Alfred Victor Verville Papers
Alfred Victor Verville (1890-1970), aviation pioneer and aircraft designer, was responsible for a number of important inventions in aircraft design, including welded-steel-frame fuselages and retractable landing gear. He began work with the Curtiss Aeroplane Co in 1914 and, by the end of World War I had moved through a number of manufacturers, including Curtiss (1914), T-M Airplane Co (1915), General Airplane Co (1915-17), and Fisher Body Corp, Airplane Division (1917-18). In 1918 he became involved in military aviation at the United States Army Air Corp Engineering Division, McCook Field , OH (1918-25) and served as advisor to Colonel William Mitchell during his inspection trip to Europe (1922). In 1925 he co-founded the Buhl-Verville Aircraft Co (1925-27) before striking out on his own with the Verville Aircraft Co (1928-31). Through the 1930s and 1940s he acted in a number of capacities, including periods as a consultant (1932, 1939-41); at the Bureau of Air Commerce, United States Department of Commerce (1933-36); Douglas Aircraft (1937-38); Curtiss Wright Corp (1941-42), Snead Aircraft, Technical Division (1942); and Drexel Aviation Co (1942-45). In 1945 he served as a member of the Naval Technical Mission to Europe and later joined the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics (1946-61). He retired in 1961, but continued to support aviation and aeronautics until his death.
Contents of this collection include blueprints, drawings, technical manuals, reference material, correspondence, financial information, event programs, photographs, newspapers and clippings, magazines, pamphlets, brochures, journals, books.
The researcher should note that the collection also contains 35mm, 16mm and 8mm films. These films are not included in the container list but a NASM Archives staff person can assist you regarding access.
Organized into series:
SERIES 1: Correspondence
SERIES 2: Institute of the Aerospace Sciences (IAS) - Navy National Naval Aviation Meeting 1961 commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Naval Aviation in San Diego CA featuring the A-1 Replica
SERIES 3: Technical Materials
SERIES 4: Drawings
SERIES 5: Other Papers
SERIES 6: Publications
SERIES 7: Photographs
SERIES 8: Scrapbooks, Oversize Materials
This collection was arranged at the time of processing to better reflect its main areas of subject matter as there was very little original order preserved. Original folder titles were kept when they appeared; archivists' folder titles are in brackets. Archivist's description appears below folder titles.
Encoded by Tyler Love.
Alfred Verville, gift, 1954
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No restrictions on access
Alfred Victor Verville Papers, Acc. XXXX-0173, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Personal and business correspondence is intermingled. Notables include the War Dept., the Navy Dept., Henry Dupont, Paul Garber, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Claudius and Peter Dornier and various aircraft companies such as Curtiss-Wright, Sperry and Douglas. This series starts with a small amount of assembled correspondence foldered and titled by Verville.
Correspondence covers 1910 to 1960 and is arranged by decade in chronological order. Undated correspondence is placed at the end of the series.
Contains clippings and pamphlets, but very difficult to match letters with added enclosures. Many letters mention other materials enclosed but were obviously separated.
Includes corresp. that may or may not be about
Includes two small photos of a model
Includes an agreement between
Contains snapshot of
The overwhelming amount of materials that correspond to this event was what dictated to the archivist to make it into its own series. Some materials are duplicated in other series.
