Spirit100
Menu
Join the Spirit100 Crew:Join the Spirit Crew:
Flying Over Timemedia · Donald A. Hall Estate Collection — Page 6 · Rev 6 · 10/11/2026https://flyingovertime.org/media/the-estate/page/6
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).

Back to MediaCommercial Licensing

Explore the Estate Collection

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

948 images

A high-angle view looking out over a bustling harbor filled with sailboats, rowboats, and small ferries, with a large, ornate building on the far shore.
Catalina Island Harbor (1927)

Documenting his travels through 1920s California, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this sweeping view of the bustling harbor at Catalina Island. The photograph provides a historic look at the coastal development and recreational boating culture of the era.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A wide view looking across the water at a hillside town with houses built into the slopes and a large, multi-story hotel situated on a pier over the water.
Catalina Island Resort Town (1927)

This 1927 landscape photograph from the Donald A. Hall Estate Collection showcases the coastal resort town on Catalina Island. The image captures the dense housing built into the hillsides and the prominent waterfront architecture that defined the island getaway.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A high-altitude, hazy aerial view looking down a steep, scrub-covered hillside toward a coastal resort and a long pier jutting into a calm bay.
Aerial View of Catalina Coast (1927)

Continuing his spectacular landscape documentation, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this high-elevation view of Catalina Island. The photograph looks down a steep hillside toward a coastal resort and a long pier extending into the hazy Pacific Ocean.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A calm, hazy view looking across the water toward a rugged, rocky coastline, with a prominent pier structure built out over the water.
Catalina's Rugged Coastline (1927)

This serene 1927 photograph highlights the natural beauty of Catalina Island's rugged coastline. Donald A. Hall Sr. framed the rocky shores against the calm ocean water, capturing the tranquil atmosphere of the island retreat.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An action shot of a man executing a dive from a high, wooden diving tower into a body of water, with trees visible on the far shore.
Diving from the Wooden Tower (1927)

Demonstrating his excellent photographic timing, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this action shot of a man diving from a tall wooden tower. The photograph is part of a series documenting outdoor recreation and athletic pursuits during the 1920s.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A man diving headfirst into a lake from the edge of a small wooden rowboat, while another man sits in the boat watching.
Diving from a Rowboat (1927)

A dynamic, candid photograph of 1920s summer recreation. Donald A. Hall Sr. captured a man mid-dive, launching himself from the edge of a small rowboat into a calm lake while his companion looks on.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A swimmer diving into a lake from a rowboat, while another swimmer waves from the water and a third man watches from the boat.
Lake Swimming and Diving (1927)

This candid 1927 photograph captures a group of men enjoying a swim in a wooded lake. Donald A. Hall Sr. perfectly timed the shot as one man dives from the rowboat while another waves from the water, highlighting the era's adventurous spirit.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An incredible action photograph of a man executing a perfect swan dive off a high pole structure, with two men watching from the ground near a small building.
High Pole Swan Dive (1927)

A spectacular display of athleticism and photographic skill. Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this action shot of an athlete executing a flawless swan dive from a high pole structure, freezing the diver in mid-air against a cloudy sky.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An action shot of a man mid-dive off a wooden springboard into a community swimming pool, with brick buildings and a wooden tower in the background.
Diving into the Community Pool (1927)

Documenting local recreation, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this diver launching off a wooden springboard into a community pool. The image provides a historic glimpse into 1920s public athletic facilities and swimming attire.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A man diving headfirst from a wooden rowboat into a calm, tree-lined lake, while two other men sit in the boat holding the oars.
Diving into the Lake (1927)

Another excellent, perfectly timed action photograph from Donald A. Hall Sr.'s diving series. A man plunges headfirst into a calm, tree-lined lake from a rowboat, perfectly capturing the carefree energy of summer recreation in the 1920s.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An action shot of a flight cadet executing a mid-air backflip into a swimming pool, while a group of fellow cadets watches from the deck, with barracks and rail tank cars in the background.
Cadet Backflip at Brooks Field Pool (1927)

A brilliant, perfectly timed action photograph by Donald A. Hall Sr. capturing a flight cadet mid-backflip. The distinctive military barracks and rail tanker cars in the background identify this as the base swimming pool at Brooks Field, Texas, where the cadets relaxed between grueling training sessions.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A close-up action photograph of a man frozen upside down in mid-air as he executes a diving flip, with Brooks Field military barracks in the background.
Upside-Down Dive at Brooks Field (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr.'s exceptional photographic timing is on full display in this dynamic shot of a diver frozen upside down mid-flip. The long wooden barracks of Brooks Field are clearly visible behind the pool, documenting the recreational life of the 1920s Army Air Corps.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A high-contrast photograph of a man in a swimsuit executing a swan dive, frozen in mid-air against a bright, cloudy sky.
Mid-Air Swan Dive (1927)

