Wise: John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection, 1850-1993

Call Number: MG-19

3 boxes     40 folders, 1 scrapbook     1 cubic ft.

Shelving Location:  Archives South, Side 1

Repository:  LancasterHistory (Organization); PV7

Scope and Content Note:  This collection contains material about John Wise, a pioneering balloonist from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the history of ballooning. Articles written by and about John Wise provide information about the man and his career. The bulk of Series 1 is correspondence, research notes, and drafts of “The John Wise Story,” by John H. Andrews. Series 2 contains material about the ballooning hobby, other early aircraft, and the history of air mail.

Creators:  Andrews, John H.; LancasterHistory (Organization)

System of Arrangement: This collection is arranged into two series.

Series 1 John Wise

Series 2 History of Ballooning

Conditions for Access:  No restrictions.

Conditions Governing Reproductions:  Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.

Language:  English

Source of Acquisition:  Much of the collection was a gift of the family of John Andrews. Other items have been collected by the Lancaster County Historical Society.

Administrative/Biographical History:

As an adventurous and inquisitive young boy, John Wise was drawn to the skies above his native Lancaster County. He was fascinated by aerial pursuits and began to conduct experiments. He tied his cat to his homemade parachute and observed the cat’s safe descent from a local church steeple.

A keen interest in ballooning developed and Wise became a famous aeronaut. Although balloon ascensions were common at county fairs and carnivals he had never observed an ascension before he made his first one in Philadelphia in 1835. John Wise completed 462 balloon ascensions including Lancaster ascensions from Penn Square and the prison yard.

In the nineteenth century many ascensions were made just for the novelty of the event, but John Wise’s approach was from a scientific perspective. Each ascension gave him a chance to conduct scientific investigations of the atmosphere, pneumatics and hydrostatics.

It also gave him the opportunity to develop a more advanced flying machine. Wise was the first to observe the “great river of air which always blows from west to east” in the higher regions of the atmosphere. Today we call this phenomenon the jet stream. He also developed the ripcord safety mechanism.

John Wise promoted the advantages of balloon transportation. In 1843 he conceived a project for crossing the Atlantic Ocean and asked Congress to appropriate $15,000 for the project. Congress rejected the appropriation. Wise suggested a plan to bomb the Castle at Vera Cruz during the Mexican War and during the Civil War the Bureau of Topographical Engineers requested his services as a balloonist. He is credited with the first airmail transportation in 1859.

Detailed descriptions of his ascensions and experiments are found in his book, Through the Air, published in 1873. The last ascent of John Wise took place on September 29, 1879 from St. Louis, Missouri. This flight ended disastrously in Lake Michigan where his balloon fell and his remains lie.

Prepared by the Lancaster County Historical Society, ca. 1995.

 

Subject headings:

Wise, John, 1808-1879 (LHo-LOC n 79145601)

Balloonists (LHo-LOC sh 85011323)

Ballooning (LHo-LOC sh 90002491)

Hot air balloons (LHo-LOC sh 85062431)

Aeronautics (LHo-LOC sh 85001319)

Letters. (LHo-LOC sh 85076240)

 

Series 1

Folder 1 Early Newspaper and Magazine Articles

Insert 1 Newspaper article, Lancaster Intelligencer, “The Mammoth Balloon Hercules.” Announcement regarding topical and grand ascensions of John Wises balloon open to the public. 20 August 1850.

Insert 2 Magazine article, Gleason’s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion, “Great Balloon Ascension.” Article about Md’lle Delon balloon ascension in Philadelphia. 21 June 1851.

Insert 3 Magazine article, Gleason’s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion, “Balloon Ascension.” Article about John Wises ascension in the balloon Hercules from Philadelphia. 16 August 1851. (see oversized folder on shelf next to Scrapbook)

Insert 4 Newspaper article, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, “Col. Sumner Dispersing the People Assembled.” Balloon ascension and scene representing the fall of Sebastopol at Boston. 26 July 1856.

Insert 5 Newspaper article written by John Wise, The Examiner Herald, “Narrative of Professor…” 1 August 1859.

Insert 6 Newspaper article about a monthly meeting of the Franklin Institute regarding the weather and balloon flight. 22 April 1860.

Insert 7 Newspaper article written by John Wise, New York Herald, “Aerial Navigation.” 24 April 1860.

Insert 8 Newspaper article, St. Louis Republican, “Ascent of the Balloon Jupiter from St. Louis.” 31 July 1861.

Insert 9 Obituary and news article copy, Lancaster Intelligencer, “He Was an Aeronaut and a Widely Known Artist.” Death of John Wise. 17 April 1900.

Insert 10 Photostatic copy of “L’Aérostation en Amérique,” from page 87 in Histoire de l’Aeronautique, by Charles Dollfus and Charles Bouché. [1942].

 

Folder 2 Newspaper Articles

Insert 1 Magazine article by D. Tudor Harrell, Hobbies, “Early Balloonists.” December 1946.

Insert 2 Newspaper article, The Sunday News, “Airport Had Half-Acre Start in City’s Middle.” Article regarding expansion of the Lancaster Airport and a look back at the entertainment of balloon ascensions of the Wises. 13 April 1947.

