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Flying Over Timemedia · Donald A. Hall Estate Collection — Page 11 · Rev 6 · 10/11/2026https://flyingovertime.org/media/the-estate/page/11
Aeronautical engineer Donald A. Hall working at his desk
Flying Over Time Collection Donald A. Hall Estate

The Estate

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

The Donald A. Hall Estate Collection contains the definitive, original 1927 engineering blueprints, technical notes, and historical photographic negatives documenting the design and construction of the Spirit of St. Louis (Ryan NYP).

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948 images from the family-held record. Search captions and descriptions, and open any image to view it in full.

948 images

An exterior architectural view looking through a white stucco archway toward a dark wooden door and a tiled patio with potted plants.
Archway of the Judge's Estate (1927)

Hall's drafting precision is evident in how carefully he framed the architectural and landscaping lines of the Judge's property during this 1927 assignment.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An interior view of a large, dark room featuring a massive stained-glass window with a ship motif next to a large stucco fireplace.
Interior Fireplace and Stained Glass Window (1927)

Commissioned to photograph the home in 1927, Hall focused on the structural elegance and craftsmanship of the wealthy San Diego residence.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An interior view of a vintage 1920s kitchen, highlighting a large gas stove, tiled countertops, and sunlight streaming through the windows.
Kitchen of the Judge's Estate (1927)

The architectural photography in this 1927 series highlights a lesser-known professional skillset possessed by the Chief Engineer.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A highly detailed interior shot showing an arched doorway, an ornate wrought-iron balcony, and a sweeping staircase inside the Spanish-style estate.
Interior Balcony and Staircase (1927)

Hall used his deep understanding of geometry and light to capture the best features of the Judge's house for this paid assignment circa 1927.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A vintage open-cab automobile, likely a Model T, buried to its axles in a deep, water-filled mudhole on a rural dirt road.
Automobile Stuck in a Kansas Mudhole (1927)

Before the national highway system existed, cross-country travel was brutal. Hall encountered and documented this infamous, treacherous mudhole, likely in Kansas around 1927.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A wide view looking down a wide, unpaved dirt street lined with flat-roofed adobe buildings and wooden porticos in a sun-baked desert town.
Street Scene in New Mexico (1927)

A rugged travel photograph captured circa 1927, showing the stark, sun-baked architecture of a street in either Mexico or territorial New Mexico.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A distant view of an aircraft flying high above a rugged mountain range covered in fresh snow, captured from the air.
Aircraft Over Snow-Covered Peaks (1927)

A breathtaking, stunning aerial photograph taken by Donald A. Hall Sr., framing an aircraft navigating directly over newly snow-covered peaks in 1927.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A close-up, low-angle view showing the underside of an aircraft wing, focusing on a curved metal handling bar and the structural ribs beneath the fabric.
Underside of the Hall X-1 Wing (1936)

A highly technical engineering shot showing the underpart of the wing on the Hall XPTBH-2 (Hall X-1) prototype, designed by Donald A. Hall Sr. in 1936.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A very lightweight, high-wing experimental aircraft or glider flying low over a grassy airfield, with large hangars in the background.
Experimental Glider Over the Airfield (1927)

A final piece of early aviation history from the Donald A. Hall Estate Collection, preserving the rapid technological leaps of the era, possibly related to the 1927 "Everyman's" lightweight airplane concept.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A lightweight, experimental high-wing aircraft or glider flying low over a dirt airfield, with a rugged mountain range in the background.
Experimental Glider in Flight (Pre-1927)

Prior to the 1927 Spirit of St. Louis, Donald A. Hall Sr. worked at Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, capturing historic aircraft like the Douglas World Cruiser (DWC) biplane in flight and other different pre-1927 designs.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A military biplane kicking up dust on a tarmac as crew members rush toward it, watched by a military officer in uniform.
Military Biplane on the Tarmac (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. documented the massive Douglas World Cruiser (DWC) biplanes on the tarmac in this stunning photo. His structural engineering experience at Douglas Aircraft deeply informed his 1927 work in San Diego.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A seaplane or hydroplane creating a spray of water as it prepares for takeoff on a calm harbor or bay.
Hydroplane Taking Off on Water (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. documented the massive Douglas World Cruiser (DWC) biplanes on the water in this beautiful photo. His photographic composition and engineering experience at Douglas Aircraft deeply informed his 1927 work in San Diego on the Spirit of St. Louis.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A single-engine biplane parked quietly in the middle of a vast, open grassy field.
Biplane Parked in a Field (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. documented the massive Douglas World Cruiser (DWC) biplanes on the tarmac in this striking photo. His structural engineering experience at Douglas Aircraft deeply informed his 1927 work in San Diego.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A whimsical, storybook cottage featuring dramatic, sharply peaked roofs and a rustic fence, with a small child standing in the front yard.
The Witch's House in Southern California (1927)

