MS-333 Huffman Prairie Aviation History Society Records

Introduction

The Huffman Prairie Aviation History Society Records were accessioned in 2004. The collection was generated and donated by the Dayton area organization of aviation historians and enthusiasts.

MS-333 consists of meeting announcements, newsletters, correspondence, minutes, transcripts and videotapes of program speakers, membership lists and member biographies dating from 1990 to the present. Filling 4 Hollinger boxes (1.5 linear foot of shelf space), the records have been organized as follows:

Series I: Administrative Papers

Series II: Meetings

Series III: Membership

There are no restrictions on the use of the Huffman Prairie Aviation History Society Records. Additions to this collection are ongoing.

Organizational History

The Huffman Prairie Aviation History Society was formed in 1990 by several individuals from the Dayton, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area to share experiences and knowledge of aviation history. The group does not have a constitution, officers, or a formalized structure. The group was founded as the Huffman Prairie Chapter of the American Aviation Historical Society, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1956 to promote the preservation and dissemination of America's rich aviation heritage. In 2006, the Huffman Prairie Chapter changed its name when the national organization required formal dues, nonprofit filing status, and officer structure. Members of the group voted to retain the informal structure of the organization and thereby no longer exist as a local chapter of the national organization.

Since its inception, the Huffman Prairie Aviation History Society has maintained close ties and a mutually beneficial relationship with the Special Collections and Archives Department at Wright State University. The organization supports the mission of the archives by volunteering to organize and identify aircraft in aviation collections, and by donating archival materials and aviation books to enrich holdings in the archives. In appreciation, the Archives’ staff hosts the monthly chapter meetings in the University’s Paul Laurence Dunbar Library on the first Monday of each month and makes arrangements for speakers at the meetings. On occasion the group may take a field trip in place of the meeting. In addition, the archives sends a monthly mailing consisting of a meeting announcement, newsletter, list of upcoming speakers, and a newsletter by Stuart Faber titled “Hangar Flying”, which highlights aviation items of interest. The meetings begin with opening remarks and sharing of news items and announcements, followed by an informational program on an aviation-related topic given by a chapter member or guest presenter. Beginning in 2004, speaker presentations were videotaped, and the tapes are included in this collection. The 2005 membership list includes more than 100 names, however attendance at the meetings range on average between 20-45.

Scope and Content Note

The records document the programming of the Huffman Prairie Aviation History Society. The records also include personal and professional information about its members and articles written or published by them.

Series I: The Administrative Papers include the meeting announcements and accompanying newsletters which are mailed to members once a month. The announcements and newsletters are arranged chronologically and consist of a meeting reminder, a newsletter from the Head of Special Collections & Archives at Wright State University, a program schedule of speakers for the upcoming months, and a newsletter by Stuart Faber, a member who compiles aviation items of interest. Also included in this series is correspondence relating to the founding and the activities of the organization.

Series II: The Meeting Program Materials document the main activity of the Huffman Prairie Aviation History Society, its monthly meeting. This series includes attendance sheets, minutes, transcripts and videotapes of the speaker presentations.

Series III: The Membership series includes membership directories, biographies, photographs, and oral histories by and about Huffman Prairie Aviation History Society members.

Box and File Listing