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Harold F. McCormick Collection of Aeronautica
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The youngest son of Cyrus McCormick, inventor and manufacturer of the harvest reaper, Harold F. McCormick graduated from Princeton in 1895. Later that year on November 26, he married Edith Rockefeller, daughter of Standard Oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, in Chicago, Illinois. In 1935 he became chairman of the board of International Harvester Company. McCormick later divorced Edith and married opera star Ganna Walska, whose career he lavishly promoted. Over many years, McCormick donated a number of important and rare materials to the Princeton University Library.
The collection consists of selected papers reflecting the many aeronautical activities and interests of McCormick (Princeton Class of 1895) and papers which he collected concerning the history of aviation. Included are correspondence with George A. Spratt, Grover Sexton, Sydney V. James, A. C. Bosch, Glenn H. Curtiss, and others active in the early days of flying; a copy of his paper "From My Experiences Concerning Aviation" (1917) and related diagrams; material about the first International Aviation Meet held in Grant Park, Illinois, in 1911 which was organized, in part, by McCormick; autograph albums including letters of 18th-century balloonists Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier and Charles Bragdon, and a manuscript (1858) of "Des Aerostats et de Leur Direction" by Jules Latrige; correspondence regarding patents; and plans and designs for airplanes, including McCormick's "umbrella" plane.
Six volumes of photographs (1910-1913) include pictures of Wilbur Wright, Walter Brookings, Glenn H. Curtiss, Grover F. Sexton, Rene Simon, Thomas Sopwith, and other pioneer pilots with their various flying-machines, the first pictures taken from an airplane in America, scenes of Chicago and the International Aviation Meet, and McCormick's Curtiss-built hydroplane. Also present are several model airplanes, souvenirs, pamphlets, early aviation magazines, and prints.
Gift of Alexander Stillman. 2 Letters are a gift of Fowler McCormick. A portion of the collection was given to McCormick by Grover F. Sexton.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
The contents list was compiled by Rafael Abrahams in July 2010.
No appraisal information is available.
People
Subject
- Aeronautics -- Illinois -- Societies, etc
- Aeronautics -- United States -- Flights
- Aeronautics -- United States -- History
- Air pilots -- United States
- Airplanes -- Design and construction
- Airplanes, Home-built
- Airplanes, Wooden
- Airplanes -- United States
- Balloonists -- France -- 18th century
- Flight
- Flying-machines
- Hot air balloons -- History
- Seaplanes -- Design and construction
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Date
- 2009
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
Consists of correspondence files on aviation, the Spratt-Hardwick Negotiations, and speeches.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description7 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
In folders by chronological order.
Physical Description8 folders
In folders by chronological order.
Physical Description10 folders
1 folder
In folders by chronological order.
Physical Description6 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
In folders by chronological order.
Physical Description8 folders
In folders by chronological order.
Physical Description9 folders
1 folder
In folders by chronological order.
Physical Description11 folders
In folders by chronological order.
Physical Description11 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of autograph albums as well as autographs of Joseph Michel Montgolfier and Latridge-Des Aerostats et de Leur Direction, original manuscript.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
4 A.L.S. to M. Demarest and others.
Physical Description1 folder
Leather-bound manuscript on aviation
Physical Description1 folder
Leather-bound volume of old letters and other material on aviation
Physical Description1 folder
Leather-bound volume of old letters and other material on aviation
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of matrials related to Grover F. Sexton, including correspondence, photographs, and a program for the Tenth Annual Banquet of the Aero Club of America.
Arranged by genre of material.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
Printed paper. Read before the Psychological Club, Zurich, December 1st and 8th, 1917. Given to McCormick 1922.
Physical Description1 folder
Blueprints, notes, clippings, correspondence, accounts, pamphlets, etc.
