Title: Harry A. Bruno Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1919-1969

Creator:

• Bruno, Harry A., 1893-1978

Call Number: U.S. Mss 53AF; Disc 41A; Disc 42A; Disc 43A; Disc 97A; Audio 654A; Audio 323A; Audio 478A

Quantity: 9.4 c.f. (9 archives boxes, 4 flat boxes, 10 volumes, and 1 package), 22 disc recordings, and 3 tape recordings

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of Harry A. Bruno, a public relations counsel and aviation pioneer. The bulk of the collection is publicity material prepared by H.A. Bruno and Associates Inc., and other Bruno firms for clients such as Defense Special Trains, 1941; the Hindenburg's maiden flight, 1936; National Biscuit Company, 1934-1935; Standard Oil of New Jersey, 1936; and a host of aviation events. Included are outlines, press releases, photographs, publicity samples, and clippings. The correspondence deals with business matters, but also includes letters about his book Wings Over America (1942) and the New York Lotos Club. Prominent correspondents include Bernard Baruch, Thomas E. Dewey, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Herbert Hoover, J. Edgar Hoover, Charles A. Lindbergh, Douglas MacArthur, Frank E. Mason, Richard M. Nixon, Francis Cardinal Spellman, Harry S. Truman, Nathan Twining, Orville Wright, and many others. Also present are complete drafts, research material, publicity, and printed matter relating to Wings; articles both by and about Bruno; reviews of a biography by Princine Calitri; photographs; memorabilia; and “Reminiscences of Fifty Years in Aviation,” an oral history interview transcript. The recordings which accompany the collection primarily concern Lindbergh, the Hindenburg disaster, and other topics related to aviation.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0053af

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Harry Bruno, public relations counsel, was born in London, England, on February 7, 1893, the son of Henry A. and Annie (Thompson) Bruno. While still in England, he attended Acton County School and Portland College in London. After he came to the United States in 1907, he attended high school in Montclair, New Jersey.

Bruno worked as advertising manager of the Montclair Herald, 1914-1915, and for the American Press in New York, 1916-1917. He was local sales manager for the New York City Car Advertising Company in 1919. There followed positions in the publicity department of Manufacturers Aircraft Association, 1920; and as sales and advertising manager for Aeromarine Airways, 1921-1922. Bruno served as vice-president of the latter organization in 1923.

With Richard Blythe, Bruno organized H.A. Bruno, R.R. Blythe, and Associates in 1923. He was a partner in this firm until 1934. From 1934 to 1953, he served as president of H.A. Bruno and Associates, and from 1953, he served as president of H.A. Bruno and Associates Inc.

In addition, Bruno was assistant to the head of the division of contract distribution of the Office of Price Mobilization and director of “Defense Specials” for the War Production Board, Washington, 1941-1942. He was also chairman of the War Production Board, Washington, 1941-1942; and chairman of the Public Relations Advisory Committee to the U.S. Air Force, 1949-1954.

Bruno, during his career as a public relations counsel, served as personal representative for Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Charles A. Lindbergh, Wiley Post, Harold Gatty, Dr. Hugo Eckener, Lincoln Ellsworth, and Jacquelin Cochran.

Interested in aviation since his early youth, he pursued the interest as a hobby as well as professionally. He was governor of the Flight Safety Foundation, and served with the Royal Flying Corps of Canada in 1917. In 1921, he received the Glidden Trophy of the New York Aero Club; in 1930, the diploma d'honneur of the Ligue Internationale des Aviateurs; in 1950, the McGough Memorial Award of Air Service Post 501 of the American Legion; in 1951, the Cross of Lorraine (France); in 1951, the General William Mitchell Medal of the Aviation Writers Association; and in 1953, the Exceptional Service Award of the U.S. Air Force.

