Robert L. Cavanagh collection

[Tork1945]

When looking around on Ebay USA I found the following auction of a photograph

Vtg Original USAF Military Airplane Photo Prop Plane Biplane Unknown | eBay

which has on the back a stamp 'The R. L. Cavanagh Photo Collection'. As I found out the full collection of the late R.L. Cavanagh was donated by the family to the Wright State University, Dayton

http://www.libraries.wright.edu/spec...iles/ms353.pdf.

The question is what is actually auctioned? An original piece of the collection (that should be in Wright State University), a print made of a negative held in the Wright - Cavanagh collection (is this legal ?) or any other possibilities.

When you look at this seller you will see he has quite a lot of aviation pictures for auction, which look surprisingly 'new' (new prints made ?) and incidentally also show some clinks in the aviation history knowledge of the seller.

Tork1945

[Frederic Mason]

Hi Tork; Please permit me to amend your comments on the Cavanagh Collection at Wright State University, Dayton, OH. I spend a few days last year going through the RLC Collection at Wright State and I am going there again next week. The collection actually holds very little in the way of WWI aero material. None of his well-known AEF USAS photos are there and I do not know where they ended up after his passing. I suspect where they are, but I have no proof of it. However, they are NOT at Wright State Univ. I can only hope the other well-known aero historians of advanced age will make their preparations for the donations of their collections.

Another comment, photo-copying of photographs is not permited at Wright State, just like it is not permited at the History of Aviation Collection at UTD, TX. You may buy examples at HAC-UTD for a fee (prices unknown), but not even purchases at Wright State Univ. Drycopying of paper records are permited at WSU. Very strict protocols exist at both sites. Happy researching. Cheers; FM

[Tork1945]

Thanks Mr. Mason for your remarks. I had not realized that most of the WW1 (or earlier ?) part of the Cavanagh collection is not in the Wright State University. I was under the impression that the whole collection was donated given the text

The Robert L. Cavanagh Aviation Collection was donated to Special Collections and Archives by Anne Cavanagh after her father’s death on August 20, 2000. The collection was accessioned on July 12, 2001.

At least the greater part of the mighty collection of Cavanagh has been preserved in Wright State University, which cannot be said for deceased historians as Peter M. Bowers, J.M. Bruce (his collection was auctioned I remember) or Heinz Nowarra and probably others.

Have a nice time looking through the Cavanagh Collection in the Wright State University.

Cheers

Tork1945

[Colin A Owers]

Bob told me that he was to donate his collection to the University as he had seen what happened to material donated to the USAF Musuem. It depended on who was in charge and what they were interested in.

A large part of Bob's collection & many other people's consists of copied material. We all exchange photos, and in many cases they are copies of copies, with the original owner of the negative unknown. Given the 100 years that have passed, most of this matrerial would be out of copyright. You would have to check with each countries laws.

The trouble with donating to universities, etc., is that many such organisations do not have the facilities to allow for the researcher and the collection disappears into their records for evermore. It can be better for the collection to be sold and kept in circulation.

The RAF Museum has about 100 boxes of the JM Bruce collection. There is much varied material in this. I know as I have been cataloguing it. The JMB/GSL photo collection has been purchased by the FAA Museum. Scans of these photos are availble for purchase.

The National Archives in the US & GB are great in allowing photographing of material. The US NA also allows scanners to be used. The Library of Congress allows photographing but not scanning. Photos can be purchased but only as scanned copies and they charge you an arm, leg and then the other arm if it is not already available as a digital copy.

The US Navy and Air Force allow photocopying and scanning, at least the Navy does, not sure about the Air Force Museum on scaning. You usually get a good response from these institutions if you are sincere in your researches.

The Smithsonian allows photographing of paper records but not photographs. These can be ordered, again quite expensive.

This sums up my deaings with various institutions. Hope it is of some help.

Colin A Owers

[Tork1945]

Originally Posted by Colin A Owers

.....The trouble with donating to universities, etc., is that many such organisations do not have the facilities to allow for the researcher and the collection disappears into their records for evermore.....

Not a very encouraging thought. The idea behind these university collections is that it is a basis for study so as to come to a considered view of (aviation) history, which can be spread via whatever medium, electronically or paper.

But at least the collections will not disappear forever.

Tork1945