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https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/89baf468-c5e9-41c1-8be3-814758295981
Collection
John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection
Title
John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection
Object ID
MG0019
Date Range
1850-1993
September 1955. Insert 7 Letter from Robert C. Batchelder of Saint James’ Church to John Andrews commenting on the paper he wrote on John Wise. Invitation to the Lancaster Public Library. 2-21 April 1956. �230 North President Avenue • Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603-3125 717.392.4633
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Collection
John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection
Title
John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection
Description
The John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection contains material about John Wise, a pioneering balloonist from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the history of ballooning. Articles written by and about John Wise provide information about the man and his career. The bulk of Series 1 is correspondence, research notes, and drafts of "The John Wise Story," by John H. Andrews. Series 2 contains material about the ballooning hobby, other early aircraft, and the history of air mail.
Admin/Biographical History
As an adventurous and inquisitive young boy, John Wise was drawn to the skies above his native Lancaster County. He was fascinated by aerial pursuits and began to conduct experiments. He tied his cat to his homemade parachute and observed the cat's safe descent from a local church steeple.
A keen interest in ballooning developed and Wise became a famous aeronaut. Although balloon ascensions were common at county fairs and carnivals he had never observed an ascension before he made his first one in Philadelphia in 1835. John Wise completed 462 balloon ascensions including Lancaster ascensions from Penn Square and the prison yard.
In the nineteenth century many ascensions were made just for the novelty of the event, but John Wise's approach was from a scientific perspective. Each ascension gave him a chance to conduct scientific investigations of the atmosphere, pneumatics and hydrostatics.
It also gave him the opportunity to develop a more advanced flying machine. Wise was the first to observe the "great river of air which always blows from west to east" in the higher regions of the atmosphere. Today we call this phenomenon the jet stream. He also developed the ripcord safety mechanism.
John Wise promoted the advantages of balloon transportation. In 1843 he conceived a project for crossing the Atlantic Ocean and asked Congress to appropriate $15,000 for the project. Congress rejected the appropriation. Wise suggested a plan to bomb the Castle at Vera Cruz during the Mexican War and during the Civil War the Bureau of Topographical Engineers requested his services as a balloonist. He is credited with the first airmail transportation in 1859.
Detailed descriptions of his ascensions and experiments are found in his book, Through the Air, published in 1873. The last ascent of John Wise took place on September 29, 1879 from St. Louis, Missouri. This flight ended disastrously in Lake Michigan where his balloon fell and his remains lie.
Prepared by the Lancaster County Historical Society, ca. 1995.
System of Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series.
Series 1 John Wise
Series 2 History of Ballooning
Date Range
1850-1993
Creation Date
1850-1993
Year Range From
1850
Year Range To
1993
Date of Accumulation
1850-1993
Creator
Andrews, John H.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 01
People
Albertson, Catherine
Andrews, John Henry
Atkinson, S. C.
Bache, Hartman
Ball, Charles I.
Bartlett, Mrs. R. A.
Batchelder, Robert C.
Beckwith, A.
Beller, William
Black, J. W.
Blanchard, Jean Pierre
Blitzstein, Madelin
Bradbury, Ray
Brown, Elizabeth B.
Bruce, George
Burlingame, Roger
Burr, George
Byars, W. W.
Casey, Louis
Cessna, Clyde
Coffman, Ramon
Cornish, Joseph Jenkins, III
Cox, Palmer
Douty, Esther
Douty, Esther M.
Drepperd, Carl W.
Edwards, Vincent
Elvin, Thomas
Evans, William
Field, Francis J.
Fischer, Hans
Fleck, Glen
French, Melvin
Galzer, Emmett J.
Gambetta, Francis Leon
Greeley, A. W.
Grimm, Janet
Gryzewski, Tad
Halmi, Robert
Harrell, D. Tudor
Hautrive, M.
Hayden, F. Stansbury
Hopkins, Philip S.
Hunt, E. F.
Ingle, Harold E.
Kehr, Ernest A.
Keith, Barbara
Kessler, F. W.
Klein, Frederic S.
Kouwenhoven, John A.
Kreider, Ira
Kriebel, Robert C.
Kriebel, Robert G.
Lamorisse, Albert
LaPaz, Lincoln
Lindbergh, Charles
Lindquist, H. L.
Long, Elmer R.
Lundgren, Laura May Gross
Madsen, Peter
Maier, Alfred D.
Maxwell, George T.
McCloskey, Lores
McDevitt, William
Mills, James
Myers, Wilfred
Naves, Glen W.
Nicklin, John
Pasquarella, Gus
Peers, W.
Prevost, John W.
Roland, John
Rosenfeld, Albert
Sanabria, Nicolas
Schatvet, H. C.
Serviss, Garrett P.
Smith, Philip R., Jr.
Stehling, Kurt R
Steinmetz, Rollin
Stilphen, George F.
Taylor, Florence
Thompson, Howard
Topping, A.D.
Waitt, Robert
Warner, B. H.
Watson, Marion A.
Wetherill, Richard B.
Whipple, A. W.
Wilbur, W. H.
Wise, John
Wiseman, Frederick J.
Wolcott, Charles
Wolf, Constance
Woodruff, J. C.
Wright, Wilbur
Young, Pearl
Other Creators
Lancaster County Historical Society (Pa.)
Subjects
Hot air balloons
Hot air balloons--Launching
Airships
Aeronautics
Letters
Air mail service
Hindenburg (Airship)
Reconnaissance aircraft
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Search Terms
Aeronautics
Air mail service
Airships
Aviation
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Finding aids
Hindenburg (Airship)
Hot air balloons
Letters
Manuscript groups
Newspaper clippings
Obituaries
Reconnaissance aircraft
Extent
3 boxes, 40 folders, 1 scrapbook, 1 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0019
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-19
Classification
MG0019
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
This collection was cataloged prior to 1997; added to database on 28 February 2018.
Documents
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Badge, Fire

