AHJ_ah07504 Inventory of the Alfred W. Lawson papers, 1904-2004, (bulk 1931-1989). Lawson (Alfred W.) Papers Processed by John Hanks and Matthew Francis University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2010

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Matthew Francis March 2010 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Lawson, Alfred W. (Alfred William), 1869-1954 Alfred W. Lawson papers 1904-2004, (bulk 1931-1989) 07504 16.67 cubic ft. (36 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English The Alfred W. Lawson papers contain materials relating to Lawson's aviation career, his social reform efforts, and Lawsonomy. Arrangement of the Collection

The Alfred W. Lawson papers have been processed and divided into four series. Materials have been arranged alphabetically by description.

 Biography of Alfred W. Lawson

Alfred W. Lawson was born in London, England, in 1869. After moving to America, Lawson played professional baseball, was a pioneer aviator, aviation manufacturer, writer, and editor. He is credited for editing the first popular aviation magazine, “Fly,” in 1908. Lawson established an aircraft manufacturing company in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from 1917-1918. His practical achievements in aviation include building and flying one of the first airliners (which Lawson billed as the first airliner), and being awarded several of the first air mail contracts.

Lawson retired from aviation in 1928 to further his work in social reform and philosophy. Lawson founded numerous organizations, including the Direct Credits Society, Des Moines University of Lawsonomy, and the Humanity Benefactor Foundation. Additionally, he propounded his own metaphysics based philosophy, Lawsonomy, and established the Lawsonian Religion. Lawson died in Texas in 1954.

 Scope and Content

The bulk of the Alfred W. Lawson papers consist of documents (correspondence, minutes, reports, etc.), related to the Lawson founded Direct Credits Society (1934-1989), Des Moines University of Lawsonomy (1934-1955), and the Humanity Benefactor Foundation (1943- 1985). The collection also contains periodicals written and edited by Lawson, books written by Lawson, and biographical documents and ephemera.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

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

 Related Materials

Additional papers for Alfred W. Lawson can be found at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library and the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives.

 Acquisition Information

This material was received from 1982-2008 from Sam Manson, Dolores Stearns, Lyell Henry, and Merle Hayden.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by John Hanks in 1997 and Matthew Francis in 2010.

 Preferred Citation

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

 Access Terms Aircraft industry--Periodicals--United States. Aeronautics--United States. Religions (Proposed, Universal, etc.)--United States. Metaphysics--United States. Economics--United States. Universities and colleges--Iowa--Des Moines. Social reformers--United States. Des Moines (Iowa) <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Direct Credits Society. Des Moines University of Lawsonomy. Humanity Benefactor Foundation. Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce Businesses and Corporations Transportation Economics and Banking Social Life and Customs Religion Education Colleges and Universities Container List Series I. Document Books

Sub-series 1.Direct Credits Society

Original correspondence, minutes, orders, and reports gathered together and bound in book form.

 1 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manolovich 1934-1941 2 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manolocivh 1941-1945 3 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manolovich 1945-1948 4 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manolovich 1949 4 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1950-1951 5 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1952-1954 6 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1955-1957 7 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1957-1959 8 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1960-1961 9 Documents in Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1962-1963 10 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1964-1965 11 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1966-1967 12 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1968-1970 13 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1970-1973 14 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1973-1975 15 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1976-1978 16 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1978-1981 17 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1981-1984 18 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1985-1987 19 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Sam Manson 1987-1989 19 Documents in the Direct Credits Society, Trustee Minutes - Sam Manson 1954-1979 20 Documents in Direct Credits Soceity - Walter Manson 1960-1972 21 Documents in Direct Credits Society - Walter Manson 1973-1975 22 Documents in Direct Credits Society - Walter Manson 1976-1978 23 Documents in the Direct Credits Society - Fred Parsons 1939-1958 24 Documents in the Direct Credits Society, Monthly and Yearly Reports - Sam Manolovich 1935-1937 24 Documents in the Direct Credits Society, Daily and Monthly Reports - Sam Manolovich 1950-1953 25 Documents in the Direct Credits Society, Meeting Reports - Sam Manson 1947-1959 25 Documents in the Direct Credits Society, Yearly and Monthly Reports - Sam Manson 1950-1953 Sub-series 2. Des Moines University of Lawsonomy

