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Krainik Ballooning Collection

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Creator
Krainik, Cliff
Names
Brady, Mathew B., approximately 1823-1896
Lowe, Thaddeus S. C.
Myers, Carl, 1842-1925
Myers, Mary, "Carlotta Queen of the Air"
Stevens, Albert Leo, 1873-1944
Topic
Great Western (Airship)
Phantom Balloons (Airships)
Airships
World War, 1914-1918
Aeronautics
Madame Carlotta (Airship)
The Aerial (Airship)
Works of art
Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905
South African War, 1899-1902
Buffalo (Airship)
Aeronautics -- 1903-1916
Aeronautics -- pre-1903
Ganymede (Airship)
Balloons
Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Communications
Balloons -- History
Balloons -- pre-1900
Spanish-American War, 1898
Provenance
Clifford Krainik, Purchase, 1989, 1990-0009, NASM
Creator
Krainik, Cliff
See more items in
Krainik Ballooning Collection
Summary
This 19th and 20th century ballooning memorabilia collection contains the following items, which have been meticulously inventoried: 112 stereoscopic photographs; 107 photographs; 84 postcards, trade cards, valentines, and similar items; 80 prints; and 23 miscellaneous items.
Biographical / Historical
The Krainik Ballooning Collection was amassed by Clifford and Michele Krainik, experts in 19th and early 20th century historical photographs, negatives, and ephemera. This collection of 19th and 20th century ballooning memorabilia contains 112 stereoscopic photographs; 107 photographs; 84 postcards, trade cards, valentines, and similar items; 80 prints; and 23 miscellaneous items.
Extent
3.19 Cubic feet (2 shoeboxes; 3 flatboxes)
Date
1859-1934
Archival Repository
National Air and Space Museum Archives
Identifier
NASM.1990.0009
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Stereoscopic photographs
Postcards
Photographs
Woodcuts
Citation
Krainik Ballooning Collection, Acc. 1990-0009, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Arrangement note
This collection has been arranged, first, in chronological order based on the Krainik inventory number that was assigned by the donor (K#), and then by size.
Processing Information
This collection was rehoused by Allan Janus in 1991. A paper inventory was provided by the Krainiks. The collection was re-processed and an EAD finding aid encoded by Amanda Buel in 2017.
Rights
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Genre/Form
Stereoscopic photographs
Postcards
Photographs
Woodcuts
Scope and Contents
The Krainik Ballooning Collection contains 112 stereoscopic photographs; 107 photographs; 84 postcards, trade cards, valentines, and similar items; 80 prints; and 23 miscellaneous items all pertaining to 19th and 20th century ballooning. Highlights of the stereoscopic photographs include: views of T.S.C. Lowe's balloons during the Civil War; views of the Nadar and Godard balloons; balloons during the Boer War, Russo-Japanese War, and WWI; and views of the airships Ganymede, Great Western, Phantom Balloons, Buffalo, Madame Carlotta, and The Aerial. The photographic portion of the collection features Matthew Brady's views of Lowe's balloons during the Civil War; views of the balloon Madam Carlotta before and during flights; smoke and gas balloon inflation and flights; and portraits of T.S.C. Lowe and other pioneers of ballooning. The collection also contains lithographic cards printed in Germany, whimsical advertising trade cards incorporating popular ballooning motifs and events, and 19th century woodcut illustrations from various periodicals concerning all aspects of ballooning. Other items include a small broadside for the Grand Balloon Ascension of CARLOTTA and a contract for smoke balloon ascensions. A few non-archival items, such as medals for Lowe's balloon, City of New York, and Giffard's giant captive balloon, 1878, were accessioned with this collection and subsequently transferred to curatorial collections. Note: The digital images in this finding aid were repurposed from scans made by an outside contractor for a commercial product and may show irregular cropping and orientation in addition to color variations resulting from damage to and deterioration of the original objects.
Restrictions
No restrictions on access
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1504707005552-1504707005592-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2db559718-00f7-49aa-a75b-24d135444721

In the Collection

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  • Untitled. Fully inflated gas balloon ready for ascension

  • Untitled. Ascension of two smoke balloons. One balloon in flight with parachutists in tow

  • Untitled. View in France. When backlit, the scene changes to night and a large balloon appears

  • "If a Body Kiss a Body. Need a Body Cry?" Young couple embrace while balloon approaches unnoticed

  • "Andree's Balloon. Onward Over the Polar Sea." Andree's balloon in flight

  • "Ascent of the balloon Sirius, Chamonix, France

  • Untitled. Elevated view of Paris. When backlit, the scene changes to night and a large balloon appears

  • "Fitchburg - Boston. Ayer Junction from elevation 3,900 feet." Number thirteen in a series of fifteen items

