Wilmer Stultz papers, 1927-1928 | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

By Sammie Morris

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Collection Overview

Title: Wilmer Stultz papers, 1927-1928

Predominant Dates:1927-1928

Primary Creator: Stultz, Wilmer (1899-1929)

Extent: 0.5 Cubic feet. More info below.

Date Acquired: 07/19/2006. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Atlantic Ocean, Aviation, Byrd, Richard E., Byrd Antarctic Expedition, Earhart, Amelia, Flight Archives at Purdue University, Mechanical Science Corp, National Aeronautic Association (U.S.), Transatlantic flights

Forms of Material: Aeronautical charts, Contracts, Correspondence, Photographic prints

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Wilmer Stultz Papers (1927-1928; 0.5 cubic feet) document Wilmer Stultz’s role as pilot in the 1928 transatlantic flight aboard the “Friendship” Fokker airplane. Types of materials in the papers include a flight plan, photograph, contract, letter, and Stultz’s pilot’s license.

Biographical Note

Wilmer Lower Stultz was born on a farm near Williamsburg, Pennsylvania on April 11, 1900. In August 1917, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force and in March of 1919, Stultz was honorably discharged. On August 4, 1919 he married Mildred Botts of Middletown. Stultz enlisted in the Naval Air Service on December 22, 1919 and was honorably discharged on December 1, 1922. In his government training, Stultz was one of a group of men to receive special instruction in aviation. He personally conducted the tests made on the Josephine Ford plane in which Commander Richard Byrd made his famous journey to the North Pole. Stultz was the winner of a national airplane speed race at Dayton, Ohio. He was approached in the Fall of 1927 by Commander Byrd to be the assistant pilot on Byrd’s proposed South Pole flight. Frances Wilson Grayson employed Stultz as the pilot on her flight across the Atlantic. Grayson and Stultz turned around on their flight due to storms and Stultz ended their professional relationship. Stultz is primarily remembered today for his role as the pilot in the 1928 transatlantic flight aboard the “Friendship” airplane. During this flight, Stultz piloted the Fokker F7 (nicknamed the “Friendship”) that carried Amelia Earhart across the Atlantic Ocean. Although she was only a passenger on the flight, Earhart became instantly famous for being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Tragically, Stultz died the following year during a test flight. He was thirty years old.

Subject/Index Terms

Atlantic Ocean
Aviation
Byrd, Richard E.
Byrd Antarctic Expedition
Earhart, Amelia
Flight Archives at Purdue University
Mechanical Science Corp
National Aeronautic Association (U.S.)
Transatlantic flights

Administrative Information

Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Accruals: Folder of materials collected by William Brantner about Wilmer Stultz. Collection includes one folder of materials. Photocopies of articles, articles and a souvenir booklet documenting the life and flying career of Stultz. Addition accession number is 20090127.

Alternate Extent Statement: 1 mss. box

Access Restrictions: No restrictions on this collection.

Physical Access Note: The oversized, framed flight plan has been stored separately for preservation purposes ( Map Case).

Acquisition Source: auction

Acquisition Method: This collection was purchased by Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. Original accession number 20060719.

Separated Materials: The oversized framed flight plan has been stored separately for preservation purposes (VT Map Case).

Related Materials: George Palmer Putnam Collection of Amelia Earhart Papers includes documents, photographs, and related materials relating to the 1928 transatlantic flight aboard the Friendship plane.

Preferred Citation: MSP 38, Wilmer Stultz papers, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries

Finding Aid Revision History: Revised last 3/2/2011

Other URL: http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/fa/pdf/stultz.pdf

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Wilmer Stultz Papers, 1927-1928],
[Item 1: Map of North Atlantic with notations showing Stultz's proposed flight path (oversized, framed), ca. 1928],
[All]

Item 1: Map of North Atlantic with notations showing Stultz's proposed flight path (oversized, framed), ca. 1928