National Air and Space Museum Archives

Rufus Porter Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.1991.0033
Creators:
Porter, Rufus, 1792-1884
Dates:
1826
1849
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.01 Cubic feet
1 folder
Repository:
This donation consists of the two booklets written by Rufus Porte on aerial navigation.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This donation consists of the following two booklets written by Rufus Porter: 1) 'Select Collection of Valuable and Curious Arts and Interesting Experiments which are well Explained, and Warranted genuine, and may be Performed Easily, Safely and At Little Expense,' Concord (New Hampshire), J.B. Moore Printers, 1826; and 2) Aerial navigation: The Practicability of Traveling Pleasantly and Safely from New York to California in Three Days, Fully Demonstrated: With a Full Description of a Perfect Aerial Locomotive, with Estimates of Capacity Speed and Cost of Construction,' New-York, Published by H. Smith, John Hall Printer, 222 Water Street, 1849.

Arrangement

Arrangement
This collection is arranged at the item level. One of the two items has been digitized.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Rufus Porter (1792-1889) was the inventor of an airship 'the Aerial Locomotive' in the early 19th century. The original design for the airship was produced in 1820. In 1850 Porter organized a stock company to obtain funds for experimental purposes that failed to receive sufficient funds. Porter also invented a revolver, a horse power wood sawing apparatus and other mechanical devices. He was publisher of 'The New York Mechanic' and one of the founders of 'Scientific American.'

Administration

Author
Patti Williams
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Robert B. Stephens, Gift, 1991, NASM.1991.0033
Processing Information
Arranged, described, and encoded by Patti Williams, 2018.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Use
• Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Preferred Citation
Rufus Porter Collection, NASM.1991.0033, National Air and Space Musuem, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Publications Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Booklets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics -- pre-1903 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Navigation (Aeronautics) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Airships -- pre-1903 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Airships Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aerial Locomotive (Airship) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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