attendant, although five (5) of the photographs appear to be unrelated to Ditsworth directly and of a later date (circa 1970s).
The textual materials include three (3) logs which contain notes about Ditsworth's flights, 1953-1956; a labor contract agreement; several "Orchid letters" [complimentary letters] about Ditsworth and her service to passengers; Western Airlines ephemera such as a gate pass, menus, a luggage decal, and assorted WA brochures; Ditsworth's stewardess diploma, April 16, 1953; and a September 13, 1955 newspaper clipping from the Oregon Journal about Commander Whitehead, the face of Schweppe's beverages (2 copies). There are also several business cards for Ditsworth [as Coccio].
The photographs are a mix of sizes, both color and black-and-white, and include casual snapshots and posed portraits. Several images feature Ditsworth in her uniform and in or next to aircraft, including one group portrait of her graduating stewardess class. There is also one black-and-white image of Ditsworth standing next to Commander Whitehead. Additionally the collection holds four (4) black-and-white images of circa 1960s-1970s rodeo stars, who were apparently sponsored by Frontier Airlines. There is also one autographed black-and-white publicity shot of the western music group, Sons of the Pioneers [possibly passengers on a flight?].
The textual materials include three (3) logs which contain notes about Ditsworth's flights, 1953-1956; a labor contract agreement; several "Orchid letters" [complimentary letters] about Ditsworth and her service to passengers; Western Airlines ephemera such as a gate pass, menus, a luggage decal, and assorted WA brochures; Ditsworth's stewardess diploma, April 16, 1953; and a September 13, 1955 newspaper clipping from the Oregon Journal about Commander Whitehead, the face of Schweppe's beverages (2 copies). There are also several business cards for Ditsworth [as Coccio].
The photographs are a mix of sizes, both color and black-and-white, and include casual snapshots and posed portraits. Several images feature Ditsworth in her uniform and in or next to aircraft, including one group portrait of her graduating stewardess class. There is also one black-and-white image of Ditsworth standing next to Commander Whitehead. Additionally the collection holds four (4) black-and-white images of circa 1960s-1970s rodeo stars, who were apparently sponsored by Frontier Airlines. There is also one autographed black-and-white publicity shot of the western music group, Sons of the Pioneers [possibly passengers on a flight?].
Dates
- 1951-1956
Creator
- Ditsworth (Coccio), Lorraine C. (Former owner, Person)
Language of Materials
All materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research but has not been fully processed. Access to the collection may be limited or may require additional processing time. 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 letter size document box)
Biographical Note: Lorraine C.(Coccio) Ditsworth
Lorraine C. (Coccio) Ditsworth was born on December 13, 1931 in Grand Junction, Colorado. She attended high school and then Western Airlines Stewardess School, which she graduated from in 1953. Ditsworth was stationed in Salt Lake City, Utah and Los Angeles, California. She left Western in 1956 to get married.
No further information is known.
Source:
Biography derived from donor information and collection materials.
No further information is known.
Source:
Biography derived from donor information and collection materials.
Separated Materials
The following materials have been separated from the archival component and are kept in Objects storage:
- Winter Uniform – green jacket, green skirt, white shirt form (not uniform shirt), hat, wings on hat and jacket (also goes with summer uniform), black heels (not official uniform shoes) and black leather purse
- Summer Uniform – grey jacket, grey skirt, white shirt form (not uniform shirt), hat, white and navy heels (original shoes), and navy leather purse
- Green wool winter uniform coat
- Original stewardess suitcase
- Two “Miss Coccio” name plates
- Western Airlines luggage tag
- Small perfume bottle
- Package of Western Airlines Lifesavers
- Pair of Junior Stewardess wings
- Western Airlines napkin (with button hole to attach to collar)
- Leather wallet
Processing Information
This collection has not been fully processed.
Creator
- Ditsworth (Coccio), Lorraine C. (Former owner, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Lorraine C. (Coccio) Ditsworth Western Airlines Flight Attendant Collection
- Status
- Completed - Level 1
- Author
- J. Parent
- Date
- 2019
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Edition statement
- 1st edition
Repository Details
Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository
Contact:
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org