Skip to main content

Archives at The Museum of Flight


Mary (Finley) North Northwest Airlines Flight Attendant Collection

 Collection — Box: One
Identifier: 2008-02-26

Contents of the Collection

The Mary (Finley) North Northwest Airlines Flight Attendant Collection is comprised of textual materials and photographs. The material was collected by North during her career as a Northwest Airlines (NWA) flight attendant, circa 1940s-1950s.

There are five (5) log books, ranging from 1946-1950, that include details on North's flights, such as locations and dates; NWA materials, such as pay check stubs, ticket holders, business correspondence, and complimentary letters; and assorted ephemera, such as business cards North collected, postcards, a letter acknowledging receipt of paid dues for the Air Lines Steward and Stewardess Association, and a Red Cross membership card. There is also a war rations book, circa 1939-1945. Additional materials include assorted clippings related to North or Northwest Airlines.

The collection also includes twenty-five (25) black-and-white photographs, seven (7) slides, and eleven (11) negatives. The photographs are a mix of casual and posed and vary in size from 3x3" to 8x10". Duplication occurs. Some images include stamps or brief captions on the reverse, but most do not include identyfing information. Mary North is featured in many of the images, including several portraits, one of which has been hand-colored, and in her Northwest Airlines uniform. Other airline personnel, such as pilots and fellow flight attendants, NWA aircraft, and airline facilities are also depicted.

Dates

  • Creation: 1940s-1950s

Creator

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.

Biographical Note: Mary (Finley) North

Mary (Finley) North was a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines during the 1940s-50s. She often flew with her sister Margaret who was also a flight attendant. Mary North eventually transferred to Seattle, Washington and flew runs to Hawaii and Anchorage, Alaska.

Source:

Biography derived from collection materials.

Extent

0.20 Cubic Feet (1 half-width letter size document box and 1 oversize folder)

Separated Materials

This collection has had the following items separated from the archival component and is kept in Objects storage:

  • Two (2) Northwest Airlines flight attendant uniforms with accessories, 1945 and 1948
  • Three (3) Northwest Airlines pins
  • Leather business card case

Processing Information

This collection has not been fully processed.

Title
Guide to the Mary (Finley) North Northwest Airlines Flight Attendant Collection
Status
Completed Level 1
Author
J.Parent
Date
2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
This collection was donated by Patrick North, in memoriam of his mother.
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


The Museum of Flight | 9404 E. Marginal Way South | Seattle WA 98108-4097 | 206-764-5874
Contact us with a research request
curator@museumofflight.org