James H. Smith Aviation Photograph Collection
Contents of the Collection
The James H. Smith Aviation Photograph Collection consists of black-and-white photographic prints dating from the early 1920s to 1960s taken and collected by Smith of various aircraft while attending the Boeing School of Aeronautics in Oakland, California and working for the Boeing Company.
Included in the collection is a photograph album containing over 400 images of aircraft and airfields. While most of the images are of aircraft there are also a few instances of early aviators such as Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Towards the back of the album is a panoramic photograph of the Co. A-161st Infantry Camp in Norway from 1931. Images from the album date from the 1920s to the 1930s and nearly all include captions.
Another component to the collection is a group of 64 loose photographs, predominantly 8x10" that date from the 1930s to the 1960s. All images are related to the Boeing company and their aircraft production. There are images of aircraft, the factory floor, and employees, such as a group photograph of Boeing employees in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress, circa 1940s. In addition to the photographs is a "Boeing Parade of Progress” chart and a small blueprint side view drawing of a Boeing XP-12A (Model 101).
Dates
- Creation: 1928-1965
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: James H. Smith
James Hamilton Smith worked in the field of aviation as a government contractor for the Boeing Company, as well as the Defense Contract Administration Services.
Smith was born on July 30, 1913 to William A. Smith and Nellie E. Bletcher in Spokane, Washington. After graduating from Gonzaga High School, Smith attended the Boeing School of Aeronautics in Oakland, California in 1932. During this time, he gained significant experience in aviation working with early pioneers like Gerard "Jerry" Freebairn Vultee. Following his education at the Boeing School of Aeronautics Smith worked for Boeing as an Air Force Plant Representative. He stayed in that position until the late 1940s, then taking a job with the Defense Contract Administration Services. He retired in 1968. Smith died on September 15, 2002.
Biography derived from donor information and records on Ancestry.com.
Extent
.6 Cubic Feet (1 2-inch letter size document box and 1 oversize box (13x17x3 in.))
Language
English
Overview
James Hamilton Smith (1913-2002) attended the Boeing School of Aeronautics and worked in the field of aviation as a government contractor for the Boeing Company, as well as the Defense Contract Administration Services. This small collection consists primarily of black-and-white photographs that were either taken or collected by Smith during his time at the Boeing School, as well as throughout his career in aviation, which spanned from the early 1930s to the late 1960s.
Separated Materials
The following books have been separated from the archival component of this collection and are kept in the Library:
- Inspection Section Manual, March 1939 ,
- Field Service Manual ,
- TM 1-455 Electrical Fundamentals ,
- 1929-1930 Directory of American Airplanes and Engines ,
- TM 1-400 Theory of Flight ,
- TM 9-2820 Shop Mathematics ,
- Technical Manual: Aircraft Engine Operation and Test ,
- TM 1-406 Aircraft Electrical Systems
Please contact us for more details.
Processing Information
This collection has been fully processed.
Subject
- Akron (Airship) (Organization)
- American Airlines (Organization)
- Boeing (Organization)
- Boeing School of Aeronautics (Oakland, Calif.) (Organization)
- Curtiss, Glenn Hammond, 1878-1930 (Person)
- Law, Ruth, 1887-1970 (Person)
- Lindbergh, Anne Morrow, 1906-2001 (Person)
- Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974 (Person)
- Lockheed (Organization)
- Pan American World Airways, Inc (Organization)
- Post, Wiley, 1898-1935 (Person)
- Trans World Airlines (Organization)
- United States. Air Force (Organization)
- United States. Air Force. Military Air Transport Service (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the James H. Smith Aviation Photograph Collection
- Status
- Completed Level 2
- Author
- Charise Dinges
- Date
- 11/2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- 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