The Margaret E. (Wolfe) Berry Collection largely documents Margaret Berry's volunteer work with three aircraft restoration projects during the 1980s-1990s with visual and textual components. A small amount of material is personal in nature. The collection is arranged into two series: Aircraft Restoration materials and Personal materials.
Series I: Aircraft Restoration materials makes up the bulk of the collection and has been further divided into three subseries based on restoration projects that Berry participated in: Boeing B-17 "Boeing Bee," Boeing B-29 "Fifi," and Boeing B-29 "T-Square 54." Each subseries has been arranged alphabetically. Some subseries have been further divided.
Subseries A holds materials related to the "Boeing Bee" (Serial #42-29782, Registration #N17W), a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. The Bee was owned by Museum of Flight trustee, Robert Richardson, who worked on its restoration until his death in 1990. The Museum purchased the aircraft after his death and with the help of more than 100 volunteers, including Margaret Berry, the Bee was restored to its wartime condition. "Boeing Bee"-specific materials in this collection include correspondence, notes, negatives, financial receipts, and clippings focused on restoration work and fundraising efforts for the aircraft by The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. Some items pertain to B-17s in general and are not specific to the "Boeing Bee," such as materials for the B-17's first flight 50th Anniversary event in 1985, including an invitation, name tag, commemorative flight cover, clippings and photographs. Additionally there is a small amount of ephemera, mostly non-event specific clippings about B-17s as well as an undated list of B-17 reference books and a booklet, "The Story of an Airplane" by Benton Williams.
Subseries B: Boeing B-29 "Fifi" is the largest subseries. "Fifi" (Serial #44-62070) was bought by the Confederate Air Force (CAF), the volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and display of historic aircraft. CAF purchased Fifi from the U.S. Air Force in the early 1970s. Late in 1974, CAF volunteers completed a full restoration of the aircraft. In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the B-29 in 1992, The Boeing Company and CAF asked for volunteers for refurbishment of Fifi. Many former Boeing employees answered the call, including Margaret Berry. The "Fifi" subseries contains clippings specific to the aircraft as well an information booklet, fact sheet, and publicity poster issued by the CAF. Of note is Marge Berry's handwritten diary that provides in-depth insight to her work shifts as a restoration volunteer from February through May 1991. Entries include details about the work she contributed to the restoration of "Fifi," such as riveting and bucking; names of other volunteers and their work; and personal tidbits. Related materials about the volunteer restoration efforts include correspondence, a roster and organizational chart, invitations, decals, and progress reports. Additionally there are a few items not specific to "Fifi" but that commemorate the B-29's first flight 50th Anniversary event in 1992, including clippings, a program and tickets, and correspondence.
Within the "Fifi" subseries, there is also a small Photographs and negatives subseries with 168 photographs and 90 negatives. Most of the photographs feature "Fifi" with people, including during restoration work or publicity events. The rest of the prints depict the volunteers who worked on the aircraft, including office staff. Margaret Berry is included in several of the images. She is shown polishing a bubble, holding tools, and assisting other volunteers as well as posing with people in office settings. The negatives appear to correspond to some prints, although it is possible some do not have a corresponding print. The photographs, some of which are digital prints, are mostly color and are primarily casual snapshots. Sizes vary from 3x5 inches to 8x10 inches and many have brief captions providing contextual information, such as names, dates, and locations.
Subseries C: Boeing B-29 "T-Square 54" is the smallest subseries. "T-Square 54" (Serial #44-69729) was obtained by The Museum of Flight in 1993 from Lowry Air Force Base where Lowry Heritage Museum volunteers had begun restoration efforts. Upon arrival at The Museum of Flight, those efforts resumed and continued over a period of several years. The restoration was not complete until 2016. Many volunteers contributed to the project with a goal of returning the aircraft to its original 1945 configuration, including Margaret Berry although details about her contributions are lacking in this subseries. Materials present in the collection focus on restoration work and fundraising efforts for the aircraft by The Museum of Flight, including correspondence, invitations, newslettters and a Certficate of Appreciation for Margaret Berry due to her volunteer restoration work. It also contains clippings, a fact sheet, two photographs, and photocopies of two photographs, technical information and a cartoon. Of interest is "T-Square 54: The Last B-29," a 1987 student paper written by Lieutenant Colonel John R. Buschman, USAF (Ret.) that focuses on the history of the aircraft.
