Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Charles L. Lawrance papers, 1909-1950
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Lawrance, Charles L. (Charles Lanier), b. 1882
- Title
- Charles L. Lawrance papers
- Dates
- 1909-1950 (inclusive)19091950
- Quantity
- .10 cubic ft. (1 small collection envelope + oversize folder)
- Collection Number
- 01789
- Summary
- The collection contains material about aviation including a copy of the book, "Our National Aviation Program," written by Lawrance and published in 1932. Personal and biographical materials such as newspaper clippings and photographs are included.
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Charles Lanier Lawrance was the inventor of the air-cooled radial aviation engine used by Charles A. Lindbergh in his pioneering flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. Lawrance was born September 30, 1882, in Massachusetts and graduated from Yale in 1905. He began working on an air-cooled engine for airplanes to replace previous water-cooled ones prior to World War I. During the war, he continued this work while serving in the Navy. He was president of the Wright Aeronautical Corporation from 1924 to 1929 and became vice president of Curtiss-Wright Corporation after that company absorbed Wright Aeronautical in 1929. The air-cooled Wright Whirlwind engine he developed was used by Richard E. Byrd, Amelia Earhart, and many other aviators in addition to Lindbergh. Lawrance retired from business in 1948 and died in 1950 at his home in Islip, New York.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains a book by Charles L. Lawrance, Our National Aviation Program (1932); a printed copy of a paper by Lawrance, “The Development of the Airplane Engine in the United States” (1928); news clippings about Lawrance including obituaries; photographs of Lawrance; and photo prints of a Lawrance family scrapbook (some oversized) including family photographs, news clippings regarding the Wright Whirlwind engine, and documents honoring Charles L. Lawrance as the inventor of the engine.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Charles L. Lawrance papers, 1909-1950, Collection Number 01789, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no other known archival collections created by Charles L. Lawrance at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThe papers were received from Margaret (Mrs. Charles L.) Lawrance in 1965 and 1966.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe collection was processed by D.C. Thompson in September 2002.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Aircraft engine industry.
Corporate Names
- Curtis-Wright Corporation.
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs.
Processed by D.C. Thompson
2006
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
