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This collection is a product of the material gathered for the exhibit, book, brochure and poster. It includes a large amount of additional information gathered for research but not used. The Collection is divided into six series: I. Exhibit Catalog Images; II. Exhibit Only Images; III. Brochure Images; IV. Poster Images; V. Original Photography; VI. Research Collection. Different sized black and white and color photographs, mostly 8 x 10s, are included in most of the series, although captions are not always provided. Other types of materials are corresponding negatives, photocopies, glass plate negatives and color transparencies.
In 1991, the National Air and Space Museum created an exhibit with a correlating text called 'Legend, Memory, and the Great War in the Air'. The Great War, as World War I was originally called, was one of the bloodiest wars known to man, with over 11 million soldiers killed on the battle field and in the air. The collection is mostly dedicated to the war in the air and encompasses the harsh reality as well as the not so realistic images of World War I.
NASM.1993.0063
National Air and Space Museum (U.S.)
1914-[ca. 1980s]
bulk 1914-1918
Various, Transfer, 1993, 1993-0063, see Donor Correspondence
2.7 Cubic feet ((6 legal document boxes) (1 oversized box))
National Air and Space Museum Archives
This collection is a product of the material gathered for the exhibit, book, brochure and poster. It includes a large amount of additional information gathered for research but not used. The Collection is divided into six series: I. Exhibit Catalog Images; II. Exhibit Only Images; III. Brochure Images; IV. Poster Images; V. Original Photography; VI. Research Collection. Different sized black and white and color photographs, mostly 8 x 10s, are included in most of the series, although captions are not always provided. Other types of materials are corresponding negatives, photocopies, glass plate negatives and color transparencies. The following was added to this collection on July 28, 2006: photographs, notes, correspondence, photography requests and receipts, and research articles. This material was separated into two series: 7: General research information, including approved scripts, photographs, information gathered in the making of a brochure for this exhibit, and information on World War I aircraft engines; 8: Photographic request correspondence, receipts, and transparencies, separated by specific organizations and individuals. The ninth series was added in April of 2019: original archival materials that had been displayed in this exhibit, including record albums, manuals and dictionaries/glossaries, C & A Wittemann Aeronautical Supplies catalog, photographs (including Sanke Cards), a 1918 Experimental Scout Plan (SE-5) Model drawing, military correspondence and logbook belonging to Lancelot Bellinger, Royal Marines. Note: The digital images in this finding aid were repurposed from scans made by an outside contractor for a commercial product and may show irregular cropping and orientation in addition to color variations resulting from damage to and deterioration of the original objects.
The World War I Exhibit Collection is arranged in series as organized by the exhibit curators.
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.
World War I Exhibit Collection, Acc. NASM.1993.0063, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Aeronautics, Military
Airplanes
Aeronautics
World War, 1914-1918 -- Aircraft
World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations
World War, 1914-1918
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Color transparencies
Glass negatives
Negatives
Photographs