Series II: Personal materials provides further contextual information on Berry's interest in aviation and includes assorted correspondence, including some between Berry and her twin brother, Wade Wolfe; membership materials for the Cascade Warbirds Association; "Rosie" appreciation event materials, including invitations, programs and correspondence; and Museum of Flight documents, such as event notices and posters, clippings, and correspondence. Clippings make up a large portion of the series, primarily as retrospectives on women's experience in World War II as "Rosies" and Women Airforce Service Pilots, although some feature Berry's specific experiences as a "Rosie the Riveter" for Boeing during World War II. Note that the clippings about Berry's World War II era work as a riveter are all retrospective and not from 1942-1945.
Within the Personal series, there is also a small Photographs subseries with 58 photographs and 14 negatives. Most of the prints depict scenes from aircraft tours and aviation events Berry attended, such as shots of the Boeing B-17 "Aluminum Overcast," aircraft within The Museum of Flight's Great Gallery as well as an outside shot of the Museum, and aircraft at the 1991 Paine Field Air Show. There are three prints related to Boeing buildings; two depict the Red Barn after its acquistion by The Museum of Flight and the other is a copy print showing Boeing's Plant II camoflauge efforts during World War II. There are nine assorted photographs; three feature Berry at unidentified aviation events and five show various aicraft, including a shot of "Memphis Belle," Air Force One, and "Rosie Wrecked 'Em," a AT-6 Texan, and one digital print reproduction that depicts a storefront identified as "Wade H. Wolfe, General Merchandise, Chevron Gasoline." Additionally, there are nine prints and 14 negatives that show railway cars during a 1993 "Branson trip." The photographs are mostly color and are primarily casual snapshots. Sizes vary from 3x5 inches to 8x10 inches and many have brief captions providing contextual information, such as names, dates, and locations.
Series I: Aircraft Restoration materials makes up the bulk of the collection and has been further divided into three subseries based on restoration projects that Berry participated in: Boeing B-17 "Boeing Bee," Boeing B-29 "Fifi," and Boeing B-29 "T-Square 54." Each subseries has been arranged alphabetically. Some subseries have been further divided.
Subseries A holds materials related to the "Boeing Bee" (Serial #42-29782, Registration #N17W), a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. The Bee was owned by Museum of Flight trustee, Robert Richardson, who worked on its restoration until his death in 1990. The Museum purchased the aircraft after his death and with the help of more than 100 volunteers, including Margaret Berry, the Bee was restored to its wartime condition. "Boeing Bee"-specific materials in this collection include correspondence, notes, negatives, financial receipts, and clippings focused on restoration work and fundraising efforts for the aircraft by The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. Some items pertain to B-17s in general and are not specific to the "Boeing Bee," such as materials for the B-17's first flight 50th Anniversary event in 1985, including an invitation, name tag, commemorative flight cover, clippings and photographs. Additionally there is a small amount of ephemera, mostly non-event specific clippings about B-17s as well as an undated list of B-17 reference books and a booklet, "The Story of an Airplane" by Benton Williams.
