OCLWHi3088 Finding aid for the Gladys Cockburn-Lange Photographs Finding aid prepared by Margaret Burzynski-Bays Western Reserve Historical Society
10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
2014 Finding aid encoded by Margaret Burzynski-Bays using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2013 Finding aid written in English Finding aid prepared using the Western Reserve Historical Society processing manual Overview of the Collection Western Reserve Historical Society Cockburn-Lange, Gladys Gladys Cockburn-Lange Photographs 0.10 linear feet (1 container) The Gladys Cockburn-Lange photographs were first made public in 1932 by Mrs. Gladys Cockburn-Lange, the widow of a World War I British pilot. Since their publication, the authenticity of the photographs has been the subject of debate amongst historians, photographic experts, and World War I pilots. The collection consists of images of World War I aerial combat. This collection consists of published reproductions of 9 of the over 40 original Cockburn-Lange images. PG 452 The records are in English closed stacks1914-1918 History of the Gladys Cockburn-Lange Photographs

The Gladys Cockburn-Lange Photographs were first made public in 1932, by Mrs. Gladys Cockburn-Lange, the widow of a World War I British flier. Ever since their release, historians, photographic experts, and World War I pilots have argued over their authenticity. Mrs. Cockburn-Lange refused to identify the photographer. However, she produced a diary allegedly written by the photographer, describing how the photographs were taken. Critics have maintained that the images are too sharply focused to have been shot, as the diary claimed, by a camera mounted on a twisting, vibrating aircraft. Others point out that the contemporary cameras lacked the depth of field to capture clearly the multi-ship images that are in the collection.

Scope and Content

The Gladys Cockburn-Lange Photographs, ca. 1914-1918, consist of images of World War I aerial combat. This collection consists of published reproductions of 9 of the over 40 original Cockburn-Lange images. The collection includes 9 black and white photographs of varying sizes.

Statement of Arrangement

The collection is maintained in one folder.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 452 Gladys Cockburn-Lange Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Tavern Club in 1984.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:Cockburn-Lange, Gladys collector -- Photograph collections.World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations -- Photographs.Airplanes -- Photographs.Airplanes, Military -- Photographs.