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Flying Over Timemedia · Donald A. Hall Estate Collection — Page 25 · Rev 6 · 10/11/2026https://flyingovertime.org/media/the-estate/page/25
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

Donald A. Hall Sr. wearing dark sunglasses and pretending to drive a broken, hollowed-out car shell in the desert alongside two women.
Silly Desert Car Ride (1927)

Showcasing his great sense of humor, Donald A. Hall Sr. wears dark sunglasses while pretending to drive a broken, stripped-down car shell in the desert in this hilarious 1927 staged photograph.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Donald A. Hall Sr. driving a vintage car on a desert dirt road past a large saguaro cactus and rocky hills.
Road Trip Past the Saguaro (1927)

Documenting his road trip from Texas back to Santa Monica, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this 1927 photograph driving his vintage car past a massive saguaro cactus. The rocky desert terrain strongly resembles the landscape around Phoenix, Arizona.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A family portrait of four people standing on a porch: Donald Hall, Alice Hall Smith, Harland Hall, and Louis Hall.
Hall Family Portrait (1927)

A beautifully preserved 1927 family portrait showing Donald A. Hall Sr. alongside Alice Hall Smith, Harland Hall, and Louis Hall. This archival image stands as a testament to the strong family bonds that supported his historic engineering career.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Four people humorously peering over the top of an overturned dark canoe on a sandy beach.
Peering Over the Canoe (1927)

Another silly, lighthearted 1927 photograph from the beach. Donald A. Hall Sr. and his companions humorously peer over the top edge of an overturned canoe, perfectly capturing the joy of their coastal excursions.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Two men in flight gear standing in front of an Army trainer biplane featuring a large insect emblem at Brooks Field.
Trainer Aircraft at Brooks Field (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this foundational 1927 archival image at Brooks Field in Texas. The photograph shows pilots standing proudly in front of a military trainer aircraft, marking Hall's critical early experiences in aeronautical training.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A group of hikers resting among large rocks next to a tall stone cairn at a mountain summit.
Resting at the Mountain Cairn (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. frequently hiked the rugged California mountains with groups of friends. This 1927 photograph documents the expedition party resting near a large stone cairn marking a high-altitude summit or pass.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Two men in tank tops posing in front of a rustic palm-frond hut in a rocky desert landscape.
Companions at the Desert Hut (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. and a companion pose in front of a rustic, woven palm-frond hut in this 1927 photograph. The arid, rocky landscape highlights the remote locations they explored during their California and regional desert excursions.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Donald A. Hall Sr. and a female companion sitting together on a rock beneath pine trees.
Resting Beneath the Pines (1927)

Sitting comfortably on a rock beneath the shade of pine trees, Donald A. Hall Sr. and his companion smile for this 1927 wilderness portrait. The image provides a warm, intimate look at his personal life away from the drafting board.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Donald A. Hall Sr. standing in a vast, barren desert landscape holding a rifle.
Desert Hunting Expedition (1927)

Standing alone in a vast, barren expanse, Donald A. Hall Sr. holds a rifle in this stark 1927 desert portrait. The photograph underscores his rugged outdoor survival skills and his love for the untamed American West. Hall was an excellent shot.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Five men sitting together on the running board of a vintage convertible automobile parked against a sheer rock wall.
Group Portrait at the Rock Wall (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr., seated in the center wearing tall lace-up boots, joins four companions on the running board of a vintage convertible. This brilliantly composed 1927 timed self-portrait stages the group perfectly against a massive sheer rock wall.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Donald A. Hall Sr. and another man standing on a rooftop, both wearing dapper suits and hats.
Dapper Rooftop Portrait (1927)

Dressed impeccably in tailored suits and hats, Donald A. Hall Sr. and a companion pose for this 1927 portrait, likely taken on a coastal rooftop. The image captures the sophisticated, professional side of the famous aeronautical engineer.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Donald A. Hall Sr. and two friends sitting on the beach sand next to a dark canoe.
Relaxing by the Canoe (1927)

Enjoying a bright day on the California coast, Donald A. Hall Sr. and two companions relax on the sand beside their canoe. This 1927 timed self-portrait beautifully documents their aquatic adventures and close friendships.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Two men sitting on a grassy coastal bluff looking out over the bay toward a distant cityscape.
Overlooking the Bay (1927)