Arranged in chronological order
Documents, correspondence, flight logs, magazines, newspapers, newsletters & photographs
Materials presumably used by
Random copies and another full copy of
A reprint
Reproductions of instructional articles dated 1911-1912 made in 1959
Jan, Sept and Oct
Copies of the small newspaper the "
Also includes a reprint of
Notes, flight pattern of replica, misc. materials
Contains an 8x10 photo of
Published by the Service Dept. of the
Most likely information for museum display
Includes "
Organized into subseries by subject
a. Verville Aircraft Company Technical Reports b. War Dept Reports and Data Sheets, Indexes c. Navy Dept Report d. Other Reports, Biblios e. Verville's Assesembled Collections of Reports/Air Force Circulars f. Loose Air Force Circulars, Air Force Circular Index g. Operating Manuals h. Flight Logs i. Parts Lists j. Engineering Notes --Various Models k. Specifications --Various Models l. Sperry-Messenger Tech Info m. YPT-10 Tech Info n. Misc. Tech Materials
Arranged in report no. order
Report No.1 - Stress Analysis of Wing Structure; Report No.2 - Stress Analysis of Landing Gear; Report No.3 - Stress Analysis of Fuselage Structure; Report No.4 - Stress Analysis of Control Surfaces and Control Systems; Report No.5 --Static Test Report; Drawing List --Model LT
Data sheets are placed at the beginning of the series, indexes at the end. Reports are arranged in chronological order
Also includes copy of
Also includes copy of
"
Arranged in chronological order
Indexes & Bibliographies placed at end of series. Reports arranged in chronological order
With note from
The full title to this report is "
Includes:
• List from the
Original order
Binder of
Compiled by
Originally kept in two binders, mostly made up of
The "Airplane Performance" section contains
• National Advisory Committee Reports: No. 120
•
The "Airplane Performance Prediction" section contains
•
"Carburetors" contains
•
"Engines" contains
•
"Equipment" contains
•
"Airplane Fuel and Systems" contains
•
"Airplane Gliders and Light Planes" contains
•
"Airplane Materials" contains
•
"Propeller" contains
•
"Airplane Static Test" contains
•
Arranged chronologically. Index placed at end of series
Arranged chronologically
Arranged chronologically
Arranged chronologically
Arranged in chronological order
Materials kept together by Verville (?)
Grouped together by
Three notebooks with notes, charts and drawings on various models
Materials kept together by
Contains notes and sketches. Correspondence alludes to "#3 Airplane"
Two notebooks, some loose notes and sketches
Arranged chronologically
Includes correspondence re: procurement
Correspondence, specifications for Engines R-530-D1, R-530-D2, O-145-A3, specification for aviation fuels for Lycoming R-680 series engines
For
Prepared by
Arranged chronologically
Folder compiled by
Misc. info on the
Work stats, drawings, notes, stress analysis
chronologically
Arranged chronologically. Undated materials placed at the end of the series
Unidentified sketches, loading conditions, equipment price lists, selling prices, bill of material, factory machinery, loose notes and pieces of notebooks, VCP-11 Chassis analysis
Engineering notes, graphs, drawings
Produced by McCook Field covering XB-1A, Curtiss SE-5, Fokker Mercededs Engine, Avro 110 Le Rhone, VE-7, Le Pere C-11, Martin Bomber, USD-9A, BE 2C
Contains Army? report description and drawing,
For the Sopwith Snipe, PW-1, MB3, Liberty Engine, XPT-914, Primary Training CA-3, Racer-3
Brochure, specifications, correspondence, recommendations, notes, production schedule, bid, inspection reports, requirements for approval, balance diagram, drawing
Correspondence,
Correspondence, description of helicopter and drawing
Compiled and published by the
Graphs
Organized into subseries
1. Drawing Lists, Indexes 2. Verville Aircraft Company 3. US Air Service 4. Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences 5. Other/Misc
ONE DRAWING ([U.S. Air Service, Experimental Dept., Engineering Division Unnumbered/Lettered Drawings]) IN 36|045.01.16
Arranged in chronological order
Stuff
Misc. lists and 2 notebook mostly made up of drawings lists (also includes some engineering notes)
Drawings produced by the Verville Aircraft Company
