Flying for business after World War II

Joseph Gibson (1900-1966), husband of Ina Mae Pierce (1903-1977), pauses on the boarding stairway of an American Overseas Airlines plane to allow his photo to be taken.

This is a publicity photo by the airline. On the back is stamped "American Overseas Airlines, Public Relations Department, Press Room, LaGuardia Field."

Gibson was one of the first American businessmen to fly to Europe after World War II, thus the reason for the publicity photo. He was a partner in Sweet's Foundry in Johnson City, New York. In a top-secret project, the foundry made casings for the atomic bomb during World War II.

1920s: Hazel Pierce

This photo of Hazel Lee Pierce (1905-1985) was taken in Cleveland, Ohio. Judging by the type of cars and Hazel's clothing, this photo was taken sometime in the 1920s.

Hazel's clothing shows that even the daughter of an Alabama farmer could keep up with the fashions of the times. Note the riverboat (or perhaps more correctly, a lakeboat) in the background. Perhaps Hazel was preparing to go on a riverboat trip.