Museum of Flight Archives
The LeBert Collection
1999.6.3.LeBert
Materials Relating to James S. McDonnell and the McDonnell Aircraft Company
Table of Contents
- Summary Information
- Le Bert Biographical Note
- James Smith McDonnell, Jr. Biography
- Box 1
- Box 2A
- Box 2B
- Box 3
- Box 4
- Box 5
- Box 6
- Box 7
- Box 8
- Box 9
- Box 10
- Box 11
- Box 12
- Box 13A
- Box 13B
- Box 14
- Box 15A
- Box 15B
- Box 16
- Box 17
- Box 18A
- Box 18B
- Box 19A
- Box 19B
- Box 20
- Box 21
- Box 22A
- Box 22B
- Box 22C
- Box 22D
- Box 23
- Administrative Information
- Controlled Access Headings
Summary Information
- Repository
- Museum of Flight Archives
- Title
- LeBert Collection of James McDonnell Materials
- ID
- 1999.6.3.LeBert
- Date [inclusive]
- 20th Century
- Extent
- 34.5 Cubic feet consisting of 23 document boxes containing articles, clippings, photographs, speeches, and corporate documents pertaining to James S. McDonnell, Jr., McDonnell Aircraft, and the McDonnell Douglas Corporation
- Language
- English
- Abstract of the Le Bert Collection
- Personal collection of photos, annual reports, articles, books, newspaper clippings, trade publications, etc. relating to the history of James S. McDonnell, the McDonnell Company, the Douglas Company, and The McDonnell/Douglas Corporation. The collection contains family photographs of James McDonnell along with corporate materials. Items have been cataloged to the folder level within each box.
Le Bert Biographical Note
Gordon Le Bert worked in Public Relations at the McDonnell Company in St. Louis. The materials were collected as research material for a biography on James McDonnell that was never realized.
James Smith McDonnell, Jr. Biography
James Smith McDonnell, Jr. was born on April 9, 1899 in Denver, Colorado. The son of a grocer and housewife, the family eventually moved to Arkansas where McDonnell attended high school before moving on to study at Princeton University, earning a degree in Physics (1921) and eventually a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
McDonnell recognized the need for an engineer to know how to fly an airplane and so joined the Army Air Corps. He received his wings as a reserve Second Lieutenant in 1924.
In 1926, McDonnell founded J.S. McDonnell & Associates in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His idea was to produce a personal aircraft for family use. The 1929 stock market crash and the subsequent economic depression ruined his ideas and the company collapsed. He worked for various aircraft companies over the next few years, the last being the Glenn L. Martin Company where he worked as the Chief Project Engineer from 1933 until he left in 1938 to try again with his own firm, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, this time based in St. Louis, Missouri.
The McDonnell Aricraft Corporation was established on July 6, 1939 with the first aircraft produced called the "Doodlebug."
The company eventually became known for its military planes. Though in competition with other companies such as Boeing, Lockheed, and Douglas, McDonnell's planes, especially their jets were smaller, allowing them to accomplish more radical maneuvers. McDonnell had its first military success with the FH-1 Phantom and built upon their success by supplying the United States Navy with the F2H Banshee, F3H Demon, and the F-101 Voodoo.
The most successful military aircraft for McDonnell was the F-4 Phantom II, a revised version of the Phantom I that was developed in 1953 and incorporated more safety features and designs that lessened drag, weight, and warm-up time. The plane was so successful that both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds chose the F-4 as the aircraft used in their aerial demonstrations. McDonnell was awarded the prestigious Collier Trophy for the F-4 in 1966.
The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation did not limit itself to military contracts either. Since the founding of NASA, they were involved in developing projects for the Mercury, Gemini, and Saturn programs. McDonnell himself urged the town of St. Louis, Missouri to embrace space programs and research facilities, eventually donating $200,000 for the construction of a planetarium that was eventually named for him.
Upon merging with The Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967, the newly named McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation forged ahead with both military and commercial aircraft, the most notable being the DC-10.
Despite a reputation for military aircraft James S. McDonnell was dedicated to the cause of peace in the world, but a peace founded on strength. He was a staunch supporter of the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and a philanthropist, creating the McDonnell Foundation. He was also a strong supporter of his community of St. Louis and Washington University.
McDonnell was also heavily interested in the pseudo-science of parapsychology, which was expressed in the names of several McDonnell aircraft such as the Phantom, Voodoo, Banshee, and Demon. McDonnell went so far as to donate money to Washington University to create the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychic Research to study extrasensory perception (ESP), mind-over-matter, and clairvoyance. Funding, however, was cut in 1985.
James S, McDonnell passed away on August 22, 1980 after suffering from a stroke. Seventeen years later, in 1997, McDonnell Douglas was absorbed into Boeing, becoming Boeing/McDonnell Douglas.
Box 1
Folder 1-1: FH-1 Phantom magazines (Air Fan and Tail Hook), bulletins, and the McDonnell Aircraft Company magazine "Airscoop"
Folder 1-2: First flight records, production lists, tables, charts, and an F-4 booklet
Folder 1-3: Phantom articles, speeches and correspondence
Folder 1-4: Negative numbers and lists
Folder 1-5: Aircraft records for the Phantom, press releases, pamphlets, F-4 photos, and information on the D-5581-1 Skyrocket and XF-88
Folder 1-6: McDonnell's memos concerning the F2H, XF-85, AND XF-88
Folder 1-7: Information on helicopters, photos of the XV-1, and information on "Little Henry"
Folder 1-8: Hughes Helicopters and the acquizition of the corporation by McDonnell, articles, ect.