Physical Description2 folders
1 folder
Photographs and illustrations of aircrafts; postcards; program for the Annual Dinner of the Aero Club of America, 1913; and ticket of admission to International Aviation Meet, Monday, August 14, 1911
Physical Description1 folder
Kensington film book marked "Aviation" with film negatives
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of clippings, printed matter, photographs, and scrapbooks.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description4 boxes
Clippings from newspapers and magazines, memorabilia
Physical Description1 folder
Short booklet titled "The Arizona Sheriff" put out by Studebaker, 1925; "Officials Rules for Officers, Committees, and Events for the International Aviation Meet and Hydroaeroplane Meet" put out by the Aero Club of Illinois, 1912; "Aero Club of St. Louis: Purpose--Results", 1910; "Detroit Aviation Meet, Official Program", 1911; 3 pamphlets detailing "The Curtiss Flying Boat", 1912; page from magazine advertising Warner Auto-Meter, featuring photograph of McCorcmick; "Aero Club of America: Instructions Concerning the Conduct of Tests for Aviation Pilot Licenses"; "Catalogue of Aeroplanes, Motors, Supplies, and Accessories", 1911.
Physical Description1 folder
Notebook with alphabetical indexes marked "Classification of Subjects in Beaufog"; article titled "The Conquest of the Air" in magazine The Connoisseur; "International Air Show, National Amphitheatre Chicago: Official Souvenir Book", 1938; Aviation and Mechanics catalog, 1929; 8 issues of Aviation Stories and Mechanics, 1927-1929; issue of National Life Magazine featuring 25-year retrospective on aviation, 1929; issue of Popular Science Monthly, 1932; copies of pages from Dr. Solomon Andrews' books on aviation; photograph of Dr. Solomon Andrews and of airship called the Aereon; notes on Andrews' life; 2 programs for "The 36th Annual Clam Bake of the Hot Air Club", 1935
Physical Description1 folder
"Field Rules of the Aero Club of Illinois Flying Field", 1911; "Aero Club of America Bulletin", 1912; 5 copies of "Aero Club of Illinois Bulletin", 1912
Physical Description1 folder
Leather wallet containing passes to the 1930 National Air Races; pin for Aero Club of Illinois; decoration from 1930 National Air Races in Chicago bearing McCormick's name; decoration from International Aviation Meet Association, Chicago 1911; pin marked "Chicago 1912 Subscription Member"
Physical Description1 folder
Includes 5 photographs of aviators, planes, and airships, as well as a cablegram from McCormick regarding the Aero Club.
Physical Description1 folder
Book of aviation pictures with prints made from Sexton's collection of negatives, and appearing in practically the same order as in his album. Scrapbook containing photographs, correspondence, clippings and memorabilia of early aviation.
Physical Description1 folder
Aviation pictures.
Physical Description3 folders
278 photos in all, about 50 photos on the Aviation Meeting August 12-20, 1911.
Physical Description1 box
Contains eight scrapbooks (1818-1894) of printed material, primarily articles about, and illustrations of, aeronautical subjects, and five framed items. Of the latter, one has a photograph (published copy) of the Wright brothers' plane signed by Orville Wright; another from a National Air Mail Day (9/6/1933) dinner bears numerous signatures of dignataries and fliers, including American World War ace Eddie Rickenbacker, Russian World War ace Alexander P. de Seversky, and Italian World War ace Tito Falconi.
Physical Description1 box
Consists of models, prints, photographs, drawings, scrapbooks, and aeronautical figures.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description4 boxes
Model airplane marked "Tugboat Annie"; model helicopter marked "Hiller 12E"; platic airplane and stand marked "Consolidated Vultee Attendance Award 1945"; pin for Princeton University Class of 1920 Reunion marked "Francis Callery"
Physical Description1 box
7 early prints of aircrafts. 12 original lithographs of aircrafts made 1900-1905.
Physical Description1 folder
Scrapbook containing photographs, clippings, correspondence of McCormick
Physical Description1 folder
Scrapbook containing photographs, clippings, correspondence, patent papers, sheet music, paper balloon from Benjamin Harrison's 1888 presidentail campaign.
Physical Description1 folder
18 large figures on cardboard sheets. Undated but with stamp of Art Institut Orell Fussli Zurich on back of each.
Physical Description1 box
17 large figures on cardboard sheets. Undated but with stamp of Art Institut Orell Fussli Zurich on back of each.
Physical Description1 box