Bruno was a founder and a member of the Aeroplane Owners and Pilots Association. He was also a member of the American Ordnance Association, the Navy League, the Silurians, the American Legion, the Quiet Birdmen, and the Early Birds. His clubs included: Wings (he was a founder), the New York Athletic, the Military Naval, the Lotos (president, 1951-1962, later Honorary President), the Sales Executives (he was a founder), the Rockefeller Center Luncheon, the National Press Club, the Gypsy Trail, the Aero (Washington), the Adventurers, (New York City, president, 1948), the Overseas Press Club, the Broadcast Pioneers, and the Air Force Association.

Bruno wrote the book, Wings Over America, 1942. He also contributed many articles to magazines.

The Harry Bruno Papers have been organized and described in two groups. The first group consists of the papers organized in 1964; these date 1923-1963 and comprise Box 1-6, Volume 1-10, Package 6, 9 disc recordings, and 1 tape recording. The second group consists of additions organized in 1969 which date 1919-1969 and comprise Box 7-9 and 13 additional disc and 2 additional tape recordings. Each group is described and listed separately in the contents list.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Harry Bruno, New York, New York, 1963-1969.

Processing Information

Revised by Janice O'Connell, February 22, 1964; additions processed in 1969.

	Series: Part 1, Original Collection, 1923-1963 Scope and Content Note The correspondence in this part of the Bruno Papers consists of three main groups: the largest is made up of letters Bruno received while president of the New York Lotos Club; another group of letters is made up of tributes to Harry Bruno's book, Wings Over America; and the third main group is early letters, mostly copies, concerning ways to obtain publicity for Bruno's clients. Scrapbook Number 10 also contains letters, all of them from clients. Bruno has had many famous correspondents. Among them are: Bernard Baruch Omar Bradley Thomas E. Dewey J. H. (“Jimmy”) Doolittle Dwight D. Eisenhower Jim Farley Herbert Hoover J. Edgar Hoover Robert Jackson David Lawrence Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Douglas MacArthur Frank E. Mason Chester Nimitz Richard Nixon Prince Rainier (Grimaldi) Carlos Romulo Francis Cardinal Spellman Lowell Thomas Vernon Thomson Harry Truman Nathan Twining Earl Warren Orville Wright Letters from Robert Anderson, Warren R. Austin, Herbert Brownell, Arleigh Burke, Jacqueline Cochran, Kent Cooper, Lincoln Ellsworth, James Hagerty, Herbert Lehman, Curtis LeMay, Lyman Lemnitzer, Louis P. Lochner, Henry R. Luce, Arthur Radford, Helen Rogers Reid, John D. Rockefeller, 2nd, Nelson Rockefeller, Lewis Strauss, Gloria Swanson, Stuart Symington, Maxwell Taylor, Robert Wagner, Jonathan Wainwright, Charles E. Wilson, and Walter Winchell also appear. Bruno's writings are represented in the collection primarily by materials relating to his book, Wings Over America. There is a complete manuscript copy, fragments of manuscript, research and background information, photographs with a picture list, a synopsis by Bruno, a printed publicity flyer, a script from Walter Winchell's program on which Bruno appeared in connection with the book, and a published copy of the book (first edition). There is also a copy of Reminiscences of Fifty Years in Aviation, Bruno's contribution to the Oral History Office of Columbia University. Bruno's articles are represented by a small folder of printed items taken, for the most part, from aviation magazines. Publicity materials prepared by Bruno and his firm make up the bulk of the Bruno Papers. Primary source materials include outlines of publicity campaigns put on by Bruno's firm for Skywriting, 1923; the National Aircraft Show, Cleveland, Ohio, 1926; the International Air Races, 1925; the Curtiss Flying Service, 1928; Bendix Home Appliances, 