Context differentiates an artifact from a mere collectible and allows a photograph to become a window into the past. Context can knit together anecdotes and memories into History.
One of the challenges and most exciting aspects of the Museum is to put the artifacts, photos, documents and other parts of our collection into historical context. Some parts of the collection come to us with their complete history – in context. With other parts of the collection, we know little or nothing, but engage in historical detective work to put such items into context. It is exciting and rewarding, and for those who love history, one of the most fun aspects of participating with the Museum.
Early in our Museum’s existence, long before we had started actually restoring the 1940 Air Terminal, we were offered a set of negatives from photos taken by a prominent local photographer. They were offered to us by a collector, who had acquired them from the photographer’s estate. The photos were diverse and beautiful and gave us glimpses into Houston’s aviation history. They were too extraordinary to let pass, so we acquired them.
One of our favorite groups of images from this collection are photographs taken in front of the 1940 Air Terminal in what appears to be an orchestrated publicity photo shoot. The subject matter gave us some clues into the photos’ context: the aircraft in the foreground were all Eastern Air Lines aircraft. The lighting indicated the photos were taken in the early morning. The vintage of the aircraft, as well as the configuration of the 1940 Air Terminal, suggested the photos were taken in the early 1950s. In at least several of the photos, a flight crew is shown. An example is show in our website photo galleries, with the caption “Fair Skies”, here: http://www.1940airterminal.org/history/galleries/historical/FlightCrews/
Who were the crewmembers? Exactly when was the picture taken? For years we did not know.
Recently we were contacted by Jerry Griggs, whose dad flew for Eastern. Jerry provided us with first hand context for these photos, from his Dad’s friend and fellow Eastern pilot, Clint McHenry:
“It might be of interest that the only air-conditioned area in that terminal at that time was the control tower. The photo was taken in late 1952 when the DC-3’s were still being used and the Martin 404’s were being introduced in the southwest. The crewmembers, left to right, are Don Landry, Marcia Roeding, and Ed Wyrick.
The Houston pilot domicile was closed in October 1952 and most of us moved to New Orleans shortly after. Two years after Marcia and I were married we moved into Idlewood, a development entirely conceived and built by EAL pilots. We all stayed there until MSY was closed in 1964. The husbands, wives, and children grew almost as one large family. It was a delightful time. The residents were Jack Schlaffer, Tex Maxwell, Bill Moore, Don Landry, Gib Geurin, McHenry, Morris Hooton, Jack Rolfson, Fenwick Lind, Don Smith, Tom Yaeger, Ed Wyrick and Chancey Flint.”
Thank you, Captain McHenry, and thank you Jerry. You have helped us put these beautiful photos into context.