Folder 1-9: Helicopters and photos of XV-1 Converteplane, XH-50 Whirlaway, and the XH-20 Little Henry
Folder 1-10: F-111 crew escape module and notes
Folder 1-11: Models of the 119 and 120, photos and brochures
Folder 1-12: Photos and a report on the F-15
Folder 1-13: F-15 chronology and reports
Folder 1-14: F-15 Eagle milestones and photographs
Folder 1-15: F-18 Hornet chronology and photographs
Folder 1-16: AV-88 photographs and reports
Box 2A
Folder 2-1 (Labled "Doodlebug Articles"): data, reports, articles, and magazines concerning the Doodlebug
Folder 2-5: XP-67 photos, data and "Air Classics" magazine
Folder 2-6: FH-1 deliveries and over 30 photos
Folder 2-7: F2H-1 data and photos
Folder 2-8: F2H Banshee photos, story and production
Folder 2-9: F3H Demon airshow photos
Folder 2-10: F3H Demon photos, production and story
Folder 2-11: F3H Demon data and photos
Folder 2-12: XF-85 AAHS & L'Aeronautique technical data
Folder 2-13: XF-88 data, chronology and design booklet
Folder 2-14: F-101 Voodoo story, data and photos (missing from box)
Folder 2-15: F-101 reports, Sun Run and Firewall operation booklets, and articles on the Cuban Missile Crisis
Folder 2-16: Personnel folders - Baldwin through Graff
Box 2B
Folder 2-2: Doodlebug photos (over 30), including Laird
Folder 2-3: Fairchild AT-21 - Memphis location with photos and data
Folder 2-4: AT-21, XP-67 beginnings
Additionally a three-ring binder with articles from "Out of the Past: An Aerospace Chronology" by Frank H. Winter of the National Air & Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institute spanning from 1972-1986 was re-housed into six folders
Box 3
Folder 3-1: Missile background - model numbers, original production, Gargoyle, Katydid, Kingfisher, Talos, GAM-72
Folder 3-2: Missile background - brochure, correspondence, Talos, Triton, Quail. Also includes information on the NASA space programs Mercury, Gemini, and the Apollo/Saturn V
Folder 3-3: Missile background and photographs as well as a history of the McDonnell missile division and fire control systems
Folder 3-4: Talos, Triton, Typhoon, Model 122, XM-47 Dragon specs and histories
Folder 3-5: Skybolt cancellation information
Folder 3-6: MOL (Manned Orbiting Lab) cancellation
Folder 3-7: ASSET - structure and environmental tests for NASA
Folder 3-8: Harpoon (anti-ship missile) summary report and insignia
Folder 3-9: Three Skylab photographs
Folder 3-10: Delta photo and report
Folder 3-11: Twelve Gemini photos
Folder 3-12: Gargoyle, Katydid, Triton, 122, and Kingfisher photos and specs
Folder 3-13: GAM-72 (Ground to Air Missile) Quail decoy photos, specs, and chronology
Folder 3-14: Cruise Missile Tomahawk data
Folder 3-15: Astronauts and Gemini Press "Book"
Folder 3-16: Miscellaneous space technology
Folder 3-17: Fourteen Mercury photos and data
Folder 3-18: See and Bassett crash
Folder 3-19: Gemini Program
Folder 3-20: Space - several bookklets
Folder 3-21: Apollo program fire
Folder 3-22: Airborn Warning and Control System (AWACS) misc. info
Folder 3-23: McDonnell Corporation organization history
Folder 3-24: Douglas Aircraft Company - Douglas Missile and Space
Folder 3-25: Tulsa plant
Folder 3-26: McDonnell/Douglas Electric Company (MDEC) - Electronics and equipment
Folder 3-27: MDFC - Finance Company
Folder 3-28: MDC - Canadian operations/ CF-8
Folder 3-29: Astronautics/Laser
Folder 3-30: MC Auto - automation
Folder 3-31: Company advertising
Folder 3-32: Black and Minorities - includes a 1984 issue of "Corporate Profiles" on McDonnell/Douglas
Folder 3-33: Management
Folder 3-34: Military - Industry
Folder 3-35: "Crackpot" Information concerning an individual who mailed threatening letters and Nazi propaganda to McDonnell/Douglas
Folder 3-36: J.S. McDonnell correspondence
Folder 3-37: DC-10 Crash / Paris
Folder 3-38: DC-10 Crash / Paris cont'd.
Folder 3-39: DC-10 Ad Campaign with an emphasis on safety in hopes of improving the image of the plane two years after the crash
Folder 3-40: DC-10 Crash Report (book)
Box 4
Folder 4-1: DC-10 Book lawsuit. Includes a copy of the deposition for McDonnell Douglas Corporation vs. the New York Times Company and Robert Sherrill over a book review published concerning two books, "Destination Disaster: From the Tri-Motor to the DC-10: The Risk of Flying" by Paul Eddy, Elaine Potter and Bruce Page and "The Last Nine Minutes: The Story of Flight 981" by Moira Johnston. Both books were published despite known factual errors. Articles about McDonnell/Douglas dropping the suit are included as well.
Folder 4-2: DC-10 Chicago crash
Folder 4-3: DC-10 Spain crash
Folder 4-4: DC-10 Mexico City
Folder 4-5: DC-10 Boston
Folder 4-6: DC-10 Antarctica crash
Folder 4-7: DC-10 F. Laker anti-trust lawsuit. Laker filed suit against eight other airline companies for price manipulation and pressuring lenders that forced the company to liquidate its assets
Folder 4-8: DC-10 Program overview
Folder 4-9: DC-3 History
Folder 4-10: DC-9 and DC-10 program chronology, coverage of the first rollout of the DC-10, Playboy photos, and coverage of the closing of the DC-10 program in 1983
Folder 4-11: MD-80 New Project
Folder 4-12: Supersonic Transport (SST) article, press release and photo
Folder 4-13: "DC" series chronology
Folder 4-14: KC-10 tanker photograph and charts
Folder 4-15: YC-15 and photograph
Folder 4-16: C-17 and an illustration
Folder 4-17: VT and TS "Hawk"
Folder 4-18: A-4N Skyhawk, Blue Angels and photographs
Folder 4-19: 1939-1943 McDonnell letters, memos, etc.
