Scope and Content Note
The papers of Elmo Neale Pickerill (1885-1968) span the years 1910-1975 and consist of subject files illustrating his career and interest in early aviation in the United States. The papers mainly contain printed matter and clippings with a small inclusion of correspondence, photographs, and other papers.
Files of prominence deal with aviation history and research, implementation of air mail, air meets, races and exhibitions, and experimentation with autogiros, helicopters, and parachutes. The significance of Long Island, New York, in the development of aviation is illustrated in files on Mineola, New York, Mitchell Field (later Mitchell Air Force Base), Roosevelt Field, and Nassau County. Early aeronautic clubs are highlighted with material on Early Birds of Aviation, Long Island Early Fliers Club, Ox 5 Club of America, Quiet Birdmen, and Wings Club. Files on aviators and aviation include Tom Benoist, Edward R. Boland, Glenn Hammond Curtiss, William A. Denehie, Wallace P. Dunmore, Amelia Earhart, Viola Gentry, Kyung O. Kim, Charles A. Lindbergh, William Mitchell, Wiley Post, Marjorie Claire Stinson, Chance Vought, Waldo Dean Waterman, Wilbur Wright, and Orville Wright.