“Unlocking an Archival Treasure: The Harold Bixby Collection” is on display in the Aviation Museum and Library. Located pre-security in the International Terminal, the Aviation Museum and Library is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm. https://bit.ly/Bixby-Collection
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Harold Bixby and Charles Lindbergh 1928
photograph
Collection of SFO Museum
2019.121.0059
R2023.1301.001
Harold Bixby and Chinese CNAC personnel 1930s
photograph
Collection of SFO Museum
2019.121.0102
R2023.1301.005
Lindbergh, in turn, recommended Harold to Pan American Airways (PAA) founder and CEO, Juan Trippe (1899-1981) who was looking for an executive to manage the airline’s interests in Asia, particularly PAA’s partnership in the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) and the opening of transpacific flying boat service. Bixby joined Pan American in 1933 and worked for the airline for the rest of his career, retiring in 1955.
His involvement in St. Louis aviation community brought him in contact with a young Charles Lindbergh (1902-74), who was flying out of St. Louis as an airmail pilot at the time. The two became lifelong friends and Bixby joined the group of St. Louis businessmen who funded Lindbergh’s historic transatlantic flight in 1927.
This is your last week to see “Unlocking an Archival Treasure: The Harold Bixby Collection,” on display in the Aviation Museum and Library.
Harold McMillan Bixby (1890-1965) was a midwestern businessman whose strong interest in the emerging technology of aviation led to a career that encompassed some of the most important milestones in air travel of the 1920s and 30s. He was closely involved in the creation of Lambert Field, St. Louis’ first airport.
SFO Museum