An artistic and athletic action shot captured during Donald A. Hall Sr.'s time at Brooks Field. By utilizing a low angle, Hall isolated the diver against the cloudy Texas sky, freezing the intense athletic motion in a single, striking frame.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A diver arched backward in mid-air, about to enter the swimming pool, with a tractor and the long Brooks Field barracks visible in the background.
Backward Dive at the Base Pool (1927)

Another excellent piece of recreational documentation from Brooks Field, Texas. Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed a fellow cadet mid-dive at the base pool, capturing both the athleticism of the subject and the sprawling military infrastructure in the background.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A group of six flight cadets diving simultaneously off the edge of the Brooks Field swimming pool, with fuel tanker cars parked on tracks behind them.
Cadets Group Dive (1927)

A fantastic, candid snapshot of Army Air Corps camaraderie. Donald A. Hall Sr. captured a coordinated group dive at the Brooks Field base pool, with the splash of the water and the background industrial tanker cars highlighting the unique military environment.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A diver executing a flawless swan dive off a wooden springboard, suspended high above the Brooks Field swimming pool.
Springboard Swan Dive (1927)

A beautifully composed action photograph from the Brooks Field swimming pool. Donald A. Hall Sr. caught the diver at the absolute peak of a springboard swan dive, perfectly aligned with the wooden barracks and utility poles of the Texas military base.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A diver fully extended in a shallow, head-first dive just inches above the water's surface, with a wooden bathhouse in the background.
Shallow Dive into the Pool (1927)

Capturing the speed and trajectory of a shallow dive, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this cadet just milliseconds before breaking the water's surface at the Brooks Field pool. A simple wooden bathhouse structure stands in the background.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A high-angle photograph looking down through the surface of the water at a man gliding just beneath the surface.
Gliding Underwater (1927)

Experimenting with light and water distortion, Donald A. Hall Sr. took this photograph looking down at a swimmer gliding just beneath the surface of the pool. It offers a quiet, artistic contrast to the high-energy diving action shots of the era.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An action shot of a diver leaping high off a wooden springboard, arms outstretched, with the Brooks Field barracks in the background.
Leaping from the Springboard (1927)

This dynamic 1920s photograph captures a cadet launching high off the springboard at the Brooks Field swimming pool. Donald A. Hall Sr. consistently utilized the base's long wooden barracks as a backdrop to anchor his recreational photography in its military context.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A candid photograph of a young toddler boy in a diaper playfully drinking water directly from a running garden hose in a grassy yard.
Don Hall Jr. Drinking from a Hose

A deeply personal family photograph capturing Donald A. Hall Sr.'s son, Don Hall Jr. (affectionately known as "Donnie"), as a young toddler. Playing in the yard in San Diego, Donnie playfully drinks from a running garden hose in this charming, timeless childhood snapshot.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A young boy, Don Hall Jr., lying on his stomach in the grass, resting his head in his hands while looking down at an open book.
Don Hall Jr. Reading in the Grass

Donald A. Hall Sr. documented his family with the same precision he applied to engineering. This portrait of Donnie captures a quiet domestic moment.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A close-up of a person's open palm resting on the grass, gently holding a small horned toad lizard.
Holding a Horned Toad

Family portrait of Donnie, son of Donald A. Hall Sr. Donald A. Hall Sr. used a vintage Leica camera with a screw-on lens for personal photography.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A young boy, Don Hall Jr., sitting quietly in the grass in a plaid shirt and overalls, looking off to the right in profile.
Don Hall Jr. Sitting in the Grass

Family portrait of Donnie, son of Donald A. Hall Sr. Donald A. Hall Sr. used a vintage Leica camera with a screw-on lens for personal photography.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A toddler, Don Hall Jr., standing on a lawn wearing a white sweater and shorts, smiling brightly at the camera.
Donnie Smiling in the Yard

Family portrait of Donnie, son of Donald A. Hall Sr. Donald A. Hall Sr. used a vintage Leica camera with a screw-on lens for personal photography.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

Research, permissions, and image requests

Contact the collection for credits, rights information, and permission to reproduce images.

Make an image inquiry