Overview of the Collection Creator. Title Frank Kelsey papers Dates 1911-2002 (inclusive) 1911 2002 Quantity 11 boxes, (5.25 linear feet) Collection Number USU_COLL MSS 467 Summary This collection contains materials from the life of Frank Kelsey, a Utah aviator who owned an air service business in Salt Lake City. Repository Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division Special Collections and Archives Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University Logan, UT 84322-3000 Telephone: 435-797-2663 Fax: 435-797-2880 scweb@usu.edu Access Restrictions No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan. Biographical Note Languages English Sponsor Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008 William Frank Kelsey was born March 31, 1912 in Salt Lake City. His involvement in aviation was lifelong; in 1928, he constructed a glider based on an M.I.T. glider he had seen in an article. In 1949 Kelsey and Mark Kemp opened a business based at the Salt Lake City Airport called Kemp and Kelsey Air Service. Hague Ellis purchased Kemp s interest in the business in 1962 and it became known as Kelsey-Ellis Air Service. Functions of this business included air-taxi services, charter flights, plane rental, aircraft repair, and helicopter patrols. Kelsey also tried to expand the business into fog seeding, for which he developed methods and equipment throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Fog seeding, the practice of dropping dry ice pellets from an aircraft into a fog in order to dissipate it, was a desirable service in the Salt Lake Valley because fog was such a safety concern for airports. In 1968 Kelsey sold his interest in the company to Ellis and left the business. Ellis changed the business name to Key Aviation. Frank Kelsey also tried to start a business building, selling, and exporting Stressed Skin Trailers, which he marketed for transporting gliders. In 1975 he bought the rights to build and sell a design by Herman Stiglemeier, however the SST business failed and Kelsey sold it to Keven Murphy and Anthony Estrin in 1986. http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 1
In addition to his business ventures, Kelsey participated in a variety of professional activities. He was a prominent member of many aviation associations such as the Soaring Society of America, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the National Soaring Museum, and many more, in 1982 he was inducted into the Soaring Hall of Fame. He acted as a consultant for many businesses and organizations and in the mid-1980s he served on a committee to start a degree program in Aviation Maintenance at the Utah Technical College. Frank Kelsey died August 11, 1991. Content This collection contains materials related to the various activities of Frank Kelsey throughout his life. These materials are divided into the following main categories: Personal History, Correspondence, Consulting and Professional Organizations, Historical Materials, and Business Records. The first section contains materials related to Kelsey s personal life including a cassette tape containing vignettes from his work in Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, a collection of his One-Liners, and a biography of his wife, Ida Mae Kelsey. The Correspondence section consists of letters between Frank Kelsey and his friends, colleagues, or customers, mostly relating to aviation and gliders. Letters from the most common correspondence are grouped and those folders are alphabetized. The Consulting and Professional Organizations section contains papers related to Kelsey s work related to these activities. However, this category also contains magazines and articles published by aviation associations in which Kelsey may or may not have participated. The Historical Materials category reflects Frank s interest in aviation history and contains historical manuals, photographs, articles, and other publications related to the history of gliding and airplanes. Finally, the Business Records section contains correspondences, manuals, articles, and other documents related to Frank Kelsey s business ventures. Prominent among these is his air service in Salt Lake City, stressed skin trailer production, and fog dispersal service. Included here is a cassette tape containing a conversation between Kelsey and his employees with a representative of Dr. Fukuta, a scientist proposing an alternative method of fog seeding than the one that Kelsey and his company was doing. Use of the Collection Restrictions on Use It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Frank Kelsey papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head. Preferred Citation Initial Citation: Frank Kelsey papers USU_467, [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah. Following Citations:USU_467, USUSCA. http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 2
