AHJ_ah01789 Inventory of the Charles L. Lawrance papers, 1909-1950 Lawrance (Charles Lanier) papers Processed by D.C. Thompson The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. 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/
2006

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort April 2006 Finding aid is in English Charles L. Lawrance papers, 1909-1950 Collection number: 01789 University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. Publication date: 2006 Contact Information 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/ September 2002

"©" 2006 University of Wyoming

 Collection Summary Lawrance, Charles L. (Charles Lanier), b. 1882 Charles L. Lawrance papers 1909-1950 01789 .10 cubic ft. (1 small collection envelope + oversize folder) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English The collection contains material about aviation including a copy of the book, "Our National Aviation Program," written by Lawrance and published in 1932. Personal and biographical materials such as newspaper clippings and photographs are included. Biography of Charles L. Lawrance

Charles Lanier Lawrance was the inventor of the air-cooled radial aviation engine used by Charles A. Lindbergh in his pioneering flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. Lawrance was born September 30, 1882, in Massachusetts and graduated from Yale in 1905. He began working on an air-cooled engine for airplanes to replace previous water-cooled ones prior to World War I. During the war, he continued this work while serving in the Navy. He was president of the Wright Aeronautical Corporation from 1924 to 1929 and became vice president of Curtiss-Wright Corporation after that company absorbed Wright Aeronautical in 1929. The air-cooled Wright Whirlwind engine he developed was used by Richard E. Byrd, Amelia Earhart, and many other aviators in addition to Lindbergh. Lawrance retired from business in 1948 and died in 1950 at his home in Islip, New York.

 Scope and Content

The collection contains a book by Charles L. Lawrance, Our National Aviation Program (1932); a printed copy of a paper by Lawrance, “The Development of the Airplane Engine in the United States” (1928); news clippings about Lawrance including obituaries; photographs of Lawrance; and photo prints of a Lawrance family scrapbook (some oversized) including family photographs, news clippings regarding the Wright Whirlwind engine, and documents honoring Charles L. Lawrance as the inventor of the engine.

 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

There are no other known archival collections created by Charles L. Lawrance at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

The papers were received from Margaret (Mrs. Charles L.) Lawrance in 1965 and 1966.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by D.C. Thompson in September 2002.

 Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Charles L. Lawrance papers, 1909-1950, Collection Number 01789, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms Curtis-Wright Corporation. Aircraft engine industry. Photographs. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Transportation Technology Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce