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Flying Over Timemedia · Donald A. Hall Estate Collection — Page 18 · Rev 6 · 10/11/2026https://flyingovertime.org/media/the-estate/page/18
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

A man wearing round spectacles, a vest, and tie lounging casually on a rocky dry slope with a vintage folding roll-film camera resting on a stone beside him.
Field Companion with Folding Camera on Rocky Slope (1927)

Resting during a rugged backcountry excursion in 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr.'s field companion sits casually on a gravel incline wearing round wire-rim spectacles, vest, and tie. Resting on a rock in the foreground is a vintage folding roll-film camera, documenting the photographic equipment utilized on their outdoor expeditions.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A man and two women in light 1920s summer attire posing together under the twisting limbs of a large Joshua tree in the arid Mojave Desert.
Desert Excursion Group Beneath a Joshua Tree (1927)

Blending his passion for exploration and portraiture, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this trio of travelers framed under the sweeping, spiky limbs of an ancient Joshua tree in the California desert. The subjects wear quintessential late-1920s summer attire, preserving a lighthearted moment of desert recreation.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A joyful, candid photograph of a man in swim trunks and sweatshirt laughing on a sandy beach while a woman playfully holds him from behind.
Candid Beach Merriment on the San Diego Shore (1927)

A spontaneous and joyful candid portrait capturing carefree recreation along the San Diego coastline in 1927. A laughing man in vintage swim attire and sweatshirt strikes a playful pose on the sand alongside a companion, highlighting the relaxed, intimate humor Donald A. Hall Sr. preserved in his private estate negatives.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A full-length outdoor portrait of a young woman in a sleeveless drop-waist 1920s summer dress standing on a rocky mountain ridge dotted with chaparral.
Woman on Rocky Mountain Ridge (1927)

Mastering natural exposure in the intense glare of the California sun, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this full-length 1927 portrait of a companion standing on an arid mountain ridge. The composition frames the subject against receding chaparral-covered slopes, showcasing his control of bright backcountry lighting.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A smiling hiker in a fedora, double-breasted jacket, breeches, and high lace-up boots holding a rustic walking stick on a snowy mountain incline.
Hiker on Snowy Alpine Slope with Walking Stick (1927)

Standing on a steep snow-covered mountain slope in the Sierra Nevada, a companion poses with a rustic walking stick during a 1927 winter expedition. Donald A. Hall Sr. framed the subject in high leather boots and cold-weather attire against towering pines and distant snowy ridges.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A young Elisabeth Betty Hall in a white dress seated at an upright piano with open sheet music and a sculptural bust on a nearby side table.
Elisabeth "Betty" Hall at the Piano (Circa 1927)

Elisabeth "Betty" Hall as a young girl seated before an upright piano with sheet music open. Preserved in the family archives. Betty loved to play the piano.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Alice Hall in a floral summer dress laughing beside a smiling companion in a suit and bow tie seated on a grassy park lawn under shady trees.
Alice Hall and Companion on Park Lawn (Circa 1927)

A candid outdoor portrait capturing Alice Hall sharing a joyful laugh with a companion while seated on the grass in a shaded park. Donald A. Hall Sr. frequently documented family gatherings and friendships, capturing unposed warmth and natural chemistry with his Leica camera.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A close-up portrait of an elegant elderly woman wearing winged cat-eye glasses, a pearl necklace, and a dark pillbox hat with veil netting and a brooch.
Portrait of Elder Family Relative in Pillbox Hat (Circa 1955)

A refined portrait of an elder family relative showcasing mid-century elegance, complete with winged cat-eye spectacles, a double strand of pearls, and a pillbox hat with birdcage veiling. Donald A. Hall Sr. utilized a shallow depth of field to isolate her warm expression against garden foliage in San Diego.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A smiling aviator in an Army Air Service cap and cold-weather flight gear seated on the pontoon spreader bar beneath the massive propeller of a Douglas World Cruiser seaplane.
Douglas World Cruiser Aviator and Propeller (Circa 1924)

Prior to his work on the Spirit of St. Louis, Donald A. Hall Sr. served as an engineer on the historic Douglas World Cruiser project in Santa Monica. This archival photograph captures a smiling pilot seated beneath the aircraft's massive wooden propeller and engine mount while crews service the seaplane floats on a pebble beach.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A shirtless hiker standing at the base of a massive ancient conifer trunk beside weathered animal bones and a skull on the forest floor.
Hiking Companion by Ancient Conifer and Bones (1927)

During a 1927 backcountry trek through California's old-growth forests, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed his hiking companion standing beside a massive conifer trunk near weathered animal bones. The candid scene captures the adventurous spirit and rugged terrain of their Sierra wilderness expeditions.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A man in a wool tweed three-piece suit, flat cap, and shoulder bag standing among heavy snow-laden conifer branches in a winter forest.
Winter Excursion in Snowy Conifer Forest (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. framed this high-contrast winter portrait of a companion bundled in a wool tweed suit and flat cap amidst deep snow in the Sierra Nevada. The exposure cleanly separates the dark texture of the tailored clothing from the brilliant white snow blanketing the pine boughs.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A hiker holding a walking stick standing on an exposed granite cliff ledge overlooking the massive canyon and plunge of Upper Yosemite Fall.
Hiker on Granite Ledge Overlooking Yosemite Falls (1927)

Showcasing his technical command of focal depth and dramatic scale, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this 1927 summit portrait framing his companion on an exposed granite overlook above Upper Yosemite Fall. The sweeping canyon vista highlights the sheer vertical grandeur of the Yosemite backcountry.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A man in work clothes seated profile on a flat granite boulder beside a churning mountain river with foaming white water rapids.
Contemplative Rest Beside Churning Mountain Rapids (1927)