Insert 3 Newspaper article, The Sunday News, “They Laughed When John Wise Proposed Air Bombing in 1846.” Article regarding the ideas of John Wise on balloon warfare. 9 October 1955.

Insert 4 Newspaper and brochure articles. “Memorial Approval Slated Today for John Wise, Local Air Pioneer.” 1 March 1955.

Lancaster Intelligencer, Search Underway for Pioneer Airman’s Kin. 6 August 1955.

Newspaper article, “New John Wise Photo.” No date.

Brochure and invitation from the Lancaster County Historical Society, “Unveiling of Monument to John Wise, Aeronaut.” 9 October 1955.

Insert 5 Newspaper articles. “Monument in Wise’s Honor to be Dedicated Sunday.” No date.

Newspaper article, Intelligencer, “Aeronaut John Wise to be Honored Sunday.” 6 October 1955.

Newspaper article, “Ex-Combat Pilot to Talk on Wise.” No date.

News article, Lancaster Intelligencer, “John Wise’s Pioneer Spirit is Lauded at Dedication.” 10 October 1955.

Letter from Glen Fleck to Mrs. Charles W. Lundgren regarding the loan of material on John Wise to the Smithsonian Institution. 6 October 1965.

 

Folder 3 Newspaper and Magazine Articles

Insert 1 Newspaper article, Daily Intelligencer, “New Book Capsules Career of Air Pioneer.” Article regarding the book, Ball in the Sky, by Esther Douty. 11 April 1956.

Insert 2 Magazine article by F. W. Kessler from Stamps, “A Major Philatelic Find.” Article regarding the find of a cover from U.S. Government airmail flight aboard the Jupiter. 16 February 1957.

Insert 3 Newspaper article, “Stamp to Mark Wise’s Mail Flight 100 Yrs. Ago.” 13 June 1959.

News article, “John Wise Kin Sought Here.” 22 June 1959.

Insert 4 Newspaper article, American Heritage, “100-Year-Old Drama of 4 Men in a Balloon.” Article about John Wise’s historic balloon flight from St. Louis, Missouri to Henderson, New York. 6 July 1959.

Insert 5 Newspaper article from The Scribbler, “More About Ballooning. 7 July 1959.

News article, “Original Balloon Letter May be Shown in City.” 23 July 1959.

Insert 6 Newspaper article, The Sunday News, “90 Million Air Mail Stamps Mark Centennial of John Wise’s Flight.” Article regarding stamp issued in honor of John Wise’s first mail carry. 9 August 1959.

Insert 7 Newspaper article, “Stamp Marks 100th Year of Wise Flight.” 17 August 1959.

News article, “Two Balloons Fail to Match Wise’s Flight.” 18 August 1959.

Insert 8 Newspaper article, “Wise Trades Balloon for Horse Troop.” 24 November 1961.

Insert 9 Newspaper article, The Sunday Bulletin, “In Our Town.” Article about John Wise ascending in Philadelphia a century earlier. 28 July 1963.

Insert 10 Newspaper article, “The Old Lady Gave Him What For.” Article regarding John Wise’s landing in Henderson, NY in a tree. No date.

News article regarding balloon aeronautics. No date.

 

Folder 4 Biography and Genealogy Notes

Insert 1 Autobiographical sketch by John Wise from Through the Air. August 1873.

Insert 2 Biography and genealogy of John Wise. No date.

Insert 3 Biographical handwritten notes. No date.

Insert 4 Invitation from the John Wise Air Mail Society to the First Annual Picnic. 12 July 1941.

Insert 5 Post Office News Release No. 145 regarding the release of a 7-cent airmail stamp commemorating the carrying of mail by the Balloon Jupiter to be released August 17, 1959 in Lafayette, IN. 13 June 1959.

 

Folder 5 Stamps

Insert 1 Three envelopes with ballooning stamps. 28 September 1929 – 17 August 1959.

 

Folder 6 Book-Draft [John Andrews]

Insert 1 List of associated and consulting material in the preparation of The John Wise Story. From the writer’s library. No date.

Insert 2 Draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter I, “The Dawn’s Early Light.” No date. Staples left in to keep cut and paste pages in order

Insert 3 Draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter II, “What So Proudly We Hail.” No date.

Insert 4 Draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter III, “First Flight-Philadelphia.” No date.

Insert 5 Draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter IV, “The Shore Dimly Seen.” No date. Staples left in to keep cut and paste pages in order.

 

Folder 7 Book-Draft [John Andrews]

Insert 1 Draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter V, “Blessed with Victory and Peace.” No date.

Insert 2 Draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter VI, “The Rocket’s Red Glare.” No date.

Insert 3 Draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter VII, “The Twilight’s Last Gleaming.” No date.

Insert 4 Final draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter I, “The Dawn’s Early Light B.C. – 1808.” No date.

Insert 5 Final draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter II, “What So Proudly We Hail 1808-1834.” No date.

 

Folder 8 Book-Final Draft [John Andrews]

Insert 1 Final draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter III, “Blessed With Victory and Peace 1835.” No date.

Insert 2 Final draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter IV, “The Shore Dimly Seen 1835-1836.” No date.

