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.

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948 images

A young toddler, Don Hall Jr., crouching in the dirt next to a house foundation, playing with a line of rocks. — Donnie Playing in the Dirt
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., wearing a sweater and a small cap, sitting on a rocky beach and pointing out toward the water. — Donnie on the Rocky Beach
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., wearing a winter coat and hat, smiling as he pushes a giant snowball across a snowy field. — Donnie Pushing a Snowball
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., standing in the yard wearing overalls and a plaid shirt, holding a running garden hose to water the plants. — Donnie Watering the Garden
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., standing in front of a white brick wall and bushes, smiling while gently holding a fluffy white rabbit. — Donnie Holding a White Rabbit
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., sitting in a highchair and looking down at a small birthday cake with a single candle on the tray. — Donnie's Birthday Cake
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 toddler, Don Hall Jr., wearing a light sweater and shorts, sitting in a dark, patterned armchair and looking off-camera. — Donnie Sitting in an Armchair
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 pixelated halftone print of a young, smiling toddler, Don Hall Jr., wearing a light sweater. — Halftone Print of Donnie
A vintage printed artifact from the estate collection. This halftone image is a published reproduction of a family portrait of Donnie, son of Donald A. Hall Sr.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A toddler, Don Hall Jr., walking across a grassy yard in a white outfit, pulling a small toy on a string behind him. — Donnie Walking 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

A toddler, Don Hall Jr., lying on his stomach in the grass next to a white bowl, gently petting a black cat. — Donnie and the Black Cat
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., smiling broadly as he steers a heavy, four-wheeled pedal car down a curved concrete sidewalk. — Donnie Riding an Irish Mail Cart
A classic childhood photograph captured by Donald A. Hall Sr. His son, Donnie, speeds down the sidewalk near their Xenophon Street home in San Diego on a heavy, vintage four-wheeled pedal car, likely a modified Irish Mail cart.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A young toddler, Don Hall Jr., lying in the grass in a bright yard, smiling directly at the camera. — Donnie Smiling 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 massive, brightly lit industrial drafting room featuring rows of large drafting tables, massive arched concrete pillars, and extensive skylights. — Consolidated Aircraft Drafting Room
A stunning archival view of a massive aerospace engineering floor, highly likely to be the Consolidated Aircraft (later Convair) facility in San Diego. Donald A. Hall Sr. served as the Patent Director for the company, overseeing the protection of vital wartime designs.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A portrait of Elisabeth "Betty" Hall smiling warmly, wearing a cloche hat and a fur-trimmed coat, sitting on a rustic stone wall. — Elisabeth "Betty" Hall on her Honeymoon
A deeply personal portrait from the Donald A. Hall Estate Collection. Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed his new bride, Elisabeth "Betty" Walker, sitting on a rustic stone wall during their honeymoon, capturing a beautiful moment of their early life together.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A portrait of Donald A. Hall Sr. smiling broadly, wearing a dark suit, sitting on the same rustic stone wall in a wooded area. — Donald A. Hall Sr. on his Honeymoon
Matching the portrait of his bride, this photograph captures a smiling, relaxed Donald A. Hall Sr. sitting on a stone wall during his honeymoon with Elisabeth "Betty" Walker, providing a rare glimpse into the engineer's joyful personal life.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A portrait of Elisabeth "Betty" Hall standing in a sunny garden, wearing a light-colored dress, a dark coat, and a wide-brimmed hat. — Elisabeth "Betty" Hall in the Garden
Another elegant portrait of Elisabeth "Betty" Walker captured by her husband, Donald A. Hall Sr. The photograph showcases 1920s fashion as Betty poses in a sunny, manicured garden.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A portrait of an unidentified woman with a subtle smile, wearing a leather jacket, riding breeches, and tall boots while sitting on a wooden sled in the snow. — Unidentified Woman on a Sled
The sharp focus and depth of field in this image are characteristic of Donald A. Hall Sr.'s careful approach to personal photography.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A portrait of Elisabeth "Betty" Hall smiling warmly, sitting on a rustic stone bridge spanning a dry creek bed in a wooded area. — Elisabeth "Betty" Hall on a Stone Bridge
These personal portraits humanize the historical record, offering a window into the private life of the famous aeronautical engineer.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A full-length portrait of Elisabeth "Betty" Hall standing in a sunny garden, wearing a light-colored dress and a dark coat, smiling warmly. — Elisabeth "Betty" Hall in the Garden
Donald A. Hall Sr. often experimented with lighting and angles, applying an engineer's precision to his artistic hobbies. This photo was taken on their wedding day.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A close-up portrait of Elisabeth "Betty" Hall laughing brightly while reclining comfortably in a canoe, wrapped in a plaid blanket. — Elisabeth "Betty" Hall in a Canoe
The Donald A. Hall Estate Collection preserves these vital personal connections, balancing his technical achievements with his family life.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A playful portrait of Elisabeth "Betty" Hall smiling broadly, wearing a dark swimsuit and reclining on a blanket in the sand next to an overturned boat. — Elisabeth "Betty" Hall on the Beach
A beautifully composed photograph that highlights both the subject and the natural environment, a recurring theme in Hall's personal work.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A portrait of Elisabeth "Betty" Hall wearing a wide-brimmed hat and swimsuit, sitting on a large rock surrounded by palm trees and rugged terrain. — Elisabeth "Betty" Hall Among the Palms
This series stands as a testament to Donald A. Hall Sr.'s dual legacy as a pioneer of flight and a dedicated family archivist.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A woman sitting on the grass in a sunny yard, gently holding the hands of a young baby seated in a white wicker highchair. — Mother and Baby in the Yard
Donald A. Hall Sr. frequently documented family gatherings, leaving behind a rich visual history of his loved ones.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

A portrait of an Hall Family member of older gentleman wearing a dark suit, tie, and fedora, sitting in a white chair and holding a fluffy white kitten. — Gentleman with a Kitten
Behind every great historical figure is a support system. These family photos reveal the community surrounding Donald A. Hall Sr. This is Betty's father.
Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

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