Subseries B: Boeing B-29 "Fifi" is the largest subseries. "Fifi" (Serial #44-62070) was bought by the Confederate Air Force (CAF), the volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and display of historic aircraft. CAF purchased Fifi from the U.S. Air Force in the early 1970s. Late in 1974, CAF volunteers completed a full restoration of the aircraft. In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the B-29 in 1992, The Boeing Company and CAF asked for volunteers for refurbishment of Fifi. Many former Boeing employees answered the call, including Margaret Berry. The "Fifi" subseries contains clippings specific to the aircraft as well an information booklet, fact sheet, and publicity poster issued by the CAF. Of note is Marge Berry's handwritten diary that provides in-depth insight to her work shifts as a restoration volunteer from February through May 1991. Entries include details about the work she contributed to the restoration of "Fifi," such as riveting and bucking; names of other volunteers and their work; and personal tidbits. Related materials about the volunteer restoration efforts include correspondence, a roster and organizational chart, invitations, decals, and progress reports. Additionally there are a few items not specific to "Fifi" but that commemorate the B-29's first flight 50th Anniversary event in 1992, including clippings, a program and tickets, and correspondence.
Within the "Fifi" subseries, there is also a small Photographs and negatives subseries with 168 photographs and 90 negatives. Most of the photographs feature "Fifi" with people, including during restoration work or publicity events. The rest of the prints depict the volunteers who worked on the aircraft, including office staff. Margaret Berry is included in several of the images. She is shown polishing a bubble, holding tools, and assisting other volunteers as well as posing with people in office settings. The negatives appear to correspond to some prints, although it is possible some do not have a corresponding print. The photographs, some of which are digital prints, are mostly color and are primarily casual snapshots. Sizes vary from 3x5 inches to 8x10 inches and many have brief captions providing contextual information, such as names, dates, and locations.
Subseries C: Boeing B-29 "T-Square 54" is the smallest subseries. "T-Square 54" (Serial #44-69729) was obtained by The Museum of Flight in 1993 from Lowry Air Force Base where Lowry Heritage Museum volunteers had begun restoration efforts. Upon arrival at The Museum of Flight, those efforts resumed and continued over a period of several years. The restoration was not complete until 2016. Many volunteers contributed to the project with a goal of returning the aircraft to its original 1945 configuration, including Margaret Berry although details about her contributions are lacking in this subseries. Materials present in the collection focus on restoration work and fundraising efforts for the aircraft by The Museum of Flight, including correspondence, invitations, newslettters and a Certficate of Appreciation for Margaret Berry due to her volunteer restoration work. It also contains clippings, a fact sheet, two photographs, and photocopies of two photographs, technical information and a cartoon. Of interest is "T-Square 54: The Last B-29," a 1987 student paper written by Lieutenant Colonel John R. Buschman, USAF (Ret.) that focuses on the history of the aircraft.
Series II: Personal materials provides further contextual information on Berry's interest in aviation and includes assorted correspondence, including some between Berry and her twin brother, Wade Wolfe; membership materials for the Cascade Warbirds Association; "Rosie" appreciation event materials, including invitations, programs and correspondence; and Museum of Flight documents, such as event notices and posters, clippings, and correspondence. Clippings make up a large portion of the series, primarily as retrospectives on women's experience in World War II as "Rosies" and Women Airforce Service Pilots, although some feature Berry's specific experiences as a "Rosie the Riveter" for Boeing during World War II. Note that the clippings about Berry's World War II era work as a riveter are all retrospective and not from 1942-1945.
Within the Personal series, there is also a small Photographs subseries with 58 photographs and 14 negatives. Most of the prints depict scenes from aircraft tours and aviation events Berry attended, such as shots of the Boeing B-17 "Aluminum Overcast," aircraft within The Museum of Flight's Great Gallery as well as an outside shot of the Museum, and aircraft at the 1991 Paine Field Air Show. There are three prints related to Boeing buildings; two depict the Red Barn after its acquistion by The Museum of Flight and the other is a copy print showing Boeing's Plant II camoflauge efforts during World War II. There are nine assorted photographs; three feature Berry at unidentified aviation events and five show various aicraft, including a shot of "Memphis Belle," Air Force One, and "Rosie Wrecked 'Em," a AT-6 Texan, and one digital print reproduction that depicts a storefront identified as "Wade H. Wolfe, General Merchandise, Chevron Gasoline." Additionally, there are nine prints and 14 negatives that show railway cars during a 1993 "Branson trip." The photographs are mostly color and are primarily casual snapshots. Sizes vary from 3x5 inches to 8x10 inches and many have brief captions providing contextual information, such as names, dates, and locations.
