Shakir Saliba Jerwan (1881-1942), the son of a Protestant minister, was born in Beirut, Lebanon, then part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1904, Jerwan immigrated to the United States and became a citizen in 1910. In 1911, he learned to fly, earning F.A.I. license number 54. Jerwan was chief pilot for the Moisant School of Aviation, Garden City, New York from 1912 to 1914. From 1915 to 1919 he served as Director of Military Aviation in Guatemala. Jerwan returned to the United States in 1919. His later career was as a hotelier. He was a member of the Early Birds of Aviation.

NASM.XXXX.0231

Arranged, described, and encoded by Allan Janus, 2018.

Jerwan, Shakir S., 1881-1942

1911-1919

Shakir S. Jerwan, gift, date unknown, XXXX-0231

0.87 Cubic feet (2 boxes; 1 folder)

The Shakir S. Jerwan Scrapbooks Collection contains material from the period 1911-1919. During this period, Jerwan was Chief Pilot at the Moisant School of Aviation, Garden City, New York, and Director of Military Aviation for the government of Guatemala.

No restrictions on access

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence

The collection consists of one photographic album and one scrapbook.

This collection documents events in Shakir S. Jerwan's career during the period of 1911 to 1919. Scrapbook photographs (many signed) feature Jerwan's pupils and pilots at the Moisant School and of the Moisant International Aviators, including Harriet Quimby, Matilde Moisant, Bernetta Adams Miller, Roland Garros, René Barrier, René Simon and Edmond Audemars. Other photographs include John Frisbie and his man-carrying kites, Charles Niles and his Looper, and Monoplane, Jerwan's flying dog. Also included are a brochure and drawings for the Aeromotor Boat, designed by Shakir Jerwan and his brother, Fuad (Fred) Jerwan. Correspondence includes letters between Shakir Jerwan and Manuel Estrada Cabrera, president of Guatemala, and Venustiano Carranza, later president of Mexico.

Correspondence -- 1910-1920

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

Moisant Aviation School

Moisant International Aviators, Inc.

Audemars, Edmond

Barrier, Rene

Byrd, Richard Evelyn, 1888-1957

Cabrera, Manuel Estrada

Carranza, Venustiano, General

Frisbie, John J.

Garros, Roland

Jerwan, Shakir S., 1881-1942

Miller, Bernetta Adams

Moisant, Alfred, 1862-1929

Moisant, Matilde, 1887-1964

Niles, Charles

Quimby, Harriet, 1875-1912

Simon, Rene

Shakir S. Jerwan Scrapbooks Collection, Acc. XXXX.0231, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

National Air and Space Museum Archives