Week Four

     This has been another great week at the Loyola University Archives. I finished my survey on the materials in Dorr Felt Air Board of Chicago Collection boxes. I found so many interesting things while sorting through the documents, I took pictures of a few.
     Some of the most fascinating aspects are the rapid growth of the aeronautics field - and how it affected the business world, international politics (who can have the biggest, fastest planes with the most world records), research, and the distinctions among class and sex in society. There is also an enormous amount of information about preparing for the next war!

 

This is a winner from a sea plane race

 

 

 

The importance of Chicago during the building of plane routes, including personal, commercial, and air mail.

Air Mail was a new concept and a big deal. Throughout the years there are articles on the flyers - including Lindbergh - the planes, routes, taxes, contracts, and so much more.... Ironically, today we are looking at getting rid of mail altogether!

It's only 1928 and already the various parts of the military are practicing for the next war...

 

 

 

     I even found a poem by Rudyard Kipling in box 24 - dates 7/15/29 - 11/1/29. I also discovered that Amelia Earhart was just one woman among many - there was multiple women that came before, during, and after her time of racing and trying for records. In addition to all of this, there were multiple advertisement for airlines and manufacturing companies, including (but not limited to) Ford, Boeing, and  Gray Goose Airlines.
     Since Dorr Felt traveled around Europe there are also French newspapers, German postcards, and correspondence with European companies about the aeronautical technologies. Every minute I spend at the Loyola University Archives still fascinates me!