governorsisland

That is aviator James J. "Jimmie" Ward (born in Denmark as Jens P. Wilson, b. 1886 - d. December 3, 1923) taking off from Governors Island in his Curtiss Pusher biplane (a Curtiss Model D named the "Hearst Pathfinder") on September 13, 1911, as he started his attempt to win the William Randolph Hearst Prize. Otherwise known as the "Hearst Transcontinental Prize" or "Hearst Prize", $50,000 was offered by William Randolph Hearst in October 1910 to the first aviator to complete a transcontinental flight across the United States in less than 30 days, no later than October 11, 1911. Jimmie Ward would withdraw from the race nine days later after his aircraft's engine failed, causing it to crash land just west of Addison, New York, suffering damage beyond repair. Cal Rodgers in his Wright Model EX "Vin Fiz" would also compete for the prize, becoming the first person to complete a transcontinental flight across the United States. However, Rodgers would fail to win the Hearst Prize because his journey lasted 49 days (September 13-November 5, 1911)

Thanks so much for the information TVL 1970. We'll fill in the title information the next time we update the record.

Ward with Frederick Dent Grant, resident General of Governor's Island: Ward on Governor's Island, prior to takeoff:

Possibly Captain H. J. McKenney, recruiting officer in Baltimore, see The Washington times., June 27, 1917, Image 5, col. 3 chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1917-06-27/ed-...

New York Times of May 2, 1917 reports that incoming General Bell appointed Capt. R.B. McKinney to staff duties at his headquarters. New York Tribune of same date reports that Capt. Richard I. McKenney will be assistant chief of staff under Bell. chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1917-05-02/ed-... The similarities in the room photographed here with those in the adjoining photos of Gen. Bell's new staff appointments at Army of the East headquarters leads me to believe this is R.I. McKinney. query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C07E2D6153AE4...

Richard I. McKenney, b. 1880 (Minnesota), died 1936. His grave at Arlington National Cemetery gives his final rank as Colonel. www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=mckenn...; books.google.com/books?id=INscAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA668&l...

Thanks for the sleuthing B-59 and Art Siegel. I think Art's found the right man. We'll add his name to the catalog record.

His wikipedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Leonard_Wood His wife, Louise Adriana Wood (1869-1943), was also quite active politically. Here's their tombstone at Arlington: www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=904345... They had two children, Osborn Cutler Wood (1897-1950), and Louise Barbara Wood (1900-1960).

They appear on a page of photos of the 1915 Governors Island Garden Party in the New-York tribune., June 06, 1915, [Page 3, Image 49] chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1915-06-06/ed-... Mrs. Wood is in same outfit, so this is presumably another in the batch from this event.

Similar picture in NYT pictorial section of June 6, 1915, page 8 memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/np_item.pl?collection=sgproto&... or memory.loc.gov/service/sgp/sgpnyt/1915/191506/19150606/00...

swanq: Thanks. We will include some of your information in our next update.