128 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1958 
beginnings of aviation but also because this Museum has been desig- 
nated by them as depository for their archives and historic specimens. 
The Institute of Aeronautical Sciences held a joint meeting with the 
Navy at San Diego, August 1 to 16, where, at the Institute Building, 
a display of aircraft, scale models, photographs, and paintings illus- 
trated the growth of naval aviation from its origin in 1911 to the 
present. In the opinion of many persons who attended, this was the 
most complete historical display of this type ever assembled. The 
organizers acknowledged the important assistance extended by this 
Museum which provided most of the scale models. During this meet- 
ing Mr. Garber lectured on “Glenn Curtiss, Founder of Naval Avia- 
tion,” illustrating his talk with slides, a number of which were rare 
views of the aircraft developed by this famous air pioneer. 
On May 13, the District of Columbia Chapter of the Institute of 
Aeronautical Sciences heard a lecture by the head curator on “The 
History of Aeronautics.” This was a condensation of a four-part 
series delivered by him at monthly meetings of the Institute chapter 
formed of students in aeronautical engineering at the Catholic Uni- 
versity in Washington. 
The association of Air Mail Pioneers, composed of those who op- 
erated the governmental postal aviation system from its beginning in 
1918 until 1927 when the routes were converted into commercial air- 
lines, held the annual meeting of the Eastern Division in Washington, 
October 10-11. The Museum cooperated with preparation of a special 
display of airmail relics, scale models and photographs of airmail 
planes, and related material. A conducted tour of the collections 
and a talk on Max Miller, the first postal aviator in the departmental 
service, were given by Mr. Garber, who was recently president of the 
District of Columbia chapter of this organization. On May 15, 1958, 
this chapter headed the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of 
the first continuously scheduled public service airmail route. The 
head curator assisted with arrangements for a flight over the original 
Washington-to-New York route in an airplane of 1918 piloted by Leon 
Smith, one of the original group of airmail pilots; and with the prep- 
aration of a bronze plaque which was unveiled on the anniversary date 
to mark the field from which the inaugural flight had started. Another 
feature of this airmail anniversary was a ceremony at the National 
Aviation Club when an example of the Air Mail Flyers’ Medal of 
Honor was added to the Museum collections. Authorized by act of 
Congress in 1931, it has been awarded only 10 times, “for distinguished 
service as an airmail pilot.” 
Cooperating with the Armed Forces, Mr. Garber lectured on the 
history of aeronautics to the Non-Commissioned Officers’ School at 
the Air Force Base in Orlando, Fla., and gave talks on various phases 
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