Guide to the Press Photograph of Aviation Pioneers Taken at the Biltmore Hotel (New York) During “Famous Fliers Luncheon,” 1928 July 6 SPEC.PA.56.5000 Finding aid prepared by Audrey Wimbiscus Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2026 May This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-06-01T11:37-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Press Photograph of Aviation Pioneers Taken at the Biltmore Hotel (New York) During “Famous Fliers Luncheon” SPEC.PA.56.5000 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections Polar Small Accessions 2 0.02 Cubic feet 1928 July 6 The time period between World War I and World War II was known as the Golden Age of Aviation. During this time, airplane races and record-setting flights were often in the press, and pilots were seen as celebrities. The Press Photograph of Aviation Pioneers Taken at the Biltmore Hotel (New York) During “Famous Fliers Luncheon” was taken on July 6, 1928 by an unknown photographer; it depicts a group of aviation pioneers at a "Famous Fliers Luncheon" in honor of Amelia Earhart that was hosted by Admiral Richard E. Byrd at the Biltmore Hotel in New York City. (1) letter folder English Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2026.0007: Source unknown, date unknown

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Press Photograph of Aviation Pioneers Taken at the Biltmore Hotel (New York) During "Famous Fliers Luncheon", SPEC.PA.56.5000, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

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 Processing Information

Processed by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2026 May; Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2026 May

 Historical Note

The time period between World War I and World War II was known as the Golden Age of Aviation. During this time, airplane races and record-setting flights were often in the press, and pilots were seen as celebrities. Feats such as non-stop flights across continents or oceans, flights in harsh climates, or flights with pilots who were not white men captured the attention of the public. Polar explorers such as Admiral Richard E. Byrd and Sir George Hubert Wilkins partnered with pilots Carl Ben Eielson and Bernt Balchen to add to the list with competitions to be the first flights over the North and South Poles.

Ameila Earhart (1897-?) was an American aviator who was the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the airplane Friendship in June 1928 with pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis Gordon. As Earhart was a licensed pilot, the original intent had been to have her pilot the plane for part of the flight; however, bad weather and Earhart's unfamiliarity with instrument-only flying meant she was unable to pilot the plane. Instead, she kept the flight log and helped with naviation checks. Upon the crew's return to the United States following the flight, they were honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York City on July 6, 1928; that same day, Admiral Byrd hosted a luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel in New York City to celebrate Earhart, Stultz, and Gordon's feat. Byrd invited fellow aviation pioneers Carl Ben Eielson, Sir George Hubert Wilkins, Clarence D. Chamberlin, and Bernt Balchen to the luncheon.

 Scope and Contents

The Press Photograph of Aviation Pioneers Taken at the Biltmore Hotel (New York) During “Famous Fliers Luncheon” was taken on July 6, 1928 by an unknown photographer. It depicts a group of aviation pioneers at a "Famous Fliers Luncheon" that was hosted by Admiral Richard E. Byrd at the Biltmore Hotel in New York City. The luncheon was held in honor of Amelia Earhart, Louis Gordon, and Wilmer Stultz; their June 1928 flight made Earhart the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The photograph depicts aviation pioneers; the back row from left to right shows Carl Ben Eielson, Hubert Wilkins, Richard E. Byrd, Clarence D. Chamberlin, and Bernt Balchen. The front row from left to right depicts Wilmer Stultz, Amelia Earhart, and Louis Gordon. The photograph had a press caption identifying the imgae pasted to its back; it has detached due to age.

 Related Materials Admiral Richard E. Byrd Papers Sir George Hubert Wilkins Papers Byrd Arctic Expedition North Pole Flight Collection Balchen, Bernt, 1899-1973 Byrd, Richard Evelyn, 1888-1957 Chamberlin, Clarence D. (Clarence Duncan), 1893-1976 Earhart, Amelia, 1897-1937 Eielson, Carl Benjamin, 1897-1929 Gordon, Louis Edward, 1901-1964 Stultz, Wilmer, 1900-1929 Wilkins, George H. (George Hubert), Sir, 1888-1958 Air pilots--United States--20th century Black-and-white prints (photographs) Explorers--Press coverage--20th century Receptions (Parties)--New York (State)--New York--20th century Women air pilots--United States--20th century