George "JR" Wedekind Aviation Collection

The George “JR” Wedekind Aviation Collection is comprised of documents and films that help to tell the story of Dayton and the Miami Valley’s rich aviation history. It is arranged in five series and nine subseries. It includes extensive information about the growth of the Dayton Air Show under Wedekind’s direction, from a small air fair to an international event. It also contains a variety of documents detailing the development of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, which Wedekind played an important part in establishing. Series I, Air Shows, consists of two subseries containing programs from air shows and open houses. Subseries IA, the Dayton Air Show, make up the bulk of the Air Show series and consist of programs from the air shows. These date back to 1973 when it was still billed as the Dayton Air Fair. In Series IV, VHS Tapes and Film, coverage of the Dayton Air Shows during Wedekind’s tenure as its director are available. The video series also includes many promotional tapes from airplane stunt pilots and teams and other potential air show performers. Subseries IB, Other Air Shows and Air Force Open Houses, is made up of programs from other air shows Series II, National Aviation Trail, consisting of five subseries, holds information about Dayton’s National Aviation Trail Park. This is the largest series in the collection. Subseries IIA, Site Development, contains numerous documents pertaining to the history of Aviation Trail, Inc., site development and strategic planning, funding and the acquisition of sites, and the construction of the Setzer building and Wright-Dunbar Plaza. Subseries IIB, Commissions, Meeting Agendas and Minutes, contains notes and instructions from boards where Wedekind served as a commissioner, meeting agendas and minutes for committees involved in the development and funding of the National Aviation Trail project, including the 2003 Committee and Aviation Trail, Inc. Subseries IIC, Publications and Presentations, is comprised of public relations and publicity for the National Aviation Trail park, site literature, articles and slide presentation notes pertaining to the National Aviation Trail sites and the Wright Brothers. Subseries IID, Photographs, is comprised of color photographs, primarily of construction images of the Setzer building and Wright-Dunbar Plaza. Subseries IIE, Slides, are color slides, mostly of site construction. Series IV also contains Aviation Trail VHS tapes. The videos were made during planning and construction of National Aviation Trail sites. Several tapes explain the goals of the Aviation Trail and solicit funds. One tape is unedited footage of the Setzer groundbreaking and include Wedekind and others speaking about the project’s importance to the Dayton and Miami Valley community. Series III, Personal, consisting of two subseries containing personal materials, much of which pertains to work Wedekind did outside of the aviation field and a few family-related items. Subseries IIIA, Rona Village, contains documents relating to Rona Village in Fairborn, Ohio. Wedekind served on this community’s board of trustees. Documents include committee meeting minutes, correspondence with residence, and financial documents pertaining to maintenance work. Subseries IIIB, Family Documents, holds a few school certificates earned by his daughter, a collection of poems by Ada Wedekind, a collection of aviation manuals and pilot test booklets, and some correspondence. Series IV, VHS Tapes and Film, consists primarily of VHS tapes and several unidentified reel tapes. The bulk of the video cassettes are promotional tapes submitted by potential entertainment acts for air shows. Most of the videos are of aerobatic pilots and teams and their airplanes. Copies of the Dayton Air Show that WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio produced are in this series. They cover the years 1986-1996, when Wedekind was the air show’s director. This series also includes several personal, candid videos, including a pizza party at a local Marion’s, featuring a Russian aerobatic team and its crew, and Wedekind’s retirement party. Videos about the National Aviation Trail project and the groundbreaking for the Setzer Building are also in this series. Series V, Memorabilia, contains items relating to air shows and aviation. Included are the Dayton magazines featuring articles about the Dayton Air Show and the history of flight in the Miami Valley. The series also includes a ceramic coaster with the Dayton Air Show logo emblazoned on it, an autographed photograph of the 1993 Holiday Inn aerobatic team, and an autographed aviation themed coloring book. An oversize poster advertising the 1905 Wright Glider memorial at Dayton’s Riverscape is also in this series.