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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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  • "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

  • "The Start." Fully inflated gas balloon just prior to ascension. Number ten in a series of fifteen items

  • "Birthday Greeting." Two boys up in a balloon

  • "I Will Drop In On You." Man leaning over basket of a balloon

  • "I Am Flying High Here." Airship in flight

  • Untitled. Two aeronauts in a balloon basket, British

  • "A Happy New Year." Airship drops shamrocks and $100,000 packages

  • "Observation Balloon Fatally Pierced by Incendiary Bullets from American Plane"

  • Untitled. Spreading out a gas balloon envelope, North Adams, Massachusetts

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

  • Untitled. Boy up in a gas balloon with garland

  • "No. 427. Prof. Lowe reconnoitering at Battle of Fair Oaks. And telegraphing to McClellan's headquarters." Lowe in basket of tethered balloon. Union soldiers hold tether lines

  • Untitled. View of Blanchard and Jeffries balloon crossing the English Channel

  • "Taking balloon to camp - Inflating balloon"

  • "Free Balloon in the Process of Inflation." Pensacola, Florida

  • "Attwoods sic sensational fall into ocean (Write sic Biplane) July 1911." Atlantic City, New Jersey. Harry N. Atwood

  • "To Greet My Valentine." Angel with lute in a balloon

  • "I launch today, an Airship gay..." Airship in flight

  • Untitled. Young couple up in a "balloon." Sign on side of basket reads, "Good Bye." Kupper Hotel, Kansasa City, Missouri

  • "Fig. 1 - The Balloon Zenith" and "Fig. 2 - Sivel's Sounding Balloons." With article, "The Fatal Balloon Ascen."

  • "Many Happy Returns of the Day." Balloon with roses and song-birds

  • "The Arctic Expedition -- How to Reach the Pole: A Suggestive Sketch." Three balloons over the Arctic sea

  • "6739. Yankee Races, Balloon Ascension." A smoke balloon decorated to resemble the United States flag ascends while a parachute and aeronaut dangle directly below

  • Untitled. Small group of men posed by fully inflated gas balloon. Note the small one-man wicker basket with U.S. flags. Man with hat in hand is probably the aeronaut

  • Untitled. Close-up view of an ascending gas balloon at start of a race

  • "Prof. S.A. King - Boston." Early example of a photograph taken by the noted aeronaut, Samuel Archer King

  • "The New Air-Ship City of New York"

  • Untitled. Early friench view of partially inflated gas balloon, possibly Godard's, with crew posed by basket

  • "French War Balloon." Tethered military balloon with motorized winch

  • Untitled. Gas balloon Barnum from P.T. Barnum's circus

  • "Herzliehen Gluckwunsch zum geburtstage!" Balloon with flowers and birds in basket

  • Untitled. Close-up view of inflated smoke balloon. Number four in a series of five photographs

  • Untitled. Large gas balloon fully inflated and ready to ascend. When illuminated from behind, the scene changes to night and the balloon appears to be red

  • "Boston Coliseum - Peace Jubilee, 1872." Large exhibition building. Balloon flying overhead

  • "A Happy New Year to You." Airship and Father Time

  • "Wishing you a MERRY CHRISTMAS." Santa Claus and two small children in a balloon

  • "La Seine." View of bridge over river in Paris. When backlit, the scene changes to night and a balloon appears

  • "Lebaudy Airship Disaster"

  • Untitled. Young couple up in a "balloon." Sign on side of basket reads, "Flying High with Old Glory at Lakeview Park"

  • "Oh Boy! What a Blonde the enemy's got over there." Observer with field glasses in basket of balloon

  • "26304. Seven Great Gas Bags Ready for Start of Distance Flying Contest - Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas"

  • "Exhibition Universelle, 1878." Giant captive balloon created by Henri Giffard

  • "Lord Roberts' Infantry crossing the Zand River - Balloon watching ahead for the Boers, S.A."

  • "2769 The Klondike. Balloon Ascension. Dawson." Large crowd watcher the inflation of a large smoke balloon

  • "J.J. Van Valkenburgh & William C. Hill. Aug. 2, 1912." Van Valkenburgh and Hill in basket of Boston prior to ascension. Number six in a series of fifteen items

  • "Le Bar à la mode" ("Zenith's Bar") Tous nos élégants et nos élégantes se donnent rendez-vous vers 5 heures au Zenith's-Bar." Elaborate bar scene on open airship

  • "222 New Hampshire." Reissued copy of Edward Anthony view 222 - Prof. Wise at St. Johnsbury, Vt. (1859)

  • "Ascent of Mr. Hampton's ERIN-GO-BRAGH Balloon, at Batty's Roya Hippodrome, Kensington." With article

  • "221-L. War Balloon. Fall Tournament, 1900, Germany." Fully inflated German "sausage" balloon

  • "X-Mas Greetings - Success, Prosperity, Good Will." Santa Claus launching series of paper balloons

  • Untitled. View of Tuileries from the Place de la Concorde. When backlit, the scene changes to night and a large balloon and a couple in the foreground appear

  • Untitled. Woman and children post for their photograph in front of three large gas balloons

  • Untitled. Ascension of an airship from Fair Grounds piloted by Charles K. Hamilton

  • "Giffard's Captive Balloon of 1878." With text

  • "Everything O.K." Inflation of a smoke balloon. American

  • "Professor Lowe inflating Balloon Intrepid to Reconnoiter Battle of Fair Oaks." Balloon receiving gas from portable generators

  • Envelope addressed to W. George Cruiksh(ank)

  • "Balloon Ascension on the Park." Alfred E. Moore's fully inflated gas balloon preparing for ascension

  • "I'll Drop in On You." Man falling from balloon

  • "Depart D'un Ballon-Poste, Place Saint-Pierre, A Montmartre." Included with 6 page newspaper section

  • "The Balloon Bridal Party Starting on its Aerial Tour from Prof. Lowe's Amphitheatre, Central Park"

  • Untitled. Three large gas balloons almost entirely inflated, just prior to a balloon race

  • "Lieutenant T.G.W. Settle (left), winner of last year's national race, and his aide, Liet. R. Mayer (in basket)"

  • "Sketch of Stevens' Anhydrous Ammonia Motor as Applied to an Aerial Machine. Arthur L. Stevens, Inventor 4/30/1894"

  • "152. Captive Balloon and Ferris Wheel." Tethered gas balloon at World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago

  • "A Merry Christmas." Santa Claus up in a balloon

  • Untitled. Inflation of a smoke balloon

  • Untitled. Gentleman stands in front of a large gas balloon at balloon race

  • Portrait of aeronaut. Contract for a performance by the C.T. Armstrong Balloon Company, New Canton, Illinois

  • "724. All Ready to Let Go." Fully inflated smoke balloon prepared for ascension

  • Untitled. Formal portrait of the balloonist, A. Holland Forbes, together with a typed circular detailing Forbes' career

  • "Air ship & baloon sic. Government building in the distance. Lewis & Clark Fair." Photograph taken in Portland, Oregon

  • "To My Valentine." Cupid in balloon basket droping roses

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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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