There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.
To view items in this collection, use the Online Finding Aid
To demonstrate the potential of transporting mail by air, the United States Post Office authorized a series of special air mail flights as part of the festivities at an international air meet held from September 23 to October 1, 1911 on Long Island, New York. This collection consists of a postcard sent on one of these air mail flights as well as a news clipping about the card's delivery.
To demonstrate the potential of transporting mail by air, the United States Post Office authorized a series of special air mail flights as part of the festivities at an international air meet held from September 23 to October 1, 1911 on Long Island, New York. Earle L. "Ovie" Ovington was sworn in as America's "first aeroplane mail carrier" and took off from Long Island in his Queen Blériot-Type Dragon-Fly with a full mail bag on September 23, 1911. Ovington flew to Mineola, a few miles away, where he banked his airplane and pushed the bag overboard. It fell to the ground and was retrieved by the local postmaster, William McCarthy. During the course of the event, eight pilots were sworn in as "aeroplane mail carriers," and daily flights were made from Garden City to Mineola.
NASM.1998.0036
1911
J. Kenneth Bourgon, Gift, 1998, NASM.1998.0036.
0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)
National Air and Space Museum Archives
This collection consists of a postcard addressed to Miss [Elinore Engledrum] in South Bend, Indiana that was sent by her second cousin Frank via one of the special air mail flights that originated from Long Island, New York. The card is postmarked September 28, 1911 and was carried a few miles by airplane before being delivered the rest of the way by train. The front of the postcard features a view of Thomas Sopwith seated at the controls of a biplane. The collection also contains a news clipping that relates the story of the postcard's delivery but contains several inaccuracies including stating that the card was sent on the first authorized air mail flight (which actually took place on September 23, 1911), incorrectly stating that the postcard has a picture of Earle Ovington, and misquoting the inscription on the card. The article also refers to the recipient's name as "Elinore Engledrum" but the postcard itself appears to be addressed to "Elanore Engeldrum."
Collection is arranged by type of material.
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.
No restrictions on access
Air Mail Postcard and Newspaper Article, NASM.1998.0036, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Aeronautics
Air mail service
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographic postcards
Newspaper clippings