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L. Guy Mecklem Collection, 1892-1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Eklund, Don
Title
L. Guy Mecklem Collection
Dates
1892-1974 (inclusive)
Quantity
.25 Linear Ft., ( )
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0037mecklem (collection)
Summary
The L. Guy Mecklem Collection is made up of the materials accumulated by Dr. Don Eklund, of Western Washington State College, during his research for a history of Mecklem's early aeronautical career from 1897-1910. Materials include interviews conducted with L. Guy Mecklem between November 1971 and February 1972. Also included is an unpublished autobiography by Mecklem and photographs of his early flying days.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

L. Guy Mecklem was an aviation pioneer and daredevil at the turn of the 20th Century. Beginning with his first balloon flight in 1897 at the age of 15, Mecklem discovered a love for flying that led him to a career as a popular local aeronaut. In the course of this career Mecklem performed a number of hazardous tricks while suspended from a trapeze affixed to his balloon. Even after suffering numerous unpredictable landings Mecklem never failed to make further ascents. While traveling the country performing at a number of air shows Mecklem became enamored with engine-powered airplanes and pursued a short career of flying these aircraft at exhibitions. When this career change proved unprofitable Mecklem sold his plane and moved on to become a carnival acrobat and deep sea diver. After retiring from these occupations L. Guy Mecklem settled onto a berry farm for 28 years with his wife outside Everson, Washington. Near the end of his life he moved to Bellingham where he died at the age of 90 on January 20, 1973.

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Content Description

The L. Guy Mecklem Collection is made up of the materials accumulated by Dr. Don Eklund, of Western Washington State College, during his research for a history of Mecklem's early aeronautical career from 1897-1910. Materials include notes from interviews Eklund and JoAnn Roe conducted with L. Guy Mecklem between November 1971 and February 1972. Also included are an unpublished autobiography by Mecklem, photographs of his early flying days, as well as negatives and slides. Negatives and slides correspond with the prints. Dr. Eklund's working copies, final draft, and the printed monograph of "Washington's 'Wild Scotsman': The Early Aeronautical Adventures of L. Guy Mecklem, 1897-1910" are also in the collection.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

L. Guy Mecklem Collection, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The L. Guy Mecklem Collection is organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:

  • Series I: Research Notes/Materials, 1971; Undated
  • Series II: Manuscripts, 1974
  • Series III: Photographs, 1892-1908; Undated

Bibliography

Eklund, Don, Washington's "Wild Scotsman" : the early aeronautical adventures of L. Guy Mecklem, 1897-1910 ( Bellingham : Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Washington State College, 1974).

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Aeronautics -- Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.
  • Airplanes -- History -- Sources.
  • Ballooning -- History -- Sources.

Personal Names

  • Eklund, Don--Archives. (creator)
  • Mecklem, L. Guy, 1882-1973--Archives.

Geographical Names

  • Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.

Titles within the Collection

  • Washington's "Wild Scotsman" : the early aeronautical adventures of L. Guy Mecklem, 1897-1910

Finding aid created by Jason Viers.
2004

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

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