Dates
- 1942, 1985-2006
- Majority of material found within 1985-2006
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
.65 Cubic Feet (1 full-width letter size document box, 1 half-width letter size document box, 1 20 x 24 inch folder)
Biographical Note: Margaret E. Berry
Margaret E. Berry (1923-2011) worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" for The Boeing Company during World War II in Seattle, Washington.
Margaret Enid "Marge" Berry (née Wolfe) was born on January 20, 1923 in Huntsville, Washington to Wade and Edith (Corbett) Wolfe. She had a twin brother, Wade, and four other siblings. Berry graduated from Waitsburg High School. In 1942, she joined The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington as a riveter on the wheelwell section of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and on wing panels of Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. Berry left Boeing in August 1945.
From late 1945 to August 1951, she worked at the Federal Reserve Bank. From 1952-1953, she held short stints as a secretary at Hiller Helicopters and for a marine surveyor and appraiser. From January 1954 through late 1963, Berry did accounting work at various United States Naval Air Stations supply depot shops, including NAS San Diego. After a three-year employment break, she joined the VA Medical Center in Seattle, Washington as an Inventory Management Specialist where she remained until her retirement on July 17, 1987.
After retirement, Berry was an active speaker about her World War II experience as a "Rosie the Riveter." During the 1990s, she also participated in three aircraft restoration projects: the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Boeing Bee," the Boeing B-29 "Fifi," where she contributed nearly 300 volunteer hours, and the Boeing B-29 "T-Square 54". As of 2023, the "Boeing Bee" and "T-Square 54" are on display at The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.
On July 4, 1951 she married Alvin R. Berry (1926-1995) although the couple divorced in 1969. Marge Berry died on August 30, 2011 in Bellevue, Washington.
Source:
Biography derived from collection materials and records on Ancestry.com.
Margaret Enid "Marge" Berry (née Wolfe) was born on January 20, 1923 in Huntsville, Washington to Wade and Edith (Corbett) Wolfe. She had a twin brother, Wade, and four other siblings. Berry graduated from Waitsburg High School. In 1942, she joined The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington as a riveter on the wheelwell section of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and on wing panels of Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. Berry left Boeing in August 1945.
From late 1945 to August 1951, she worked at the Federal Reserve Bank. From 1952-1953, she held short stints as a secretary at Hiller Helicopters and for a marine surveyor and appraiser. From January 1954 through late 1963, Berry did accounting work at various United States Naval Air Stations supply depot shops, including NAS San Diego. After a three-year employment break, she joined the VA Medical Center in Seattle, Washington as an Inventory Management Specialist where she remained until her retirement on July 17, 1987.
After retirement, Berry was an active speaker about her World War II experience as a "Rosie the Riveter." During the 1990s, she also participated in three aircraft restoration projects: the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Boeing Bee," the Boeing B-29 "Fifi," where she contributed nearly 300 volunteer hours, and the Boeing B-29 "T-Square 54". As of 2023, the "Boeing Bee" and "T-Square 54" are on display at The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.
On July 4, 1951 she married Alvin R. Berry (1926-1995) although the couple divorced in 1969. Marge Berry died on August 30, 2011 in Bellevue, Washington.
Source:
Biography derived from collection materials and records on Ancestry.com.
Biographical Note: Wade H. Wolfe
Wade Hamilton Wolfe, Jr. (1923-2015) was a Boeing B-29 crew chief during World War II and the brother of Margaret (Wolfe) Berry, a "Rosie the Riveter" in World War II.
Wade Hamilton Wolfe, Jr. was born on January 20, 1923 in Huntsville, Washington to Wade and Edith (Corbett) Wolfe. He had a twin sister, Margaret, also known as Marge, and four other siblings. By 1942, Wolfe had relocated to Seattle, Washington where he worked at Boeing Plant 2. In Spring 1943, he attended Boeing B-29 Mechanic School. After graduation, he was sent to Eglin Air Force Base (then Eglin Field) where he served as crew chief with Paul Tibbets for approximately 10 months. During his service there, he and Tibbets toured bases in the Midwest with Women Airforce Service Pilots Dora J. Dougherty and Dorothea J. Moorman, the pilots of the Boeing B-29 "Ladybird" in an effort to "inspire male crews to better efforts in flying the B-29". Wolfe was then assigned to Fairbanks, Alaska for cold-weather testing of the B-29. It is unknown when he left the service.
He married Rosalee Kathlee Wolfe (1927-2015) at an unknown time. During the 1970s-1980s, Wolfe lived in California. At some point, he relocated to Walla Walla, Washington where he died on May 30, 2015.
Source:
Biography derived from collection materials and records on Ancestry.com.
Wade Hamilton Wolfe, Jr. was born on January 20, 1923 in Huntsville, Washington to Wade and Edith (Corbett) Wolfe. He had a twin sister, Margaret, also known as Marge, and four other siblings. By 1942, Wolfe had relocated to Seattle, Washington where he worked at Boeing Plant 2. In Spring 1943, he attended Boeing B-29 Mechanic School. After graduation, he was sent to Eglin Air Force Base (then Eglin Field) where he served as crew chief with Paul Tibbets for approximately 10 months. During his service there, he and Tibbets toured bases in the Midwest with Women Airforce Service Pilots Dora J. Dougherty and Dorothea J. Moorman, the pilots of the Boeing B-29 "Ladybird" in an effort to "inspire male crews to better efforts in flying the B-29". Wolfe was then assigned to Fairbanks, Alaska for cold-weather testing of the B-29. It is unknown when he left the service.
He married Rosalee Kathlee Wolfe (1927-2015) at an unknown time. During the 1970s-1980s, Wolfe lived in California. At some point, he relocated to Walla Walla, Washington where he died on May 30, 2015.
Source:
Biography derived from collection materials and records on Ancestry.com.
Separated Materials
The following material has been separated from the archival component and is kept in Objects storage:
Additionally a number of serials, newsletters, and a book have been separated from the archival component and are kept in the Library. For more details, contact us.
- Plastic nametag
- Boeing B-29 buttons and patches
- Boeing B-29 "Fifi" kerchief
Additionally a number of serials, newsletters, and a book have been separated from the archival component and are kept in the Library. For more details, contact us.
Processing Information
The collection arrived housed within six plastic 3-ring binders, plus a small amount of loose material. The materials within the binders were not organized in any manner and duplicate or related materials to recurring topics existed in multiple locations. The binders were disassembled for preservation reasons. Photographs were placed in protective enclosures. The Processing Archivist grouped like materials together by theme or function to help faciliate researcher use and access.
- Airplanes -- Conservation and restoration
- Airplanes -- Design and construction
- Boeing
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family
- Boeing B-29 Superfortress
- Boeing Company -- Employees
- Confederate Air Force
- Museum of Flight (Seattle, Wash.)
- Rosie the Riveter (Symbolic character)
- TMOF Aircraft
- Tibbets, Paul W. (Paul Warfield), 1915-2007
- Washington (State)
- Women in aeronautics
- clippings (information artifacts)
- correspondence
- diaries
- negatives (photographs)
- photocopies
- photographic prints
- posters
- printed ephemera
- Title
- Guide to the Margaret E. (Wolfe) Berry Collection
- Status
- Completed - Level 2
- Author
- Jenn Parent
- Date
- 2023 May
- Description rules
- dacs
- 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