1938; the New York Publicity Association; the Aviation Corporation, and the Second Annual Ford Air Tour. There are also press releases, photos, and twenty-four examples of printed publicity materials including brochures, posters, pamphlets, and flyers. In addition, there is a press kit prepared for the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers. Press clippings concern the defense special trains in 1941. Most of the publicity materials are mounted in scrapbooks. Oversize press books concern the Greater New York Air Carnival; American Air Races, Floyd Bennett Field, June 1934; the Ellsworth Transantarctic Flight Expedition, August 1934-February 1935; the National Biscuit Company and the “Let's Dance” radio program, October 1934-March, 1935; the Hindenburg's Maiden Flights, Germany to the United States, April-May 1936; the Association of Men With Wings, July-December 1938; East Hampton, Long Island, May-September 1939; Montauk, Long Island, September 1940-October 1941; the Defense Social Trains, October-December 1941; and the Golden Jubilee, National Motorboat Show, September 1953-March 1954. Some of these books contain letters. The tape recording and disc recordings include an interview of Bruno, anniversary tributes to Lindbergh, a song by Sydney Nesbitt inspired by Wings Over America, and a 1953 Lotos Club program featuring General James Doolittle and guest-of-honor General Hoyt Vandenberg. The balance of this portion of the collection consists of printed articles about Harry Bruno or his firm, clippings, and Bruno's memorabilia. Most of the latter material concerns the Lotos Club or American Legion Air Service Post 501.
U.S. Mss 53AF	Subseries: Correspondence
Box   1	1923-1949 February 21
Box   2	1949 February 22-1963, undated
Volume   10	Scrapbook of letters from clients
	Subseries: Writings	⇧
Box   2	Interview, 1954 November 8
Box   2	Address, 1956 January 11
	Wings Over America
Box   2	Manuscript, fragments of manuscript, research, and background
Box   3	Photographs, synopsis, publicity flyer, script, copy of book
Box   3	Reminiscences of Fifty Years in Aviation (Aviation Project, Oral History Office, Columbia University)
Box   4	Printed articles by Bruno
	Subseries: Publicity Materials	⇧
Box   3	Publicity campaign outlines, 1923-1938, undated
Box   3	Press releases and publicity materials, 1925-1963, undated
Box   4	Press Kit, National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers
Box   4	Clippings concerning Defense Trains, 1941 December
	Scrapbooks
Volume   1	The Greater New York Air Carnival, American Air Races, Floyd Bennett Field, 1934 June
Volume   2	Ellsworth Transantarctic Flight Expediction, 1934-1935
Volume   3	National Biscuit Company and “Let's Dance” radio program, 1934-1935
Volume   3	Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, 1936 and 1937
Volume   4	Hindenburg's Maiden Flights, Germany to U.S., 1936
Volume   5	Association of Men With Wings Inc., 1938 July-December
Volume   6	East Hampton, Long Island, 1939 May-September
Volume   7	Montauk, Long island, 1940 September-1941 October
Volume   8	Defense Special Trains, 1941 October-December
Volume   9	Golden Jubilee, National Motorboat Show, 1953-1954
Box   10	Regarding Aircraft Development Corporation, Arcadia Film Productions-“The Sky Raider,” Atlantic Aircraft Corporation, Colonial Air Transport Inc., Fairchild Aerial Camera Corporation (Fairchild Aerial Surveys, Fairchild Aviation Corporation)
Box   11	Regarding Fokker Netherlands Aircraft Corporation, Hartney Aviation, Key Largo City Properties Inc., Maybach-Zeppelin, New York Air Meet, 1925 and 1926
Box   12	Regarding New York Air Races, 1925, Packard Motor Car Company, Powers Accounting Machine Corporation, Radio Artists Association of America, The Skywriting Corporation of America
Box   13	Regarding Teterboro Airport, Third Avenue Railway System, the United States Flag Association, Visit-Nurse Service, John Wanamaker (Wanamaker's) and miscellaneous
