Aeronca and Lee Miller, 1974 Jul

The collection consists mainly of color photographic slides depicting aircraft, mostly civilian planes, with content dates spanning 1926 to 1993; however, the bulk of the material dates between 1959 and 1988. The slides were in most cases created, and in some cases collected from others, by Roger Miller. Other collectors or photographers whose images are represented in the collection include Andrew Zilliox and George “JR” Wedekind.

The images primarily depict the exteriors of aircraft (mainly fixed wing airplanes) but to a lesser extent, images occasionally depict pilots, aircraft workers, cockpits, structural details, hangars, or air show visitors or displays. For the most part, aircraft are shown on the ground at air fields, usually ones located in the Miami Valley region of Ohio, especially Middletown and Hamilton, as well as Dayton, Moraine, Cincinnati, and other Ohio cities. Other locations throughout the United States, as well as Japan and Korea, are also represented.

The collection is arranged in a single series of photographic slides, organized according to the donor’s original order and filing system, including a file number, reel number, and slide number. Where possible or relevant, an airplane’s registration number, year of manufacture, maker, model, serial number, and engine information have been included in the item listing.

Individual item descriptions provided by the donor is included in the front of most folders. These descriptions may provide additional information about photograph location, photographer or collector (if different than Miller), or the airplane owner (if known). Information is sometimes written on the cardboard casing of the slide itself as well.

Of particular note in the collection is an original Piper Sales Kit, dating to about 1953 or 1954, including several stereoviews (depicting primarily Piper PA-20, PA-22, or PA-23), original stereoviewer, and metal travel case. A kit such as this one would have been carried by aircraft salesmen.