Insert 3 Final draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter V, “Blessed With Victory and Peace 1836-1860.”

Insert 4 Final draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter VI, “The Rocket’s Red Glare 1861-1862.” No date.

Insert 5 Final draft of The John Wise Story, Chapter VII, “The Twilight’s Last Gleaming 1861-1879.” No date.

 

Folder 9 Woman Balloonist

Insert 1 Newspaper article, The Scribbler, about John Wise’s daughter-in-law and her first balloon flight in 1869. 16 June, 1959.

 

Folder 10 Family News Article

Insert 1 Newspaper article, The Intelligencer, “John Wise Slept Here”, regarding the Old Lamb Tavern in Chester County, PA which still houses relatives of John Wise. 8 October 1955.

 

Folder 11 Letters from John Wise

Insert 1 Copy of letter from John Wise to Major Hartman Bache offering his services and that of the balloon to the government. 3 August 1861.

Insert 2 Copy of letter from John Wise to Major Hartman Bache displaying his displeasure at the Government’s refusal to pay the stipulated sum for his services and the use of his balloon. 3 February 1868.

Insert 3 Copy of letter from John Wise to B. H. Warner after the Battle of Bull Run. 18 March 1868.

 

Folder 12 Letters to John Wise

Insert 1 Original telegraph message from Major Hartman Bache to John Wise requesting cost of $500 for balloon and services. 12 June 1861.

Insert 2 Original telegraph message from Major Hartman Bache to John Wise requesting a cost estimate and time frame for a balloon to be made. 26 June 1861.

Original telegraph message from Major Hartman Bache to John Wise asking if he has a balloon for immediate use. 27 June 1861.

Original letter from A. W. Whipple to John Wise urging haste to make the new balloon and arrange provisions to have the necessary equipment to inflate it on the field. 3 July 1861.

Insert 3 Original letter from A. W. Whipple to John Wise congratulating him on his excellent work and ordering a new war balloon. 9 July 1861.

Insert 4 Original letter from Capt. J. C. Woodruff to John Wise requesting him to bring the balloon to Centreville as quickly as possible. 20 July 1861.

Insert 5 Handwritten “Pass for Balloon Party” from Capt. A. Beckwith to John Wise to pass over the ferry and through the lines to join General McDowell in the advance. 20 July 1861.

Insert 6 Original letter from Capt. J. C. Woodruff to John Wise with orders to fill the balloon and to proceed to Arlington House. 24 July 1861.

Insert 7 Original letter from J. C. Woodruff to John Wise requesting a bill for expense of balloon and services. 2 October 1861.

 

Folder 13 Correspondence of John Andrews

Insert 1 Letter from Florence Taylor to Mr. Andrews referencing a reprint of a 1941 edition of a book published by the Lancaster County Bank. No date.

Invitation from Emmett J. Galzer to join the Wingfoot Lighter-Than-Air Society centered in Akron, OH for LTA enthusiasts. No date.

Insert 2 Letter from W.W. Byars to John Henry Andrews. 30 December 1940.

Insert 3 Two copies of letters from John H. Andrews to the New Era staff discussing John Wise. 17 September 1950.

Insert 4 Letter to John H. Andrews from Marion A. Watson, Director of The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company regarding his enquiries into copies of publications. 25 March 1955.

Letter from Janet Grimm, Sales Secretary, The Johns Hopkins Press to John H. Andrews, responding to his enquiry. 16 May 1955.

Letter from Janet Grimm, Sales Secretary, The Johns Hopkins Press to John H. Andrews, with instructions on obtaining permission to quote from their publication. 24 May 1955.

Letter from Harold E. Ingle, Director, The Johns Hopkins Press to John H. Andrews, granting permission to quote from their book. 31 May 1955.

Letter from Mrs. R. A. Bartlett, Secretary to the Director to John H. Andrews thanking him for ordering a book but informing him that volume was not published. 7 June 1955.

Insert 5 Letter from Elizabeth B. Brown, Historical Librarian, Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences, to John H. Andrews in response to inquiries he made. 12 July 1955.

Insert 6 Letter from Frederic S. Klein to John Andrews responding to his inquiries regarding John Wise’s kin. 16 September 1955.

Letter from Carl W. Drepperd, Director of the Pennsylvania Farm Museum in response to an article he wrote for Antiques in 1925. 16 September 1955.

Letter from Elizabeth B. Brown, Historical Librarian at the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences in response to his letter requesting information. 21 September 1955.

Insert 7 Letter from Robert C. Batchelder of Saint James’ Church to John Andrews commenting on the paper he wrote on John Wise.

Invitation to the Lancaster Public Library. 2-21 April 1956.

 

Folder 14 Correspondence of John Andrews

Insert 1 Letter from Robert G. Kriebel, reporter for the Lafayette Journal and Courier to John Andrews regarding the forthcoming air mail centennial. 22 June 1959.

Letter from Ira Kreider, Librarian at the Lancaster County Historical Society to John Andrews responding to requests for a copy of “The John Wise Story.” 19 June 1959.

Insert 2 Letter from Elmer R. Long to John Andrews responding to inquiries regarding John Wise. 7 July 1959.

