Archives West Finding Aid
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Alberta Hunt Nicholson papers, 1940-1997
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Nicholson, Alberta Hunt, 1914-2002
- Title
- Alberta Hunt Nicholson papers
- Dates
- 1940-1997 (inclusive)19401997
- Quantity
- 3 linear feet, (3 boxes and 4 oversize folders)
- Collection Number
- ACCN 1017
- Summary
- The Alberta Hunt Nicholson papers (1940-1997) contain materials regarding Nicholson's involvement with aviation from 1940-1990. Nicholson (1914-2002) was one of the first women test pilots to fly for the United States Air Force. She was a member of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II, from 1943 until the group was disbanded in 1944.
- Repository
-
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860
Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu - Access Restrictions
-
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.
- Languages
- English
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Alberta Hunt Nicholson papers (1940-1997) contain materials regarding Nicholson's involvement with aviation from 1940-1990. Nicholson (1914-2002) was one of the first women test pilots to fly for the United States Air Force. She was a member of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II, from 1943 until the group was disbanded in 1944. Included in the collection are official government documents, correspondence, news articles, newsletters, and yearbooks regarding the WASPs and their activities. Nicholson is a lifetime member of the Ninety-Nine's International Organization of Women Pilots and flew in many of their "Powder Puff Derby" transcontinental flying contests for women from 1955-1977. Contestant ribbons, results, programs, and news articles regarding these flying contests are included in the collection. Also included are pilot's log books chronicling Nicholson's recreational and professional flying from 1940-1978. Also inluded are WASP newsletters (1943-1944), issues of "Lukomunique," a newsletter published by and for the men of Luke Field (Phoenix, Arizona) in 1944, and a book of personal recollections from Alberta.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
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.
Preferred Citation
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Boxes 1-2 and folders 1-4 were donated in 1988.
Box 3 was donated in 1998.
Processing Note
Processed by in Kristen Soderberg in 1996.
Addendum processed by Karen Carver in 2005.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Separated Materials
See also the Alberta Hunt Nicholson photograph collection (P0662) and audio-visual materials (A0056) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Related Materials
Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Women Air Force Service Pilots, Ninety-Nines, and Powder Puff DerbyReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1-3 | WASP Official Documents
Includes an "Airman Identification Card", "Restricted Radio Telephone Operator Permit," "Honorable Discharge" certificate, U. S. Civil Service Commission "Notice of Rating," a petition for veteran's rights, flight records and certificates from Women Pilot Training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas, and the "Final Report on Woman Pilot Program" submitted to Commanding General, Army Air Forces.
|
1942-1977 |
| 1 | 4 | WASP Correspondence |
1943-1979 |
| 1 | 5 | WASP Official Mascot
Contains stickers and a fabric uniform patch with the WASP's official mascot, "Fifinella," depicted on them.
|
|
| 1 | 6 | WASP Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws |
|
| 1 | 7 | Songbook and Theme Song |
|
| 1 | 8-14 | "WASP Newsletter" |
1947-1985 |
| 1 | 15-16 | WASP Reunion |
|
| 1 | 17 | Newspaper and Magazine Articles |
|
| 1 | 18-19 | WASP Miscellaneous
Includes Nicholson's personal flight history, a WASP informational pamphlet, "Dues News" (newsletter sent to WASP members containing information about membership dues), 40th Anniversary program, postcards and a Christmas card.
|
|
| 1 | 20 | Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots
Includes bumper sticker, tour program, an invitation, news articles, and meeting minutes.
|
1950s-1980s |
| 1 | 21-28 | Powder Puff Flying Derby
Includes contestant ribbons, official programs, awards banquet program, unofficial race results, certificate of participation, and a contest summary.
|
1955-1957, 1960, 1962, 1965 |
| 2 | 1-7 | Powder Puff Flying Derby
Includes official programs, route maps, "top ten" lists, contestant ribbons, race results, news articles, and "Story Book."
|
1947-1977 |
Pilot's Log Books and MiscellaneousReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 8-10 | Pilot's Log Books |
1940-1978 |
| 2 | 11-15 | Miscellaneous
Includes Flying and How to Do It (1932), a book written by Assen Jordenoff; correspondence; biographical information and articles regarding Alberta Hunt Nicholson; flying articles; and 21st Annual National Air Races (1947) information.
|
1932-1990 |
| 3 | 1 | Biographical Information
Contains a news clipping and a copy of "Alberta," an unpublished memoir.
|
1997 |
| 3 | 2 | News Clipping |
1997 |
| map-case-folder | |||
| 1 | Oversize Newspapers
Contains newspapers published by the women of Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, and the men of Luke Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
|
1943-1944 | |
| 2 | Oversize Newspapers |
||
| 3 | Oversize Newspapers |
||
| 4 | Oversize Newspapers |
||
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations--Sources
- World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Female--Sources
Personal Names
- Nicholson, Alberta Hunt, 1914-2002--Archives
Corporate Names
- Powder Puff Derby--Archives
- Women Airforce Service Pilots (U.S.)--Archives
Form or Genre Terms
- Biographies
- Business correspondence
- By-laws
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Logs (records)
- Memorabilia
- Minutes (Records)
- Newspapers
- Programs (Publications)
- Songbooks
Finding aid created by Kristen Soderberg and Karen Carver
1996 (last modified: 2019)
