Contracts and promotional materials of colorful aviation pioneer Alfred W. Lawson.
Contracts and promotional materials of colorful aviation pioneer Alfred W. Lawson.
Various places, bulk 1916-1922
26 items (0.2 linear feet); minimal to minor wear unless noted.
Alfred William Lawson (1869-1954) of Milwaukee, WI had a delightfully random life path. He was a professional baseball player, manager, and promoter; wrote a utopian novel; and launched his own religion / lifestyle brand called Lawsonomy. His most substantial contribution to history, however, was as an aviation pioneer. He published the magazine Fly in 1908, helped envision commercial air service, coined the term "airline," ran the Lawson Aircraft Company from 1917 to 1922, and secured the first airmail contracts. This archive includes:
"Alfred W. Lawson, Designer and Navigator of the First Airliner." [72] pages. 4to, original limp gilt cloth, minimal wear. A promotional tract consisting mainly of reproduced press notices and endorsements from 1913 to 1920. Only one example in OCLC (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee). No place, circa 1920.
"Alfred W. Lawson, Originator of the Word Aircraft." [8] pages, 4to, staple bound. A smaller compilation of press notices and endorsements, circa 1918. 3 copies present; none in OCLC.
6 other similar Lawson promotional brochures.
Alfred W. Lawson, editor. "The Devil: Enlightenment that Passes Overhead is Not Intended for Kneehigh." 16 pages. 4to, illustrated wrappers. Issue #1 of Lawson's eccentric "Monthly Magazine to Stimulate the Best There is in Man." Includes one aviation article: "Lawson's Natural Prophecies. No. 1. Aircraft--Airology." No examples traced in OCLC. New York, October 1916.
"Proposition: An Air-Transport and Aircraft Manufacturing Concern." [7], 65 typescript carbon pages with a few manuscript additions, plus 2 folding blueprints. 4to, original plain ring binder; minimal wear. An elaborate funding prospectus for a network of airline corporations. Lawson is not named, and his degree of involvement is unknown. Aviator Glenn L. Martin is prominently featured. No place, circa 1922.
Edgar W. Croft. "The Airline March: The Ship that Made Milwaukee Famous." 5 pages including illustrated cover; moderate wear. Sheet music celebrating Lawson and the Lawson Air Liner. None in OCLC. No place, 1919.
5 duplicates of a folding blueprint airplane design by Ellis G. Cook.
Magazines and clippings, including the 11 July 1914 issue of Scientific American and January 1927 issue of Scientific Age.
6 contracts and draft contracts, 1920-1921.
Contracts and promotional materials of colorful aviation pioneer Alfred W. Lawson.
Various places, bulk 1916-1922
26 items (0.2 linear feet); minimal to minor wear unless noted.
Alfred William Lawson (1869-1954) of Milwaukee, WI had a delightfully random life path. He was a professional baseball player, manager, and promoter; wrote a utopian novel; and launched his own religion / lifestyle brand called Lawsonomy. His most substantial contribution to history, however, was as an aviation pioneer. He published the magazine Fly in 1908, helped envision commercial air service, coined the term "airline," ran the Lawson Aircraft Company from 1917 to 1922, and secured the first airmail contracts. This archive includes:
"Alfred W. Lawson, Designer and Navigator of the First Airliner." [72] pages. 4to, original limp gilt cloth, minimal wear. A promotional tract consisting mainly of reproduced press notices and endorsements from 1913 to 1920. Only one example in OCLC (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee). No place, circa 1920.
"Alfred W. Lawson, Originator of the Word Aircraft." [8] pages, 4to, staple bound. A smaller compilation of press notices and endorsements, circa 1918. 3 copies present; none in OCLC.
6 other similar Lawson promotional brochures.
Alfred W. Lawson, editor. "The Devil: Enlightenment that Passes Overhead is Not Intended for Kneehigh." 16 pages. 4to, illustrated wrappers. Issue #1 of Lawson's eccentric "Monthly Magazine to Stimulate the Best There is in Man." Includes one aviation article: "Lawson's Natural Prophecies. No. 1. Aircraft--Airology." No examples traced in OCLC. New York, October 1916.
"Proposition: An Air-Transport and Aircraft Manufacturing Concern." [7], 65 typescript carbon pages with a few manuscript additions, plus 2 folding blueprints. 4to, original plain ring binder; minimal wear. An elaborate funding prospectus for a network of airline corporations. Lawson is not named, and his degree of involvement is unknown. Aviator Glenn L. Martin is prominently featured. No place, circa 1922.
Edgar W. Croft. "The Airline March: The Ship that Made Milwaukee Famous." 5 pages including illustrated cover; moderate wear. Sheet music celebrating Lawson and the Lawson Air Liner. None in OCLC. No place, 1919.
5 duplicates of a folding blueprint airplane design by Ellis G. Cook.
Magazines and clippings, including the 11 July 1914 issue of Scientific American and January 1927 issue of Scientific Age.
6 contracts and draft contracts, 1920-1921.
