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National Air and Space Museum Archives
William Aiken Sr., Papers
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NASM.1997.0024
- Creators:
-
Aiken, William Sr., 1907-
- Dates:
-
1907-1980bulk 1935-1974
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
0.45 Cubic feet(1 legal document box)
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
This collection contains Pilot Log Books, photographs, newspaper clippings, California Civil Air Patrol documents, financial and personal records, an autobiographical manuscript and negatives, all pertaining to William Aiken, his family and friends.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
William Aiken, Sr. was a pioneer in African-American aviation in California from the 1930s through the 1960s. He was born in Plainsdealing, Louisiana in 1907, left home at the age of 13 and worked his way to California performing odd jobs. In the mid-1920s he started his own car washing business and began taking flying lessons. In 1928 he soloed for the first time and in 1936, Aiken earned his private pilot's license. He joined the California Civil Air Patrol, and was appointed a Second Lieutenant and Commanding Officer of the Los Angeles Squadron #7, California Wing in 1948. Aiken became a flight instructor, instructing not only his own children, but any African-American youth with the desire to learn to fly. He continued to fly until he suffered a stroke in 1969.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Kim Hamilton, gift, 1997, 1997-0024, Unknown
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
More Information
General
General
NASMrev
Keywords
Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
---|---|---|---|
African American air pilots | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Aeronautics | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Periodicals | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Correspondence | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Manuscripts | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Photographs | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Logs (records) | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Financial records | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Aiken, William Sr., 1907- | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
United States. Civil Air Patrol -- California. | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
National Air and Space Museum Archives
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