Frank Kelsey papers, 1911-2002

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Kelsey, Frank, 1912-1991.
Title
Frank Kelsey papers
Dates
1911-2002 (inclusive)
Quantity
11 boxes, (5.25 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 467
Summary
This collection contains materials from the life of Frank Kelsey, a Utah aviator who owned an air service business in Salt Lake City.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

William Frank Kelsey was born March 31, 1912 in Salt Lake City. His involvement in aviation was life-long; in 1928, he constructed a glider based on an M.I.T. glider he had seen in an article.

In 1949 Kelsey and Mark Kemp opened a business based at the Salt Lake City Airport called Kemp and Kelsey Air Service. Hague Ellis purchased Kemp’s interest in the business in 1962 and it became known as Kelsey-Ellis Air Service. Functions of this business included air-taxi services, charter flights, plane rental, aircraft repair, and helicopter patrols.

Kelsey also tried to expand the business into fog seeding, for which he developed methods and equipment throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Fog seeding, the practice of dropping dry ice pellets from an aircraft into a fog in order to dissipate it, was a desirable service in the Salt Lake Valley because fog was such a safety concern for airports. In 1968 Kelsey sold his interest in the company to Ellis and left the business. Ellis changed the business’ name to Key Aviation.

Frank Kelsey also tried to start a business building, selling, and exporting Stressed Skin Trailers, which he marketed for transporting gliders. In 1975 he bought the rights to build and sell a design by Herman Stiglemeier, however the SST business failed and Kelsey sold it to Keven Murphy and Anthony Estrin in 1986.

In addition to his business ventures, Kelsey participated in a variety of professional activities. He was a prominent member of many aviation associations such as the Soaring Society of America, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the National Soaring Museum, and many more, in 1982 he was inducted into the Soaring Hall of Fame. He acted as a consultant for many businesses and organizations and in the mid-1980s he served on a committee to start a degree program in Aviation Maintenance at the Utah Technical College. Frank Kelsey died August 11, 1991.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains materials related to the various activities of Frank Kelsey throughout his life. These materials are divided into the following main categories: Personal History, Correspondence, Consulting and Professional Organizations, Historical Materials, and Business Records.

The first section contains materials related to Kelsey’s personal life including a cassette tape containing vignettes from his work in Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, a collection of his “One-Liners”, and a biography of his wife, Ida Mae Kelsey.

The Correspondence section consists of letters between Frank Kelsey and his friends, colleagues, or customers, mostly relating to aviation and gliders. Letters from the most common correspondence are grouped and those folders are alphabetized.

The Consulting and Professional Organizations section contains papers related to Kelsey’s work related to these activities. However, this category also contains magazines and articles published by aviation associations in which Kelsey may or may not have participated.

The Historical Materials category reflects Frank’s interest in aviation history and contains historical manuals, photographs, articles, and other publications related to the history of gliding and airplanes.

Finally, the Business Records section contains correspondences, manuals, articles, and other documents related to Frank Kelsey’s business ventures. Prominent among these is his air service in Salt Lake City, stressed skin trailer production, and fog dispersal service. Included here is a cassette tape containing a conversation between Kelsey and his employees with a representative of Dr. Fukuta, a scientist proposing an alternative method of fog seeding than the one that Kelsey and his company was doing.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Frank Kelsey papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Frank Kelsey papers USU_467, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_467, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

These materials are arranged into the following main categories: Personal History, Correspondence, Consulting and Professional Organizations, Historical Materials, and Business Records.

Processing Note

Processed in June of 2014

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives in 2012 by Frank Kelsey’s son, James Kelsey.

Related Materials

Frank Kelsey Photograph collection, P0537

Bibliography

book
My Father Loved Flying: A History of F. Kelsey 1912-1991Kelsey, James F. My Father Loved Flying: A History of William F. Kelsey 1912-1991: 2012

Bibliography

obituary
Death: William F. Kelsey"Death: William Kelsey." Deseret News, 12 August 1991

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Personal History, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Frank Kelsey- Personal History, Notes, and Goals
1980-1989
1 2
Kelsey, James- My Father Loved Flying
2012
1 3
Wiliam Frank Kelsey, Obituary
1991
1 4
Cassette Tape: Kelsey, Frank-Kemp and Kelsey Charter Flight Vignettes
undated
1 5
Soaring Hall of Fame
1981-1982
1 6
Ida Mae Kelsey- Biography
1968
1 7
Frank Kelsey- One-Liners
1960-1989
1 8
Signpost Names
1970-1979
1 9
Cartoons
1960-1989
1 10
Kelsey, Frank- Super Albatross
1943
1 11
Kelsey Speech- American Institute of Aeronautics
1986
1 12
Business Cards
1960-1999
1 12a
Aircraft Registration
1970

