Edwin A. Link Collection
Scope and Content
This collection contains documents and records, correspondence, and photographs related to Edwin A. Link, the Link Trainer flight simulator, the Link Foundation, and underwater archeology.
The collection arrived in good condition and was initially processed with only a container list as description. Due to a change of the content management system, further description proved to be necessary.
Dates
- Creation: 1957 - 1976
Creator
- Link, Edwin A., Mr. (Edwin Albert), 1904-1981 (Collector, Person)
Language of Materials
Collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection are open for research.
Literary Rights Statement
Permission to publish material from this collection in any form, current or future, must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
Biographical Sketch
Born in Huntington, Indiana in 1904, Edwin A. Link became an early aviator and barnstormer. In the 1920s, he developed the "Link Trainer," an automated flight simulator, and in 1929, he founded Link Aviation in order to manufacture and sell the devices. His trainer was purchased by the United States Army to assist in pilot training in 1934, which soon after, was adopted as a standard device by the bulk of the aviation industry. He and his wife also established the Link Foundation in order to support research, education, and improvement of simulation technologies.
Link sold his company in 1954 and took up his other passion, deep-sea diving and underwater archaeology. Link developed various breathing apparatus and submersibles to support underwater operations.
In 1976, Link was inducted into The National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio. He passed away in 1981.
Sources
- Source
- Wikipedia, "Edwin Albert Link." [Online] 10 May 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Albert_Link.
Extent
0.8 Linear Feet (Two manuscript boxes.)
Abstract
Edwin A. Link (1904-1981) was an early aviation pioneer, famous for developing the "Link Trainer" (an early flight simulator used for pilot training in the 1920s). He was also interested in and held several patents for, equipment related to deep sea diving and underwater archaeology.
Series Description
The archivist kept the original organization intact without any further arrangement.
Provenance Statement
The Edwin A. Link Collection was donated to the History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas, by The Link Foundation and William M. Link on 1982-06-15.
Image ID
It is the researcher's responsibility to secure permission from copyright holders of materials to which this institution does not own copyright.
Images in this collection are identified by a unique number that provides information about the format, record group, collection, series, box, folder, and image numbers. Please use this number when ordering reproductions of images from this collection.
Record Group Code
1 = CAT/Air American Archives
2 = Doolittle Archives
3 = Lighter than Air Archives
4 = George H. Williams, Jr., World War I Aviation Library
5 = History of Aviation Archives
6 = University Archives
7 = HAC Stacks
8 = WPRL Stacks
9 = Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Collection
10 = Belsterling Collection
11 = Closed Stacks
12 = Unidentified
13 = Chance Vought Archives
14 = Twirly Birds Archives
Image Format Code
P = Photograph/Postcard
S = Slide
N = Negative
T = Positive Transparency
B = Black and White
C = Color
Example: 5EAL-1-1-PC1
5 = History of Aviation Archives (HAC)
EAL = Edwin A. Link Collection
= Series Number
1 = Box Number
1 = Folder Number
P = Photograph/Postcard
C = Color
1 = Image Number
Images archived in plastic image holders may also have a location code in the format: 1/TL. In this example, the number is the sheet number and the letters indicate the top left position on the sheet. Position indicators are T = top, L = left, R = right, M = middle, and B = bottom. Position indicators may be combined to describe the position on the sheet, as shown in this example.
Topical
- Air pilots
- Air pilots--Training of--United States.
- Air pilots--Training.
- Air pilots--United States.
- Barnstormers (Group of artists)
- Deep diving.
- Flight Safety Foundation
- Flight simulators
- History of Aviation Archives
- Hughes, Howard, 1905-1976
- International Air Transport Association
- International Air Transport Association
- Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974
- Link Foundation
- Link trainers
- National Aviation Hall of Fame (U.S.)
- Underwater exploration.
- Title
- Guide to the Edwin A. Link Collection, 1904-1981
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Thomas Allen, PhD, CA
- Date
- 2018-05-10
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English (eng)
- Edition statement
- First revision by Thomas Allen, PhD, CA. 2018-05-10. Second revision by Patrizia Nava, CA. 2020-12-02.
Revision Statements
- 2018-05-10: 1st revision was a migration to ArchivesSpace by Thomas Allen, PhD, CA.
- 2020-12-02: 2nd revision was an addition of more subject terms and other style elements of the finding aid by Patrizia Nava, CA.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Division, History of Aviation Archives. Repository
3020 Waterview Pkwy
SP2
Suite 11.206
Richardson Texas 75080 US
972-883-2570
LIBSPCO@utdallas.edu.