Letter from Alfred D. Maier of Nicolas Sanabria Co. to John Andrews in response to a request for a copy of the Air Post News. 7 July 1959.

Letter from H. L. Lindquist of H.L. Lindquist Publications in response to a request for a photograph of John Wise. 8 July 1959.

The Airpost Journal. July 1959.

Insert 3 Letter from Esther M. Douty to John Andrews about research she had found on John Wise. 8 July 1959.

Letter from Philip S. Hopkins, Director, Smithsonian Institution to John Andrews responding to a request for a copy of a letter and suggesting that he consider the National Air Museum of the Smithsonian as a repository for his collection. 9 July 1959.

Letter from Lores McCloskey of the H.E. Harris Company to John Andrews responding to his letter on John Wise and informing him they do not have a copy. 10 July 1959.

Insert 4 Letter from Rollin Steinmetz, City Editor of the Lancaster Sunday News to John Andrews regarding his manuscript on John Wise and the possibility of publishing it. 21 July 1959.

Letter from John Nicklin, Philatelic Appraiser, to John Andrews, in response to a letter asking for any references to John Wise. 21 July 1959.

Insert 5 Memorandum from the Smithsonian Institution National Air Museum from the Associate Curator, Louis Casey acknowledging the gift of the booklet, “The Story of John Wise” received from John Andrews. 27 July 1959.

Letter from Philip Hopkins, Smithsonian Institute, to John Andrews thanking him for the booklet. 28 July 1959.

Letter from Elizabeth Brown, Historical Librarian, Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, to John Andrews, in response to his inquiry regarding any letters known to exist from a flight on August 17, 1859. 31 July 1959.

Insert 6 Letter from Melvin French, Cherokee Court Productions, to John Andrews stating that he enjoyed reading the manuscript. 9 August 1959.

Letter from L.W. Mueller, Editor of Tradition, to John Andrews responding to an inquiry on reprinting material. 17 August 1959.

Letter from Bob Kriebel to John Andrews with news of the Operation Jupiter Centennial. 18 August 1959.

Insert 7 Letter from Robert Waitt of Richmond, VA to John Andrews responding to an inquiry regarding the May 21st balloon program and enclosing programs. 6 June 1962.

Letter from A.D. Topping, Bulletin Editor, to John Andrews inquiring on how to get a copy of his article as well as suggesting he subscribe to the Bulletin. 16 July 1961.

Postcard from Pearl Young to John Andrews explaining that she gave his address to Dr. A.D. Topping. 22 June 1962.

Letter from A. D. Topping, Bulletin editor to John Andrews asking for a copy of an article on John Wise. 30 July 1962.

 

Folder 15 Articles and Correspondence of John Andrews

Insert 1 Rough draft of article, “Lancaster’s Balloonist, John Wise, Beatnik of the 1800s,” by John Andrews.

Insert 2 Letter to unknown recipient presumably written by John Andrews. No date.

Insert 3 Rough draft of article presumably written by John Andrews. No date.

 

Folder 16 “The John Wise Story,” by John Andrews-Chapters and Reference Material

Insert 1 Chapter III of “Aeronautics in the Union and Confederate Armies,” by F. Stansbury Hayden. No date

Corresponding reference notes. No date.

Insert 2 Handwritten copy of Chapter 2 of “The John Wise Story.” No date

Insert 3 Handwritten and typed notes on Chapter 5 of “The John Wise Story.” No date.

Insert 4 Handwritten notes on Chapter 5 of “The John Wise Story.” No date.

Insert 5 Handwritten notes on Chapter 6 of “The John Wise Story.” No date.

Insert 6 Associated consulting material from the writer’s library. No date.

Insert 7 Glossary of abbreviations cited in the footnotes, list of reference books and consulting material. No date.

Insert 8 Reference notes from the Lancaster Intelligencer. No date.

 

Folder 17 “The John Wise Story,” by John Andrews-Reference Notes

Insert 1 Typed notes on research regarding Francis Leon Gambetta who won world acclaim in 1870 relying on balloons to deliver supplies during the Siege of Paris. No date.

Insert 2 Handwritten notes on Francis Leon Gambetta. No date.

Insert 3 Handwritten research notes on John Wise. No date.

Insert 4 Handwritten research notes, subject unclear. No date.

Insert 5 Handwritten research notes, subject unclear. No date.

Insert 6 Handwritten research notes, subject unclear. No date.

Insert 7 Handwritten research notes, subject unclear. No date.

Insert 8 Handwritten research notes, subject unclear. No date.

Insert 9 Handwritten research notes, subject unclear. No date.

Insert 10 Handwritten research notes on John Wise’s politics. No date.

Insert 11 Handwritten research notes randomly written and in no order. No date.

 

Folder 18  “Mystery of the clouds: life and adventures of Professor John Wise”. 15 October [1879]. An extra article from the Sterling Standard (Illinois) upon the disappearance of John Wise and George Burr in The Pathfinder balloon over Lake Michigan. Scanned copy. Gift of John L. Kraft, 26 October 2016.

Scrapbook  Red Scrap Book from the John H. Andrews Collection containing a compilation of news clips, letters, typed notes, and magazine articles collected by John Andrews. Many of the handwritten research seem to have come from these articles.

