Content Description
The Charles E. Selge Pilot Collection is a small collection of materials related to Selge’s pilot career, most notably his time as an early acrobatic flyer. The collection contains both textual and photographic materials dating from 1932-2021.
The textual documents consist primarily of Selge’s pilot logbooks, which date from 1935 to 1979. These logs cover the beginning of his pilot career, starting with Indiana Air Service, South Bend, Indiana, to his employment with the Art (Arthur) Davis School of Aviation as a barnstormer and acrobatic flying, followed by his work as a crop duster with J.O. (Jess Orval) Dockery Flying Service in Stuttgart, Arkansas, then his time with the United States Air Force, and finally his work as a corporate pilot with General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio. The remaining textual documents describe Selge’s career through employment summaries, correspondence, clippings, and articles.
In addition to the textual materials, there are 23 photographs that continue the documentation of Selge’s pilot career, many of which are related to the planes he flew while working with Arthur Davis, such as the Buhl Bull Pup LA-1.
Lastly, there is both textual and photographic documentation that illustrates Selge’s continued interest in planes and his successful restoration project of a D-1-W Davis aircraft.
Dates
- Creation: 1932-2021
Creator
- Selge, Charles E., 1918-2009 (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.
Biographical Note: Charles E. Selge
Charles E. Selge had a diverse aviation career that spanned over five decades, most notably as an early acrobatic flyer and pilot with the United States Air Force.
Charles Eugene Selge was born in South Bend, Indiana, on August 18, 1918. From 1933-1938, he worked for the Indiana Air Service in South Bend as a line boy, mechanic's assistant, and eventually as a pilot. Selge completed his first solo flight on May 23, 1935, received his private pilot license in 1936, and earned his commercial and transport licenses in 1937. From 1938-1940, Selge was employed with the Art (Arthur) Davis School of Aviation in Lansing, Michigan as a barnstormer, skywriter, and instructor. After his work as an acrobatic flyer at the Art (Arthur) Davis Flying School, he moved to Stuttgart, Arkansas where he worked as a crop duster for J.O. (Jess Orval) Dockery Flying Service from 1940-1942.
On January 6, 1942, Selge entered active duty with the United States Army Air Corps. He remained with the Air Force until his retirement as a lieutenant colonel on June 30, 1962. After his retirement he began working as a corporate pilot with General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, until 1979.
On September 24, 1940, Selge married Maude Inez Borman in Arkansas. The couple had two children together.
Charles E. Selge passed away on June 26, 2009, in Lakeland, Florida.
Extent
.55 Cubic Feet (1 5-inch legal size document box and 1 oversize folder (20" x 16"))
Overview
The Charles E. Selge Pilot Collection is a small collection of textual and photographic materials dating from 1932-2021. The materials are related to Selge’s pilot career, most notably his time as an early aerobatic pilot with the Art (Arthur) Davis School of Aviation, Lansing, Michigan. In addition, there are a small number of documents illustrating Selge's continued intrest in planes and his aircraft restoration projets.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by the creator’s daughter.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Separated Materials
The following manuals have been separated from the archival component of this collection and are kept in the Library:
- Military Air Transport Service C-54/R5D Operating Instructions Manual
- United States Air Force USAF Series C-133A and C-133B Aircraft Performance Data Flight Manual
- United States Air Force USAF Series C-133A and C-133B Aircraft Flight Manual
- United States Air Force USAF Series C-118A Aircraft Flight Manual
The following items have been separated from the archival component of this collection and are kept in Objects storage:
- Type MB-4 Dead Reckoning Computer
- Silk Map, Indo-China
- Fabric Map-West Africa Road Map
Please contact us for more details.
Processing Information
This collection has been fully processed.
Subject
- Art (Arthur) Davis School of Aviation (Lansing, Michigan) (Organization)
- Selge, Charles E., 1918-2009 (Person)
- Quiet Birdmen (Organization)
- United States. Army Air Forces (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Charles E. Selge Pilot Collection
- Status
- Completed Level 2
- Author
- Charise Dinges
- Date
- 2025 June
- 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
206-764-5874
curator@museumofflight.org