Aero Club of Illinois records, 1909-1951, bulk 1911-1912 | WorldCat.org (original) (raw)

Summary:This collection includes correspondence, financial papers, membership data and application forms, bylaws, historic postmarks and newsletters relative to the club's membership and operations, to early aviation in Chicago and Illinois, and to aeronautical affairs in America and abroad. The bulk of the Aero Club of Illinois papers detail the planning for and staging of international aviation meets in 1911 and 1912. Contents of the collection describe the conception of the 1911 meet, the raising of 100,000 USD for prize money and operating expenses, the efforts to secure fliers from around the world, the pilot's own demands for appearing in the meet, conditions for the events, and data regarding plane performances, including accident reports. Much of the correspondence documents Harold F. McCormick's efforts in securing the aid of Chicago's business community in attempting to make the meet a financial and professional success. Administrative matters, including concessions, ticket requests, entertainment, transportation, security and crowd-control matters, also are covered. Papers not devoted to the 1911 and 1912 meets relate to the Aero Club's daily activities, with many items involving club membership, testimonial dinners and luncheons, and subscriptions to aviation publications. Many of the post-1920 items are of a financial nature, including insurance policies for hangar rentals at Ashburn Field