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Flora Gardens, Wyndham Road, Camberwell...Mrs. Graham...

 Digital Record
Identifier: VBI_000177

Dates

  • Creation: 1852

Conditions Governing Use

Access to the Theodore Newton Vail Collection of Aeronautical Images, Broadsides and Clippings is not authorization to publish. Separate written application for permission to publish must be made to the Institute Archives. Copyright of some items in this collection may be held by respective creators, not by the donor of the collection.

Biographical / Historical

Margaret Graham (b. 1804), and George Graham, known as "Mr. and Mrs. Graham," were active balloonists in England from 1823-c. 1853. Mrs. Graham was the more active aeronaut and made her first balloon ascent in the company of her husband, on June 2, 1824. In July 1836, she ascended for the first time with another woman, marking the first recorded ascent by women alone. The Grahams’ ballooning careers were marked by difficult ascensions and accidents, involving both their solo flights and those made with together. Mrs. Graham’s last recorded balloon ascension was made on August 19, 1853 from the Rotunda Gardens in Dublin.

Language of Materials

English

Existence and Location of Originals

Box 7

Physical Description

Broadside

Dimensions

17.6 x 10.8 cm

General Note

Broadside advertising an event featuring an ascent by Mrs. Graham [Margaret] in the Victoria and Albert Balloon, using a steering apparatus invented by George Graham. Other entertainments announced are a vocal and instrumental concert, brass and string band, dancing and fireworks. To be held at the Flora Gardens in Camberwell on August 24, 1852.

Sources used for Biographical/Historical note

Hodgson, J.E., History of Aeronautics in Great Britain (Oxford University Press, London, 1924), 226-228.

Turnor, Hatton, Astra Castra; experiments and adventures in the atmosphere (London, Chapman and Hall, 1865),136, 220.

Wroth, Warwick, Cremorne and the later London gardens (London, Stock, 1907), 46, 50, 87.

Repository Details

Part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Libraries. Department of Distinctive Collections Repository

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