L'Aérophile Photographs

Download Image

There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

1 Images

To view items in this collection, use the Online Finding Aid

Copy photographs of pre-WWI aircraft from the L'Aérophile Collection at the Library of Congress.

In January 1893, the French journalist Georges Besançon (1866-1934) in collaboration with the Union Aérophile de France started to publish a monthly illustrated revue L'Aérophile. Early issues were devoted to ballooning and related subjects. As heavier-than-air craft were created, the coverage changed to include all aspects of aviation and aeronautics. While the scope of the coverage was devoted primarily to French aviators and activities, international items of interest were reported as well. Publication of L'Aérophile stopped abruptly in August 1947. The research collection of the editorial office was put up for sale, including the photograph "morgue" and was subsequently purchased by the Library of Congress (LC). Although items were apparently removed from the collection before it reached LC, the collection still contains an estimated 30,000 photographs as well as a large amount of related material including correspondence on aeronautics, manuscripts, design details for aircraft, engines, wings, brakes, etc., and information and brochures about and from early aircraft companies, designers and pilots.

Identifier

NASM.2001.0066

Creator

L'Aérophile

Date

circa 1905-1914; 1921; 1931

Provenance

Library of Congress, Loaned to NASM for copying, 2001, NASM.2001.0066

Extent

5.62 Gigabytes (132 digital images)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of copies of 140 individual photographs held in the L'Aérophile Collection within the Technical Reports, and Standards Collection of the Science, Technology, and Business Division at the Library of Congress (LC). Images depict early aviation, aircraft, and airshows primarily in France. Most of the photographs originate from French news photography agencies such as Rol, Branger, and Meurisse before World War I. Only a photograph of a Caudron C.39 Hydroaeroplane in 1921 and another of Lucien Bossoutrot in 1931 are outside this period. Also included in this collection is a series by artist Michel "Mich" Liebaux of caricatures of aviation and automobile personalities. LC loaned the original photographs to produce copy images. Items were then returned to LC.

Arrangement note

Unarranged.

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.

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Citation

L'Aérophile Photographs, NASM.2001.0066, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics
Aeronautics -- 1903-1916
Curtiss, General, Aircraft
Nieuport Aircraft Family
Voisin Aircraft Family
Caricatures and cartoons

Type

Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Gigabytes
Born digital
Cd-roms
Copy photographs

Visit

One museum, two locations

What's On

At the museum and online

Explore

Dive deep into air and space

Learn

For teachers and parents

Give

Be the spark