Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Building
808 25th St
Bellingham, WA 98225-9123
Phone: 360 650 7534
Email: cpnws@wwu.edu
XOE_CPNWS0037mecklem
Eklund, Don
L. Guy Mecklem
Collection
1892-1974
.25 Linear Ft.
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unpublished autobiography by Mecklem and photographs of his early flying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.
Collection materials are in English.
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.
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unpublished autobiography by Mecklem, photographs of his early flying days, as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.
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
The collection is open to the public.
L. Guy Mecklem Collection, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western
Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.
Eklund, Don,
<emph render="italic">Washington's "Wild Scotsman" : the early
aeronautical adventures of L. Guy Mecklem, 1897-1910 </emph>(
Bellingham :
Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Washington
State College,
1974).
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
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
Eklund, Don--Archives.
Mecklem, L. Guy, 1882-1973--Archives.
Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.
Aeronautics --
Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.
Airplanes --
History -- Sources.
Ballooning --
History -- Sources.
Washington
(State)
Photographs
Washington's "Wild Scotsman" : the early aeronautical adventures of L. Guy Mecklem, 1897-1910
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Series I
Research
Notes/Materials
1908-1972
Undated
1/1
Dr. Don Eklund’s Interview
Notes
November 1971-January
1972
1/2
L. Guy Mecklem's Autobiography
Undated
1/3
Jo Ann Roe Notes and Interview with Mecklem
1971
1/4
Articles & Other Research Notes
1908,1957
Series II
Manuscripts
1974
1/5
Dr. Don Ecklund's Monograph Working Copies
Undated
1/6
Final Draft and Printed Monograph, "Washington's 'Wild
Scotsman': The Early Aeronautical Adventures of L. Guy Mecklem,
1897-1910"
1974
Series III
Photographs
1892-1908;
Undated
Prints
1/7
#1-Leschi Park, Seattle
ca. 1902
1/7
#2-San Jose, CA.
ca. 1982-1893
1/7
#3-Airship built by Capt. Thomas Scott Baldwin, Chutes
Park, Los Angeles
19058
1/7
#4-Dominquez Field Air Meet, Los Angeles
1908
1/7
#5-Dominquez Field Air Meet, Los Angeles
1908
1/7
#6-Paulhan’s Farman, Dominquez Field, Los
Angeles
ca. 1908
1/7
#7-Dominquez Field Air Meet, Los Angeles
ca. 1908
1/7
#8-Meadows (now Boeing Field), Seattle
July 4, 1908
(Includes Mecklem signature from Jan. 24, 1972 at age 89.)
1/7
#9-Mecklem’s first airship, Seattle
1908
1/7
#10-Luna Park, Seattle
1908
1/7
#11-Mecklem’s first airship (frame),
Seattle
1908
1/7
#12-Mecklem’s Hangar, Luna Park Seattle
1908
1/7
#13-June flight Seattle: Luna Park
June 27, 1908
1/7
#14 -Clutch arrangement, Mecklem’s first airship,
Seattle
1908
1/7
#15-Mecklem’s first airship (frame) ,
Seattle
1908
1/7
#16-Prop Arrangement, Mecklem’s first airship,
Seattle
1908
1/7
#17-Mecklem’s first airship, Luna Park,
Seattle
1908
1/7
#18-Mecklem’s first airship, Luna Park,
Seattle
1908
1/7
#19-Meadows Landing from Luna Park flight,
Seattle
July 4, 1908
1/7
#20-Mecklem's first airship, Luna Park, Seattle
1908
1/7
#21-Mecklem's first airship, Luna Park, Seattle
1908
1/7
#22-Louis Paulhan's Farman biplane, Dominquez Field,
Los Angeles
1908
1/7
#23-Mecklem’s gas generator
Undated
1/7
#24-Eastern Airship purchased by Mecklem
Undated
1/7
#25-One of Mecklem’s airships, Portland,
Oregon
Undated
1/7
#26-Unidentified aircraft
1908
1/7
#27-Mecklem’s airship on tour, Austin,
Texas
1908
1/7
#28-Unidentified airship
Undated
1/8
Negatives
Undated
1/9
Slides
Undated