Sitting peacefully on a grassy coastal bluff, Donald A. Hall Sr. and a friend look out over the bay. This 1927 photograph captures a quiet moment of reflection, with a distant Southern California cityscape visible on the horizon.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Two men and two women sitting inside a canoe that is resting entirely on dry beach sand, holding paddles.
Dry Land Canoeing (1927)

In another display of his great sense of humor, Donald A. Hall Sr. orchestrated this 1927 timed self-portrait of his group "paddling" a canoe resting completely on dry sand. The staged photograph is a delightful artifact of his playful personality.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A grainy halftone print showing a man and a woman sitting in a canoe holding paddles.
Halftone Canoe Print (1927)

Preserved within the historic 1927 archives, this grainy halftone print shows a couple paddling a canoe. Such printed artifacts highlight the public or published documentation of Hall's recreational life during his era of fame.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Five men sitting on a vintage convertible parked against a sheer rock wall in an alternate exposure of a timed photograph.
Group Portrait at the Rock Wall, Alternate (1927)

This 1927 image is a fascinating alternate exposure of a timed self-portrait taken by Donald A. Hall Sr. It features the Chief Engineer and four friends sitting on a vintage automobile parked against a dramatic rock outcropping during a desert expedition.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A rare Torrey pine tree (Pinus torreyana) in the foreground framing a dark, sheer coastal mesa in the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
Torrey Pines Reserve and Dark Mesa (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this stark, beautiful landscape within the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in San Diego. The 1927 photograph features the silhouetted needles of a rare Pinus torreyana framing the iconic, dark sheer mesas that define this unique coastal topography.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A view down a rugged, brush-filled canyon in Torrey Pines toward a dark, sheer cliff and the Pacific Ocean horizon.
Torrey Pines Canyon to the Sea (1927)

This 1927 photograph documents the rugged, deeply eroded topography of the Torrey Pines reserve in Southern California. Hall framed the shot looking down a sweeping, brush-filled sandstone canyon leading toward a dark coastal mesa and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean beyond.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A sweeping view from a grassy coastal bluff dotted with rare Torrey pine trees, looking out over the endless Pacific Ocean.
Torrey Pines Coastal Bluffs (1927)

The tranquil beauty of the San Diego coast is preserved in this 1927 landscape by Donald A. Hall Sr. The image looks out past the critically endangered coastal pines over a scrub-covered bluff at Torrey Pines, sweeping toward the endless Pacific horizon.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A winding dirt road lined with a white wooden guardrail carved into the steep sandstone bluffs of Torrey Pines, overlooking the coast.
Torrey Pines Park Road Grade (1927)

Documenting historic early 20th-century coastal infrastructure in San Diego, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this winding dirt road secured by a white wooden fence along the steep sandstone bluffs of Torrey Pines in 1927. This provides a rare look at the original coastal highway grades before modern paving.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A steam locomotive approaching on railway tracks adjacent to a row of parked passenger train cars.
Steam Locomotive on the Tracks (1927)

In an era defined by rapid mechanical progress, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this approaching steam locomotive in 1927. The juxtaposition of the powerful train against the flat landscape highlights the vital transportation networks of the period.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A steam train in the distance passing between large cylindrical water towers and a massive wooden industrial loading trestle.
Railway Loading Trestle (1927)

This 1927 photograph captures the heavy industrial infrastructure that fascinated Donald A. Hall Sr. The image features a massive wooden railway loading trestle and towering water silos framing an approaching steam train.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A young buck with small antlers standing on a rocky, dirt slope.
Young Buck in the Wilderness (1927)

Taking a quiet moment to observe local wildlife, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this young buck navigating a rocky slope. This 1927 image beautifully complements his extensive catalog of rugged wilderness landscapes.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A high-altitude aerial view looking down at a large river delta surrounded by snow-covered agricultural fields.
Aerial View of the Snowy River Delta (1927)

Returning to the skies, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this sweeping 1927 aerial photograph of a vast river delta. The surrounding agricultural fields are blanketed in snow, creating a striking visual contrast from high altitude.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

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