PBA Galleries

Contains: 9 typed letters signed all address to Louis DeJean (most regarding the Allied Flying Club), on respective letterheads including: one signed by William Mitchell to Lt. DeJean, dated July 18, 1927; one signed by Robert J. Pritchard editor of Western Flying of Los Angeles, dated April 22, 1929; one signed by Luther K. Bell, Traffic Manager of Air Mail Service, dated July 27, 1924; one signed by Major General Mason M. Patrick, Chief of Air Corps, graduated second in his West Point class, served during WWI and a host of other accomplishments as described in a laid in print-out, dated July 20, 1927; one by John Barry of the San Francisco Call, dated June 6, 1925; one by Harr Wagner, President of the Sequoia Club, dated Oct. 3, 1924; one signed by James Warner Bellah (1899-1876), 2 pages, who served in both WWI & II and wrote novels and screenplays for film, dated April 28, 1927; one by Gladys Rosson (Secretary to Cecil B. De Mille), dated May 28, 1926; and one by Ray Caldwell of Aeronautical Digest, dated July 8, [1920’s?]. * Numerous newspaper clippings (tipped-in, folding and/or loosely laid in) all relating to Louis Leon DeJean (obituaries, tributes, poetry by DeJean and others, etc.), from various sources, largely from the San Francisco Chronicle and SF Bulletin, during the 1920’s. One titled “Aviation Has Its Own Poet Laureate.” * Plus various other ephemeral pieces, including schedules printed by Paul Elder Gallery (San Francisco), Rockridge Woman’s Club (Oakland), etc. (Oblong album) 12½x15, limp suede, bound with six metal binder’s pins.

DeJean, who was from California, trained in Canada and was part of the Royal Flying Corps. Later he became an officer for the Royal Air Force during WWI. He was also a poet, most notably for “Songs of the Air” and for his book Winged Trails; thus, deemed: “The Poet Laureate of Aviation.”