Box   13	Sheets torn from a scrapbook of clippings concerning Defense Trains, 1941 December
Box   10	Oversize publicity examples, 1935, 1939, and 1959
	Subseries: Biographical and Miscellaneous	⇧
Box   4	Printed articles about Bruno, 1932-1962
Box   4	Clippings
	Memorabilia
Box   4	1927-1948
Box   5	1949-1963
Package   6	Oversize memorabilia
Box   6	Books of photographs from Aviation Writers' Tour, 1943 September 16-17
Box   6	Goodyear Trophy Race, 1947
	Subseries: Recordings	⇧
Disc 41A/1-3	Interview by Gloria Swanson with Bruno concerning his career, undated
Disc 42A/1-5	25th Anniversary Tributes to Charles Lindbergh, arranged by Bruno, 1952 May 19-20
Disc 43A/1	Song by Sydney Nesbitt inspired by Wings Over America, 1943 April 28
Audio 323A	Lotos Club dinner honoring General Hoyt Vandenberg; presided over by Harry Bruno with introduction by General James Doolittle, 1953 May 26
	Series: Part 2, 1969 Additions, 1919-1969 Scope and Content Note This addition to the Harry Bruno Papers contains incoming letters, printed materials, clippings, tape and disc recordings, and photographs. Most of the correspondence consists of routine acknowledgements and congratulations, such as the numerous thank-yous sent to Mr. Bruno for the Lotos Tribute which he sent to many people in 1968 and also for the Bruno and Associates 45th Anniversary Brochure. Most of the early correspondence concerns Charles Lindburgh. The groups of clippings, printed material and publicity releases concern various ventures in which Bruno was involved. These are filed by subject.	⇧
U.S. Mss 53AF	Subseries: Correspondence
Box   7 Folder   1	1919 July 3-1927 December 22
Box   7 Folder   2	1928 April 28-1950 November 2
Box   7 Folder   3	1954 August 28-1959 May 18
Box   7 Folder   4	1960 January 29-September 30
Box   7 Folder   5	1960 October 1-December 28
Box   7 Folder   6	1961 January 13-December 20
Box   7 Folder   7	1962 January 4-(December?)
Box   7 Folder   8	1963 May 6-1964 December 17
Box   7 Folder   9	1965 January 14-December 13
Box   7 Folder   10	1966 January 4-1967 December 28
Box   8 Folder   1	1968 January 3-May 27
Box   8 Folder   2	1968 June 3-December 30
Box   8 Folder   3	1969 January 7-February 5
	Subseries: Miscellaneous Material	⇧
Box   9 Folder   1	Charles A. Lindburgh, miscellaneous clippings, etc.
Box   9 Folder   2	Hindenburg, Graf Zeppelin, miscellaneous material
	New York Airways, Pan-Am Heliport
Box   9 Folder   3	Miscellaneous printed material
Box   9 Folder   4	Publicity releases, etc.
Box   9 Folder   5	Publicity releases, etc.
Box   9 Folder   6	Clippings
Box   9 Folder   7	Reviews, clippings, etc. regarding Harry A. Bruno - Public Relations Pioneer by Princine Calitri
Box   9 Folder   8	Miscellaneous awards, citations
Box   9 Folder   9	Miscellaneous biographical and background
	Subseries: Recordings	⇧
Disc 97A	Original Disc Recordings
Audio 654A	Tape copies of Disc 97A
654A/3	“Those Wonderful People” by Dick Hughs and Richard Stapley, Gloria Swanson, Steve Allen Show, 1957 November 10
	Album containing:
654A/1	Com. P.F.M. Fellows, WEAF Interview by Bruno, 1933 October 5
654A/2	Hindenburg disaster by Herbert Morrison, WLS, 1937 May 7
654A/3	Lindbergh anniversary, WABC, by Bruno, 1937 May 21
654A/3	Lindbergh anniversary, WEAF, by Bruno, 1937 May 21
654A/4	Americans at Work, WABC, Bruno and Elinor Lambert, 1939 June 3 Physical Description: 8 disc sides
654A/5	Wings Over America interview with Cliff Engle, 1942 December 26 Physical Description: 4 disc sides
654A/6	Men of Land, Sea, and Air, Harry Bruno, 1943 March 16 Physical Description: 3 disc sides
654A/6	Better Mouse Traps, undated
Audio 478A	Tape Recordings
478A/1	Bruno at the New York Motor Boat Show concerning the history and development of the show, 1966
478A/2	Lindbergh 40th Anniversary Dinner, Air Service Post #501, 1967 May 17