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Series 2

Box 1

Folder 1 Newspaper and Magazine Articles—Fascination and Mystery of Flying

Insert 1 Article from National Geographic, “Air Conquest”. From the early days of giant kites and birdlike gliders, The National Geographic Society has aided and encouraged the growth of aviation. August 1927.

Insert 2 Magazine article written by Roger Burlingame, Woman’s Day, “Man Conquers Space.” May 1945.

Newspaper article, “Bird-like flights predicted for man.” June 1948.

Newspaper article from Intelligencer Journal, “That Next Journey to the Moon Can Start From your Back Yard.” 21 January 1957.

Insert 3 Magazine article from Builders by H. C. Schatvet, “Odd Facts About Early Flying.” 26 January 1952.

Insert 4 Article from The New York Times Magazine by Ray Bradbury, “Marvel and Miracles-Pass It on!.” 20 March 1955.

Insert 5 Time Magazine article, “Taps for Blimps.” 7 July 1961.

Insert 6 Newspaper article, “7,369 Flying Saucers Not Spacecraft, AF Says.” 7 February 1962.

Newspaper article, “Discoverer of Pluto Adds Weight To Saucer Theory.” No date.

Newspaper article, “Lancaster Boy Co-Founder of Aerial Phenomena Unit” about a flying saucer study. No date.

Insert 7 Magazine article from The Man’s Magazine by Robert Halmi, “Sports Cars vs. Gas Bag.” No date.

Insert 8 Letter from Betty to John about her dream of ballooning. No date.

Insert 9 Magazine article, “Ways to Go that Didn’t Go Over.” No date.

Folder 2 Cartoons, Postcards, Comics on Ballooning

Insert 1 Poem by Palmer Cox from Harper’s Young People, “The Dog and The Cat.” 12 August 1984.

Copy of U.S. Patent No. 221,855 titled “Improvement in Fire Escapes.” 1879.

Insert 2 Magazine article from Hobbies, “ Pianist Favors Miniature Silver.” December 1940.

Insert 3 Magazine article from Hobbies by George T. Maxwell, “Cartoon Flights of Fancy.” December 1940.

Magazine article from Hobbies by William McDevitt, “Solving a Famous Song Mystery.” May 1941.

Magazine article from Hobbies, “Dreams of the Past…Realities of the Present.” June 1952.

Copy of cartoon from Ripley’s Believe It or Not. No date.

Insert 4 Letter from The Franklin Institute to Major Gardner with accompanying Photostatic copy entitled “Fairmount”. 2 January 1947.

Newspaper article regarding a Navy balloon being inflated at Fairmount Park. No date.

Insert 5 Postcard with an attached image of a hot-air balloon, “Seeing Lancaster.” No date, pre-1907. Gift of Heather S. Tennies, November 2005.

Folder 3 Balloon Pictures

Insert 1 Copies of balloon pictures from newspapers. No date.

2 balloon lunch tickets. No date.

Insert 2 Picture of Professor Flower’s American Balloon stand. No date.

Picture of a balloon from The American Balloon Co. No date.

Folder 4 Early Balloon Prints

Insert 1 Early Balloon Prints. 18 color prints of the first lighter-than-air ships. 1955.

Folder 5 French Ballooning and Siege of Paris

Insert 1 Map of Balloon Post of Paris. 1870.

Insert 2 French newspaper articles during the investment of Paris by the Prussians. 1870.

Insert 3 French letter and newspaper article of the Siege of Paris Balloon Post. 1871.

Insert 4 Article and letter from Lettre-Journal De Paris. 1870

French letter to Roussel Caulliy. January 1871.

Copy of print by Tanconville. “1800. Bataillon de Pontonniers, a Strasbourg. Compaigne d’Aerostiers Militaires, a Barr.”

Letter from France. January 1871.

Insert 5 Article from Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News, “The Post During the Siege of Paris”, translated from Le Collectionneur de Timbres-Poste. 18 July 1903.

Insert 6 Article by John W. Prevost in The American Philatelist, “The Balloon Post.” January 1926.

Insert 7 French newspaper article from Lettre Journal De Strasbourg, “Exposition Philatelique Internationale de Strasbourg. 12 June 1927.

Insert 8 Magazine article by Thomas Elvin from Hobbies, “Balloon Posts of the Siege of Paris.” December 1934.

Magazine article from Hobbies, “ Air Mail Development.” July 1938.

Insert 9 Magazine article by E. F. Hunt from The Philatelist, “The Posts of the Paris Commune, 1871.” October 1941.

Insert 10 Magazine article by Ernest A. Kehr, “V-Mail Born at Siege of Paris, in 1870.” 1943.

Insert 11 Magazine article by M. Hautrive from Philately, “Paris.” 28 October 1946.

Folder 6 Ballooning Pioneers

Insert 1 Poem from news article by James Mills addressed to his friends at his 6th ascension. 1 November 1834.

Copy of the announcement by S. C. Atkinson, printer, of James Mills’ balloon ascension in Lancaster. 1 November 1834.

Poster of same. 1 November 1834.

Insert 2 Magazine article by Uncle Ray, “Flying Machine Pioneers.” No date.

Insert 3 Article by Professor Charles Wolcott, The Wide World Magazine, “A Fall of Three Thousand Feet”. 1898.