Folder 4-20: 1947 McDonnell letters, memos, etc.
Folder 4-21: 1944-1946 McDonnell letters, memos, etc.
Folder 4-22: 1953-1955 McDonnell letters, memos, etc.
Folder 4-23: 1956-1961 McDonnell letters, memos, etc.
Folder 4-24: 1962-1965 McDonnell letters, memos, etc.
Folder 4-25: 1966 public address and transcript
Folder 4-26: 1967 public address and transcript
Folder 4-27: 1968 public address and transcript
Box 5
Folder 5-1: 1969 Public address
Folder 5-2: 1970 Public address
Folder 5-3: 1971 Public address
Folder 5-4: 1972 Public address
Folder 5-5: 1973 Public address
Folder 5-6: 1974 Public address
Folder 5-7: 1975 Public address
Folder 5-8: McDonnell speeches
Folder 5-9: McDonnell speeches
Folder 5-10: McDonnell Douglas Foundations and Charities
Folder 5-11: Building 42, November '51
Folder 5-12: United Nations and McDonnell Douglas including "How to Observe UN Day" brochures, articles on James S McDonnell's association with the UN, McDonnell Douglas's celebration of UN Day and a photos of then Ambassador to the UN, George Bush, speaking at the St. Louis chapter in 1972
Folder 5-13: UN Day with photographs
Folder 5-14: Articles and pictures of McDonnell celebrating the founding of NATO with photos of James S. McDonnell personally greeting NATO representatives and several copies of the pamphlet entitled, "NATO...an alliance of 15 nations, Serving Mankind by Waging Peace, and Preserving Freedom: A compandium of messages published by McDonnell Douglas in support of the Atlantic Alliance"
Folder 5-15: Lockheed Corporation
Folder 5-16: Trials
Folder 5-17: Articles on coporate scandals in the wake of Watergate. Included are articles on Boeing and Lockheed scandals, McDonnell Douglas new corporate policy (1976), and articles on bribery, cumshaw, and baksheesh as coined by James S. McDonnell
Folder 5-18: McDonnell foreign sales
Folder 5-19: McDonnell Douglas "Payments"
Folder 5-20: McDonnell Douglas lawsuits
Folder 5-21: H. Stuart and Tulsa information
Folder 5-22: Original charts
Folder 5-23: Corporate P.R.
Folder 5-24: Logo types
Folder 5-25: Picnics
Folder 5-26: Photocopies of articles concerning Douglas Aircraft in "Business Week" and "Fortune"
Folder 5-27: Chapter drafts, outlines and a biography of James S. McDonnell for book entitled "Haylon"
Folder 5-28: M. Forbes
Folder 5-29: McDonnell and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) - 1977
Folder 5-30: Articles collected and research on committee set-up and foundation for Nobel Prize requested by McDonnell
Folder 5-31: Consultants, awards, etc.
Box 6
Folder 6-1: Miscellaneous articles concerning James S. McDonnell
Folder 6-2: McDonnell, the man
Folder 6-3: Facilities - photographs
Folder 6-4: United States Air Force Museum
Folder 6-5: Foreign military sales
Folder 6-6: China - article on visit from Chinese envoy, March, 1980, and a speech on the use of the DC-3 in China after WWII
Folder 6-7: Japan - itinerary for Japanese Diet visit to McDonnell Douglas Corporation and an article on "Japanese Moralism" (Oct, 1983) written in the wake of the Tanaka bribery scandal
Folder 6-8: Russia
Folder 6-9: Advertising
Folder 6-10: Insider sales
Folder 6-11: Political contributions
Folder 6-12: Directors
Folder 6-13: World Affairs
Folder 6-14: Philanthropy - articles on corporate charity, McDonnell's donations to Washington University's space sciences program, and photographs
Folder 6-15: McDonnell foundations
Folder 6-16: Parapsychology - articles on McDonnell's interest in the subject, donations to Washington University to create the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychic Research, a copy of "Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death," and articles on James Randi's quest to debunk parapsychology
Folder 6-17: Misc. articles from 1940 to 1965
Folder 6-18: 1966 information - publications - chronology
Folder 6-19: 1967 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-20: 1968 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-21: 1969 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-22: 1970 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-23: 1971 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-24: 1972 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-25: 1973 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-26: 1974 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-27: 1975 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-28: 1976 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-29: 1977 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-30: 1978 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-31: 1979 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-32: 1980 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-33: 1981, 1984-86 info - publications - chronology
Folder 6-34: F-4 Phantom evolution and photographs
Folder 6-35: F-4 chronology
Folder 6-36: F-4 from 1954 to 1958 with photographs
Folder 6-37: F-4 development history
