National Air and Space Museum Archives

Works Progress Administration (WPA) Airport Inspection Scrapbook

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.XXXX.0288
Creators:
United States. Works Progress Administration
Dates:
1937
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.18 Cubic feet
1 flat box
Repository:
In 1937, the Works Progress Administration's (WPA) Airways and Airports Division organized an airport inspection trip to review work undertaken at various airports under the WPA's auspices, to determine what work still needed done to develop the nation's aviation infrastructure, and to evaluate which of those future projects could be undertaken by the WPA. This collection consists of a scrapbook documenting the inspection trip.
This collection is in English.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a scrapbook documenting the Works Progress Administration's 1937 airport inspection trip. The scrapbook measures 10.5 by 13 inches and this copy appears to have been given to George W. Lewis (then Director of Aeronautical Research, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics [NACA]), whose name is embossed on the scrapbook's cover. In addition to photographs, which are captioned, the scrapbook also contains a map showing stops on the trip as well as a list of inspection trip members, crew of the Douglas C-33 aircraft that they traveled in, and a list of guest passengers from various points on the tour. Inspection trip members are shown in the scrapbook including Corrington C. Gill; Walter Sumpter Smith; Alexis B. McMullen; Lotha A. Smith; Lester D. Gardner; Gill Robb Wilson; Fred L. Smith; and J. Frank Roberson. Other notable figures pictured in the scrapbook include Blanche Wilcox Noyes; Phoebe Fairgrave Omlie; Iris Louise McPhetridge Thaden; Cyrus Rowlett "C. R." Smith; Edward Meeker Haight; O. M. "Red" Mosier; and various local officials and businesspeople.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is in original order.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
In 1937, the Works Progress Administration's (WPA) Airways and Airports Division organized an airport inspection trip to review work undertaken at various airports under the WPA's auspices, to determine what work still needed done to develop the nation's aviation infrastructure, and to evaluate which of those future projects could be undertaken by the WPA. Inspection trip members were Corrington C. Gill (Assistant Federal Administrator, WPA); Walter Sumpter Smith (Principal Aeronautical Engineer, WPA); Alexis B. McMullen (Chief of Airport, Mapping and Marking Section, Bureau of Air Commerce); Lotha A. Smith (Official Observer for the War Department); Lester D. Gardner (Secretary, Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences); Gill Robb Wilson (President, National Association of State Aviation Officials); Fred L. Smith (Executive Assistant to the President of the National Aeronautic Association); and J. Frank Roberson (Secretary for the group). Members traveled on a Douglas C-33 which departed from Bolling Field, Washington, DC operated by a US Army Air Corps crew. The trip, which took place from October 16 to November 5, 1937, covered more than 11,000 miles and included visits to 30 states.

Administration

Author
Jessamyn Lloyd
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Works Progress Administration, Gift, Unknown, NASM.XXXX.0288.
Processing Information
Arranged, described, and encoded by Jessamyn Lloyd, 2021.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

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.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Preferred Citation
Works Progress Administration (WPA) Airport Inspection Scrapbook, NASM.XXXX.0288, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Airports Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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