Administrative Information Arrangement These materials are arranged into the following main categories: Personal History, Correspondence, Consulting and Professional Organizations, Historical Materials, and Business Records. Processing Note Processed in June of 2014 Acquisition Information This collection was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives in 2012 by Frank Kelsey s son, James Kelsey. Related Materials Frank Kelsey Photograph collection, P0537 Bibliography book My Father Loved Flying: A History of F. Kelsey 1912-1991Kelsey, James F. My Father Loved Flying: A History of William F. Kelsey 1912-1991: 2012 Bibliography obituary Death: William F. Kelsey"Death: William Kelsey." Deseret News, 12 August 1991 Detailed of the Collection Personal History, Container(s) 1 1 Frank Kelsey- Personal History, Notes, and Goals 1980s 1 2 Kelsey, James- My Father Loved Flying 2012 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 3
1 3 Wiliam Frank Kelsey, Obituary 1991 1 4 Cassette Tape: Kelsey, Frank-Kemp and Kelsey Charter Flight Vignettes undated 1 5 Soaring Hall of Fame 1981-1982 1 6 Ida Mae Kelsey- Biography 1968 1 7 Frank Kelsey- One-Liners c.1960s-c.1980s 1 8 Signpost Names C.1970s 1 9 Cartoons c.1960s-c.1980s 1 10 Kelsey, Frank- Super Albatross 1943 1 11 Kelsey Speech- American Institute of Aeronautics 1986 1 12 Business Cards c.1960s-1990s 1 12a Aircraft Registration 1970 Correspondence, Container(s) 1 13 Arnold, Les; Buzzard's Roost 1983-1986 1 14 Benbough, Richard 1977-1991 1 15 Blacksten, J. Raul 1990-1991 1 16 Evangelisti, Giorgio 1977-1978 1 17 Greenwell, Eric, about Trailers 1983 1 18 Johnson, Richard 1980-1986 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 4
1 19 Kimball, Bud 1981-1990 2 1 Lamson, Robert about Seminar, Walton Fatality 1986 2 2 McGarth, Patrick 1981-1989 2 3 Moore, Robert Lee 1981-1989 2 4 Olson, Jack 1976-1986 2 5 Parks, Wm. R. 1980-1990 2 6 Prue, Irv: Prue Two 1986 2 7 Saudek, Victor Mead 1979-1989 2 8 Schweizer, Paul 1977-1986 2 9 Scott, Jan 1975-1982 2 10 Scott and Steele about Bowlus Blueprints 1978-1979 2 11 Schoen Mike; Aero-Auto Salvage 1979-1981 2 12 Short, Simine and Jim 1981-1984 2 13 A-C 1950s-1990s 2 14 D-M 1950s-1990s 2 15 N-W, Unidentified 1950s-1990s 2 16 Bowlus and Baby Albatross Correspondence and Pictures 1973-1977 Consulting and Professional Organizations, Container(s) http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 5
3 1 Ad Hoc Committee on Aircraft Mechanics 1984-1985 3 2 Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic Survey 1984 3 3 USU- Aerospace Technology and Professional Pilot Programs Information 3 4 Utah Technical College- Aviation Maintenance Advisory Committee 3 5 Utah Technical College- Proposal for Aviation Maintenance Program 3 6 Utah Technical College- Proposal for Aircraft Mechanics Program 3 7 Utah Technical College- Program Advisory Committee Handbook 1988 1984-1986 1983-1984 1983 1983, c.1985 3 8 Utah Technical College- Newspaper, Articles 1984-1986 3 9 British Gliding Association- Sailplane and Glider 1936, 1938-1940 3 10 Experimental Aircraft Association 1980-1986 3 11 EAA- Flying and Glider Manual 1931 3 12 EAA- "How-To" Series: Basic Hand Tools vol. 2 undated 3 13 EAA- Miniplane Plans 1957 3 14 National Glider and Airplane News 1931 4 1 National Power Glider 1930-1931 4 2 National Soaring Museum 1981-1990 4 3 NSM- Quarterly Journal 1985, 1991 4 4 Popular Aviation 1932 4 5 Soaring Society of America 1957-1991 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 6
4 6 SSA- American Soaring Handbook 1965-1966 4 7 SSA- New State Soaring Records 1970-1976 4 8 SSA- Sailplane Homebuilders Association 1983-1990 4 9 50th Anniversary Soaring, Sailplane Airmail 1981-1982 4 10 Southern California Soaring Association- The Thermal 1941-1951, 1972 4 11 The Utah Pilot 1968, 1990 4 12 Vintage Sailplane Association 1979-1990 4 13 VSA- Bungee Cord undated 4 14 Soaring Society of Utah- Pamphlets and Ads 1965 4 15 By-Laws of an Aviation Club undated Historical Materials, Container(s) 5 1 Utah State Aeronautic Commission 1939 5 2 United States Army Air Force- Your Body in Flight 1943 5 3 US Army Center of Military History- SLC and US Army Signal Corp. 1986 5 4 Salt Lake City Municipal and International Airports 1920s-1990s 5 5 Biplanes, Salt Lake City Municipal Airport, Pictures c.1930s-c.1960s 5 6 Aviation Articles c.1960s-1990s http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 7