Box 7
Folder 7-1: F-4 miscellaneous material
Folder 7-2: F-4 rollout material and articles
Folder 7-3: F-4 material including the visit from the Shah of Iran, an itinerary of the visit and other delegates
Folder 7-4: West German Airforce material concerning the F-4 and speeches from the rollout ceremony for Germany in May, 1973
Folder 7-5: Materials related to the F-4 and South Korea when the US switched bases from Japan to South Korea
Folder 7-6: Materials related to the sale of F-4s to Spain through the US government and Department of Defense in return for signing on to NATO
Folder 7-7: Materials related to Turkey and the F-4 including an article highlighting the purchase of aircraft from the US strengthening NATO
Folder 7-8: F-4 Austrailia materials and photos
Folder 7-9: F-4 Greece materials and photos
Folder 7-10: F-4 France materials and photos
Folder 7-11: F-4 German materials and photos
Folder 7-12: F-4 Egypt and China materials and photos
Folder 7-13: F-4 materials relating to Isreal including sale of jets, articles on Congressional pressures on the US in dealing with Isreal and the Yom Kippur War
Folder 7-14: F-4 materials related to Britain and photos
Folder 7-15: F-4 materials related to Japan and photos
Folder 7-16: F-4 materials related to the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds
Folder 7-17: Sale of #1000 F-4
Folder 7-18: Sale of #2000 F-4
Folder 7-19: Sale of #3000 F-4
Folder 7-20: Sale of #4000 F-4
Folder 7-21: Sale of #5000 F-4
Folder 7-22: #5000 F-4 press kit
Folder 7-23: Materials related to the last F-4 sold (#5057)
Folder 7-24: F-4 story
Folder 7-25: Collection of several events including various speeches given circa 1961-65
Folder 7-26: Files of various people who have either visited or been involved with McDonnell Douglas
Box 8
Folder 8-1: McDonnell geneology
Folder 8-2: McDonnell geneology
Folder 8-3: Material related to Alabama where McDonnell's father attended college
Folder 8-4: Material related to Arkansas where McDonnell was raised
Folder 8-5: 1st Mrs. McDonnell
Folder 8-6: 2nd Mrs. McDonnell
Folder 8-7: Material related to Little Rock, Arkansas (1899-1917)
Folder 8-8: Material related to Little Rock and Altheimer, Arkansas
Folder 8-9: McDonnell and family
Folder 8-10: Material related to Little Rock and Denver, Colorado
Folder 8-11: Anniversary booklets, magazines and articles relating to the 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis, Missouri
Folder 8-12: "Aero" magazine articles collected from 1908 to 1918 concerning early flight, Glenn Curtiss, and the Wright Bros.
Folder 8-13: Materials related to McDonnell in high school
Folder 8-14: Princeton University
Folder 8-15: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) materials where McDonnell received his Masters in Aeronautical Engineering
Folder 8-16: MIT and the Army (1921-25)
Folder 8-17: Mitchell Field (1922); Brooks (1923) and photos
Folder 8-18: Materials related to Consolidated Aircraft Company in Buffalo, NY
Folder 8-19: National Air Races (1925-31)
Folder 8-20: Book of collected articles on Huff-Daland from 1920 to 1925
Folder 8-21: Ford/Stout in Dearborn
Folder 8-22: Balloon Race - Detroit, Mich. (Oct. 1925)
Folder 8-23: Hamilton and Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Folder 8-24: Materials related to the "Doodlebug" and the Guggenheim award
Folder 8-25: Materials related to the "Doodlebug"
Folder 8-26: Materials related to the Ford Air Tour (1925-31)
Folder 8-27: Correspondence with Zachartchenko and Cowling - both of whom helped McDonnell on the "Doodlebug"
Folder 8-28: McDonnell Company from 1939-41
Folder 8-30: Great Lakes
Folder 8-31: Henderson (1932)
Folder 8-32: Materials related to the Glenn L. Martin Company where McDonnell first started working in Baltimore, Maryland from 1933 to 1938 as Chief Project Engineer
Folder 8-33: Company Planning
Folder 8-34: First Factory - Monocoupe
Folder 8-35: Glenview Rd. House (photos; 1952)
Folder 8-36: Air Transport - Chicago
Folder 8-37: McDonnell and the early programs
Folder 8-38: Lambert Field photos
Folder 8-39: AIAA Newsletter - St. Louis Aviation
Folder 8-40: Lambert - photos
Folder 8-41: Financial statements fromn McDonnell during the war years (1941-45)
Folder 8-42: World War II
Folder 8-43: Materials related to the McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft Relations
Folder 8-44: McDonnell (1946-47)
Folder 8-45: London Trip (photos; Sept., 1947)
Folder 8-46: "Little Henry" photos
Folder 8-47: England - (1950 photo)
Folder 8-48: London Trip (photo; 1951)
Folder 8-49: First Jet Flight (photos of McDonnell; 1951)
Folder 8-50: Merger in 1967 with photos
Folder 8-51: Business Week interview (1968)
Folder 8-52: Photos from an unknown event on August 14, 1969
Folder 8-53: Photos of James S. McDonnell being presented a portrait of himself (Entitled: James S. McDonnell - 75 Years)
Box 9
Folder 9-1: James S. McDonnell 80th birthday - photos
