Hettie Baum Scrapbook, 1909-1990, PC.5069

Abstract

Hettie Baum (1889-1969) served as postmaster of the Kitty Hawk Post Office for many years and was heavily involved in anniversary celebrations surrounding the Wright Brothers' first flight. The Hettie Baum Scrapbook, 1909-1990 (bulk 1948-1955), largely commemorates the anniversary celebrations honoring the Wright Brothers' first successful sustained flight in a heavier-than-air craft, which occurred in present-day Kill Devil Hills, N.C., in 1903. Baum's scrapbook documents the 46^th and 50^th anniversaries of the flight, held in 1949 and 1953 respectively. The scrapbook contains news clippings, articles, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera. Most of the scrapbook's contents were too severely damaged to preserve, so many of the materials in this collection are preservation photocopies.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Hettie Baum Scrapbook, 1909-1990
Call Number: PC.5069
Creator: Baum, Hettie Mae, 1889-1969
Date: 1909-1990 (bulk 1948-1955) 1948-1955
Extent: 0.200 cubic feet
Language: English
Repository: Outer Banks History Center

Series Quick Links

Collection Contents

Restrictions on Access & Use

Access Restrictions

Available for research.

Use Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by the United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying these materials.

Preferred Citation

PC.5069, Hettie Baum Scrapbook, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, N.C., U.S.A.

Collection Overview

The Hettie Baum Scrapbook, 1909-1990 (bulk 1948-1955), largely commemorates the anniversary celebrations honoring the Wright Brothers' first successful sustained flight in a heavier-than-air craft, which occurred in present-day Kill Devil Hills, N.C., in 1903. Baum's scrapbook documents the 46^th and 50^th anniversaries of the flight, held in 1949 and 1953 respectively. The scrapbook contains news clippings, articles, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera. Most of the scrapbook's contents were too severely damaged to preserve, so many of the materials in this collection are preservation photocopies. The presence of photocopies and originals is noted within each folder title in the collection's container list.

Arrangement Note

Original order has been retained.

Biographical/Historical

Hettie Baum was born 20 April 1885. She lived in Kitty Hawk, N.C., with her husband, Elijah. The couple operated a large store that also housed the Kitty Hawk Post Office. Elijah served as postmaster until a postal inspector stripped him of his title due to Elijah making an unapproved loan from post office funds, at which point Hettie was appointed postmaster. She held the position until her retirement in 1954. Hettie and Elijah were both heavily involved in the celebrations to commemorate the Wright Brothers' 1903 flight in 1949 and 1953, likely due to Elijah's having been the first local resident to meet Wilbur Wright on his initial visit to Kitty Hawk.

Contents of the Collection

Collection Contents

Background [photocopies; originals dated 1990]

Box 1

Photocopy of article on Kitty Hawk Post Office [circa 1954]

Box 1

Articles on first day of issue of $0.06 air mail stamp in honor of the Wright Brothers [photocopies and originals], 1949

Box 1

Photocopy of program honoring the first day of issue for the Wright Brothers air mail stamp [1949]

Box 1

Souvenir air mail postcard [original], 1948

Box 1

Certificates and commendations [originals], 1953-1954

Box 1

Photocopies of news clippings on the first flight memorial and anniversary observations [1953]

Box 1

Correspondence and articles on the 50th anniversary of flight commemoration [photocopies and originals], 1953

Box 1

Photocopies of articles on W.J. Tate, Elijah Baum, and Johnny Williams, witnesses to the first flight [originals dated 1949-1955]

Box 1

Photocopies of news clippings on Alpheus Drinkwater and Harry P. Moore reporting the first flight [originals dated 1949]

Box 1

Photocopy of "A Pair of Wings" article [original dated circa 1954]

Box 1

The State magazine, Kitty Hawk golden anniversary edition, 18 July 1953

Box 1

Wright Brothers National Memorial Brochure [original], circa 1948

Box 1

Photocopies: comments about the Wright Brothers cited in various publications [originals dated circa 1953]

Box 1

Photocopied article, "They Blazed the Sky Trails" [original dated 1953], and original photograph of the "Kitty Hawk Biplane" in Rheims, 1909

Box 1

Original photographs of Hettie Baum, Elijah Baum, Tate Memorial, site of the Wright Brothers landing, and Kitty Hawk, 1953

Box 1

Subject Headings

Baum, Elijah William, 1885-1965

Wright, Orville, 1871-1948

Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912

Wright Brothers National Memorial (N.C.)

Aeronautics--North Carolina--Kill Devil Hills--Anniversaries, etc.

Kitty Hawk (N.C.)--History

Acquisitions Information

Donated by Edna Harris, July 1995.

Processing Information

Processed by Samantha Crisp, December 2017.