Newspaper article, “The Life of an Everyday Aeronaut.” No date.

Condensed article by John Roland, Ships in the Sky, “The Daring Young Man on the Flying Cigar.” May 1957.

Insert 4 Newspaper article, “U.S. Woman Balloonist Battles Cold 40 Hours” about Constance Wolf.21 November 1961.

Newspaper article, “She Wants to be Pilot of a Balloon”, about a young woman in Britain who want to be the first woman to pilot a balloon. No date.

Newspaper article, “Planes Press Search for Woman Balloonist”. about Barbara Keith from San Diego who went missing during a hot air balloon race. No date.

Folder 7 Air Mail Development and First Flights

Insert 1 Newspaper photograph of the first aerial shot in America by balloonist J.W. Black of Boston Harbor. 1860.

Insert 2 Article from Harper’s Weekly, on transatlantic ballooning. 24 September 1859.

Insert 3 Article from The Air Mail Collector by Dr. William Evans, “The First Air Mail.” No date.

Article from Hobbies: The Magazine for Collectors, “Air Mail Development.” July 1938.

Insert 4 Article from Hobbies: The Magazine for Collectors by D. Tudor Harrell, “Early Balloonists.” November 1946.

Insert 5 Newspaper article about French Balloonist J.P. Blanchard first ascent in Philadelphia. No date.

Newspaper article, “First Aerial Flight in Nation Repeated by Using Helicopter”, about Jean Pierre Blanchard balloon ascent from Philadelphia. 10 January 1947.

Article, “America’s Most Valuable Letter”, about Jean Pierre Blanchard’s Philadelphia ascent. 13 January 1963.

Insert 6 Newspaper article by Vincent Edwards, “First Balloon Across the Alps.” No date.

Insert 7 Newspaper article “3-Hour Balloon Flight Marks First Ascent in America in 1793” about the first balloon ascent which took place in Fairmont Park in 1793. 6 July 1959.

Newspaper article by Madelin Blitzstein, “Something for Philadelphia to Boast About.” No date.

Insert 8 Story titled “The Dutch Balloon.” No date.

Insert 9 Magazine article, “Ferment and Progress”.” No date.

Advertisement from the oil industry. No date.

Folder 8 Balloons and the Post

Insert 1 Article from Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News by John W. Prevost, “Balloon and Pigeon Post.” 10 June 1905.

Article from The Airpost Journal by Francis J. Field, “If I Were A Collector…”. April 1935.

Article from The Air Mail Collector by Tad Gryzewski, “Poland-Pigeon Post.” No date.

Insert 2 Article from Stamps by W. Peers, about the pigeon post of the Great Barrier Islands and New Zealand. 21 December 1935.

Article from Stamps by Nicolas Sanabria about the Great Barrier Island pigeon post. 9 January 1937.

Article from Kaw Chief Stamp Journal by Nicolas Sanabria, “Great Barrier Islands Stamps.” September 1942.

Article from Mekeel’s by Charles I Ball, “Great Barrier Pigeon Post.” 12 October 1942.

Article from Martin’s Stamp Journal by Wilfred Myers, “The Pigeon Post.” No date.

Insert 3 Article from Philately by Glen W. Naves. 23 December 1946.

Press Release from Post Office Department on the 1959 Stamp Program. 15 May 1959.

Press Release from Post Office Department. 6 June 1959.

Newspaper article, “Stamp’s Colors.” 4 June 1959.

Newspaper article, “Jupiter Stamp Gains Fame with Collectors.” 18 June 1959.

Newspaper article, “News and Notes of the World of Stamps.” 14 June 1959.

Newspaper article, “4 Commemorative Stamps Scheduled for Sale Locally.” August 1959.

Magazine article by Ramon Coffman on stamp collecting. No date.

Folder 9 Balloons and War

Insert 1 Time Magazine article on the first air raid from a balloon in Austria. 25 July 1949.

Magazine article, “Super-weapons that Didn’t End the World.” No date.

Newspaper article, “Balloons Urge Revolt Against Red China.” No date.

Insert 2 Magazine article by W. H. Wilbur, “Those Japanese Balloons.” No date.

Article by Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, “Japan’s Balloon Invasion of America.” No date.

Magazine article from Collier’s, by Dr. Lincoln LaPaz and Albert Rosenfeld, “Japan’s Balloon Invasion of America.” 17 January 1953.

Folder 10 Articles on Aviation and the Civil War

Insert 1 Article from The New York Times by Philip R. Smith Jr., “Hailing the Civil War’s Airborne.” 20 May 1962.

Agenda brochure from City of Richmond celebration of the birth of military aviation in America. 30 May 1962.

Insert 2 Booklet titled The Air Arm of The Confederacy by Joseph Jenkins Cornish III. 1963.

Insert 3 Magazine article “Great Revival”. No date.

Folder 11 Films, Photo Exhibits, Ballooning Hobby

Insert 1 Newspaper article on the movie “Gallant Journey.” 7 October 1946.

Newspaper article by Howard Thompson, “Lamorisse’s Horizons” about the movie maker, Albert Lamorisse. No date.

Advertisement from New York Times for Albert Lamorisse’s movie, “The Red Balloon.” No date.

