TWA Historical Collections

[Opssys]

I accept the thread on American take over of Twa question/s (http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/446581-american-take-over-twa-question-s.html) is a controversial topic as for some this is not just an echo from the recent past, but still a bitter experience. But this thread reminded me of the incredible collection of Documents, Models and Instruments that formed the TWA Historic Collection. Not only including TWA Material from the earliest days, but preserving some from Airlines that were acquired by TWA.

I was privileged to see much of it when TWA was a SITA Customer prior to the AA takeover although unable to spend as much time as I wanted viewing it (spread over the HQ and Operations Centres),

Checking Google appears to reveal no up to date information on this collection
anyone know if it has bee preserved intact and if so where?

[IGh]

cframe (http://www.umkc.edu/whmckc/Collections/cframe.htm)

Under "Transportation" --

Trans World Airlines (TWA) Records (KC0453) [TWA]

"... Records were collected by the TWA Museum and break generally into three parts:
-- training and operations manuals for the various aircraft flown by TWA;
-- Incident files and other safety related materials including reports and data issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), and its successor, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB); and
-- various other materials including books about TWA; TWA publications, menus, tickets, timetables, and other ephemeral items; photographs, slides and negatives relating to crew training; public relations audio and video, etc.

Also included is some records relating to Ozarks Airline which was acquired by TWA in 1986.

The Incident files ... data for each incident varies, ranging from a report form to detailed studies with correspondence, depositions, analytical/technical data, photographs, audio recordings and/or videos, NTSB hearing documents, and media reports. Some of the accident files may be as large as several boxes. 1929-2002.

270 cubic feet + oversize...."

BTW, on "the web" are several dozen good photos, from the old Globe-Democrat, showing various phases of the TAT start-up in July 1929 (various G-D stories in 1928 reveal some of the minds that first backed CL, & then encourage CL to plan for the new TAT start-up).
http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/i/image/getimage-idx?view=image;entryid=x-gdgps0134;viewid=GDGPS0134;cc=mercic;c=mercic;quality=3

http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/i/image/getimage-idx?view=image;entryid=x-gdgps0301;viewid=GDGPS0301;cc=mercic;c=mercic;quality=m800

http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/i/image/getimage-idx?view=image;entryid=x-gdgps0106;viewid=GDGPS0106;cc=mercic;c=mercic;quality=m800

http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/i/image/getimage-idx?view=image;entryid=x-gdgps0109;viewid=GDGPS0109;cc=mercic;c=mercic;quality=m800

http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/i/image/getimage-idx?view=image;entryid=x-gdgps0111;viewid=GDGPS0111;cc=mercic;c=mercic;quality=m800

[one11]

In 2007 a selection of paper memorabilia, photos and models from the TWA archive were in display cases at the KCI-Expo Convention Center in Kansas City MO

[Opssys]

Whilst IGh's links regarding Documentation/Pictures are interesting and useful, At least in some cases Documents, associated Photographs and related Objects/Models need to be displayed together to maintain context.

Which brings me to one11 - The 2007 KCI-Expo Convention Center in Kansas City MO was more on the lines of what I was hoping existed in a permanent home. Probably a forlorn hope, but like Pan Am, TWA remembered & honoured its past and although Pan Am possibly lost its way, the TWA staff I met were determined to give the Airline a Future, Sadly it was not to be.

[IGh]

One of the items listed in the collection is that 1930 "newsreel",
title _COAST TO COAST IN 48 HOURS_; the film is available on the web, as streaming-video:

-- several versions available [YouTube.com, &ct];

-- & from a StLouis PBS-tv station, linked in a previous post on the TAT start-up:
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/380653-july-8th-1929-start-up.html