26 Trustee Minutes - Sam Manson 1943-1955 Sub-series 3. Humanity Benefactor Foundation

26 Minutes - Sam Manson 1943-1985 Series II. Books by Alfred W. Lawson

29 A New Species 1944 33 A Two Thousand Mile Trip in the First Airliner undated 27 Aircraft History 1947 27 The Airliner and its Inventor Alfred W. Lawson (in Collaboration with Cy Q. Fuance) 1921 27 Alfred Lawson, His Master Works undated 27 The Almighty: Volume Three Lawsonomy 1939 33 Bezpośrednie Kredyty Dla Każdego (Polish Translation for Direct Credits for Everybody) 1931 27 Born Again 1904 33 Born Again (Photocopies of Chapters XI and XII) 1904 33 Childhood Days of Alfred Lawson, a Four Act Play 1943 27 Children 1938 27 Creation 1931 27 Direct Credits for Everybody 1931 33 Direct Credits for Everybody 1973 28, 33 Gardening Text Book for Des Moines Uinversity 1943 28 General Orders Direct Credits Society 1934 28 Historical Documents Aircraft History, Congressional Record Recommendations to Congress, January 22, 1918, to September 17, 1918, Humanity Benefactor Foundation 1982 28 Humanity 1932 33 Know Business 1937 28 Lawson, Aircraft Industry Builder undated 28 Lawson, From Bootblack to Emancipator undated 28 Lawsonian Religion 1949 29 Lawsonomy, Volume I 1922 29 Lawson's Mighty Sermons 1948 29 Lawson's Proverbs True to Life 1945 29 Manlife 1923 29 Mentality 1938 29 Penetrability 1939 29 Short Speeches 1942 30 Webster's Dictionary, with Aviation Glossary by Alfred Lawson 1913 Series III. Magazines, Newspapers, and Short Publications

Materials were written, edited, or published by Alfred Lawson

 31 100 Great Speeches undated 30 Aircraft 1910-1913 31, 33 Benefactor (Including Reprints and Photocopies) 1936-1991 31 The Benefactor with 10 Great Speeches undated 33 The Devil (Photocopy and Reprint) 1916 33 Elucidation of the Fourteen Points and Lawson's Olympia Address (Photocopy) 1934 31 Fifty Speeches undated 30 Fly 1908-1909 30 Flying 1918, 1920 33 General Orders for Officers and Members of the Direct Credits Society (Photocopy) 1934 33 Great Speeches (Photocopy) 1935 33 Help the Merchants (Photocopy) 1935 33 Hey Farmers (Photocopy) 1935 33 Humanity/Direct Credits for Humanity/Direct Credits (Photocopies) 1932-1936 33 Know the Game Manufacturers (Photocopy) 1935 33 Police (Photocopy) 1935 33 Powerful Editorials (Photocopy) 1935 33 Questions and Answers in Up-to-the-Minute Economics - Finance - Capital - Labor 1933 34 Some Information Concerning Aircraft that Will Prove Useful to Congress, Bulletins 1-140 1918 34 Watch the Slickers 1934 34 Miscellaneous Short Publications undated Series IV. Miscellaneous Materials

Sub-series 1. Lawson Organizations

34 Aviation Songs (Lawson Air Liner) undated 30 Christmas Greetings Card undated 30 Correspondence about Lawson and a Monthly Report Form 1936-1979 30 Copies and Originals of Lawson Material Used in Exhibits 1953 31, 34 Des Moines University of Lawsonomy Flyers and Pamphlets undated 34 Des Moines University of Lawsonomy Tax Investigation Documents 1943-1948 34 Direct Credits Society Ephemera undated 31 Lawson Airline Calendar 1981 31 Lawson Airliner Posters undated 34 Lawsonomy Students Reunions Program 1954 30 Photographs of Lawson and his Exhibit in Wisconsin 1953 34 Songs of Lawsonomy 1961 30 Tickests to Lawson Assemblies 1934-1945 Sub-series 2. Biographical

34 Alfred Lawson Coin 1919 32 Awards Ceremony Booklet, Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame 1992 32 Biographical Clippings and and Summaries 1943-1952 32 Book - "The Aeroplane Scrap Book No. 1, 19110-1941" by D.D. Hatfield 1976 32 Book Excerpts about Lawson 1929-1987 32 Book - "Fads and Fallacies," by Martin Gardner 1957 32 Book - "Pioneers of Avaiation, Biography Series No. 1" by D.D. Hatfield 1976 32 Book - "The Real McGraw" by Mrs. John J. McGraw 1953 32 Book - "The Winged Gospel," by Joseph J. Corn 1983 32 Booklet for Lasa Yoga Game undated 32 Brass Plaque for Lawson Exhibit undated 32 Congressional Record Excerpts 1934, 1952 35 FBI File 1934-1964, 1981 36 Lawson Bibliographis 1936, 1942, undated 36 Lawson C-2 Airliner Plans undated 36 Lawson Speech Transcript (in German) 1934 36 Magazine Excerpts about Lawson circa 1920s - 1970s 32 Magazine Excerpts about Lawson and Early Partner Burnelli 1927-1982 36 Newspaper Clippings - Des Moines Register and Des Moines Tribune circa 1940s - 1950s 32 Periodical - Air Trails 1949 32 Periodical - Modern Mechanics 1930 32 Periodical - OX5 Aviation Pioneers 1977 32 Periodical - Scientific Age 1927 32 Periodical - True 1962 32 Periodical - The Vintage Airplane 1978 32 Periodical - World War I Airplanes 1981, 1982 31 Photograph - Alfred Lawson at 80 1949 32 Plans for Lawson Airliner Model from Balsa Wood 1978 36 Presentation - Larger Planes and Lower Passenger Rates 1928 36 Southeast Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame Materials 2004 Additional Container Lists

The American Heritage Center is in the process of converting its older container lists to a more accessible format. This link is to an older version of a container list.

 Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF) Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF)