National Air and Space Museum Archives

Bowman Family Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.1991.0042
Creators:
Bowman, Les (Leslie)
Bowman, Martie (Marguerite)
Bowman, Larnie
Dates:
1923-1987
bulk 1923-1950
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.28 Cubic feet
1 records center box
Repository:
The Bowman Family Papers contain 1.28 cubic feet of material related to the aviation careers of Leslie (Les), Marguerite (Martie), and Larnie Bowman.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The Bowman Family Papers contain: log books, licenses, and membership cards for Marguerite, Larnie, and Leslie Bowman; loose materials including maps, newspaper clippings from the 1930s, 1972 and 1985; and miscellaneous photographs, including two of Charles Lindbergh. Three scrapbooks at the end of the collection (1923-1931, 1932-1935, 1936-1987) include photographs (some autographed), personal and business correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The Bowman Family Papers are arranged by content type.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Leslie (Les) and Marguerite (Martie) Bowman were married in October 1919 and had both learned to fly by 1925. Les, a mechanic, worked as an engineer and salesman for the Kinner Engine and Aircraft Company and was involved in both the production and testing of airplanes. Martie was a charter member of both the Ninety-Nines, a women pilots' association, and the National Air Race Association. She set women's speed records and swept three women's racing events on one day in 1938. Les and Martie both tried wing walking, as did their daughter, Larnie, at the age of eight. Larnie learned to fly by the time she was twelve. During World War II, the Bowmans ran one of five civilian schools for the training of Navy fighter pilots. Les and Martie retired from aviation after the conclusion of the war.

Administration

Author
Nathan Drake (1991); Amanda Buel (2019)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Mrs. M. Lorraine Allen, gift, 1991, NASM.1991.0042
Processing Information
2019: Revised by Amanda Buel for DACS compliance / ArchivesSpace transfer.
1991: Original arrangement, description, and housing of the collection by Nathan Drake, Intern.

Digital Content

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Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
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
Bowman Family Papers, Acc. NASM.1991.0042, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Flight training Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics -- Exhibitions Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Periodicals Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Publications Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maps Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Works of art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bowman, Les (Leslie) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bowman, Martie (Marguerite) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bowman, Larnie Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kinner Airplane and Motor Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Air Race Association Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ninety-Nines (Organization) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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