One of the things about modern libraries is the disappearance of the Library Catalog. Our Library & Archives has a digital system of cataloging our books, periodicals, journals, dvds, vhs, and films. So our old card catalogues are disappearing fast. What can you do with an old card catalog? Hmmm…….. That’s a tough question and for the answer I need to go else where. The website libraryhistorybuff.com has these suggestions for what to do with an old card catalog.

Uses for a card catalog as a storage device for:

Odds and ends
Cassette tapes
Bills and letters
Checks, check stubs, deposit slips
Bookmarks
Pin back buttons
Postcards
Pencils and pens
Playing cards
Kitchen tools
Envelopes
Sports cards
Barbie dolls
GI Joe dolls
Hot Wheels
Sewing supplies
Knitting supplies
Craft supplies
Nuts and bolts
Hand held weights
And hundreds of other small items 

Or maybe as furniture?

Accent piece (nice just to look at)
TV stand
Stereo stand
End table
Night table
Wine rack (after conversion)
To display small potted plants in open drawers
A kitchen pantry for storage of canned goods, jello packages and other pantry items

Now you may be wondering” why am I talking about old card catalogs?”  Well….. Have you ever wanted to own a piece of history?  Need storage or furniture? The Library & Archives have two old card catalogs for sale. Both of them were used by Ryan Aeronautical and then used to store the Ryan Collection here at SDASM.  They both are 60 drawer Library Card Catalog cabinets made from maple with brass handles for sale. They each have three pull out tables and Measure 39 1/4 inch wide, 56 inches tall and 17 inches deep. One is for $300 & the other is for $400.

Proceeds go towards the San Diego Air and Space Museum’s Library & Archives. Contact me, at nchase@sdasm.org if interested in buying these pieces of history!

Also check out http://jdorganizer.blogspot.com/2007/09/ode-to-library-card-catalog.html for more about the dying art that is library card catalogues.

Cheers!

~Nelson, Research Assistant

The Library & Archives is pleased to announce our newest publication/fundraiser.  We are writing a San Diego Air and Space Museum Cook Book! That’s right, a Cook Book! Now you may be wondering what do two Archivist, a Librarian, and a Reasarch Assistant know about cooking? (Well speaking for myself as an almost newlywed I better learn something pretty quick!) That’s where you, our patrons, volunteers, donors, and fellow SDASM staff come in.

Suprised by Smokeless Ham? We aren't!

We want your favorite recipes to be included in the Cook Book. From great grandma’s chicken to uncle bob’s beer battered fish ‘n chips we want them all. Dishes can be aviation themed or not. You’re the boss. The publisher we are using has made it very easy for us and you to upload recipes online to be included.

Just go to http://www2.typensave.com/

Type in your name and our group login in name: sdasm_cooking and our group password: sdasmyum

We thank you in advanced for the recipes that will help us make SDASM’s Cook Book a successful endeavor!

Cheers!

~Nelson, Research Assistant

Time flies when you’re having fun archiving! It is all ready time for another picture of the week!  Like I have said before, our picture collection is so vast that it can even scare this seasoned research assistant on how to decide on just one picture. After searching the nether reaches of Archives I present to you the Curtiss C-1/AB-1 “Freak Boat.”

It’s that time again, time for another photo of the week!  I like to wonder around our amazing museum from time to time and today I found myself in the World War I section. I can fondly remember being a kid in summer camp at the then San Diego Aerospace Museum and wanting to spend my whole time in the WWI Section! I loved (and still do..) the planes and the fighter aces. Today as I walked around I noticed a father and son looking in the WWI section and they were speaking German.So in honor of WWI and our German speaking guests  this week I present a picture of one of Germany’s early fighter aces, Max Immelmann.

A young Helen Richey

Helen Richey (1909 – 1947) was a pioneering female aviator and the first woman to be hired as a pilot by a commercial airline in the United States. Richey was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Her father, Joseph B. Richey, was superintendent of schools in McKeesport from 1902 to 1935. During her teens, Richey was one of the few girls in McKeesport who wore pants. She learned how to fly a plane at age 20. Her father bought her a plane when she obtained her pilot’s license.  

 In 1932 Richey partnered with another female pilot, Frances Marsalis, to set an endurance record by staying airborne for nearly 10 days, with midair refueling. In 1934 Richey won the premier air race at the first National Air Meet for women in Dayton, Pennsylvania. Also in 1934, Central Airlines, a Greensburg, Pennsylvania–based carrier that eventually became part of United Airlines, hired Richey as a pilot; she eventually was forced to step down from the cockpit by the all-male pilots union.  In a newspaper article entitled, Helen Richey Grounded by Sex, said, ” I don’t want to be drawn into any controversy because I left Central Airlines in a very friendly spirit.” Amelia Earhart had harsher words to say about Richey’s firing: 

“Well, the pilot’s union refused to take her in, not because of lack of ability, but because she was a female.” [emphasis mine]  

After leaving Central Airlines, Richey continued to perform at air shows. In 1936 she teamed with Amelia Earhart in a transcontinental air race, the Bendix Trophy Race. Richey and Earhart came in fifth, beating some all-male teams. 

Later, Richey flew with the British Air Transportation Authority during World War II. In addition to being the first female commercial airline pilot, Richey also was the first woman sworn in to pilot air mail and one of the first female flight instructors. Richey died in her apartment in New York City, apparently from a pill overdose. Her death was ruled a suicide.  

A Poem by a friend, D. Tepsis, entitled Darling Helen Richey captures here personality:  

Pretty as a picture,  

As sweet as she can be-  

A darling pilot of world-wide fame  

You Bet! “Helen Richey”, is her name.  

Happy go lucky, full of fun  

Brains plus beauty, all rolled up in one  

Handling her “Cessna” like a veteran filer  

She’s the “kid”, all folks, admire.  

Possessing personality, charm and grace  

To her, ‘the sky’ is really the place  

She wears a winning smile upon her face  

And brings home the bacon, from each air race.    

This week’s picture of the week is of the F9F Panther. The inspiration for this weeks selection came from one of our volunteers, Dan, who worked on the F9F. So,  in tribute of that the Library & Archives presents this week’s Picture of the Week.

Where would the San Diego Air and Space Museum be without our wonderful and dedicated volunteers?  It is a scary proposition to contemplate. Our volunteers help us with the day-to-day operation of our museum. In the Library and Archives we have a great team of volunteers who assist our staff with their time, treasure, and, most importantly, their talents.  The volunteers here today, Frank and John, have over 30 plus years of experience working here at SDASM.  Last night we honored our dedicated volunteers with our  annual Volunteer appreciation night.  Staff, Volunteers, and Family came together for a night of dinner, drinks, and fun. Our Board President, Mark Larson, addressed the packed SDASM Pavilion and awards and door prizes were distributed.

The Library and Archives had a strong showing of  15 volunteers and their families.  It was nice to relax, and fellowship with them outside of the normal day-to-day activities of our busy Library & Archives. The Library & Archives Staff-Katrina, Alan, Pam and Nelson send their thanks to all of our volunteers. Your help is invaluable and we can’t do it with out your assistance.

This weeks picture of the week is of the Curtis SO3C-1 Seamew. The Seamew entered service in the 1940s and was used as a scout plane by the U.S Navy and other Allied Nations during the Second World War.

Vice Admiral Gerald Bogan

The Library and Archives received an important collection of early naval aviator and World War II carrier Commander, Vice Admiral Gerald Bogan.  The collection was donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum by the late Harold Fisher, step son of Adm. Bogan, as part of his estate.  The collection was processed by our new volunteer Bob Johnston. We are glad to have Bob, a former Convair employee, join our team of Volunteers. Bob first assignment was to process this expansive collection and he did a great job. (He has also helped one of our staff members plan his honeymoon to Maui! Thanks Bob, from Nelson!)  Of interest in the collection are early pictures of the Shaw of Iran, Mohammad-Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, who visited San Diego in 1949. The collection has some newspaper articles about the Shah and also some hand written notes by Adm. Bogan praising the merits of the Shaw. 

Bio of Gerald Bogan  

Gerald F. Bogan, Vice Admiral, U.S.N., was a distinguished veteran of 38 years of naval service. In 1950, at the time of his retirement, Admiral Bogan was Commander, First Fleet. Before his final assignment, he had served as Commander, First Task Fleet, Pacific, as Commander, Air Force, Atlantic, as Commander, Fleet Air, Alameda, and as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Saratoga.  

Admiral Bogan was born 27 July 1894, Mackinac Island, Michigan. He was a 1916 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and, among his many decorations, was awarded the Navy Cross for heroic action during World War II. He was elected to the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor in 1992, National Museum of Naval Aviation.  

Admiral Bogan was one of the earliest naval aviators, earning his wings at Pensacola in 1924. In 1925, he was assigned to VF Squadron One in San Diego, California, serving on board the carrier Langley, first as executive officer, then, in 1926, as commanding officer. Later, Admiral Bogan served as the first commanding officer of the Miami, Florida Naval Air station. He commanded air squadrons on the carriers Langley, Lexington and Saratoga, commanding the Saratoga at the outbreak of World War II.  

The Shah of Iran in San Diego- From the Bogan Collection

As a task force commander in the Pacific, he was awarded two Legions of Merit, as well as the Navy Cross for “extraordinary heroism and distinguished service” during an engagement in Philippine waters on 25 November 1944, in which all carriers in his force had been damaged by heavy enemy aerial attacks. In 1945, he commanded Carrier Division 4 and Task Group 39.2. Admiral Bogan passed away in La Jolla, California on 3 June 1973, survived by his widow, Katherine, and a step-son, Harold A. Fisher of San Diego.    

This weeks picture of the week is of the North American F-86 Sabre. The Sabre was Americas first Jet fighter to see combat service in Korea. The Sabre went toe to toe with the Soviet MiG 15 over the famous MiG Alley.