National Air and Space Museum Archives

Lawrence Burst Sperry Passport

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.XXXX.1181
Creators:
United States. Department of State
Dates:
1915-1916
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.05 Cubic feet
1 folder
Repository:
Lawrence Burst Sperry (1892-1923) was a pilot and inventor who is best known for creating the first autopilot and artificial horizon, as well as other aircraft instruments and developing landing gear for use on flying boats. This collection consists of a passport issued to Lawrence Burst Sperry by the US Department of State.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a passport issued to Lawrence Burst Sperry by the US Department of State, dated September 1915 and numbered 7201. The passport has fold lines and measures approximately 12 by 17 inches unfolded. The passport lists Sperry's intention to travel to England, France, and Italy for the purpose of "testing aeroplane devices." At the top left corner is a small (2.75 by 3 inches) head and shoulders portrait of Sperry and his signature. The document includes a physical description of Sperry; a red Department of State seal which has had a piece removed; stamps and marks of various consulates in the countries listed; as well as an amendment permitting Sperry to travel to Switzerland, "for health." The stamps are dated 1915 through 1916.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is in original order.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Lawrence Burst Sperry (1892-1923) was a pilot and inventor who is best known for creating the first autopilot and artificial horizon, as well as other aircraft instruments and developing landing gear for use on flying boats. Sperry had over 20 patents to his name and also served as a flight instructor in the US Navy during World War I. Sperry was killed in 1923 when a plane he was piloting went down over the English Channel.

Administration

Author
Jessamyn Lloyd
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Unknown, Found in Collection, NASM.XXXX.1181
Processing Information
Arranged and described (2015) and encoded (2020) by Jessamyn Lloyd.

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
Lawrence Burst Sperry Passport, NASM.XXXX.1181, 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
Passports Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sperry, Lawrence Burst Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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