Framed in profile against churning white water, a companion rests on a sunlit granite slab along a Sierra riverbank in 1927. Donald A. Hall Sr. utilized side lighting to define the subject's relaxed posture while preserving dynamic textural detail across the rushing rapids.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A vintage military aviator in flight suit, helmet, and parachute harness standing on an airfield in front of an open-cockpit biplane.
Brooks Field Aviator in Parachute Harness Beside Biplane (Circa 1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. documented this Army Air Corps aviator in full flight gear, including helmet, goggles, and chest parachute harness, standing before a biplane trainer at Brooks Field. The portrait preserves military aviation equipment and flight training history from the 1920s.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A smiling woman seated at the wheel of Donald A. Hall Sr.'s 1925 Studebaker Roadster on a rugged dirt mountain road.
Companion Driving 1925 Studebaker Roadster on Mountain Road (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr.'s personal yellow 1925 Studebaker Roadster navigated rugged backcountry trails across Southern California. This 1927 photograph captures a smiling companion behind the wheel of the open roadster, showcasing the vehicle Hall drove during his tenure designing the Spirit of St. Louis.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A young woman in a plaid dress and straw hat standing behind a woven wicker rocking chair in front of a Craftsman home.
Woman in Plaid Dress with Woven Rocking Chair (Circa 1927)

Posing on a sunlit lawn in front of a Craftsman bungalow, a young woman in a gingham plaid dress and decorative straw hat rests her hands on a rustic bentwood rocking chair. Donald A. Hall Sr. used natural daylight to capture this charming study of 1920s domestic fashion and handcrafted garden furniture.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A young woman in a knitted sweater and white skirt seated on the concrete ledge of a fountain pool in an ivy-covered courtyard.
Young Woman Seated by Courtyard Fountain (Circa 1927)

Resting on the concrete coping of an outdoor fountain pool, a young woman in a textured knit sweater and white skirt pauses with books beside her. Framed against an ivy-draped wall, this 1927 portrait by Donald A. Hall Sr. showcases his sensitive handling of soft courtyard lighting and relaxed natural posing.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A smiling young Army aviator off-duty in 1920s knickerbockers, patterned knit sweater, and necktie holding a cigarette at Brooks Field.
Off-Duty Aviator in Knickerbockers at Brooks Field (Circa 1927)

Captured off-duty at Brooks Field in San Antonio, Texas, the same young aviator seen in earlier flight gear poses in collegiate plus-four knickerbockers, striped socks, and a geometric knit sweater. Donald A. Hall Sr. documented his friend's relaxed demeanor and classic 1920s sporting attire between flight rotations.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Betty Walker's father dressed in a tailored vest, tie, and fedora holding a camera under a shaded garden arbor on a wedding day.
Betty Walker's Father in Wedding Day Attire (Circa 1927)

Identified as the father of Betty Walker, this gentleman stands in a shaded garden arbor holding a vintage camera, dressed for a family wedding in a tailored vest, necktie, and fedora. Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this dignified portrait amidst the family celebrations of the late 1920s.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A distinguished man in a three-piece suit standing beside a luxury coupe in front of a Spanish Colonial home with desert mountains in the background.
Luxury Coupe and Spanish Estate Against Desert Mountains (Circa 1927)

Posed beside a luxury coupe with landau bars and whitewall tires, a distinguished gentleman stands before a Spanish Colonial Revival residence framed by palm trees and towering desert mountain slopes. Donald A. Hall Sr. recorded this elegant Southern California desert scene during travels through the Coachella Valley or Palm Springs area.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A glamorous woman in a backless beaded 1920s evening dress and heels holding a large feather fan on porch steps during a wedding celebration.
Glamour Portrait in Beaded Evening Gown with Feather Fan (Circa 1927)

Capturing the sophistication of 1920s formal wear, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this striking portrait of a woman in a black velvet drop-waist gown accented with intricate beaded embroidery. Glancing over her shoulder with an ostrich feather fan on porch steps, the image preserves high-fashion elegance from a family wedding celebration.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Donald A. Hall Sr.'s sister Alice Hall Smith and a companion in vintage black tank swimsuits smiling arm-in-arm on a wooden dock.
Alice Hall Smith and Companion in Vintage Swimsuits (Circa 1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr.'s sister, Alice Hall (later Alice Hall Smith), radiates joy alongside a companion while posing in classic 1920s black tank-style wool bathing suits on a wooden dock. Hall captured this spontaneous family portrait showing Alice in a fitted swim cap and utility belt during a summer lake or coastal outing.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A young toddler in a white dress pushing a vintage woven wicker baby carriage along a garden walkway.
Toddler Pushing Wicker Pram on Garden Path (Circa 1927)

A tender personal moment from Donald A. Hall Sr.'s private family collection, capturing a toddler in a white embroidered dress pushing a woven wicker toy pram down a garden walkway. The image reflects Hall's attentive photographic eye for domestic life and childhood milestones during his years in San Diego.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A full-length portrait of Harland Hall in a dark overcoat and fedora standing beside a leaning tree near a public park lake with rowboats.
Harland Hall by Park Lake with Rowboats (1927)

Likely taken on the East Coast during his 1927 travels, Donald A. Hall Sr. composed this portrait of Harland Hall leaning against a tree trunk in a public park. The composition achieves sharp focus on the dapper subject while framing distant rowboats dotting the water.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

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