Folder 9-2: Bribes trial (1980)
Folder 9-3: Materials related to turmoil in McDonnell company (1979-80)
Folder 9-4: James S. McDonnell life memorial exhibit (1 photo)
Folder 9-5: British Caldonia - photos
Folder 9-6: James S. McDonnell memorial service (1980)
Folder 9-7: James S. McDonnell obituaries
Folder 9-8: McDonnell history
Folder 9-9: McDonnell history (includes several 4x5 negatives)
Folder 9-10: Navpro, St. Louis (United States Navy)
Folder 9-11: Growing pain and WWII production
Folder 9-12: McDonnell Douglas production history
Folder 9-13: Publications
Folder 9-14: McDonnell history
Folder 9-15: Norman Thomas
Folder 9-16: Job Order Register
Folder 9-17: James S. McDonnell biographies
Folder 9-18: James S. McDonnell biographies
Folder 9-19: Public Relations
Folder 9-20: Improved and corrected speeches and articles
Folder 9-21: 1974 Annual Report
Folder 9-22: St. Louis clubs
Folder 9-23: Aircraft names
Folder 9-24: Jet engine background
Folder 9-25: UN & NATO
Folder 9-26: McDonnell and the UN with photographs
Folder 9-27: "Time" magazine article entitled "Moral Equivalent to War" wherein McDonnell is mentioned (1977)
Folder 9-28: Man Carving His Own Image by Albin Polásek; includes photos of the sculpture and articles highlighting the use of the image on McDonnell Douglas stock certificates
Folder 9-29: Aviation Pioneers
Folder 9-30: "Peace Through Strength" by James S. McDonnell, featured in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat (July, 1980); also includes pamphlets with the same speech for the F-15 Rollout Ceremony, June 1972
Folder 9-31: James S. McDonnell misc. speech requests
Folder 9-32: McDonnell - leadership
Folder 9-33: James S. McDonnell correspondence
Folder 9-34: McDonnell - misc. material and photos
Box 10
Folder 10-1: Materials related to Conductron Corporation (Created radar and electromagnetic products and was involved in the creation of holographic projections and flight simulators; McDonnell Douglas acquired the company and formed McDonnell Douglas Electric Company in May, 1971)
Folder 10-2: Test Pilots
Folder 10-3: Merger - 1967
Folder 10-4: Merger - 1967
Folder 10-5: Merger - 1967
Folder 10-6: Shah of Iran
Folder 10-7: DC-10
Folder 10-8: James S. McDonnell articles
Folder 10-9: James S. McDonnell articles
Folder 10-10: James S. McDonnell articles
Folder 10-11: Articles by James S. McDonnell
Folder 10-12: McDonnell Douglas history
Folder 10-13: JSM letters - 1951
Folder 10-14: JSM letters - 1952
Folder 10-15: JSM letters - 1953
Folder 10-16: JSM letters - 1954
Folder 10-17: JSM letters - 1955
Folder 10-18: JSM letters - 1956
Folder 10-19: JSM letters - 1957
Folder 10-20: JSM letters - 1958
Folder 10-21: JSM letters - 1959
Folder 10-22: JSM letters - 1960
Folder 10-23: JSM letters - 1961
Folder 10-24: JSM letters - 1962
Folder 10-25: McDonnell history
Folder 10-26: "Old Mac's Corner"
Folder 10-27: JSM - misc. materials and speeches
Folder 10-28: JSM - Time and Newsweek
Folder 10-29: Institute of the Aerospace Sciences (IAS) Awards
Folder 10-30: McDonnell Management Club - 1952
Folder 10-31: McDonnell Management Club - 1953
Folder 10-32: Rolla Commencement - 1953
Folder 10-33: Washington University Commencement - 1958
Folder 10-34: Reference material for revision of Commencement speech (June, 1958)
Folder 10-35: Materials related to the Modern Patriot Award received by James S. McDonnell from the Sons of the Revolution, St. Louis chapter (1958)
Folder 10-36: Mercury Award - 1959 with photo
Folder 10-37: UN Flag - Soldier's Memorial (folder empty)
Folder 10-38: St. Louis Award - 1953 with photo
Folder 10-39: New York security (1960)
Folder 10-40: US Savings Bonds (1962)
Folder 10-41: IAS Meeting - 1962 (folder empty)
Folder 10-42: IAS - 1962 with photos
Folder 10-43: James Webb - 1962 (folder empty)
Folder 10-44: Materials related to the closing and remodeling of the Ashby Harper Country Day School; some material on the Peace Corp included
Box 11
Folder 11-1: Space Day - Little Rock
Folder 11-2: Speech to the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce (1963) in which McDonnell urges St. Louis to become more involved in space research and related materials
Folder 11-3: Clergy-Business Dialogue
Folder 11-4: Materials related to the opening of the St. Louis Planetarium (1963); inclided are invites, press releases, and newspaper clippings
Folder 11-5: Planetarium - photos
Folder 11-6: Newspaper Publications Speech (1963)
Folder 11-7: Washington University Commencement
Folder 11-8: United Negro College Fund
Folder 11-9: Old Nostalgia Night
Folder 11-10: AIAA - Guggenheim - January, 1966
Folder 11-11: Materials related to James S, McDonnell receiving an honorary degree from the University of Arkansas
Folder 11-12: Materials related to the deliver of the 1000th aircraft
Folder 11-13: Materials related to the China-Burma-India Veterans Association and McDonnell's reception of the Americanism Award, August 1966
