This collection consists of 37 glass negatives, 22 glass lantern slides, and 4 transparencies depicting the life and career of Stevens, circa 1900-1915. There are also corresponding negatives and contact prints for these 63 images.
Biographical / Historical:
Albert Leo Stevens (1873-1944) was an accomplished balloonist and aviation pioneer. Stevens began making ascensions when he was twelve and began manufacturing balloons and dirigibles at the age of 20. Stevens was an exhibitor in parachute, balloon, dirigible, and human cannonball shows and also was a participant in races such as the Gordon Bennett Balloon Races. Stevens flew one of the very first successful dirigibles in the United States in 1906 and opened the first private airfield in the nation in 1909. In the latter part of his career, Stevens became a flight promoter and worked with such pioneering aviators as Harry Atwood, Harry Bingham Brown, George Beatty, and Harriet Quimby. Stevens also played a key role in the development of safety features for parachutes.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Chris and Maureen Lynch, Valhalla Aerostation, Purchase, 1997, 1997-0039, Public Domain
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
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
The 1910 Minnesota State Fair featured exhibition flights by pilots representing both the Curtiss Aeroplane Company and the Wright Company. This collection consists of one ticket to the fair.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of a 5.5 x 3.5 inch, two-sided, color ticket to the 1910 Minnesota State Fair. Events listed include "Wonderful Amusement Program, Daily Flights of Wright Bros. and Curtiss Aeroplanes," along with various agricultural, horticultural and liberal arts exhibits; the 1st Northwestern Corn Show, automobile racing, vaudeville acts, Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Wild-West show; "Pageant of Nations" spectacle; the Navassar Ladies Band; railroad excursions; and fireworks.
Arrangement:
Collection is a single item.
Biographical / Historical:
The Minnesota State Fair was held in Hamline, Minnesota from September 5 to 10, 1910. Carson N. Cosgrove, secretary of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, had been instrumental in organizing exhibition flights in the state in June of that year and he negotiated contracts with both the Curtiss Aeroplane Company and the Wright Company to have their pilots make flights at the fair. Curtiss was represented by James C. "Bud" Mars, and Wright was represented by Arthur L. "Al" Welsh at first, but when Welsh was injured and his aircraft damaged due to a crash related to high winds, Wright sent a replacement aircraft that was flown for the remainder of the fair by Arch Hoxsey.
Provenance:
B. T. "Sandy" Leak, Gift, 1973, NASM.XXXX.1004.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
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.
