J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
Alberta Hunt Nicholson photograph collection
Nicholson, Alberta Hunt, 1914-2002
P0662
0.25 linear feet
1 archives box
68 items
circa 1943-1980
The Alberta Hunt Nicholson photograph collection consists of images surrounding the aeronautical career of Alberta Nicholson.
English
Alberta Hunt Nicholson was born on April 20, 1914 in Baker City, Oregon to James and Christiana Folkman Hunt along with twin brother Albert (1914-1991). She attended the University of Utah where she studied music. After graduation, she taught elementary school; during this time, she developed an interest in flying airplanes.
When the United States entered World War II, the Air Force established the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). Due to her experience flying, Nicholson volunteered and was accepted for training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas. She served in the WASPs from 1943 until the group was disbanded in 1944. After graduation, she served as an Engineering Test Pilot. After the war, Nicholson served as Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Civil Aviation in the State Department in Germany. When she returned to the United States, Nicholson taught flying and flew competitively in eight women's Transcontinental Air Races between 1955 and 1957. She was involved in regional and national organizations for the WASPs and the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women's pilots.
Alberta Hunt married Walter E. Nicholson on November 23, 1957. In addition to aviation, Nicholson taught piano at the University of Utah. In 1952, she began working as a recreational therapist for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salt Lake City, a job she held for 25 years. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nicholson served many roles in her ward and stake.
Alberta Hunt Nicholson died on June 25, 2002.
Source: Obituary: Deseret News. (2024, January 17). Alberta H. Nicholson. Deseret News.
The focus of the collection is the aeronautical career of Alberta Nicholson, beginning in World War II with her involvement in Women Airforce Service Pilots group (WASP). Photographs depict planes she flew and worked on and people she worked with at the time and in later years at reunions. Also included are photos of Alberta and friends/competitors in cross country air races.
The Alberta Hunt Nicholson photograph collection is digitized.
Collection is arranged topically.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Processed by Dale Larsen in 1997.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
See also the Alberta Hunt Nicholson papers (ACCN 1017) located in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.
Forms part of the
Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archive.
Nicholson, Alberta Hunt, 1914-2002--Photographs
Women Airforce Service Pilots (U.S.)--Photographs
United States. Army Air Forces--Photographs
Powder Puff Derby--Photographs
Women air pilots--Photographs
World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Female--Photographs
World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations
Women air pilots--Photographs
Air pilots, Military--Photographs
Aeronautics, Military--Study and teaching--Photographs
Flight training--Photographs
Airplanes--Turbine-propeller engines--Photographs
T-6 (Training plane)--Photographs
Racing airplanes--Photographs
Military
Women
Photographs
black-and-white photographs
color photographs
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Women Airforce Service Pilots
1
1
- 1: Alberta with Rossina Lewis on a day off at (Lucke?) Field,1944.
- 2: (no label) group of WASP women.
- 3: "This is the plane I bought and licensed after the war - 1947"
- 4: (no label) Two women in unidentified plane #183.
- 5: "'Jersch', now O'Rourke." WASP standing in work outfit.
- 6: (no label) WASP standing in flight outfit.
- 7: June Keiser and Alberta at an early "Powder Puff Derby" women's race.
- 8: Alberta and Pidge Haskins in winter flight outfits.
- 9: Alberta in front of "T-6, Awas test pilot on AT-6 Jan '44 to Dec '44."
- 10: Alberta in winter flight outfit, January, 1944.
- 11: formal portrait of Alberta in flight gear.
- 12-13: Alberta in dress uniform, 1944, Sweetwater, Texas.
- 14: WASP group, Sweetwater, Texas, 1944. "Avenger...?"
Women Airforce Service Pilots
1
2
- 1: Alberta and co-pilot awaiting take-off in AT-6?
- 2: "Gadget" in work outfit, WASP Training, Sweetwater, TX 1943.
- 3: male flight instructor at Sweetwater, TX 1943.
- 4: unidentified personnel, (parachute check out?)
- 5: Ruth Jones, 1943.
- 6: Doris (?), Ida Carter, Jersch, Frances, Jonesy. WASPs in work outfit.
- 7: WASP instructor in primary trainer plane, 1943.
- 8: unidentified woman in civilian clothing, AShe washed out@.
- 9: Pidge Hoskins, Annie White, and two others in flight outfit.
- 10: male flight instructor in front of AT-6?
- 11: relaxing by the pool, WASPs after a days work.
- 12: Alberta and friend by her AT-6, 1947.
- 13-14: Alberta in flight outfit by a BT-13? at Williams Field, Sweetwater, TX 1944.
- 15: formal portrait of Alberta Nicholson in flight gear.
W.A.S.P. Friends in 1950s and 1960s
1
3
- 1-10: Photographs taken on two separate occasions, people from folder 1 and 2 at reunion? for WASP.
Air Racing
1
4
- 1-7: group photo of Alberta Nicholson, Mary Kollborn, Nancy Streeter(?), Lila Tieldin(?), Barbara Barlow, in the Powder Puff Derby.
- 8: Maxine Nielson and Alberta Nicholson at the finish of the 1965 El Cajun to Chattenooga race.
- 9: Maxine Nielson and Alberta.
- 10: Beatrice Edgerly Macpherson with co-pilot Alberta Nicholson in the 1955 Longbeach to Springfield, Mass. race. (Alberta's first race.)
- 11: Alberta and unidientified near plane #7.
- 12a-b: (numberred twice) Alberta and Maxine Nielson.
- 13: Jocile Eddleman handing a certificate to Alberta and June Kaiser during Powder Puff Derby. Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- 14: Alberta by unidentified plane.
- 15: Alberta and (?) boarding "Governor's Plane".
- 16: portrait of Alberta with plane.
- 17: Maxine Nielson and Alberta at check point on race?
"Picture Magazine"
1
5
- 1: This item was in a photo developing packet and was included with one of Alberta's photo orders. The brief magazine gives hints on how to take good photographs but was kept because of its perspective on culture of the United States during World War II.
General images
1
Unprinted Negatives
- 1-3: (color) Alberta(?) and others by post-WWII aircraft
- 4-5: Alberta Nicholson portraits
Oversize General Images
2
1
- OS 1: Same as folder 4 numbers 1-7
- OS 2: Carol Clarke, Lila Fielden, Alberta Nicholson, and Ruth Kendrick preparing for the Sacramento to Wilmington, Delaware air race in 1976
- OS 3: Group photo of WASP reunion
- OS 4: Group photo of WASP reunion
- OS 5: Panoramic photo of the pre-race banquet, Longbeach to Knoxsville, 1954