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Postcard of 1903 Wright Flyer

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Object Details

Author
Unknown
Subject
United States National Museum
Arts and Industries Building
Category
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
The Arts and Industries Building (A&I) was designed by two Philadelphia architects: Adolph Cluss and Rudolph Schulze. It first opened in 1881 as the United States National Museum, the Smithsonian's first building dedicated solely to the research, care, and display of collections. After the natural history collection moved into its own building in 1910, the Arts and Industries Building exhibited primarily historical and technology collections.
"Real photo" postcards were first produced using the Kodak "postcard camera." The postcard camera could take a picture and then print a postcard-size negative of the picture, complete with a divided back and place for postage.
Summary
Black and white real photo postcard with the caption "Original Wright Flyer Aeroplane of 1903, National Museum, Smithsonian Institution" which was on display in the United States National Museum, now known as the Arts and Industries Building. The Wright Flyer was displayed in this building from 1948 to 1976, when it was moved to the National Air and Space Museum. The front of the card has a white border, and the postcard is unused. However, an additional negative number of "38391" can be seen written in pencil on the address side. This negative number is for the photograph used to produce the postcard.
Contained within
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Collection T90126, Box 1, Folder: 3
Contact information
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
c. 1948-1976
Standard number
SIA2013-07721 (front) and SIA2013-07722 (back)
Restrictions & Rights
No restrictions
Type
Postcard
Photographic print
Physical description
Number of Images: 2; Color: Black and White; Size: 5.4w x 3.5h; Type of Image: Postcard; Medium: Photographic print
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
Topic
Postcard
Wright Flyer (Airplane)
Wright Brothers' Aeroplane
Wright Brothers' Airplane
Airplanes
Exhibitions
Record ID
siris_sic_13928
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

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