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This collection consists of one cubic feet of material documenting Clifford Henderson's aviation career, especially his role as Director of the National Air Races from 1928 until 1939. The following types of material are included: photographs, including autographed photographs; National Air Races ephemera (programs, tickets, release and indemnity agreement, stationary); correspondence; sheet music; newspaper clippings; first-day cover; and periodicals.
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.
Clifford W. Henderson Papers, Acc. NASM.2008.0035, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Heritage Auction Galleries, Gift, 2008
Clifford W. Henderson (1895 -1984) was an aviation promoter and showman who managed the annual National Air Races from 1928 until 1939, bringing attention to the expanding field of sport aviation. Born in Iowa, Henderson graduated from the University of Southern California in 1917 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He served in the 35th Ambulance Unit, France, during World War I, before transferring to the 101st Aero Squadron where he learned to fly. After the war, Henderson returned to California and was chairman of ground arrangements for the departure and return of the Army's Around the World Flight in 1924 from Clover Field. In 1928 he became Director of Aviation of Los Angeles and served as the first manager of the Los Angeles airport system. Also in 1928 Henderson became director of the National Air Races and was responsible for interesting industry leaders in competition trophies, including the Thompson, Bendix and Grieve Trophies. He retired from managing the National Air Races in 1939. Henderson served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, rising to the rank of colonel. He played an instrumental role in planning the Burma Hump air route, and also served as military governor of Dakar in North Africa. After the war, Henderson was suffering from illness and injuries sustained in Africa, and so went to recuperate in California where he founded Palm Desert, California. He remained active in the Palm Desert community until his death in 1984.
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
Arranged, described, and encoded by Patti Williams, 2008. Revised and encoded by Amandal Buel, 2019. Revised and digital assets attached by Allan Janus, 2020.
The Clifford W. Henderson Papers are-- is arranged by content type.
National Air Race Photographs
Parachutes - National Air Race Photographs
Clifford W. Henderson Pilot Championship Merit Award Trophy Photograph
Abrams Air Craft Corporation P-1 Explorer Photographs
Bellanca 28-92 Trimotor Photograph
Boeing F3B Photograph
Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister Photographs
Del Bush, Folkerts SK-4 NX 288Y Crash Photograph
McCarroll Duoplane Photographs
Piper J-3 Cub Photographs
Thunderbird Aircraft, Inc. Photograph
USS Los Angeles Airship [ZR-3] Photograph
Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Engines Photographs
Photograph on Platform at Air Race - David Ingalls, ADM William Moffett, Frank Hawks, Unknown - Photograph
Autographed Photographs
Miscellaneous Photographs of People
Rudy Kling Photographs
Photographs of Drawings
Reception for Clifford W. Henderson - Photo Contact Sheets
Aerial Photographs
War Show [Military Display] Photographs
First Transcontinental Delivery by Motor Truck Photographs
Miscellaneous Captions
National Air Races Stationary
"The Texaco Star" Magazine
National Air Races
National Air Races
National Air Races
National Air Races
National Air Races
National Air Races Schedules
List of Suggestions for 1939 National Air Races
Car Races
First Day Covers for First Flight of Air Mail Route AM 33, 1932; STS-1 Columbia Flight, 1981
Letter - Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran to Henderson
Round the World Flight Aviation Day Ticket
"The Goalie" - 1943 Season Program for the Southern California Hockey League
"Ground Observers' Guide" - US Air Force Manual 50-12
Release and Indemnity Agreement between the Chicago Air Race Corporation and Henderson
"The Thompson Trophy Race" - Booklet
"Hail to Aviation" by Nellie M. Gilbert - Sheet Music
"On Wings of Love" by Maurice Spitalny, Ted Meyn; Lyrics by Clifford Henderson - Sheet Music
"The Spirit of Aviation - Fox Trot Song" by Alice Huber and Opal Hemler - Sheet Music
Official Program for the 1930 Second Annual International Aircraft Exposition, St. Louis
Newspaper Clippings
"Light, Heat and Power" Newsletter, January, 1934; National Aircraft Show Programs
Correspondence; Telegrams
National Air Races Correspondence
Clifford W. Henderson Papers [Miscellaneous Printed Material]
"Pilots Delight Sundae", National Air Races - Leaflets
"I Believe in Aviation" Poster
Oversized Photographs
Bendix Aviation Corporation Products Brochure
50th Anniversary Cleveland Air Races Calendar