Cynthia P. Bayne Calbraith Perry Rodgers Vin Fiz Collection

The Cynthia P. Bayne Calbraith Perry Rodgers Vin Fiz Collection is a small collection of visual and textual materials related to the first North American transcontinental flight in 1911 successfully completed by Calbraith Perry Rodgers in his Vin Fiz Flyer. The collection is comprised of photographs, postcards, philatelic materials, and clippings. In addition, there are promotional and commemorative materials from the centennial anniversary of the flight.

Most notable in the collection are the photographs and postcards which contain images of Calbraith Perry Rodgers, his 1911 flight, his niece and nephew Patty and Perry Pease, his Vin Fiz Flyer, as well as five images of his fatal crash off of Long Beach, California on April 3, 1912. Included on one of the postcards is one of the original stamps that his wife, Mabel Rodgers, designed for the 1911 flight. This particular postcard and stamp were sent by Mabel to Martha Rodgers Pease. In addition, there are a large number of clippings dating from 1911 to 1912 that discuss Rodgers’ various flights, successes, and his untimely death in 1912. The remaining documents in the collection are commemorative posters of the 1911 flight and the events tied to the centennial celebration in 2011.

Digitized Materials: A selection of materials has been digitized from this collection.