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Allan Francis Bonnalie papers, 1893-1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bonnalie, Allan Francis, 1893-
Title
Allan Francis Bonnalie papers
Dates
1893-1974 (inclusive)
Quantity
57.67 cubic feet + oversize (125 boxes)
Collection Number
05859
Summary
Papers, photographs, and other materials of an aviation pioneer, World War I aviator, and United Airlines executive.
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
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Historical Note

Allan Francis Bonnalie was a World War I pilot, United Airlines executive, and United States Naval Reserve officer. Bonnalie was born in Denver in 1893 and grew up in San Francisco. While attending Polytechnic High School in San Francisco, he was part of a club that built and flew gliders and airplanes. Bonnalie’s first flight was achieved on November 1, 1911. He joined the U.S. Signal Corps in 1917 and served as a pilot with the British Royal Air Force during World War I. In 1925 he joined the United States Naval Reserve and retired in 1953 with the rank of rear admiral.

Bonnalie worked as a mechanical engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad between 1922 and 1929. He left to join the Boeing School of Aeronautics, based out of Oakland, California, Airport. In 1938, he joined United Air Lines Flight Operations, Western Division, and later became assistant director of flight operations in Chicago. From 1941-1945 he served with the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics. He returned to United Airlines in 1945 and was president and general manager of United of Mexico, Lineas Aereas Mexicanas, S.A. (LAMSA). LAMSA was sold by United in 1953 and Bonnalie became director of United's flight training program in Denver, Colorado, until his retirement in 1958. Post-retirement, he made several trips overseas for the U.S. Foreign Operations Administration (FOA) to advise foreign governments on aviation matters. Bonnalie also served on United Airlines Pilot System Board of Adjustment to resolve grievances arising from pilot contracts.

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Content Description

Collection contains materials relating to Allan F. Bonnalie's life and his career in aeronautics. The collection includes a log book (1931-1934); correspondence (1921-1973); miscellaneous maps and charts; scrapbooks (1912-1938); materials on Bonnalie's service in World War I (1918-1921); certificates and military orders; manuscripts of writings by Bonnalie; and journals kept while traveling to Afghanistan, Bolivia and Yugoslavia for U.S. Foreign Operations Administration (1961-1962).

The collection also includes photographs, slides and glass plate negatives of airplanes, Bonnalie, his work with Southern Pacific, and the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco in 1915; World War I and aeronautics posters; research materials on airways and travel (1930-1955); materials on United Air Lines and LAMSA (1947-1958); an index card file on specifications and features on airplanes and engines; and the manuscript for an unpublished autobiography entitled "A Lifetime in Aviation: The Autobiography of Allan F. Bonnalie" (circa 1974).

The collection also contains 3 16 mm films on LAMSA and Mexico; 3 16 mm and 1 35 mm films on flying and flight training; and 1 8 mm film of a ticker-tape parade in New York City after Charles Lindbergh's trans-atlantic flight (1927); and miscellaneous other materials.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Preservation Note

System Requirements

Lindbergh parade -- film -- 8 mm.

LAMSA and Mexico promotions -- film -- 16 mm.

Flying and flight training -- film -- 16 and 35 mm.

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Allan Francis Bonnalie at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

The material was received from Allan F. Bonnalie in 1975.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was listed in 1975. The listing was updated and coded for online use by D. Claudia Thompson in June 2016.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Processed by D. Claudia Thompson
2013; 2016

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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