Correspondence, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 13
Arnold, Les; Buzzard's Roost
1983-1986
1 14
Benbough, Richard
1977-1991
1 15
Blacksten, J. Raul
1990-1991
1 16
Evangelisti, Giorgio
1977-1978
1 17
Greenwell, Eric, about Trailers
1983
1 18
Johnson, Richard
1980-1986
1 19
Kimball, Bud
1981-1990
2 1
Lamson, Robert about Seminar, Walton Fatality
1986
2 2
McGarth, Patrick
1981-1989
2 3
Moore, Robert Lee
1981-1989
2 4
Olson, Jack
1976-1986
2 5
Parks, Wm. R.
1980-1990
2 6
Prue, Irv: Prue Two
1986
2 7
Saudek, Victor Mead
1979-1989
2 8
Schweizer, Paul
1977-1986
2 9
Scott, Jan
1975-1982
2 10
Scott and Steele about Bowlus Blueprints
1978-1979
2 11
Schoen Mike; Aero-Auto Salvage
1979-1981
2 12
Short, Simine and Jim
1981-1984
2 13
A-C
1950-1999
2 14
D-M
1950-1999
2 15
N-W, Unidentified
1950-1999
2 16
Bowlus and Baby Albatross Correspondence and Pictures
1973-1977

Consulting and Professional Organizations, 1930-1991Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 1
Ad Hoc Committee on Aircraft Mechanics
1984-1985
3 2
Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic Survey
1984
3 3
USU- Aerospace Technology and Professional Pilot Programs Information
1988
3 4
Utah Technical College- Aviation Maintenance Advisory Committee
1984-1986
3 5
Utah Technical College- Proposal for Aviation Maintenance Program
1983-1984
3 6
Utah Technical College- Proposal for Aircraft Mechanics Program
1983
3 7
Utah Technical College- Program Advisory Committee Handbook
1983-1985
3 8
Utah Technical College- Newspaper, Articles
1984-1986
3 9
British Gliding Association- Sailplane and Glider
1936-1940
3 10
Experimental Aircraft Association
1980-1986
3 11
EAA- Flying and Glider Manual
1931
3 12
EAA- "How-To" Series: Basic Hand Tools vol. 2
undated
3 13
EAA- Miniplane Plans
1957
3 14
National Glider and Airplane News
1931
4 1
National Power Glider
1930-1931
4 2
National Soaring Museum
1981-1990
4 3
NSM- Quarterly Journal
1985-1991
4 4
Popular Aviation
1932
4 5
Soaring Society of America
1957-1991
4 6
SSA- American Soaring Handbook
1965-1966
4 7
SSA- New State Soaring Records
1970-1976
4 8
SSA- Sailplane Homebuilders Association
1983-1990
4 9
50th Anniversary Soaring, Sailplane Airmail
1981-1982
4 10
Southern California Soaring Association- The Thermal
1941-1972
4 11
The Utah Pilot
1968-1990
4 12
Vintage Sailplane Association
1979-1990
4 13
VSA- Bungee Cord
undated
4 14
Soaring Society of Utah- Pamphlets and Ads
1965
4 15
By-Laws of an Aviation Club
undated

Historical Materials, 1911-2002Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 1
Utah State Aeronautic Commission
1939
5 2
United States Army Air Force- Your Body in Flight
1943
5 3
US Army Center of Military History- SLC and US Army Signal Corp.
1986
5 4
Salt Lake City Municipal and International Airports
1920-1999
5 5
Biplanes, Salt Lake City Municipal Airport, Pictures
1930-1969
5 6
Aviation Articles
1960-1999
5 7
Deseret News Articles
1911-1989
5 8
11th Annual Gliding and Soaring Contest Program
1940
5 9
International Glider Meets; German, French, English
undated
5 10
World War II Gliders
1986
6 1
Huntington Alloys Advertisement
undated
6 2
Homeowner's Annual, Shaper Manual
1936-1944
6 3
Stits, Ray- Aircraft Building Manuals
1965-1980
6 4
Utah Resource and Activities, Guide
1933-1951
6 5
Rosenhan, Alfred- Court Case
1940-1949
6 6
Schmirnoff Sailplane Derby
1972-1973
6 7
SE-5 Logbook
1917
6 8
Smithsonian Institution- Handbook of the National Aircraft Collection
1932
6 9
Szekely Aircraft Instruction Book
1931
6 10
Peterson, Garth N.- Western Air Express: Flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, Missing
1976
6 11
Miscellaneous Advertisements, Rosters, Pamphlets, Certificates
1960-1989
6 12
Meakin, Bob- Utah Gliding History, 1927-1950: Workbook
1997
6 13
Meakin, Bob- Utah Gliding History, 1927-1950: AAHS Journal Publication
2001-2002
6 14
The Piper Aztec C
undated
6 15
Skiis by CallAir
undated
6 16
Thalman Aircraft Corporation: Mt. Pleasant, Utah
1957

