Ralph Upson and Herman Kraft with a collapsed dirigible

Name/Title

Ralph Upson and Herman Kraft with a collapsed dirigible

Entry/Object ID

SHH 2001.425

Description

Print developed from gelatin dry plate glass negative. Pilot Ralph Upson and co-pilot Herman Kraft pose in front of a crashed dirigible on a grassy field. Pilots stand next to each other: Ralph Upson smiles and has hands in trouser pockets; Kraft's hands rest against his hips and has a slide rule in sweater pocket which reads "[illegible] / [illegible] / SLIDE RULE / [illegible]." Kraft wears same dark colored sweater, pants and boots as in SHH 2001.427R. Man in far left middle ground walks as he possibly adjusts his suit jacket sleeve. Man in far right middle ground wearing a suit and hat holds up a rudder above his head. Man directly behind him is slightly bent forward under another rudder. Trees in background. Series of "Smash Ups" prints.

Photograph Details

Subject Person or Organization

Upson, Ralph Hazlett, Kraft, Herman

Subject Place

Location

Goodyear Airdock, USA: Ohio, Suffield, Wingfoot Lake

Collection

PERMANENT COLLECTION

Cataloged By

Martina Takac

Acquisition

Accession

SHH-Original

Source or Donor

Seiberling Heirs

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Seiberling, Willard Penfield

Role

Photographer

Date made

1917 - 1921

Notes

Medium: glass, silver gelatin

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

Negative Number

Other Number

N-1734

Number Type

Other Number

Other Number

SHH 2001.425R

Dimensions

Height

4-1/4 in

Width

3-1/4 in

Condition

Overall Condition

Poor

General Notes

Note

Willard Penfield Seiberling (1892-1981) was an avid and amateur photographer who developed his photographic interest while attending Princeton University. The Dark Room at Stan Hywet Hall was added to the floorplan during construction for his use. Willard is credited with most of the early images of Stan Hywet. Willard's interest in aeronautics is exemplified by meeting Orville and Wilbur Wright after their first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk. Willard may have been the first passenger aboard the first Goodyear blimp. He also participated in national and international free balloon races in 1921. Willard was manager of the Aeronautics Department of Goodyear from 1917 to 1921. Goodyear began its Aeronautics Department in 1910. In 1916, Goodyear purchased land in Suffield around Fritch's Lake. Wingfoot Lake hangar was constructed in 1917. WFL is the oldest airship base in the U.S. The facility was the training site of the first class of Navy airship pilots. From 1917 to 1921, WFL operated as a U.S. Naval Airship. Wingfoot Lake Airship Base was built in 1917. Willard Penfield Seiberling was manager of the Aeronautics Department of Goodyear from 1917 to 1921.

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

July 28, 2021

Updated By

bwelch@stanhywet.org

Update Date

May 16, 2025