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/cd097c58-6de8-4d98-8f93-840007452450
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Object ID
2004.011.7
Date Range
1941
More detail
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Description
Button from the 1941 Lancaster County Firemen's Day. White button with photo reproduction of fire truck in front of "Christiana Fire Co." building. Below the fire: "built 1857." Above photo in back letters: "Lancaster County Firemen's Day." Below: "June 7, 1941 Christiana, PA." Half inch of half inch wide red ribbon holds a 1.375in long god colored metal fireman's helmet.
Date Range
1941
Made By
Erisman's
Last Owner
Koehler, Christian B.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 1
Storage Cabinet
Unit 07
Storage Shelf
Shelf 2
Storage Container
Box 0464
People
Koehler, Christian B.
Koehler, Christ B.
Koehler, C. B.
Subcategory
Personal Symbol
Search Terms
Lancaster County Firemen's Association
Object Name
Badge, Fire
Length (in)
3.25
Diameter (in)
1.5
Condition
Good
Object ID
2004.011.7
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Accession Number
2004.011
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Badge, Fire

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/afffc84c-b306-4adc-b339-966431342925
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Object ID
2004.011.9
Date Range
1943
More detail
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Description
Button from the 1943 Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention. White button with red, white & clue US flag with 48 stars in center. Above: "Welcome Firemen" Below: "June 5, 1943 Columbia, PA." Half inch wide red ribbon hangs .625 in below, holding a 1.375 in long gold colored metal fireman's helmet.
Date Range
1943
Made By
Erisman's
Last Owner
Koehler, Christian B.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 1
Storage Cabinet
Unit 07
Storage Shelf
Shelf 2
Storage Container
Box 0464
People
Koehler, Christian B.
Subcategory
Personal Symbol
Search Terms
Lancaster County Firemen's Association
Object Name
Badge, Fire
Length (in)
3.25
Diameter (in)
1.25
Object ID
2004.011.9
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Accession Number
2004.011
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Badge, Fire

