Pan Am Historical Foundation Donates 60-Year Film Archive to SFO Museum for Preservation

(IN SHORT) The Pan Am Historical Foundation has announced a generous donation of its extensive film archive, which spans over 60 years of aviation history, to SFO Museum. The corporate film library, collected by Pan American World Airways from its inception in 1927 until its closure in 1991, comprises more than 700 titles and hundreds of hours of footage. Edward S. Trippe, Chairman of the Pan Am Historical Foundation, shared this news at a gala dinner hosted by the San Francisco Aeronautical Society, along with a $100,000 donation to support the preservation efforts. The SFAS also committed to raising an additional $100,000 to match the foundation’s contribution. The film collection contains valuable historical records, promotional materials, and home movies, offering insights into the aviation industry’s evolution.

(PRESS RELEASE) SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 2023-7-Nov — /Travel PR News/ — The Pan Am Historical Foundation has announced plans to donate its entire film archive to SFO Museum for preservation. This corporate film library, amassed by Pan American World Airways from its founding in 1927 through its dissolution in 1991, contains over 700 titles and hundreds of hours of footage spanning a period of more than 60 years.

The donation was announced last night by Edward S. Trippe, Chairman of the Pan Am Historical Foundation and son of Pan Am founder Juan T. Trippe, at a gala dinner hosted by the San Francisco Aeronautical Society (SFAS), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the knowledge and appreciation of aviation history. Edward S. Trippe co-founded the Pan Am Historical Foundation in 1990 and served as its first president. Along with the collection, Trippe also announced a $100,000 donation from the Pan Am Historical Foundation toward funding the preservation effort. SFAS President John L. Martin also announced a commitment to raise another $100,000 donation to match the donation of the Pan Am Historical Foundation.

“We are excited to partner with the San Francisco Aeronautical Society and SFO Museum to ensure the preservation of this collection of Pan Am films,” said Chairman of the Pan Am Historical Foundation Ed Trippe. “The SFO Museum has demonstrated its commitment to making the rich history of aviation accessible and enjoyable for all, and we are excited to share the story of Pan Am as told through this extensive collection of film.”

“The Pan Am film collection is a veritable treasure trove of aviation history,” said SFAS President and retired Airport Director John L. Martin. “Pan Am paved the way for air travel as we know it today, and this film collection tells their story of courage, innovation, and leadership. We are grateful for this generous donation and look forward to making this content available for the public to enjoy.”

From its launch in 1927, Pan Am made use of the burgeoning field of film to promote its aircraft, destinations, and facilities and services. Many of these were shown as short features in movie theaters. Over the years, Pan Am productions would also include training and technical films and television advertisements, and the collection even includes home movies from Pan Am employees and passengers.

About SFO Museum
Established in 1980 by the Airport Commission, SFO Museum’s mission is to delight, engage, and inspire a global audience with programming on a broad range of subjects; to collect, preserve, interpret, and share the history of commercial aviation; and to enrich the public experience at San Francisco International Airport. The Museum has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1999 and retains the distinction of being the only accredited museum in an airport.

Today, SFO Museum operates more than twenty-five sites throughout the Airport terminals, including fourteen galleries that exhibit a rotating schedule of art, history, photography, science, and cultural exhibitions. Among the sites is the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, which houses a permanent collection of more than 160,000 objects related to the history of commercial aviation. To browse current and past exhibitions, research our collection, or for more information, please visit sfomuseum.org. Follow us on facebook.com/sfomuseum, twitter.com/sfomuseum, or instagram.com/sfomuseum.

About San Francisco Aeronautical Society
Established in 1997, the San Francisco Aeronautical Society is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum by advancing the knowledge and appreciation of aviation history. The Society does this by raising funds for acquisitions that are donated to the collection, and through programs such as educational lectures and seminars.

About San Francisco International Airport
SFO is excited to welcome travelers back to the skies with an airport experience featuring seamless access, thoughtful amenities, sustainable design and inspiring artwork and exhibits.

For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com. Follow us on twitter.com/flysfo and facebook.com/flysfo.

Media Contact:

Doug Yakel
Public Information Officer
External Affairs Office
San Francisco International Airport
650.821.4000
Doug.Yakel@flysfo.com

Source: San Francisco International Airport

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