Alphabetical order, then numerical order
Technical drawings
Drawings produced by the U.S. Air Service
Technical drawings
Drawings produced by the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences
Arranged numerically
Technical drawings
Drawings produced by various and unknown entities
Arranged chronologically. Undated materials placed at end of series
Technical drawings
No company listed
Original order folder of drawings and draft drawings
No company name on drawings
Drawings of the Wal, DO.B and DO.C
Arranged into subseries by subject
a. Reference Files b. Verville Aircraft Company Papers c. Professional Papers d. Misc
Arranged chronologically
Notebook divided into section: "Engineering memos," "office memos," "shop memos" and "balance sheets"
Cash requirements, account balances, balance sheets, parts and equipment costs, balance sheets, correspondence, corporate stock info, price lists, production schedules and costs, engineering data on model YPT-10, specifications for
With
Arranged chronologically
Correspondence, invention descriptions, patent applications, reprints of
Patent petitions, reprints of
Airplane and engines price list, balance sheet, advertisement, brochures, bills of sale of patent rights
Correspondence
Travel authorizations and vouchers, correspondence, personal service contracts, reimbursement requests, travel instructions
Materials re: employment
Resume-like materials
Arranged by Verville in alphabetical order
Newspaper clippings, magazine articles, US Naval Air Station public information release
Newspaper clippings, magazine articles, press releases, travel brochure
Newspaper clippings, magazine articles. Two essays-"
Photographs
Photographs
Photographs, magazine pictures
Photographs
Newspaper clippings
Photographs, reproduced pictures
Photographs, reproduced pictures, magazine article
Magazine articles
Newspaper article
Newspaper article
Newspaper article
Newspaper articles
Newspaper articles
Newspaper and magazine articles
Newspaper articles
Newspaper articles
Magazine article
Magazine article
Newspaper article
Magazine articles
Newspaper articles
Newspaper articles
Newspaper articles
Newspaper and magazine articles
Newspaper articles
Newspaper articles
Newspaper article
Newspaper articles
Newspaper articles
Newspaper articles
Newspaper clippings
Newspaper clippings
Magazine article
Newspaper clipping, 8x10 photograph
Newspaper clippings and many group photographs of pilots, military officers, aircraft company employees, members of various clubs and associations
Two images of a Kurdish man and woman
Correspondence with technical notes, newspaper clippings and magazine articles re:
Newspaper clippings and magazine articles
Arranged chronologically
Correspondence, invention descriptions, patent applications, reprints of Curtiss' and others' patents
Two pencil drawings of aircraft
Affidavits of
Two different writings named "Foreword"
Memo, clippings, by-laws and amendment to agreement
Correspondence, notes, reproductions of drawings, booklet: "
Memo, long essay called "
Captain Washington Irving Chambers, Capt. Barton Day, Capt. James Leeper, Gerald Richardson, Rear Adm James Russell, Barnet Adelman, Stanley Burriss, Dr. B.H. Goethert, Dr. Walter, Haeussermann, Wallace Hayes, Ira Hendrick, Dr. Arthur Kantrowitz, Dr. Max Munk, Maynard Pennell, Dr. Werner Pfenninger, William Purdy, Francis Rogallo, Dr. Robert Ross, Dr. Abe Silverstein, Dr. Fridtjof Speer, Prof. Ed Stalker, Harrison Storms, Dr. Robert Thompson, Thomas Toll, Otto Walchner, Robert Widmer, Charles Miron, biographical bibliography of Glenn Curtiss
Correspondence, photographs, essay
Correspondence, photographs
Correspondence, address made by
Correspondence, photographs, reproductions of newspaper clippings, brochure and flyer
Correspondence
Brochure, policy letter, report, meeting agenda
Correspondence, specs
Correspondence, decision
Correspondence, photographs
Meeting minutes, agenda, list of artifacts and small booklet --"
Misc. receipts
Correspondence, trustees info, photograph
Correspondence
Photo captions draft
Paper airplane, copyright 1957
Photo captions draft, photographs
Small notebook with only a few pages used --front page says "
Essay, no author listed
Arranged into subseries by material