In 1927, Spirit of St. Louis Chief Engineer Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this whimsical storybook cottage (known as the Witch's House) in Southern California. Using his high-quality Leica screw-on lens, Hall demonstrated a keen artistic eye for architectural composition. This historic image is preserved in the Donald A. Hall Estate Collection.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A bustling Los Angeles city street shaded by a massive palm tree in the foreground, with vintage automobiles, storefronts, and pedestrians.
Bustling Los Angeles Avenue (1927)

This wide shot of a bustling Los Angeles avenue was taken by Donald A. Hall Sr. in 1927. Taking a moment away from his demanding work on the Spirit of St. Louis, Hall used his artistic eye and a high-quality Leica screw-on lens to document the era's rapid urban expansion.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A quiet residential park area in Los Angeles, California, captured by Donald A. Hall Sr. in 1927, featuring green lawns and mature trees.
Quiet Residential Park in Los Angeles (1927)

A quiet residential park area in Los Angeles, California, captured by Donald A. Hall Sr. in 1927. The Spirit of St. Louis Chief Engineer framed the natural landscaping masterfully through his Leica screw-on lens.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An expansive landscape view overlooking the rolling hills, houses, and infrastructure on the outskirts of Los Angeles County.
Outskirts of Los Angeles County (1927)

Documenting the outskirts of Los Angeles County in 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. took this expansive landscape photograph. Known globally as the Chief Engineer of the Spirit of St. Louis, Hall's personal photography using a Leica screw-on lens reveals a deep appreciation for Southern California.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An expansive view of arid Southern California brush and rolling terrain under bright, harsh sunlight.
Arid Desert Brush Excursion (1927)

During a 1927 excursion into the Southern California desert, Spirit of St. Louis Chief Engineer Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this expansive view of the arid brush. Utilizing a high-quality Leica screw-on lens, Hall's artistic eye for exposure beautifully renders the harsh sunlight and deep shadows.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Rocky geological outcroppings casting sharp, dramatic shadows across the Southern California desert floor.
Desert Rocky Outcroppings (1927)

Rocky outcroppings cast sharp, dramatic shadows across the Southern California desert in this 1927 photograph by Donald A. Hall Sr. The Spirit of St. Louis designer used his Leica screw-on lens to meticulously capture the rugged geological textures.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A tall, blooming yucca plant stands prominently on a steep, rugged mountain hillside covered in smaller desert flora and rocky terrain.
Blooming Yucca on the Mountain Side (1927)

Documenting the rugged botanical diversity of Southern California, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this striking study of a blooming yucca plant during his 1927 wilderness expeditions.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A smooth sand dune sweeps up against the base of layered, weathered rock cliffs in an arid desert landscape.
Desert Sand Dune and Rock Cliffs (1927)

A stunning geological study captured by Donald A. Hall Sr. in 1927, showcasing the delicate play of light across desert sand dunes and ancient sedimentary rock formations.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A cluster of large, white bell-shaped desert wildflowers (Jimsonweed/Datura) blooming amidst dry desert brush and sandy soil.
Blooming Desert Wildflowers (1927)

Utilizing his Leica camera's precise focus, Hall documented delicate desert flora like these blooming wildflowers during his 1927 Southern California wilderness travels.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A hidden palm oasis nestled deep within a rocky canyon, featuring towering fan palms, large weathered boulders, and a trickling stream.
Palm Oasis in the Rocky Canyon (1927)

A breathtaking palm canyon oasis captured during Hall's 1927 desert explorations, reflecting his deep appreciation for the hidden water sources of the Southern California wilderness.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A solitary, tall saguaro cactus stands in an open desert scrubland beneath dramatic, cloud-filled skies and distant mountain peaks.
Saguaro Cactus Against Mountain Backdrop (1927)

Venturing into the Sonoran desert landscapes, Donald A. Hall Sr. framed this iconic saguaro cactus against dramatic mountain skies during his 1927 travels.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

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