Pioneering aviator (1898–1931) and Northwest Airways first chief pilot. Extensive life-long archive of materials belonging to noted aviator Charles M. Holman, containing three of Holman's pilot's licenses signed by Orville Wright, Holman's personal flight log, several signed documents, checks, letters between he and his wife, congratulatory letters to Holman, as well as sympathy letters and telegrams sent after his death, several personal affects, and other interesting items.
Highlighting the archive are the three licenses signed by Orville Wright. The first is Holman's 1927 Federation Aeronautique Internationale Sporting license, signed inside by Wright, and bearing a clipped photo of Holman affixed to the inside. Second license is his Federation Aeronautique Internationale Aviator's Certificate, signed inside by Wright and bearing a clipped photo of Holman posing with his plane affixed to the inside, also signed by Holman. The third license is his 1928 Sporting License signed by Wright with no affixed photo. Also among the licenses is a 1926 Post Office Department Contract Air Mail Service pilot's license, signed by Holman.
One of the most interesting pieces in the archive is Holman's personal hardcover flight log, signed inside 20 times, once on the identification page, and the remainder signed at the bottom of the right-hand page, attesting to all the flights listed on the respective pages. Entries date from December 5, 1929 up to his final flight, on May 17, 1931, from St. Paul to Omaha, where Holman died during an air show. It also appears the last few entries have been made in another hand. In the log, he lists the date, type of aircraft and engine, flight time, his start and finish destination, and a comment for many of the voyages, including "Test," "Ferry," "Exhibition," "Pass. Flight," "Mail," and "Local Hop," with many remarks reading "Regular."
Among other interesting items are several unsigned papers and documents concerning a proposed round-the-world trip sometime in 1929 or 1930, with detailed plans for the trip and the assumed accolades and opportunities associated with a successful trip, with Holman being joined by pilots Thomas Lane and Chadwick Smith, mechanic George Weiss, and a press correspondent. Lengthy correspondence between Holman and his wife is also included, most written from various destinations; numerous documents related to the purchase and sale of his home; a leather wallet containing 60 signed checks; his 1930 life insurance policy; and other documents or certificates presented to him; telegrams and letters of congratulations to Holman after finishing the New York to Spokane Air Race; many letters, telegrams, and floral cards of condolences and sympathy are also included in the archive, sent to both Holman's wife and Northwest Airlines, from various business and civic organizations throughout Minnesota and elsewhere, including Eddie Rickenbacker,
Several other items of note are Holman's baby rattle, his leather baby shoe spats, his Northwest Airways business card, a hat pin which probably belonged to his wife, and three empty shell casings from the salute fired at his funeral, the largest ever in Minnesota history. Archive is housed in a simple leather box, 14 x 8 x 12, owned by Holman, and later his family, with his name in gold on the box's top. In very good to fine overall condition.
In 1928, 'Speed' Holman had set a then-world record by flying 1,433 consecutive loop-the-loop maneuvers over the downtown St. Paul airport. And so it was Holman who was the star of Omaha's first annual air races in 1931 when on the last day of the races, he crashed his biplane before 20,000 horrified spectators. Decades later, one audience member recounted how he had watched as Holman roared the grandstands at 250 miles per hour before zooming into the sky. On what was to be his final such trick on May 17-a date identified in the log, his plane stalled, rolled, and plunged to the ground. 'Spectators reported that just before the crash, his body seemed to be hanging halfway out of the cockpit, which led to the belief that his safety belt broke, causing the crash. Some pilots told reporters they thought at the last second Holman managed to control the plane enough to avoid crashing into the stands,' one witness reported. Truly a one-of-a-kind ensemble of personal effects from an aviation legend. RRAuction COA.
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