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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

  • Untitled. German observation balloon under attack by biplane

  • Untitled. Smoke balloon at Trenton, Ohio, Fair

  • "1643. Balloon Ascension, Woodward's Gardens, San Francisco." Gigantic gas balloon preparing for ascension

  • Untitled. Small crowd of children up in a gas balloon

  • "12150. Attaching the basket weighed with sand-bags to the ring"

  • "To My Valentine." Handsome young couple kissing in balloon basket

  • "Semper sub sole.--Par les temp les plus brumeux, cartes-portraits instantanées; superbes épreuves obtenues grâce à la limpidité de l'atmosphère. 15 fr. 50 la douzaine, ascension comprise." Photographer with camera taking a protrait of a gentleman seated in a dirigible

  • Untitled. Several men prepare to release a small paper smoke balloon. Children watch the ascension

  • Untitled. Gas balloons of the Aero Club of New England preparing for ascension

  • "Fitchburg - Boston. June 26, 1909. Glidden and Van Valkenburgh. Fitchburg from elevation 1,000 feet." Number eleven in a series of fifteen items

  • Untitled. Indian boy in balloon basket above the Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, Pennslyvania

  • Untitled. View of the basket and life boat for T.S.C. Lowe's balloon Great Western, Philadelphia. Earliest known photograph of a transatlantic balloon basket

  • "Juvenile Fete and Balloon Race at Cremorne Gardens." Short text

  • "Count De La Vaulx's Balloon Trip Across the Mediterranean"

  • Untitled. Very early view of the inflation of a smoke balloon in a Mexican plaza

  • "Ballooning in France--M. Duruof Descending in the Channel Near Cherbourg in His Balloon, The Ville de Calaise"

  • Untitled. Gigantic sphere in Paris, possibly Nadar's balloon Le Geant during inflation

  • "People in lower corner 3,500 feet below." Number fourteen in a series of fifteen items

  • "Through The Air." A damaged gas balloon in a wilderness region

  • "A Sky Terrier." Mean looking pilot in balloon

  • Untitled. Gas balloon beling inflated

  • Untitled. Fully inflated smoke balloon just prior to ascension

  • Krainik Ballooning Collection

  • "U.S.-3 A.C. 24th Balloon Co. L50 Wehr. Looking N.E. Gas Demonstration, 3rd Div 11-6-19, 10 h, 50 cm..." Elevation view from a balloon as described in title

  • "Preparing for Balloon Ascension, York, Penna." Smoke balloon ascension

  • "Car of Observation Balloon showing parachutes, telephone, etc." Close-up of wicker balloon basket

  • "About Flying-Machines." Two page balloon article with numerous illustrations

  • Untitled. Early French view of fully inflated gas balloon, possibly Godard's, being prepared for ascent. View shown in color when illuminated from behind

  • "Fitchburg - Boston. Glidden and Van Valkenburgh in the car about to start." Number eight in a series of fifteen items

  • "Professor Lowe inflating Balloon Intrepid from gas in Balloon Constituion." Emergency transfer of gas for observation purposes

  • "Vue Instantanée de la Fête de Saint-Cloud. Ascension du ballon." Louis and Jules Godard balloon ascension. Close-up view, looking down

  • Untitled. Balloon with flowers in basket

  • Untitled. Infant eyes small balloon in flight. Caption reads, "Some more hot air"

  • "Rival air ships, their inventors' pride, read for race to Washington, D.C. from World's Fair, St. Louis, U.S.A." Two small (one man) gas balloons, fully inflated

  • "L' Hotel De Ville - Paris." View of the hotel. When backlit, the scene changes to night and a large balloon appears

  • Untitled. Aeronaut, James Allen, with bridal party

  • Untitled. Smoke balloon in flight with parachutist in tow. Number five in a series of five photographs

  • "Best Wishes." Flower-covered airship

  • "Balloon Acension Binghampton NY." T.S.C. Lowe in balloon United States flying over Binghampton, New York

  • "Best Wishes." Fanciful balloon with flowers in basket

  • "222. Prof. Wise inflating his baloon sic, Ganymede, at St. Johnsburry, Vt." A large crowd gathers to witness an balloon ascension by John Wise, noted 19th century balloonist

  • "La brigade des agents-aéronautes. Les agents aéronautes armés du canon porte-amarres surveillent, contrôlent et même interrompent les vitesses excessives." Man in dirigible basket shooting cannon

  • "Sauvetage émouvant. Grâce a la télégraphie sans fil, l'aéronaute en danger prévient instantanément le poste de pompiers le plus voisin et tout péril est bientôt conjuré." Balloonist being rescued from mid-air by man on ladder

  • "A California Honeymoon." youn couple in an "orange" balloon

  • "An army observation balloon in use by the Bulgarian forces which are striking hard at many points in Serbia." Spherical gas observation balloon during World War I

  • "A Happy New Year." Two elves drop shamrocks from a balloon

  • "Balloon Corps Transport, with Lord Roberts' Army - advance on Johannesburg, S.A."

  • Untitled. Large gas balloon ascends over roof tops. Three men are in the basket and American flags are attached to the balloon

  • "1645. Balloon Ascension, Paris, France." Large captive gas balloon in flight

  • Untitled. Large balloon being inflated with coal gas in center of large American town. Crowd gathered to watch ascension

  • "Siege of Yorktown." View of Union artillery station with T.S.C. Lowe's observation balloon in tethered flight. U.S. Civil War

  • "The Progress of Practical Aeronautics During 1899." Captive balloon with kerosene engine; balloon views

  • Untitled. City view with fence displaying a poster for Nadar's balloon ascension in Paris

  • "2543." Balloon Ascension, Ontario Beach, New York." Large crowd gathered to view fully inflated smoke balloon

  • "Don't Get Up in the Air." Balloon in flight

  • Untitled. Gas balloon in flight, North Adams, Massachusetts

  • "Prof. King's Mammoth Baloon (sic) BUFFALO ascending at Buffalo, July 4th"

  • "Les courses aéro-tauro-mobiles.--Très grand succès dimanche dernier, por le brillante corrida organisée par M. Moselle (de la Deutsch)." Bullfighting with airships

  • "26306. The Goodyear, Winner of Elimination Contest, Starting Great 1100 Mile Flight, San Antonio, Texas." Spherical gas balloon lifting off

  • Untitled. U.S. observation balloon with soldiers on ground. American Southwest, possibly Texas

  • "The Balloon at Manhattan Beach." View of Samuel Archer King's gigantic balloon Pioneer at Coney Island

  • "A Nous l'Espace!" To Space With Us! A beautiful woman poised on the prow of an airship gondola, in flight through a starry sky

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

  • Untitled. Partially inflated balloon, with crowd. Number three in a series of five photographs

  • Untitled. "Madame Carlotta" (Mary Breed Hawley) and Prof. Carl Myers posed just prior to ascension

  • "Le Grand-Prix de Paris. -- A deux heures précises, M. le Président de la République fait son entrée au pesage et peu d'instants après le ballon présidentiel s'élève dans les airs pour assister à notre grande épreuve nationale, etc., etc." Race markers are two huge balloons filled with dignitaries

  • "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

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Krainik Ballooning Collection
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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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