a. Books, alpha by author b. Govt Pubs c. Magazines, alpha by title d. Articles by year e. Misc Brochures, Pamplets, Programs and Catalogues f. Newspaper clippings by year
Arranged alphabetically by author name
Signed and dedicated by the author
Signed and dedicated by the author
Signed and dedicated by the author
Also includes 1950 Supplement
Signed and dedicated by the author
Arranged in chronological order
Signed by author
Also includes a small booklet just titled "Report"
Verville is one of the authors
Inscription and dedication
Arranged chronologically
Journals, mags, special printings, booklets
Cover story on the Pulitzer Race
Small article on Pulitzer Race
War Edition from 1942 and Fahey's Seventh Edition from 1958
w/ the supplement "Airfields at Sea"
Article on the A-1 Replica
Article on A-1 Replica, includes correspondence from "R"
This folder also includes the calendar
Collection of columns by Denham Scott
Article on the A-1 Replica
Loose articles grouped chronologically, undated articles put at end of series
Event invites, programs & brochures
Arranged chronologically. There are no clippings for the 1920s
Arranged into subseries by subject matter
1. Photo Documentation 2. Specific planes 3. Specific Equipment/Parts 4. Re: Golden Anniversary/A-1 Replica 5. Other
Arranged chronologically
Lists of Wright-Field and
Reference sheets for images that exist only as digital objects and negatives that were placed in cold storage
Arranged alphabetically by aircraft name
Contains color photos
Contains
Contains
Photos of X-CO-7B, F4B-4. Includes letter from Naval Air Material Center. Contains
Contains
Photos of airplanes, flight routes and airports. Contains
Contains
"Red Wing," "White Wings," "Grasscutter," "America," R-4, NC-3, NC-4, Model D, XO-1. Contains
From the St. Louis Race. Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains Air Service photo: 15794
Contains
Also includes photos of drawings and of a model
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Arranged chronologically, undated put at the end of the series
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Includes parts for Verville VCP-1, VCP-2, PW-1, Messenger. Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Contains
Arranged chronologically
Mounted photographs, contains some photos of the Kaminski-Curtiss Hydro
Contains color slides and a booklet with the embossed cover "Mr. A.V. Verville. Admiral Halsey Field. San Diego CA. August 20 1961" containing NASM 00178386-00178411
Photographs of the A-1 Replica's construction, preparation, flight, display, etc
Arranged chronologically
Contains
Contains
Contains
Photos of European airplanes, plane features, town features, factories, soldiers and
Contains
Contains
Contains
Photos of barracks, work spaces, troops and thanksgiving menu
Contains
Contains
Contains photos of people, planes, museum displays and events
Contains group shots and individual portraits. Contains
Contains photos stamped with "
Nos. 24165, 24164, 24166
Group photo
Also includes press release of the museum's commissioning
Landscapes, commercially produced?
Contains
3 small scrapbooks
Photos of
Shoebox of misc. photographs including pictures of landscapes, people, aircraft and parts. Contains
Shoebox mostly of
Rolled and brittle photographs in need of conservation intervention. Includes a group panorama, landscapes, events, aircraft
Aeronautical Engine Laboratory Report on AEL Museum Engines 1909-1951 Issued by
A sample of aluminum alloy from the
Two Scrapbooks: 1908-1909 newspaper clippings with occasional small photographs; "
Originally kept together receipts, menus, correspondence, calling cards, hotel bills, train schedules, transportation requests, theatre programs, etc.
Probably collected during the travel for
Photographs: Two mounted color 8x10 portraits of
Magazines:
Proof copy? of
Certificates: Fellowship from
Mounted 9.5" x 7.5" photograph of plane construction (no identification, undated)
Magazines:
Newsprint:
Drawing: No. 1000, A-1 Replica. 1961
Award for Distinguished Service from the
Photographs:
Scrapbook: 1929 newspaper clippings
Mounted photograph of the A-1 Replica flight signed by
Lithograph commemorating the
Reproduction of the lithograph commemorating the
(In cold storage)