Scope and Content


                  The  Roscoe Turner Papers,  1897-1972, contain valuable
        information  about the evolution of  the aviation industry in the
        United  States from 1920 to 1970.   The collection includes files
        about air racing, the MacRobertson International Air Race England
        to  Australia, and exceptionally detailed files that document the
        life  of Roscoe Turner and his contribution to the development of
        aeronautics and air safety.

             There  are  extensive files  of general  correspondence that
        give  a comprehensive view of Roscoe Turner's struggle to support
        his family while earning a living by air racing and experimenting
        with  engines,  airplane  designs,  fuels  and  oils  to increase
        airplane  safety and speed.   They also contain information about
        his  commitment to  promoting aviation  for national  defense and
        private use.  There are financial records that provide additional
        insight into his lifestyle.

             The  biographical  information  chronicles  Roscoe  Turner's
        public  life  and the  importance of  his showmanship  in raising
        money to race.  The scrapbooks are especially rich in accounts of
        his flying exploits from 1926 to 1939.

             The  papers also contain information  about Gilmore, his pet
        lion  who  flew with  him  in air  races,  transcontinental speed
        record  flights,  and  promotional  tours  for  the  Gilmore  Oil
        Company.  There are photographs of historical interest that range
        from  1897 to 1970 of Roscoe  Turner, his family, friends in show
        business,  Gilmore,  other famous  aviators,  air racers  and the
        national air races.

             There  are  in  depth  files  on  the  American  Legion, the
        National  Aviation Training Association,  The National Aeronautic
        Association  and the  National Aviation  Trades Association which
        show how effective these organizations were in promoting aviation
        and  their  relationships  with government  civil  air regulatory
        agencies.

             The  famous MacRobertson  International Air  Race England to
        Australia,  called the greatest international air race in history
        by  racing buffs, is extremely  well described in files regarding
        Roscoe Turner's entry in the race and in scrapbooks.

             The  files about his major  business ventures are of special
        interest.  These include the Roscoe Turner Flying Service, Nevada
        Airlines,  Porter Aircraft Corporation,  the Salsbury Corporation
        and the Roscoe Turner Aeronautical Corporation.

             There  is also material on the radio shows "Flying Time" and
        "Sky  Blazers," which starred Roscoe Turner and a few files about
        his  feature  roles in  the movies  Hell's  Angels and  Flight At
        Midnight.

             There  are many  files on  Indiana, especially Indianapolis,
        where  the  Roscoe Turner  Aeronautical Corporation  was located.
        These   papers  show  his  interest   and  involvement  in  local
        government,  public  service  associations  and  the Indianapolis
        Municipal Airport.

             There  are also  galleys for a  newspaper column "Aviation,"
        1941-1946,  coauthored by Roscoe Turner and Maurice Roddy for the
        Chicago Times Syndicate and some iconographic material.

                The trophies, plaques and awards won by Roscoe Turner,
         Gilmore the stuffed pet lion, photographs and papers regarding
         his racing days and logs of the MacRobertson International Air
         Race England to Australia are at the Smithsonian Institution,
         National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC  20560-0001.