5 7 Deseret News Articles 1911-1937, c.1970s-1980s 5 8 11th Annual Gliding and Soaring Contest Program 1940 5 9 International Glider Meets; German, French, English undated 5 10 World War II Gliders 1986 6 1 Huntington Alloys Advertisement undated 6 2 Homeowner's Annual, Shaper Manual 1936, 1944 6 3 Stits, Ray- Aircraft Building Manuals 1965-1980 6 4 Utah Resource and Activities, Guide 1933, 1951 6 5 Rosenhan, Alfred- Court Case c.1940s 6 6 Schmirnoff Sailplane Derby 1972-1973 6 7 SE-5 Logbook 1917 6 8 Smithsonian Institution- Handbook of the National Aircraft Collection 1932 6 9 Szekely Aircraft Instruction Book c.1931 6 10 Peterson, Garth N.- Western Air Express: Flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, Missing 6 11 Miscellaneous Advertisements, Rosters, Pamphlets, Certificates 1976 c.1960s-1980s 6 12 Meakin, Bob- Utah Gliding History, 1927-1950: Workbook 1997 6 13 Meakin, Bob- Utah Gliding History, 1927-1950: AAHS Journal Publication 2001-2002 6 14 The Piper Aztec C undated 6 15 Skiis by CallAir undated http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 8
6 16 Thalman Aircraft Corporation: Mt. Pleasant, Utah 1957 Business Records, Container(s) 7 1 Air Taxi and Chartaire Flights Information c.1950s 7 2 Helicopter Patrols 1964 7 3 Kelsey-Ellis Airservice, Inc.- Corporation Record Book 1960s 7 4 Kemp-Ellis and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Correspondence 1953-1968 7 5 Kemp-Ellis and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Certificate, Financial 7 6 Kemp-Ellis and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Ads, Tickets, Receipts, and Letterheads 1960s-1980s 1960s 7 7 Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Forgery Scandal 1959-1961 7 8 Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Beechcraft Model B Fifty Flight Handbook 7 9 Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Beechcraft Queenair Manual 1953 1962 7 10 Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Line Service Manual c.1959 7 11 Kemp and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Mooney Mark 21 Manual 1961 7 12 AOPA 180 Degree- Flight Safety 1954-1955 7 13 Kemp-Ellis and Kelsey Airservice, Inc.- Advertisements and News Clippings undated 7 14 The Circuit- Troubleshooters in the Sky 1954 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 9
7 15 Intermountain Industry- Up in the Air with Kelsey-Ellis Air Service, Inc. 1963 7 16 L-5 Sale 1981-1982 7 17 Minutes- Utah Aviation Fuel Tax Committee Meeting 1965 7 18 Frank Kelsey- The Kelsey Adjust-o-Matic C.G. Compensator undated 7 19 Barograph Traces- Flight Data Including Altitude 1965, 1972 7 20 Kemp and Kelsey Airservice Signed Holiday Card with Photo of Staff 8 1 Stressed Skin Trailer Co.- Correspondence: Stiglmeier, Estrin, Murphy undated 1975-1987 8 2 SST- Costumer Correspondence 1977-1980 8 3 SST- Correspondence- Kunda, Rudy 1974-1982 8 4 SST- Assembly Instructions c.1970s 8 5 Sump Dumper 1957 8 6 Sunbird Aviation Company- Stock Purchase c.1979 8 7 Federal Weather Modification Reports 1967, 1988 8 8 Fog Dispersal Methods 1990 8 9 Fog Dissipation Using Liquid Propane Studies 1964, 1990 8 10 Aeroport de Paris- Fog Dispersal 1963-1966 8 11 Fog Dissipation using Carbon Dioxide Studies 1965, 1977 8 12 Dr. Fukuta, Norihiko- Research, News Clips 1986 8 13 Cassette Tape: Fog Seeding Interview: Controversies, Research, Debate with Representative from Dr. Norihiko Fukuta, c.1990s http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 10
8 14 Fog Dissipation using Dry Ice Studies 1964-1967 8 15 Great Salt Lake Effect Snowfall 1985 8 16 North American Weather Consultants- Ground Based Fog Dispersal, SLC 1990 9 1 Warm Fog Dispersal 1968, 1970 9 2 Kelsey Fog Seeding Business- Correspondence, Files 1965-1986 9 3 Kelsey-Ellis and Interwest Aviation- Fog Seeding Logs 1965-1968, 1981, 1985 9 4 Fog Seeding, Inc. 1986-1991 9 5 Warm Fog Seeding, Inc. 1986-1989 9 6 Artificial Fog Dispersal History 1964, 1986 9 7 Fog and Fog Seeding News Clippings 1964-1991 9 8 Fog Seeding Pictures c.1950s-1980s 9 9 Kelsey- Frank- Notes and Written Works on Fog Seeding undated 9 10 J. Vern Hales- Fog Dissipation at Salt Lake Airport 1962 Newspaper Clippings, 1911-1985 Container(s) Dates 10 Kelsey and Aviation History News Clippings 1911-1985 Legal Sized, http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 11
11 1 Air Show at Barrington Park, SLC 1911 11 2 Kemp/Kelsey-Ellis Airservice, Inc.- Stock Agreements 1949-1968 11 3 K&E Sky Sailing Certificate of Incorporation 1968 11 4 Kelsey's Appointment for Notary Public Certificate 1968 11 5 Affidavit of Publication- Betty Phelps and K&E Sky Sailing Inc. 1972 11 6 Key Airlines Pamphlet 1969 Blueprints, (see map cabinet 6, drawer 15) Container(s) 1 McMurray, T.J.- Glider Blueprint 1946 2 Universal Gliders Model UG-2P2 Blueprints 1937 Names and Subjects Finding aid/register created by Joanna Dobrowolska 2014 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37417 12