Code,401011
Subject,Cris Takacs
Date,1/25/11
Interviewer,Michelle Epps
Abstract,"Cris Takacs, collections manager for the International Women's Air and Space Museum (IWASM), describes the history of the museum and some of the remarkable women and artifacts that it focuses on."
Tags,"International Women's Air and Space Museum (IWASM), aviation, Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Centerville, Dayton"
Special Notes,Interviewer audio quiet throughout.
minutes:,
0,Intro. Begins describing why museum was created.
1,"Describes the Ninety-Nines [organization of women aviators] and their collection of memorabilia; Doris Scott, of Dayton, convinced them to open museum in Ohio- birthplace of aviation."
2,"Scott and husband housed the collection at their business at Dayton Airport; In 1986 musuem was incorporated and moved to Centerville Historical Society- housed in a farmhouse once owned by a Wright brothers' uncle, 8-10 years there."
3,Talks about first museum diretor Doris Scott's background.
4,"Museum moved to Cleveland in 1998/1999, due to the efforts of Connie Luhta, President, and Joan Hrubec, curator/collections manager; both from Cleveland area; commuted to Centerville once a month to work at museum."
5,[4:52] Warren White of the Western Reserve Historical Society informed Luhta that Burke Lakefront Airport was empty- the city interested in having something there; Talks about the 100 year old Centerville building. 
6,Issues with Centerville; doesn't recall details of the board before incorporation.
7,Mentions there was a collection committee; Discussion moves to why Cleveland was important to aviation- mentions the city was a National Air Race terminus. 
8,"Mentions Cleveland had the first towered airport, lots of women pilots from the area, Lake Erie College had an aviation program in the 1930's- Amelia Earhart gave talks there."
9,"[8:50] Description of museum's collection: ephmera, trophies, articles, scrapbooks, etc."
10,cont.
11,Details Virginia Thomas collection.
12,"Always finding some new interesting thing: bead from the Mayflower (she has no idea why they have that), piece of the Berlin Wallt. "
13,"Special mention of Amelia Earhart ""thread""; latest find- Clara Adams' souvenir program from her ride on the Hindenburg- one of only about 20-30 extant."
14,"Discussion of why the museum is important, highlights not just about the planes, unknown pilots given recognition."
15,Mentions her own experience with discovering female aviation beyond Earhart.
16,"Not just pilots- aviation enthusiasts, controllers, etc.; mentions the importance for history in not just focusing on normal groups."
17,Talks about information one can’t find anywhere else.
18,cont.
19,Mentions the Catherine Wright dress- mannequin belonged to a woman pilot who had been a seamstress for NASA.
20,Talks about Joan Hrubec.
21,cont. 
22,cont.
23,cont.
24,Talks about B[ernice] Steadman- Mercury 13.
25,cont.
26,[25:40] Nancy Hopkins Tier and the origins of the Ninety-Nines.
27,cont.
28,cont.
29,cont.
30,cont.
31,cont.
32,cont.
33,[33:46] More about Joan Hrubec.
34,[34:35] Briefly returns discussion of interesting objects.
35,"Describes filing, finishing projects."
36,cont.
37,cont.
38,Talks about collections and Air Force accession cards.
39,cont.
40,"Describes learning the history of collections; exhibits, and finding new things."
41,Says museum strength was its founding by women pilots- and weakness is its continued running by the same! 
42,end.