Newspaper article, “Presenting Pictorial History of Flight”. 1949.

Newspaper picture depicting the stained glass window in Trinity Church, Springfield, MA honoring Charles Lindbergh’s trans-ocean flight. No date.

Insert 2 Newspaper article on balloon-riding donkey. No date.

Newspaper article, “Bucks Balloonist Rides the Wind Weekends”, on ballooning as a hobby. 19 August 1963.

Insert 3 Memo from Publisher regarding article in Sports Illustrated. 9 May 1955.

Acknowledgment for cover photo on Sports Illustrated. 9 May 1955.

Sports Illustrated article on ballooning. 9 May 1955.

Insert 4 Book review of Skyhooks by Kurt R Stehling and William Beller. No date.

Insert 5 The Sky Pirate, by Garrett P. Serviss. April 1909.

Copy of the Argosy. 18 January 1936.

Folder 12 German Sheet Music.

“Zeppelin-Marsch und andere Märsche,” Musik fur Alle. No date.

Folder 13 Balloon Inspired Fashion and Art

Insert 1 Newspaper ad for ties with balloons on them. No date.

Newspaper article from This Week Magazine showing women’s balloon inspired fashions. 2 June 1957.

Insert 2 Lord & Taylor ad for balloon ascension pin. No date.

Advertisement for balloon watches. No date.

National Button Society picture of the commemorative silver buttons depicting balloons. No date.

Insert 3 Negatives and photographs of balloon buttons. No date.

Insert 4 Magazine article on artist Hans Fischer and his balloon art. No date.

Folder 14 Operation Jupiter and Centennial Celebration, Lafayette, Indiana

Insert 1 Newspaper article, “Lasher to Head Committee” on Operation Jupiter and the Centennial Celebration in Lafayette IN. 23 April 1959.

Insert 2 Newspaper article, “Stamp to Feature Balloon and Flags.” 5 June 1959.

Newspaper article, “Jupiter to Fly Again on Stamp Face.” 8 June 1959.

Newspaper article, “Several Events in Hooper for Air Mail Centennial.” 11 June 1959.

Insert 3 Newspaper article, “Balloon Hobbyist Offers to Stage Ascension Here.” 17 June 1959.

Newspaper article, “Balloon Lore Lent to City.” 25 June 1959.

Insert 4 Newspaper article, “Postal Chief May Be Here.” 26 June 1959.

Newspaper article, “Ross May Make Balloon Hop Here.” 27 June 1959.

Insert 5 Newspaper article, “Ask Relics, Rockets For Jupiter Day.” 1 July 1959.

Newspaper article from The Journal and Courier, “Womenfolk Are Up in Air over Operation Jupiter.” 1 July 1959.

Insert 6 Newspaper article, “Ross to Make Balloon Flight from His Home Town Aug. 17.” 3 July 1959.

Newspaper article, “Piccard To Restage 1859 Balloon Flight.” 10 July 1959.

Insert 7 Newspaper article, “ President to Get Bid for Centennial.” 18 July 1959.

Newspaper article, “Balloon to Transport Mail U.S. Postal Department Says.” 21 July 1959.

Newspaper article, “Jupiter Events Due National Publicity.” 25 July 1959.

Insert 8 Newspaper article, “Copter to Carry Mails to Airport.” 4 August 1959.

Newspaper article, “Balloonist Says Plans Going Well so Far.” 6 August 1959.

Insert 9 Newspaper article, “X-7 Missile Gets Jupiter Day Role.” 8 August 1959.

Newspaper article, “Banquet to Climax Jupiter Events.” 11 August 1959.

Newspaper article, “Jupiter Guest list Boasts U.S. Officials.” 12 August 1959.

Insert 10 Newspaper article, “Parade a History of Mail Transport.” 13 August 1959.

Newspaper article, “Mayors Proclaim Jupiter Day.” 13 August 1959.

Newspaper article, “Event Stirs Up Traffic Problems.” 13 August 1959.

Insert 11 Newspaper article, “Celebrate Jupiter Day Centennial.” 15 August 1959.

Newspaper article, “Sen. Hartke to Attend Banquet.” 15 August 1959.

Newspaper article from The Journal and Courier, “Air Mail Centennial.” 15 August 1959.

Newspaper article from The Journal and Courier, “Jupiter Day Here Monday.” 15 August 1959.

Insert 12 Newspaper article from The Journal and Courier, “Jupiter Flies Again.” 15 August 1959.

Insert 13 Souvenir Booklets from the Centennial Celebration of the First Official Air Mail Flight in Lafayette, IN. 17 August 1959.

Folder 15 Operation Jupiter and Centennial Celebration, Lafayette, Indiana

Insert 1 Newspaper article from The Journal and Courier, “Mail History Parade Rated Great Success.” 18 August 1959.

Newspaper article, “Jupiter News Edition Hits 48 States.” 18 August 1959.

Newspaper picture. No date.

Newspaper article from The Journal and Courier, “Delayed Balloon Launching Thrills Crowd of 10,000.” 18 August 1959.

Insert 2 Newspaper article from The Journal and Courier, “Parties Climax Jupiter Centennial Celebration.” 18 August 1959.