  • "Safety, Speed and Comfort - The Crown Filled Case." Young man up in a balloon. The basket is a watch case

  • Untitled. T.S.C. Lowe's balloon Great Western receiving gas for transatlantic flight, Philadelphia. Earliest known photograph of a transatlantic balloon attempt

  • Untitled. Crew loading boxes of biscuits on board balloon

  • "Birthday Greetings." Three children up in a balloon

  • Pencil and ink notes and small doodle

  • "Just Landed." Man landing on roof after fall from airship

  • "Battle of El Caney Santiago de Cuba. July 1-2, 1898. Genl. Shafaer Comd'g." Battle in foreground; observation balloon overhead

  • Untitled. Balloon Boston inflated for ascension. Close-up view. Number two in a series of three items

  • "Japanese War Balloon in the rear of the besieging Army - Port Arthur"

  • "Moisson - Dispositif de Suspension de la Nacelle du Balloon Militaire PATRIE." Close-up view of the French airship, Patrie

  • Untitled. Smoke balloon fully inflated just prior to ascension

  • "Minneapolis Fair Views. Prof. King's Balloon." Fully inflated balloon with Professor King posed in front

  • "Graystone Bird Bath. Balloon Ascent." Gas balloon ascending above crowd. Solo aeronaut in basket

  • "957. Prof. King's Balloon at Rochester, N.Y." Gigantic gas balloon inflated and ready for ascension

  • "Willimantic Thread Booming." Infant up in a balloon. The balloon basket is a spool of thread

  • "The Montgolfier Centenary at Annonay, Ardeche." Monument to Montgolfier Brothers and their ascent

  • "The Inflation of the Balloon," "Apparatus for Manufact. Gas for Inflating the Balloon," and "The Winding Machinery." With article

  • "Balloon Race - Using our Self Holders..." Three smoke balloons preparing for inflation, Montgomery, Alabama

  • Untitled. Smoke balloon in flight with two parachutists in tow

  • "12301. Military balloon in the Champaign district - waiting for pilot"

  • "La lutte contre le lestes. Le présiden de la Ligue contre la license des airs, l'intrépide voyeur, M. Bérenger, surveille et dénonce au parquet les aéronautes qui s'attardent au-dessus des..." Man with top had in dirigible spying with telescope

  • "The filling of Jonny MACKS BALLOON. Million Dollar Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey. July, 1911." Fully inflated smoke balloon prepared for ascension. One in a series of two views

  • "A Happy New Year." Two aeronauts up in a beautiful balloon

  • "Safe Journey." Four young children in a large wicker baskety of a gas balloon with U.S. flag

  • "Fesselbellon." Distant view of German observation balloon (kite balloon)

  • "Near View of Airship & baloon sic. Lewis & Clark Fair." Spherical balloon and airship Gelatine inflated and anchored. Photograph taken in Portland, Oregon

  • "A Happy New Year." Two balloons: "1907 descending; "1908" ascending

  • "To My Valentine -- Love and Kisses." Two cupids in balloon catch a pretty young girl with the drag anchor

  • "Jonny Mack's Ascension from Million Dollar Pier. July, 1911." Atlantic City, New Jersey. Smoke balloon in flight with parachutist in tow. Two in a series of two views

  • "Balloon Day." Ascension of a large gas balloon

  • "James Allen, Aeronaut. Balloon Ascensions...Instructions given in the art." Business card with balloon vignette

  • "221 Prof. Wise inflating his baloon sic, Ganymede, at St. Johnsbury, Vt." A large crowd gathers to witness a balloon ascension by John Wise, noted 19th century aeronaut

  • Untitled. Smoke balloon in flight with parachutist in tow

  • "J.J.V.V. Lowell ascension. July 1, 1911." J.J. Van Valkenburgh in basket of balloon Boston prior to ascension. Number five in a series of fifteen items

  • "Old Maid's Honeymoon." Old woman, cat and bird up in a "lemon" balloon

  • "Au Pôle. -- Ne nous mettons pas en retard, mon ami ... tu sais que nous allons aux Français ce soir, il faut que j'aie le temps de m'habiller avant dîner." Polar bear watching ice-covered dirigible

  • "This is the ROMA on her first flight over the village, does not give any idea of her immense size"

  • "Balloon Bed." U.S. soldiers pose in front of partially inflated envelope of observation balloon. One in a series of three views

  • "Balloons at Vincennes." Paris Exposition aeronautical "concours" article

  • "Navy Observation balloon in flight, Pensacola, Fl."

