Alexander Perkins Keith Personal Papers
Scope and Contents
This is a collection of the personal papers of A.P. Keith that documents a patent that was granted to AP Keith of Eaton, Massachusetts on 1870 for an aerial flying machine. It includes two types circa 1870.
Dates
- 1870-1936
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to the public by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
For copyright information and conditions of use, please contact the library director.
Biographical / Historical
Alexander P. Keith hailed from Eaton, Massachusetts, coming to California for the gold mines and then making his big strike in Nevada in 1859-60. He used his newfound fortune to continue his vision of his airplane invention. His invention deviated from the then accepted flapping wing devices that were of the time.
He later married Anna Hicks in Boston and moved to San Diego in the early 1880s where they had two daughters, Mabel M. and Elizabeth. Only after Keith’s death did his family learn of his invention and patent. It is said in the few articles on Keith’s invention, that the only things lacking was the aid of a perpetual moving machine, at which time had not yet been discovered.
Extent
0.4 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box)
Abstract
This collection contains papers relating to A.P. Keith. The papers include documents about a patent Keith received in 1870 for a flying machine.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection of materials was donated in March 2009.
- Title
- The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Alexander Perkins Keith Personal Papers
- Author
- Jenna L. Shaeffer
- Date
- 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives Repository
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101 USA US
(619) 234-8291
(619) 233-4525 (Fax)