Picture from The Journal and Courier. 18 August 1959.

Insert 3 Newspaper article, “2nd Balloon Going Up Today.” No date.

Newspaper picture of balloon ascent. No date.

Newspaper article, “Lauds City’s Work on Jupiter Events.” No date.

Insert 4 Lafayette Journal and Courier Special Edition newspaper. 15 August 1959.

Insert 5 Two photographs of Jupiter ready for flight. No date.

Insert 6 Balloon stamps and advertisement.

Box 2

Folder 16 Magazines and Brochures containing Balloon Articles

Insert 1 Harper’s New Monthly Magazine. June 1900. Includes article, “Balloons in War,” by Gen. A. W. Greeley.

Insert 2 The First Official Air Mail, by Richard B Wetherill, M.D. Reprinted from the Indiana Magazine of History, XXXV, No. 4, December 1939.

Insert 3 Wingfoot Lighter-Than-Air Society Bulletin. 1959.

Wingfoot Lighter-Than-Air Society Bulletin. May 1960.

Wingfoot Lighter-Than-Air Society Bulletin. 1962.

Wingfoot Lighter-Than-Air Society Bulletin. October 1967.

Insert 4 “Via Air Mail: 1859,” by Robert C. Kriebel, about John Wise. Tradition: The Monthly Magazine of America’s Picturesque Past. April 1959.

Folder 17 Steam and Helium Balloons

Insert 1 National Geographic Magazine article, “Helium, the New Balloon Gas.” May 1919.

Insert 2 “America on the Move: How It Looked to the Authors and Illustrators of Harper’s,” by John A. Kouwenhoven. Article about steam balloons and bomb carriages. No date.

Folder 18 Airplanes and Helicopters

Insert 1 National Geographic Magazine “Man’s Progress in Conquering the Air.” July 1924.

Insert 2 National Geographic Magazine, “President Coolidge Bestows Lindbergh Award.” June 1925.

Insert 3 National Geographic Magazine article, “Seeing America with Lindbergh.” January 1928.

Insert 4 “Catapult,” a novelette by George Bruce about the early days of Navy aviation. Argosy. 9 March 1939.

Insert 5 Booklet, “Wings Over Kill Devil “ and “Legends of The Dunes of Dare,” by Catherine Albertson. No date.

Insert 6 Magazine article, “1912,” about Clyde Cessna. No date.

Insert 7 Images of helicopters from The American Legion Magazine. March 1954.

Daily Intelligencer Journal article on death of Frederick J. Wiseman. 6 October 1961.

Insert 8 Magazine article, “They Were Free to Try the Impossible.” No date.

Entry about Wilbur Wright’s 1909 flight up the Hudson River submitted to The Saturday Evening Post by the Brown Brothers.

Folder 19 Parachutes and Patent

Insert 1 The Switlik Safetychute brochure. No date.

Insert 2 Patent application for parachute improvements by Peter Madsen. 1931.

Insert 3 Newspaper article from Boston Sunday Post, “Parachute Jumper Reported Dead 6 Times.” 22 May 1938.

Insert 4 Article, “The Jumping Angels of the USAF.” 1962.

Insert 5 Newspaper article, “Parachutes Among Oldest Man-Carrying Aircraft.” No date.

Folder 20 Magazine Articles

Insert 1 Magazine article, McCall’s, on ballooning. October 1908.

Insert 2 Magazine article, “The Wonders of the Flying Age.” 1919.

Insert 3 National Geographic Magazine. January 1925.

Insert 4, National Geographic Magazine. March 1933.

Insert 5 Newspaper article, “First Jet Dirigible.” October 11.

Newspaper article, “Zeppelin Expert Believes Craft’s Future Doubtful.” No date.

Newspaper article, “Flights Recalled by Zeppelin Fans.” 21 July 1963.

Insert 6 Newspaper article, “Hindenburg Exploded 25 Years Ago.” No date.

Newspaper article, “Holocaust at Lakehurst.” No date.

Newspaper article by Gus Pasquarella of Hindenburg exploding. No date.

Newspaper picture of Hindenburg exploding. No date.

Insert 7 Letter to Mr. Andrews from George F. Stilphen. No date.

Invention and Technology Magazine. 1993.

Folder 21 Stereo Cards of Aircraft

“Starting for the skies in a 20th century airship—Jamestown Exposition, Virginia. 1922.

“Dirigible R-34 at Mineola.” No date.

“U.S. Observation Airplane on West Front—France.” No date.

“Hauling down an Observation Balloon.” No date.

“Zeppelin wrecked and burned—Ruins being inspected by French troops.” No date.

Folder 22 Postcard Album

Folder 23 Miscellaneous

Insert 1 Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News with a review of The Balloon Ascent. 9 September 1935.

Newspaper article, “Racing Balloon Mars Garden Fete in Paris.” 16 July no year.

Typewritten notes on National Button Society letterhead. No date.

Magazine article showing a balloon at the Midway entrance of Jackson Park. No date.

Poster of a balloon Ascension and Parachute Drop in Crystal Lake Park, Marion, OH. No date.

Poster for 35th Anniversary Event at the Gardner Fair Grounds. No date.

Page from a calendar with a balloon. August 1953.