George Byron "Slim" Purington was chief mechanic for Curtiss at the North Island Aviation Camp in San Diego, California. This collection consists of a photograph album created by Purington in the early 1900s. The photographs in the album depict a number of early aviators and a variety of early aircraft.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of a photograph album created by George Byron "Slim" Purington in the early 1900s. The photographs in the album depict a number of early aviators and a variety of early aircraft. Photographs were taken in and around North Island, as well as at various airshows and exhibitions in the midwestern and western United States. In addition, there are photographs in the album depicting various crash sites and recovery of damaged aircraft from land and water, as well as several pages of photographs pertaining to the crash that killed Cromwell Dixon, Jr. at the Spokane Interstate Fair in 1911. There are also photographs in the album of ships, sailboats, and trains. Aircraft shown in the album include the Curtiss Model D; Curtiss Beachey Tractor; Curtiss Hydro, Original; Curtiss Model E Hydro Headless; Curtiss Flying-Boat No.1; Curtiss Flying Boat No.2 "The Flying Fish"; Curtiss Model M (Morris) Boat; Curtiss F Boat; Curtiss Tractor Hydro; Curtiss Hydro Triplane; Curtiss A-1 (AH-1); Aerial Experiment Association Aerodrome No 4 Silver Dart; and the Curtiss G (Army 1913 Tractor). Besides Purington himself, notable figures in aviation shown in the album include Castle W. Shaffer ("Lucky Bob St. Henry"); John D. Cooper; Frank J. Bell; Hugh Armstrong Robinson; James J. "Jimmie" Ward; Julia E. Clark; Frank J. Terrill; Holden Chester "Dick" Richardson; Theodore Gordon "Spuds" Ellyson; Terah T. Maroney; John W. McClaskey; John Lansing Callan; Man Mohan Singh; Glenn Hammond Curtiss; Charles Francis Walsh; Beckwith Havens; Carl T. Sjolander; Lincoln Beachey; John A. D. McCurdy; Floyd E. Barlow; and Arthur F. Lym (Arthur Fook Yuen Lyn, Lin Fuyuan, Art Lin, Lim Fook Yin).
Arrangement:
Collection is a single item.
Biographical / Historical:
George Byron "Slim" Purington was chief mechanic for Curtiss at the North Island Aviation Camp in San Diego, California. Prior to working for Curtiss, Purington had been an engineer for the Tecopa Railroad Company which ran between mines in Nevada and California. In addition to his work at North Island, Purington was sent by Curtiss as part of a delegation to Russia relating to the sale of Curtiss K flying boats and was there from 1916 to 1917. The contents of the scrapbook in this collection suggest that Purington also traveled to some extent in the midwestern and western United States with the Curtiss Exhibition Company.
Provenance:
Mrs. T. C. [Margaret S.] MacAulay, Gift, 1964, NASM.XXXX.0248.
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.
Floyd E. Barlow (1889-1977) was an early aviator. This scrapbook contains photographs, newspaper clippings, telegrams, licenses, and correspondence documenting Barlow's aviation career.
This collection is in English.
Scope and Contents:
This scrapbook contains photographs, newspaper clippings, telegrams, licenses, and correspondence documenting Barlow's aviation career. There are also photographs of noted aviators, some of which are autographed.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Floyd E. Barlow (1889-1977) soloed in 1911. In 1912 Barlow attended the Curtiss School, and then barnstormed for Curtiss Aeroplane Company at county fairs. He tested bombs and machine guns during World War I, but after the war he returned to barnstorming and established an agency for Eaglerock and Monocoupe aircraft. From 1924-1932 Barlow was an instructor for Rapid Airlines, and for the years 1937-1939 he was the Commissioner of Aviation for South Dakota. During World War II he was an instructor for the Royal Air Force at Lancaster, CA and also assisted the United States Air Force. After World War II, Barlow retired from aviation.
Provenance:
Floyd E. Barlow, Gift, Date unknown, NASM.XXXX.0388.
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
A scrapbook and photographs documenting Roland Rohlf's aviaiton career.
Scope and Contents:
A scrapbook records Rohlfs' career and includes correspondence, telegrams, programs, and newspaper articles. Loose photographs were reproduced on NASM Archives Videodisc 2B, and include family photographs as well as subjects relating to Rohlfs' career as described above.
Arrangement:
Photographs located in Videodisc Files; scrapbook is a single item.
Biographical / Historical:
Roland Rohlfs started his career establishing motorcycle records in 1914, before turning to the field of aviation. Rohlfs became an instructor and experimental test pilot with Curtiss Aeroplane Company during World War I, and he established speed and altitude records. Because of his popularity, he endorsed advertisements for such items as watches, spark plugs, parachutes and cars. In 1928, Rohlfs developed and patented an aerial neon sign, and established the Aerial Advertising Company to administer it. Toward the end of his career, he promoted private flying as a "Personal Flying Specialist" for the Civil Aviation Authority and he was an operations manager for Aeromarine Airways. Rohlfs was a member of the Early Birds.
Provenance:
Roland Rohlfs, Gift, Unknown, NASM.XXXX.0278
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