Business Records, 1950-1999Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
7 1
Air Taxi and Chartaire Flights Information
1950-1959
7 2
Helicopter Patrols
1964
7 3
Kelsey-Ellis Airservice, Inc.- Corporation Record Book
1960-1969
7 4
Kemp-Ellis and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Correspondence
1953-1968
7 5
Kemp-Ellis and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Certificate, Financial
1960-1989
7 6
Kemp-Ellis and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Ads, Tickets, Receipts, and Letterheads
1960-1969
7 7
Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Forgery Scandal
1959-1961
7 8
Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Beechcraft Model B Fifty Flight Handbook
1953
7 9
Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Beechcraft Queenair Manual
1962
7 10
Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Line Service Manual
1959
7 11
Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Mooney Mark 21 Manual
1961
7 12
AOPA 180 Degree- Flight Safety
1954-1955
7 13
Kemp-Ellis and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Advertisements and News Clippings
undated
7 14
The Circuit- Troubleshooters in the Sky
1954
7 15
Intermountain Industry- Up in the Air with Kelsey-Ellis Air Service, Inc.
1963
7 16
L-5 Sale
1981-1982
7 17
Minutes- Utah Aviation Fuel Tax Committee Meeting
1965
7 18
Frank Kelsey- The Kelsey Adjust-o-Matic C.G. Compensator
undated
7 19
Barograph Traces- Flight Data Including Altitude
1965-1972
7 20
Kemp and Kelsey Airservice Signed Holiday Card with Photo of Staff
undated
8 1
Stressed Skin Trailer Co.- Correspondence: Stiglmeier, Estrin, Murphy
1975-1987
8 2
SST- Costumer Correspondence
1977-1980
8 3
SST- Correspondence- Kunda, Rudy
1974-1982
8 4
SST- Assembly Instructions
1970-1979
8 5
Sump Dumper
1957
8 6
Sunbird Aviation Company- Stock Purchase
1979
8 7
Federal Weather Modification Reports
1967-1988
8 8
Fog Dispersal Methods
1990
8 9
Fog Dissipation Using Liquid Propane Studies
1964-1990
8 10
Aeroport de Paris- Fog Dispersal
1963-1966
8 11
Fog Dissipation using Carbon Dioxide Studies
1965-1977
8 12
Dr. Fukuta, Norihiko- Research, News Clips
1986
8 13
Cassette Tape: Fog Seeding Interview: Controversies, Research, Debate with Representative from Dr. Norihiko Fukuta,
1990-1999
8 14
Fog Dissipation using Dry Ice Studies
1964-1967
8 15
Great Salt Lake Effect Snowfall
1985
8 16
North American Weather Consultants- Ground Based Fog Dispersal, SLC
1990
9 1
Warm Fog Dispersal
1968-1970
9 2
Kelsey Fog Seeding Business- Correspondence, Files
1965-1986
9 3
Kelsey-Ellis and Interwest Aviation- Fog Seeding Logs
1965-1985
9 4
Fog Seeding, Inc.
1986-1991
9 5
Warm Fog Seeding, Inc.
1986-1989
9 6
Artificial Fog Dispersal History
1964-1986
9 7
Fog and Fog Seeding News Clippings
1964-1991
9 8
Fog Seeding Pictures
1950-1989
9 9
Kelsey- Frank- Notes and Written Works on Fog Seeding
undated
9 10
J. Vern Hales- Fog Dissipation at Salt Lake Airport
1962

Newspaper Clippings, 1911-1985Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
10
Kelsey and Aviation History News Clippings
1911-1985

Legal Sized, 1911-1972Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
11 1
Air Show at Barrington Park, SLC
1911
11 2
Kemp/Kelsey-Ellis Airservice, Inc.- Stock Agreements
1949-1968
11 3
K&E Sky Sailing Certificate of Incorporation
1968
11 4
Kelsey's Appointment for Notary Public Certificate
1968
11 5
Affidavit of Publication- Betty Phelps and K&E Sky Sailing Inc.
1972
11 6
Key Airlines Pamphlet
1969

Blueprints, 1937-1946Return to Top

(see map cabinet 6, drawer 15)

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder
1
McMurray, T.J.- Glider Blueprint
1946
2
Universal Gliders Model UG-2P2 Blueprints
1937

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Aeronautics--Utah--History.
  • Fog--Control.
  • Gliders (Aeronautics--Utah--History.

Personal Names

  • Kelsey, Frank, 1912-1991.

Corporate Names

  • Kelsey-Ellis Air Service.
  • Kemp and Kelsey Air Service.
  • National Soaring Museum (U.S.)
  • Salt Lake City Municipal Airport.
  • Soaring Society of America.