Folder 11-14: NBAA Merit Award - photos
Folder 11-15: NEMA Award
Folder 11-16: Prometheus Award
Folder 11-17: NASA - PSA, 1966
Folder 11-18: St. Louis Argus Award (PSA)
Folder 11-19: NAE Founders Medal
Folder 11-20: Collier Trophy - photos
Folder 11-21: Collier Trophy - photos
Folder 11-22: Materials related to the delivery of the 1st F-4
Folder 11-23: Disneyland
Folder 11-24: St. Louis Globe-Democrat Man-Of-The-Year Award (1968)
Folder 11-25: NAB Metro
Folder 11-26: Wings Club - NYC - 1968
Folder 11-27: Churchill Dinner
Folder 11-28: National Industrial Recreation, 1969
Folder 11-29: Elder Statesman
Folder 11-30: UN Hearings
Folder 11-31: Eximbank - 1970
Folder 11-32: Apollo 16 astronaut
Folder 11-33: F-15 rollout - photos
Folder 11-34: St. Louis - World Affairs
Folder 11-35: Dr. Moore Memorial
Folder 11-36: Forrestal Award - 1973
Folder 11-37: F-4 rollout
Folder 11-38: Materials related to Lighter-than-Air travel; includes a booklet
Folder 11-39: Materials related to the 10th Anniversary of the St. Louis Planetarium Folder 11-40: Royal Aeronautical Society Award
Folder 11-41: Eliot Society
Folder 11-42: Harris Armstrong Memorial
Folder 11-43: LA Chamber of Commerce - Kitty Hawk Award
Folder 11-44: Republican Governor's Association
Folder 11-45: United Nations Association - USA National Chair
Folder 11-46: Lamplighter Award
Folder 11-47: Clarkson College - Dr. of Science
Folder 11-48: Dr. of Medicine - photos
Folder 11-49: Spirit of St. Louis Award, 1977
Folder 11-50: Aviation Hall of Fame, 1977
Box 12
Folder 12-1: General Haig introduction
Folder 12-2: Civil Aeronautics Board hearings
Folder 12-3: UNA - UN St. Louis chapter
Folder 12-4: NAS Hunsacker Award
Folder 12-5: Aviation Advisory Commission - booklet
Folder 12-6: Materials related to the Herbert Report (HR 112) on Aircraft Production Costs and Profits, 1956
Folder 12-7: Washington University - booklet
Folder 12-8: Materials related to the Country Day School (CODASCO)
Folder 12-9: Washington University and gift
Folder 12-10: Ethical Society
Folder 12-11: Materials reated to Planned Parenthood and James S. McDonnell joining the Population Crisis Committee, 1966
Folder 12-12: Hunter McDonnell
Folder 12-13: Finney Family
Folder 12-14: Forney Family
Folder 12-15: W.A. McDonnell
Folder 12-16: James S. McDonnell, III
Folder 12-17: John Finney McDonnell
Folder 12-18: Sanford Noyes McDonnell (Sandy)
Folder 12-19: Sandy McDonnell - clips
Folder 12-20: Sandy McDonnell - Scots
Folder 12-21: Sandy McDonnell - biography
Folder 12-22: Sandy McDonnell
Folder 12-23: William Randall McDonnell
Folder 12-24: McDonnell Douglas Evolution
Folder 12-25: Materials related to the 5th Anniversary of McDonnell
Folder 12-26: Materials related to the 10th Anniversay of McDonnell
Folder 12-27: Materials related to the 15th Anniversary of McDonnell
Folder 12-28: Materials related to the 20th Anniversary of McDonnell
Folder 12-29: Materials related to the 25th Anniversary of McDonnell
Folder 12-30: Douglas history with photos and drawings
Folder 12-31: Donald W. Douglas
Folder 12-32: Donald W. Douglas and Douglas Aircraft Company
Folder 12-33: Donald Douglas - photos
Box 13A
Folder 13-1: Donald Douglas materials including a booklet and magazine articles
Folder 13-2: Donald Douglas materials
Folder 13-3: Donald Douglas articles and covers
Folder 13-4: "Around the World in 80 Years" by W.A. Paterson
Folder 13-5: "Threshold of the New - DC-3" by D.W. Douglas
Folder 13-6: Materials related to Charles Lindbergh
Folder 13-7: Materials related to David S. Lewis, former President and CO of McDonnell Aircraft Company
Folder 13-8: Materials related to David S. Lewis joining General Dynamics as the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, 1970
Folder 13-9: David S. Lewis - photos (some are damaged)
Folder 13-10: Corporate Stock - L.S. Rockefeller
Folder 13-11: Corporate Stock - L.S. Rockefeller
Folder 13-12: Biography Packet H-N
Box 13B
Folder 13-13: Biography Packet O-R
Box 14
Folder 14-1: McDonnell Weekly Bulletins - June 2, 1941; "Airscoop" thru November 8, 1946 and Annual Reports
Folder 14-2: Materials related to the business history of McDonnell including Annual Report booklets from 1973-1997 and 10-K Forms from 1983-1996
Folder 14-3: Quarterly and Shareholder Reports (1958-1990); Three Months Reports (1982-1989); Proxy Statements (1968-1980's); Photo of Capsule
Folder 14-4: Materials related to the McDonnell Finance Corporation, 1970-1989
Loose Materials:
World Progress Through Aviation - 1979
1988 Annual Finance Corporation
Dun's Review - July, 1976
Business Week - September 3, 1979
Time - October, 1983
St. Louis - Your Kind of Place - 1978
Champion Magazine #8
John B. Davis, Jr. (Macalaster College)
Awake - UN - October 22, 1985
McDonnell Facilities, 1983
McDonnell Facilities, 1970
Fortune - July 16, 1979
Newsweek - November 19, 1979
Forbes (60th Anniversary) - September 15, 1977
Everyman's United Nations
Jump Jet (Rev. New STOL) by B. Mylar, 1978
