Ron Burda Air Racing Photography Collection

This collection consists predominantly of aviation-related photography created by American photojournalist Ron Burda at air shows and air races between 1970 and 1999, and reference documents and publications collected by Burda during that period to aid in identifying the aircraft and people depicted in his photographs. Burda's photography from the 1970s and 1980s is predominantly 35mm black and white roll film negatives (accompanied by contact-printed proof sheets), with 35mm color transparencies (generally mounted as slides) becoming more prevalent in the 1980s before shifting to 35mm color negatives in the 1990s. The collection also includes 8 x 10 inch black and white (and a few color) enlargement prints made by Burda and 4 x 6 inch color prints made by commercial photo finishers. The photography includes views of aircraft in flight and on the ground, pilots, ground crew members, and other participants at air shows and races as well as some miscellaneous coverage of other aviation-related events in the southern California area including antique aircraft and hang glider fly-ins. A major feature of the collection is Burda's extensive coverage of the National Championship Air Races held annually at Reno, Nevada, including official race programs and press materials for each year from 1973 to 1996. Also covered are the California National Air Races (Mojave '74, '75, '76, and '79) and features on racing pilots R. J. "Bob" Love and Marvin Lee "Lefty" Gardner.