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/b52081c1-cbdb-41b2-8492-410236390910
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Object ID
2004.011.56
Date Range
1943
More detail
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Description
Delegate badge for the Lancaster County FIremen's Convention. Red heavy paper badge (1.24in x 2.375in) with safety pin on back and white insert card typed "Christ Koehler Delegate -- State Assoc." 1943" written in blue ink. On 1.5in wide purple ribbon in gold letters: "23rd Annual Convention Lancaster County Firemen's Association Delegate June 1943 Columbia, PA.
Date Range
1943
Made By
Erisman's
Last Owner
Koehler, Christian B.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 1
Storage Cabinet
Unit 07
Storage Shelf
Shelf 2
Storage Container
Box 0464
People
Koehler, Christian B.
Subcategory
Personal Symbol
Search Terms
Lancaster County Firemen's Association
Object Name
Badge, Fire
Length (in)
5
Width (in)
2.325
Condition
Good
Object ID
2004.011.56
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Accession Number
2004.011
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Badge, Fire

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/ac76ae27-8af8-4e10-94d2-644343528300
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Object ID
2004.011.55
Date Range
1942
More detail
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Description
Delegate badge of the Lancaster County Firemen's Convention, 1942. Gold colored metal badge (2.25in x .75in) with white insert card with typed "Christ Koehler." On purple ribbon in gold letters: "22nd Annual Convention Lancaster County Firemen's Association Delegate June6, 1942 East Petersburg, PA."
Date Range
1942
Made By
Erisman's
Last Owner
Koehler, Christian B.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 1
Storage Cabinet
Unit 07
Storage Shelf
Shelf 2
Storage Container
Box 0464
People
Koehler, Christian B.
Subcategory
Personal Symbol
Search Terms
Lancaster County FIremen's Association
Object Name
Badge, Fire
Length (in)
5.25
Width (in)
2.25
Condition
Good
Object ID
2004.011.55
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Accession Number
2004.011
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Badge, Fire

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/c9298430-bc42-410e-a178-096987943469
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Object ID
2004.011.54
Date Range
1941
More detail
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Description
Delegate badge for the Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention. Gold colored metal badge (2.25in x .75in) with white insert card, typed "Christ Koehler Lititz, Pa." On 1.625in wide purple ribbon in gold letters:"Lancaster County Firemen's Association 21st Annual Convention Delegate Christiana, PA. June 7, 1941"
Date Range
1941
Made By
Erisman's
Last Owner
Koehler, Christian B.
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 1
Storage Cabinet
Unit 07
Storage Shelf
Shelf 2
Storage Container
Box 0464
People
Koehler, Christ B.
Subcategory
Personal Symbol
Search Terms
Lancaster County Firemen's Association
Object Name
Badge, Fire
Length (in)
4.625
Width (in)
2.25
Condition
Fair
Condition Notes
Drops of waxy substance are stuck to front of ribbon.
Object ID
2004.011.54
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Accession Number
2004.011
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Badge, Fire

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/c351ad6f-8037-4980-be77-392906770752
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Object ID
2004.011.78
Date Range
1941
More detail
Collection
Firefighting Collection
Description
Eden Fire Co. 20th Anniversayr button. White button with red lettering: "Eden Fire Co. No. 1 20th Anniversary 1920 -1941" Maker name and location on paper insert. .25in red ribbon loop clamped to button hangs 1 in below button and holds a red metal fireman's hat (.938in wide x 1.25in L x .5in h)
Date Range
1941
Made By
Erisman's
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 1
Storage Cabinet
Unit 07
Storage Shelf
Shelf 2
Storage Container
Box 0464
Subcategory
Personal Symbol
Object Name
Badge, Fire
Length (in)
3.5
Diameter (in)
1.25
Condition
Good
Object ID
2004.011.78
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Accession Number
2004.011
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7 records – page 1 of 1.