Orders of Magnitude (NACA/NASA), 1945-1976
DC-10 - A Special Report - 1980
A Step Ahead (Pratt & Whitney) - 1980
Prologue Room
Box 15A
Shareholder's Meetings, speeches - 1967-1973
Shareholder's Meetings, speeches - 1974-1980
Douglas Aircraft and Aircraft Manufacturing Industry for stock market investors
"The McDonnell Douglas Corporation" by Gregory & Sons - NYSE review
Naval Fighters No. 2 - McDonnell Banshee F2H - F-4 by Steve Ginter
Naval Fighters No. 3 - FH-1 Phantom by Steve Ginter
McDonnell 119/220 - photos and data
"Airpower" - November, 1979, Vol. 9 No. 6
"From Patents to Progress," 1979
Douglas DC-8 Super 60's and DC-9 series
Space and the US Navy - Naval Aviation News
"Your Key to the Cockpit" by C.A. Stevens
Hornet Heritage F/A-18 - April, 1978
"McDonnell Douglas: A Tale of Two Giants" by B. Yenne, 1985
"Days of Trial and Triumph - Lockheed"
Naval Aviation 50th - Douglas Service - January-Februay, 1962
"F-4 Phantom II" by G.G. O'Rourke in Aero
Box 15B
"Northrup - An Aeronautical History" with clippings
"The DC-8 Story" - April, 1972
"DC-10 Jetliner" in Aero, 1973
"Some Plain Talk About Fuel Cells" - General Electric Booklet
British Airways Plc Report, 1987-88
University of Virginia Alumni News - Nov/Dec 1988
University of Virginia Alumni News - Nov/Dec 1987
Box 16
Chronology - 1939-1973 (3-ring binder)
McDonnell On Line - 1945-1959 (3-ring binder)
Notes: 1960-1966 (3-ring binder)
Douglas Annual Report, 1928-1954 (bound)
Douglas Annual Report, 1955-1964 (bound)
McDonnell Annual Report, 1940-1957 (bound)
McDonnell Annual Report, 1958-1960 (bound)
McDonnell Annual Report, 1961-1966 (bound)
Box 17
17-1: McDonnell/Douglas Annual Report, 1967-1976 (bound)
17-2: McDonnell/Douglas Annual Report, 1977-1987 (bound)
17-3: McDonnell/Douglas Annual Report, 1987-1995 (unbound)
17-4: Fundamentals of Aviation and Space Tech (1974)
17-5: Phantom III Program (Jan. 1, 1978)
17-6: "Phantom in Combat" by Walt Boyne (1985)
17-7: "Pedigree of Champions - Boeing Since 1916"
17-8: Air Force - Golden Anniversary (1907-1957)
17-9: "Flying" 50th Anniversary (Sept. 1977)
17-10: "F-4 Phantom" by Bill Gunston (1977)
17-11: "Interavia" 50th Anniversary (June, 1983)
17-12: Airline Pilot, December, 1978 (Wright Bros.)
17-13: Dateline Lockheed (1932-1982)
17-14: US Naval History (1776-1976) Calendar
17-15: 50 Years of Aeronautical Research - NASA, 1978
17-16: McDonnell Aircraft Engineering Orientation
17-17: McDonnell/Douglas - 1995 Community Relations
17-18: Northrup Annual Report (1981)
17-19: "F-4 Phantom II (Part 1)" by Bert Kinzey
17-20: "F-4 Phantom II (Part 3)" by Bert Kinzey
17-21: "F-4 and Kill MIGs" by Lou Drendel
17-22: "Ryan the Aviator" by William Wagner (autographed)
17-23: Demon article in "Air Fan" (Jan. 1983)
17-24: Demon article Part 2 in "Air Fan" (Feb. 1983)
17-25: F-15 Eagle in action - Squadron/signal (1976)
17-26: Fifty Years of Aviation Progress
17-27: EAFB Aviation Historical - 75 Years
17-28: Phantom II article in "Australian Aviation" (Mar. 1982)
17-29: Phantom II article in "Australian Aviation" (Jun. 1982)
17-30: Inflight Service - AAL - May/June 1983 - 50 Years
17-31: "F-15 Eagle in Detail & Scale" by Bert Kinzey
17-32: "Fifty Years of Firsts: 1923-1978" by Sikorsky
17-33: Celebrating the NASM
17-34: The NASM - 1981
17-35: MAPA Flight Deck (Vol. 2, No. 2, 1981)
17-36: "Time" (Aug. 15, 1988)
17-37: Operation Fastpac
17-38: Rendezvous (Winter, 1970) Bell 35th
17-39: Rendezvous - 40th Bell/Textron
17-40: Boeing Magazine - 50th - July 1966
17-41: Air Safety is Our Business - 1983
17-42: "F-15 Eagle" by J.P. Stevenson in "Aero" (1978)
17-43: Ed Heinemann - Combat Aircraft Designer - 1980
Box 18A
"Spirit" May/June 1987 to Jan 1996
Gateways News - 5 copies (1982-88)
Framed photo of James S. McDonnell
There is also a 3-ring binder of various articles
Box 18B
Framed artwokr of the #5000 Phantom
Framed photos of James S. McDonnell
Photo album covering the entire range of McDonnell and McDonnell/Douglas aircraft (3-ring binder)
Various articles and magazines
Box 19A
19-4: A 3-ring binder of photographs covering James S. McDonnell and various events
19-5: A 3-ring binder of photographs covering James S. McDonnell and various events
Box 19B
19-1: A 3-ring binder of photographs and clippings concerning the "Doodlebug"
19-2: A 3-ring binder of photographs covering the "Doodlebug," James S. McDonnell and his induction into the Hall of Fame
19-3: A 3-ring binder contaning photographs and information on the XF-88, F-101, and the XF-85
19-6: A 3-ring binder containing the chronology of McDonnell Aircraft (1939-1967
Box 20
20-1: A 3-ring binder containing charts, timelines, DWC planes, original charts, and conversions
20-2: An envelope containing "Airscoop" (1946-56)
20-3: An envelope containing "Airscoop" (1957-60)
20-4: An envelope containing "Spectrum & Innovation"
20-5: Copies of "MDTSCO," "Spirit," and "Airscoop" (specials)
