Vern Roberts Collection of Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss 1514
Scope and Content
The Vernon Roberts collection of papers consists of photocopies of various documents and two
scrapbooks that were the property of Mr. Roberts. They were copied through the temporary loan of the
items by his son Kenneth Roberts in 1996.
"Early Aviation Events Taking place in Vicinity of Fargo, N.D." was written by Vernon Roberts shortly before his death and portions were reprinted in an article published by the Fargo Forum newspaper several weeks after his death on April 30, 1953. It is a typed, thirteen leaf document beginning with his discharge from the United States Army in 1919. It recounts his barnstorming days, and the first air mail flown to and from Fargo.
There is a small file of newspaper clippings relating to Roberts‟ flying career, including article of he with Charles Lindbergh. There is a copy of his business card while in Fargo, his membership card in the Fargo Aeronautics Club, and the original "Annual Sporting License" of 1927, apparently issued by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
The two scrapbooks are photocopies, copied in their entirety. The first scrapbook covers from circa 1921 to 1930, capturing the excitement of the early aviators and air flight in general in the United States. The primary contents are newspaper clippings related to Roberts‟ flying career. They include items related to the first air mail to Winnipeg, Manitoba. There also are quite a number of advertising broadsides for flying shows. In addition there are a number of photographs and letters. There are 129 photocopy leaves in the scrapbook
The second scrapbook ("B") covers primarily the year 1930. It too contains primarily newspaper clippings, but also flyers for barnstorming. There are quite a number of articles related to air races, including events in which Roberts participated. There are 68 photocopy leaves in this scrapbook.
"Early Aviation Events Taking place in Vicinity of Fargo, N.D." was written by Vernon Roberts shortly before his death and portions were reprinted in an article published by the Fargo Forum newspaper several weeks after his death on April 30, 1953. It is a typed, thirteen leaf document beginning with his discharge from the United States Army in 1919. It recounts his barnstorming days, and the first air mail flown to and from Fargo.
There is a small file of newspaper clippings relating to Roberts‟ flying career, including article of he with Charles Lindbergh. There is a copy of his business card while in Fargo, his membership card in the Fargo Aeronautics Club, and the original "Annual Sporting License" of 1927, apparently issued by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
The two scrapbooks are photocopies, copied in their entirety. The first scrapbook covers from circa 1921 to 1930, capturing the excitement of the early aviators and air flight in general in the United States. The primary contents are newspaper clippings related to Roberts‟ flying career. They include items related to the first air mail to Winnipeg, Manitoba. There also are quite a number of advertising broadsides for flying shows. In addition there are a number of photographs and letters. There are 129 photocopy leaves in the scrapbook
The second scrapbook ("B") covers primarily the year 1930. It too contains primarily newspaper clippings, but also flyers for barnstorming. There are quite a number of articles related to air races, including events in which Roberts participated. There are 68 photocopy leaves in this scrapbook.
Dates
- 1921-1953.
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are not held by the Institute for Regional Studies.
Biography
Vernon L. (Vern) Roberts was born January 29, 1896 to Lee A. and Grace Roberts on the family farm
near Fargo, N.D. After graduating from Fargo High School he enlisted in 1917 in the Army Air Corps and
took his flight training at Kelly and Brooks fields in Texas. During World War I he was a pilot instructor,
serving until April 1919. He returned to Fargo and worked for his grandfather Charles A. Roberts, a
contractor. But he wanted to return to flying and he joined with Earl Reineke, founder of WDAY, to
purchase an airplane and do barnstorming with a Curtis JN-4D "Jenny" airplane. They later formed Reineke Aircraft Company. The company went out of business in 1922 when their plane crashed at
Carrington, N.D., although Roberts escaped with only minor injuries.
Mr. Roberts married Henrietta Wilke of Wimbledon, N.D. on Oct. 17, 1922. They settled at Bemidji, Minn. where they purchased a mercantile business. But a year later Roberts was back barnstorming. After crashing two more airplanes they returned to Fargo where he resumed flying from his parent‟s farm, then called Roberts Field in what is now southwest Fargo. Roberts became involved with others in the early aviation industry in Fargo and flew the first air mail from St. Paul, Minn. to Fargo and on to Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1927 he flew for the Fargo Aero Club and was involved in air races between 1928 and 1933.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts moved to Moline, Illinois where he was a test pilot for Mono Aircraft Corp., became manager of the Moline Airport and general manager for Moline Air Service for eleven years. At the time of his death he and his son Kenneth operated Moline Engine Service. He died April 20, 1953. Henrietta Roberts died July 23, 1993 at Moline.
Mr. Roberts married Henrietta Wilke of Wimbledon, N.D. on Oct. 17, 1922. They settled at Bemidji, Minn. where they purchased a mercantile business. But a year later Roberts was back barnstorming. After crashing two more airplanes they returned to Fargo where he resumed flying from his parent‟s farm, then called Roberts Field in what is now southwest Fargo. Roberts became involved with others in the early aviation industry in Fargo and flew the first air mail from St. Paul, Minn. to Fargo and on to Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1927 he flew for the Fargo Aero Club and was involved in air races between 1928 and 1933.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts moved to Moline, Illinois where he was a test pilot for Mono Aircraft Corp., became manager of the Moline Airport and general manager for Moline Air Service for eleven years. At the time of his death he and his son Kenneth operated Moline Engine Service. He died April 20, 1953. Henrietta Roberts died July 23, 1993 at Moline.
Extent
.2 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Fargo native Vern Roberts, after serving in the Army Air Corps in World War I, began a career in aviation in the 1920s as a barnstormer and aviation air racer.
Provenance
Donated by Kenneth Roberts, Moline, Ill., 1996 (Acc. 2456).
Separation Record - Photographs
Copy photographic prints were made of five photographs found in the original scrapbooks, and filed as Photograph Collection 459 in the Institute photograph collection.
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Vern Roberts Collection of Papers
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu