L. Guy Mecklem Collection, 1892-1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Eklund, Don
Title
L. Guy Mecklem Collection
Dates
1892-1974 (inclusive)
Quantity
.25 Linear Ft., ( )
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0037mecklem (collection)
Summary
The L. Guy Mecklem Collection is made up of the materials accumulated by Dr. Don Eklund, of Western Washington State College, during his research for a history of Mecklem's early aeronautical career from 1897-1910. Materials include interviews conducted with L. Guy Mecklem between November 1971 and February 1972. Also included is an unpublished autobiography by Mecklem and photographs of his early flying days.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

L. Guy Mecklem was an aviation pioneer and daredevil at the turn of the 20th Century. Beginning with his first balloon flight in 1897 at the age of 15, Mecklem discovered a love for flying that led him to a career as a popular local aeronaut. In the course of this career Mecklem performed a number of hazardous tricks while suspended from a trapeze affixed to his balloon. Even after suffering numerous unpredictable landings Mecklem never failed to make further ascents. While traveling the country performing at a number of air shows Mecklem became enamored with engine-powered airplanes and pursued a short career of flying these aircraft at exhibitions. When this career change proved unprofitable Mecklem sold his plane and moved on to become a carnival acrobat and deep sea diver. After retiring from these occupations L. Guy Mecklem settled onto a berry farm for 28 years with his wife outside Everson, Washington. Near the end of his life he moved to Bellingham where he died at the age of 90 on January 20, 1973.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The L. Guy Mecklem Collection is made up of the materials accumulated by Dr. Don Eklund, of Western Washington State College, during his research for a history of Mecklem's early aeronautical career from 1897-1910. Materials include notes from interviews Eklund and JoAnn Roe conducted with L. Guy Mecklem between November 1971 and February 1972. Also included are an unpublished autobiography by Mecklem, photographs of his early flying days, as well as negatives and slides. Negatives and slides correspond with the prints. Dr. Eklund's working copies, final draft, and the printed monograph of "Washington's 'Wild Scotsman': The Early Aeronautical Adventures of L. Guy Mecklem, 1897-1910" are also in the collection.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

L. Guy Mecklem Collection, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The L. Guy Mecklem Collection is organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:

  • Series I: Research Notes/Materials, 1971; Undated
  • Series II: Manuscripts, 1974
  • Series III: Photographs, 1892-1908; Undated

Bibliography

Eklund, Don, Washington's "Wild Scotsman" : the early aeronautical adventures of L. Guy Mecklem, 1897-1910 ( Bellingham : Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Washington State College, 1974).

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I:  Research Notes/Materials, 1908-1972 , UndatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Dr. Don Eklund’s Interview Notes
November 1971-January 1972
1/2
L. Guy Mecklem's Autobiography
Undated
1/3
Jo Ann Roe Notes and Interview with Mecklem
1971
1/4
Articles & Other Research Notes
1908,1957

Series II:  Manuscripts, 1974Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/5
Dr. Don Ecklund's Monograph Working Copies
Undated
1/6
Final Draft and Printed Monograph, "Washington's 'Wild Scotsman': The Early Aeronautical Adventures of L. Guy Mecklem, 1897-1910"
1974

Series III:  Photographs, 1892-1908; , UndatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Prints
Box/Folder
1/7
#1-Leschi Park, Seattle
ca. 1902
1/7
#2-San Jose, CA.
ca. 1982-1893
1/7
#3-Airship built by Capt. Thomas Scott Baldwin, Chutes Park, Los Angeles
19058
1/7
#4-Dominquez Field Air Meet, Los Angeles
1908
1/7
#5-Dominquez Field Air Meet, Los Angeles
1908
1/7
#6-Paulhan’s Farman, Dominquez Field, Los Angeles
ca. 1908
1/7
#7-Dominquez Field Air Meet, Los Angeles
ca. 1908
1/7
#8-Meadows (now Boeing Field), Seattle
(Includes Mecklem signature from Jan. 24, 1972 at age 89.)
July 4, 1908
1/7
#9-Mecklem’s first airship, Seattle
1908
1/7
#10-Luna Park, Seattle
1908
1/7
#11-Mecklem’s first airship (frame), Seattle
1908
1/7
#12-Mecklem’s Hangar, Luna Park Seattle
1908
1/7
#13-June flight Seattle: Luna Park
June 27, 1908
1/7
#14 -Clutch arrangement, Mecklem’s first airship, Seattle
1908
1/7
#15-Mecklem’s first airship (frame) , Seattle
1908
1/7
#16-Prop Arrangement, Mecklem’s first airship, Seattle
1908
1/7
#17-Mecklem’s first airship, Luna Park, Seattle
1908
1/7
#18-Mecklem’s first airship, Luna Park, Seattle
1908
1/7
#19-Meadows Landing from Luna Park flight, Seattle
July 4, 1908
1/7
#20-Mecklem's first airship, Luna Park, Seattle
1908
1/7
#21-Mecklem's first airship, Luna Park, Seattle
1908
1/7
#22-Louis Paulhan's Farman biplane, Dominquez Field, Los Angeles
1908
1/7
#23-Mecklem’s gas generator
Undated
1/7
#24-Eastern Airship purchased by Mecklem
Undated
1/7
#25-One of Mecklem’s airships, Portland, Oregon
Undated
1/7
#26-Unidentified aircraft
1908
1/7
#27-Mecklem’s airship on tour, Austin, Texas
1908
1/7
#28-Unidentified airship
Undated
Box/Folder
1/8
Negatives
Undated
1/9
Slides
Undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Aeronautics -- Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.
  • Airplanes -- History -- Sources.
  • Ballooning -- History -- Sources.

Personal Names

  • Eklund, Don--Archives. (creator)
  • Mecklem, L. Guy, 1882-1973--Archives.

Geographical Names

  • Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.

Titles within the Collection

  • Washington's "Wild Scotsman" : the early aeronautical adventures of L. Guy Mecklem, 1897-1910