20-5 Cont'd: Autographed pictures of Gus Grissom (1961), John Glenn (1962), and Pete Conrad, "Flight of the Aeronauts" sheet music, a composite photo of James S. McDonnell (1980), McDonnell/Douglas Board photos (1967), and Flightlines
20-6: 4 copies of "Life" magazine including Apollo (Feb. 10, 1967), 75 Years of Flight (Nov. 1978), Israel's Swift Victory - Special Edition (Jul. 7, 1967), and Bridges at Toko-Ri (Jul. 6, 1953)
Box 21
21-1: McDonnell biography data
21-2: Long Range Needs of Aviation Report - Jan. 1973
21-3: 1988 Civis Affairs Annual Report
Folder 21-4: McDonnell Douglas clippings (1988-89)
Folder 21-5: McDonnell Douglas/Boeing merger (1997)
Folder 21-6: McDonnell Douglas/Boeing misc. clippings
Folder 21-7: McDonnell Douglas misc. clippings
21-8: "The Last Nine Minutes of Flight 981" by Moira Johnston
21-9: Stages to Saturn - NASA SP-4206
21-10: Project Gemini - NASA CR-1106
21-11: "On the Shoulders of Titans - The History of Project Gemini" (NASA SP-4203)
21-12: "This New Ocean - History of Project Mercury" (NASA SP-4201)
21-13: Aircraft Production Costs & Profits Hearing (H.Res. 112), Feb/Mar 1956
21-14: "The Rise and Fall of the DC-10" by J. Godson
21-15: "The Sporty Game" by J. Newhouse
21-16: "Skymaster - The Douglas Story" by Cunningham
Box 22A
Bound oversize volumes of the McDonnell/Douglas newsletter "Spirit":
Volume 1-2 (1971-72)
Volume 3-4 (1973-74)
Volume 5-6 (1975-76)
Volume 7-8 (1977-78)
Box 22B
Bound oversize volumes of the McDonnell/Douglas newsletters "Spirit" and "Airscoop":
"Airscoop" Vol. 20-25 (1961-66)
"Airscoop" Vol. 26-29 (1967-70)
"Spirit" Vol. 9-10 (1979-80)
"Spirit" Vol. 16 (1986)
Box 22C
Bound oversize volumes of the McDonnell/Douglas newsletter "Spirit":
Volumes 11-12 (1981-82)
Volume 13 (1983)
Volume 14 (1984)
Volume 15 (1985)
Box 22D
"Flight" - A Pictoral History of Aviation (The Douglas Edition) by "Year" magazine with a foreward by Donald W. Douglas
Draft of Douglas history by Crosby Maynard in a three-ring binder with photographs
Box 23
"The Effect of Biplane Combination on Airfoil Characteristics" by James S. McDonnell and Constantine L. Zakhartchenko - this is the thesis for JSM's Aeronautical Engineering degree (September, 1923)
McDonnell Model No. List - July, 1974 (sensitive)
McDonnell Family Geneology (1959)
"Who? Me?: The Autobiography of A.E. Raymond" (1974)
Air Safety/ FAA Performances 44-731-0 (1975)
Guggenheim Medallists (1964)
"Get Rich Quick Wallingford" by George Randolph Chester (1908)
"McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920" by R.J. Francillon (Putnam, 1973)
McDonnell stocks/description
1988 McDonnell materials relating to finances
Jane's All the World's Aircraft - copies
"McDonnell Corporation Brief History, 1920-1970" by Gordon LeBert (1971)
Boeing/McDonnell Douglas merger clippings
Time magazine covers
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Museum of Flight Archives July 9, 2009
9404 East Marginal Way SouthSeattle, WA
206-764-5700
Archives@museumofflight.org
Use of Copyrighted Materials
Many of the photographic items of this collection are copyrighted by the Boeing Company. Check with their permissions-licesnsing department for permission to publish.
Custodial History
This collection was collected from Mr. Le Bert's home by Dennis Parks, then curator of the museum. Mr. Le Bert collected the materials from the corporate files of the McDonnell, McDonnell Douglas, and Boeing Companies.
Missing Folder
Folder 1-14 from Box One is missing according to a preliminary inventory created by Mr. Le Bert.
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
- Aerial Photographs
- Aircraft Records
- Camera - Reconnaissance
- Magazine Articles
- Photocopies
- Photographs
- Publications - Serial
- Speeches
- Timetables
Geographic Name(s)
- St. Louis, Missouri
Personal Name(s)
- Le Bert, Gordon
- McDonnell, James -- History
Subject(s)
- 1904 World's Fair
- Air races
- Apollo program
- Astronauts
- Awards - Other
- Blue Angels - USN Aerobatics Team
- Brochures
- Charts
- Cold War Era
- Consolidated Aircraft
- Correspondence
- Cuban Missile Crisis
- Digital Images
- Gemini program
- Geneology
- Guggenheim Medal
- Guided Missile
- Hughes Helicopters
- Illustrations
- Lockheed aircraft
- McDonnell - Douglas F-4 Phantom
- McDonnell 119/220
- McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
- McDonnell AT-21
- McDonnell Doodlebug
- McDonnell Douglas DC-10
- McDonnell F-101 Voodoo
- McDonnell F-4 Phantom II
- McDonnell F2H Banshee
- McDonnell F3H Demon
- McDonnell FH-1 Phantom
- McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
- McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo
- McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry
- McDonnell XH-50 Whirlaway
- McDonnell XP-67 Bat
- McDonnell XV-1 Converteplane
- Mercury Program
- NATO
- Photographic Equipment - Aerial Reconnaissance
- Record Flight Attempt
- Sound barrier
- Thunderbirds - USAF Aerobatics Team
- U.S. Space Program
- WWII - 1939 to 1945