Content Description
The Bruce Whitman Aviation Art Collection is a collection of artwork including a drawing, posters, lithographs, photographs, and advertisements primarily related to American military aviation from about 1917 to the early 1950s. The materials were grouped by subject and then arranged alphabetically.
The majority of materials are related to either World War I or World War II. Most of the lithographs and posters consist of U.S. Army, Army Air Forces, and Navy recruiting, enlistment, and propaganda posters. One item of note is an original drawing of a USAAF Lockheed P-38 Lightning, which would have been used to create posters for distribution. There are also a few illustrative lithographs depicting military aircraft.
The collection includes a few non-military aviation items such as magazine advertisements, including ones for TWA and Mobiloil; a poster for the 1939 New York World's Fair; and a photomechanical print of an American Airlines plane.
The majority of items are vintage posters, prints, and lithographs, but a few items are modern reproductions.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1917-1953
Language of Materials
Most materials are in English. One item is in French.
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
1.25 Cubic Feet (one oversize box, four 30x40" oversize folders)
Overview
The Bruce Whitman Aviation Art Collection is a collection of artwork including a drawing, posters, lithographs, photographs, and advertisements primarily related to American military aviation from about 1917 to the early 1950s.
Arrangement
Items were arranged physically by size and format but are grouped by topic and era in the finding aid and then listed alphabetically.
Custodial History
The items in the collection were acquired by Bruce Whitman from various sources. Specific provenance of each item is unknown.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by the family of Bruce Whitman. The donation was facilitated by Bruce McCaw.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Existence and Location of Copies
Materials from this collection have been digitized and are available at The Museum of Flight Digital Collections.
Separated Materials
Two framed artworks were transferred to the Small Objects Collection.
Processing Information
All items were framed upon arrival at the Museum. Items were removed from frames for storage and preservation purposes. A few items remain in mats or are mounted on cardboard or foamcore.
Source
- Whitman, Bruce (Collector, Person)
Subject
- United States. Army (Organization)
- United States. Navy (Organization)
- United States. Army Air Forces (Organization)
- United States. Army. Women's Army Corps (Organization)
- Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974 (Person)
- American Airlines (Organization)
- Trans World Airlines (Organization)
- Brewster (Organization)
- Churchill, Winston, 1874-1965 (Person)
Genre / Form
- advertisements
- drawings (visual works)
- lithographs
- photographic prints
- photomechanical prints
- posters
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Bruce Whitman Aviation Art Collection
- Status
- Completed Level 4
- Author
- N. Davis
- Date
- 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
- Edition statement
- 1st edition
Repository Details
Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org