  • Untitled. Balloon Boston being inflated prior to ascension. North Adams, Massachusetts (?). Number one in a series of three items

  • "12145. Top of partly filled balloon showing valve in place"

  • "I'll Come If I Can." Man suspended from drag anchor from a balloon

  • Untitled. Tissue (transparent) view of balloon Buffalo in flight

  • "Paris la nuit. La publicité lumineuse destinée aux aéronautes donne au panorama de Paris, la nuit, un aspect très particulier." Night sky with lighted advertisements

  • "The Highest Expectations for HALLOWEEN." Jack-o-lantern-shaped balloon

  • Untitled. Aeronauts, young man dressed in uniform with young woman in a flamboyant costume. British

  • "Best Wishes." Balloon with flowers in basket

  • "Merry Christmas." Balloon with flowers and bird

  • "The Captive Balloon at Coney Island"

  • "Prof. King's Mammoth Balloon Buffalo - Altitude 2,000 feet. From Buffalo to New Jersey, Five States - 13 Hours"

  • Untitled. Distant view of a balloon in flight over the Lewis & Clark Exposition, Portland, Oregon

  • Untitled. Unidentified gas balloon in flight

  • "Ivy Baldwin - the most daring aeronaut in the United States." Formal portrait of William Ivy

  • Untitled. Ascension of Nadar and Godard balloons from the Champ-de-Mars, a famous balloon ascension with a dramatic landing

  • Untitled. Two aeronauts in a balloon basket, British

  • "Record of Balloon Ascensions made by John J. Van Valkenburgh, Framington, Mass." Number one in a series of fifteen items pertaining to aeronaut J.J. Van Valkenburg

  • "St. Valentine's Fond Greeting..." Boy and girl up in a balloon with hearts

  • "Fox River Park, Auroroa, Illinois - The City of Lights." Tipped-on photograph of young girl imposed over a view of a balloon ascension. Interesting inscription on reverse

  • "American Military Free Balloon." Large gas balloon in flight

  • "16543. Modern methods of locating the enemy. Military Balloon, Liao Yang, Manchuria." Close-up view of a fullly inflated Russian War balloon

  • "Crowds on Terraces Watching Flight of Air Ship over Government Building, Lewis & Clark Exposition"

  • "The Barcelona Captive Balloon." With article

  • "A Fall of Nearly One Mile Through the Air." With article

  • Untitled. Preparation for a smoke balloon ascension. Number two in a series of five photographs

  • "Prof. Wise." Bust portrait of the noted American aeronaut, John Wise

  • Untitled. Airship over water. Astra-Torres. French Naval Air Service convoy escort

  • Untitled. Five people up in a "balloon." Sign on side of basket reads, "Flying high in Winterset" Iowa

  • "German Military Balloon Apparatus"

  • Untitled. U.S. Navy gas balloon preparing for ascension. "U.S.N. - B.F.I." on side of envelope. Pensacola, Florida

  • Untitled. Eight gas balloons lined up for the start of a race

  • "Professor C. Lowe" and "Interior of the balloon basket." Portrait of Lowe and trasatlantic balloon basket

  • "18758. Hauling Down French Dirigible Balloon for Officer's Report." Gas kite balloon

  • "18000. Zeppelin Flying Over a German Town - Lower Valley of the Rhine"

  • Untitled. Beautiful gas balloon in flight. When illuminated from behind, the scene changes to night and the balloon appears to be red

  • "Boston Coliseum - Peace Jubilee"

  • "Balloon Reconnaissance at the Royal Review, Aldershott"

  • "Balloon Ascension, July 20th, 1896, Geneva, Switzerland." View of a gigantic balloon with a large circular basket

  • "Bedded for the night." U.S. soldier posed by partially inflated observation balloon. Two in a series of three views

  • Portrait of Leon Gambetta (1838-82). French minister

  • "Prof. John E. DeLeon - Aerial Artist." Portrait of DeLeon in costume

  • "12149. The filled balloon - pulling in the sand bags toward the basket"

  • "Making Ready." Inflation of a smoke balloon. American

  • Untitled. Inflation of a smoke balloon. Possibly taken at Hot Springs, South Dakota

  • "To My Heart's Best Love..." Cupid in a balloon basket with heart-shaped ballast

  • Untitled. View of the airship, Montana Butterfly

  • "Attaching Observation Balloon to Winch for Towing into Position, Army of Occupation, Weissenburg, Germany"

  • "Aeronaut hanging by his teeth - Chutes." Smoke balloon in flight. American

  • "July 4th - The Day We Celebrate." Uncle Sam and two girls up in an airship

  • "Photography in a Balloon." With article

  • "Zeppelin Wrecked and Burned - Ruins being inspected by French Troops"

  • untitled. Ascension of a gas balloon with a large crowd gathered

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Krainik Ballooning Collection
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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