Lea Abbott Papers

This collection contains correspondence, documents, and publications collected by Lea Abbott depicting his work for Braniff Airways and his affiliation with the Air Line Pilots Association. The Lea Abbott Papers are housed in eight manuscript boxes totaling 3.2 linear ft.

The collection arrived in fair to good condition and was previously placed in archival boxes and essentially random subject order. However, materials contained in individual file folders were retained in those folders. While maintaining original order based on folder subject titles, the collection has now been organized in five series, the first being Personal Papers, Series I, which is further organized in four subseries: 1. Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), 2. Braniff Employment, 3. Braniff Correspondence, and 4. Events.

Subseries 1. contains membership correspondence and monthly hours flown surveys.

Subseries 2. contains correspondence, forms, and documents pertaining to Abbott’s employment with Braniff including Daily Aircraft Record and Pilot’s Report to Maintenance Department forms.

Subseries 3. contains Abbott’s Braniff Aircraft Flight Report Forms for his flights in the Douglas DC-6 airliner, aircraft maintenance receipts for various aircraft presumed to have been owned by Braniff or Abbott himself, and Civil Aeronautics Administration letters to Abbott pertaining to his alleged violation of Civil Air Regulations.

Subseries 4. contains materials depicting two special events: Mars Day, commemorating the conversion of a U.S. Navy Martin JRM Mars into “the world’s largest flying classroom” in 1945, and the National Aeronautic Association “NAA Salutes America’s Pioneer Airline Pilots” event commemorating the 50th year of commercial aviation in 1976.

The second series, Air Line Pilots Association, which is further organized in three subseries: 1. Booklets, 2. Correspondence, and 3. Documents.

Subseries 1. is a collection of annual Braniff-ALPA Agreement booklets from 1945-1962 (non-inclusive.)

Subseries 2. contains membership newsletters, related materials, and correspondence pertaining to Braniff-ALPA agreement negotiations.

Subseries 3. contains a copy of the Braniff-ALPA Retirement Plan.

The third series, Braniff Airways, Inc., which is further organized in three subseries: 1. General Correspondence, 2. Operations Correspondence, and 3. Pilot Lists.

Subseries 1. contains correspondence addressed to Braniff administration, operations, and maintenance personnel.

Subseries 2. contains internal memos and correspondence addressed to Braniff aircrews.

Subseries 3. consists of Braniff pilot rosters and seniority lists.

The fourth series, Documents, contains correspondence and related materials pertaining to the Department of Commerce, Paul Jones Model Airplanes assembly instructions for the Boeing Army Pursuit P-12-F, Braniff Pilot scheduling, a Lockheed Electra poster with a three-view drawing and performance statistics on the reverse side, and meteorology and radio training aids, maps, lessons, and related materials.

The fifth series, Publications, which is further organized in four subseries: 1. Booklets, 2. Aircraft Manuals, 3. Braniff Manuals, and 4. Other Publications.

Subseries 1. contains a collection of booklets published by various governmental agencies describing a number of topics including meteorology, defense (wartime) flying regulations, air traffic rules, and air traffic control and communications. This subseries also contains Braniff booklets including “Braniff Silver Eagles By-Laws and Directory” and “Braniff-ALPA Constitution and By-Laws.”

Subseries 2. is a collection of aircraft manuals for the Douglas DC-3 and DC-3A, Douglas DC-4 and C-54, Douglas DC-6, Boeing 707, and Boeing 707/720.

Subseries 3. is a collection of Braniff manuals describing operations, general emergency procedures, and radio range procedures.

Subseries 4. is a collection of other publications including Civil Air Regulations, Notices to Airmen, airport traffic patterns and control tower instructions, and a flyer for the 1958 dedication of the Braniff Operations and Maintenance Base, Love Field, Dallas, Texas.