Frank Coffyn (1878-1960) was a pioneer flyer and aviation consultant. Coffyn learned to fly from the Wright Brothers in Dayton Ohio, and was a member of the original Wright Flying Team.
This collection consists of five scrapbooks. Scrapbook A contains photographs and newspaper clippings relating to Coffyn's visit to the aviation meet of the Michigan Aero Club on June 19-23, 1911. Scrapbook B is comprised of newspaper clippings pertaining to Coffyn's flights in various parts of the U. S. during the year 1912. Scrapbook C is a photo album covering the years 1910-1932, with photos labeled by subject and date. This scrapbook contains some images of a model B Wright Biplane. Book D includes photographs of Coffyn in New York harbor, images of the Lachapelle Gliding Boat, a photo and letter from portrait artist Lewis Eugene Thompson, and a Halcyon Caravel ship photo. Book E is a photo album containing images of Coffyn and a Burgess Flying Boat in 1913.
Scrapbooks/photo albums have been arranged according to size of enclosure required to safely house each item.
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
No restrictions on access
Frank Coffyn, Gift, unknown, NASM.XXXX.0065
Frank Coffyn Scrapbooks and Photo Albums, NASM.XXXX.0065, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Arranged and described in 2001, updated and encoded by Jessamyn Lloyd in 2020.
[Scrapbook A]
Blank pages in the original have not been digitially reproduced. Any gaps in numbering of the images shown are due to their exclusion.
This scrapbook contains fragile, brittle newspaper clippings which are affixed to the scrapbook pages in nested layers. These materials were not able to be digitally reproduced due to their current physical condition. Researchers wishing to view this album in person should contact NASM Archives for additional information.
[Scrapbook C]
Blank pages in the original have not been digitially reproduced. Any gaps in numbering of the images shown are due to their exclusion.
[Scrapbook D]
Blank pages in the original have not been digitially reproduced. Any gaps in numbering of the images shown are due to their exclusion.
[Scrapbook E]
Blank pages in the original have not been digitially reproduced. Any gaps in numbering of the images shown are due to their exclusion.