National Air and Space Museum Archives

Evan J. Parker Scrapbook

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.XXXX.0348
Creators:
Parker, Evan Jenkins, 1885-1966
Dates:
1908-1966
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
328 Cubic feet
1 flatbox
Repository:
This collection consists of a red scrapbook, with the following title: "Pioneer Dirigible Flights 1908, 1910, 1911." The scrapbook contains photographs, newspaper articles and programs documenting Evan Jenkins Parker's dirigible career and his involvement in the Early Birds.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a red scrapbook, with the following title: "Pioneer Dirigible Flights 1908, 1910, 1911." The scrapbook contains photographs, newspaper articles and programs documenting Evan Jenkins Parker's dirigible career and his involvement in the Early Birds including views of flights made at numerous events in Kansas, Missouri, Washington, Utah, Idaho, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. The scrapbook also contains a chronology of Parker's career which includes descriptions of the airships he worked on and piloted and a list of the flights he made as well as a biographical statement chronicling his life. There are also event invitations and programs pertaining to the donation of an Early Birds plaque to the Smithsonian Institution, the dedication of the Early Birds Monument on Governor's Island, New York, and a booklet about an Early Birds mural painted by Justin C. Gruelle.

Arrangement

Arrangement
This collection is in original order.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Evan Jenkins Parker (1885-1966), a pioneer dirigible pilot, made his first solo flight in a dirigible at Hutchinson, Kansas in 1908 and until 1911 he flew at county fairs and other exhibitions in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Parker worked for Charles J. Strobel, a designer and manufacturer of airships, who also scheduled their appearance at various events. During his work with Strobel, Parker both constructed and flew dirigibles. He had several close calls, including when the airship crashed into a roller coaster and electrical wires. When he was 27, Parker ended his professional flying career and went to work for the Eastman Kodak Company. Parker was a member of the Early Birds.

Administration

Author
Patricia Williams and Jessamyn Lloyd
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Evan Parker, through the Early Birds, Gift, 1966?, NASM.XXXX.0348.
Processing Information
Arranged and described by Patricia Williams in 2001. Description updated and encoded by Jessamyn Lloyd in 2019.

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
Evan J. Parker Scrapbook, NASM.XXXX.0348, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Airships Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics, Commercial Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics -- Exhibitions Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics -- 1903-1916 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Programs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Parker, Evan Jenkins, 1885-1966 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Strobel Dirigible Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Early Birds of Aviation (Organization). Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Air and Space Museum Archives
14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151
NASMRefDesk@si.edu