US History

Science and Technology

Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970s)

Labor History

Women

Migration

This collection uses primary sources and historical artifacts to explore Pan American World Airways and its intersections with social, political, economic, and cultural history.

"Lifeline to Berlin" 1964 advertisement

This advertisement from 1964 features an image of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. There is barbed wire and a warning sign in front of the gate. The accompanying text discusses Pan Am's air service to West Berlin and the importance of this service.

"Pan Am's Lifeline to West Berlin" and "Berlin - Island of Democracy in a Sea of Communism"

This booklet contains a variety of information about Pan Am's inaugural flights to and from Berlin, including the history of Pan Am's Berlin service. Pages 86 to 92 are the focus for this Primary Source Set, and they detail the numerous ways in which Pan Am linked West Berlin to the rest of the "free," democratic world. [View all of the featured pages here.](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0341/id/178398/rec/49)

Photographs of Cuban refugees arriving in Miami via Pan Am, 1965

This item is a series of photographs capturing the arrival of Cuban refugees in Miami, Florida, in 1965 after some of Fidel Castro's policies were enacted. The back of each photograph contains a description of the photo as well as an explanation of Pan Am's involvement in the refugee flight. [View the full set of photographs and descriptions here.](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0341/id/182235)

"The future of the people will be up to the people" 1942 Advertisement

This advertisement from 1942 features an image of two men working on what is presumably farmland. The accompanying text begins with a quote from philosopher John Dewey, who then goes on to explain the importance of freedom, democracy, and Pan Am's post-war role in transporting people, technologies, and goods.

"A World of Neighbors" 1946 brochure

Pan Am produced this brochure as it ushered in the postwar era under the proposition that "to live in friendship with our neighbors we must *know* our neighbors." The cover, which is the focus for this Primary Source Set, depicts the world with a Pan Am airplane flying around it. Surrounding the globe are illustrations of 15 different people, representing different countries and cultures.

1967 Pan Am stewardess brochure

This stewardess brochure contains information about what being a Pan Am stewardess entails. It addresses stewardess duties, uniforms, housing, salary and benefits, and more. The brochure also details over 15 different qualifications that women must meet in order to be eligible to become a stewardess, as well as the application process. [View the full brochure here.](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0341/id/5612/)

"Show this page to your husband" 1969 advertisement

This advertisement from 1969 features a headshot of a white Pan Am stewardess in uniform. The accompanying text is directed at married women and acknowledges "the sad fact" that women couldn't purchase airline tickets--their husbands needed to purchase them (American women could not hold credit cards until 1974). The advertisement goes on to encourage women to tell their husbands that they want to travel on Pan Am.

1971 Pan Am stewardess advertisement

This advertisement from 1971 features a spread of black-and-white photographs of Pan Am stewardess Ilona Zahn for Playboy magazine. Some of the photos show Ilona on duty and in uniform as a stewardess, while others depict what she does in her leisure time, such as laying on the beach in a bikini. The accompanying text uses Ilona and other Pan Am stewardesses as a way to entice men to fly on Pan Am, using suggestive language while also detailing the stewardesses' qualifications and skills.

"An Open Letter to the American People" 1974 advertisement

This advertisement from 1974 is addressed to "the American people" from Pan Am employees in Japan Korea, Guam, and Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The text of the advertisement mentions three of Pan Am's firsts: the "China Clipper," the Boeing 707, and the Boeing 747. Then the advertisement goes on to criticize how the U.S. government has "crippled" Pan Am through discrimination and indifference, asking several pointed questions about these practices. The text ends with the Pan Am employees revealing that they paid for the advertisement with their own money to ensure that Americans understood the importance of Pan Am.

"Moscow and back" 1966 advertisement

This advertisement from 1966 features a black-and-white image of the top of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia. The accompanying text advertises several different Pan Am travel packages that include Moscow, Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Kyïv (Ukraine), Sochi, Rostov, and Volgograd as destinations.

"First Scheduled Service to Moscow" 1968 booklet

This booklet contains materials Pan Am and Aeroflot's first scheduled jet service between New York and Moscow in 1968, during the height of the Cold War. The first item in the booklet, which is the focus for this Primary Source Set, is a welcome letter from Pan Am's chairman and CEO to the passengers on the inaugural flight. Also included in the booklet is the in-flight menu.

New York to Moscow 1988 bronze sculpture

This item is a bronze commemorative sculpture featuring a Boeing 747 jet flying over the New York skyline on one side, with text in English, while the opposite side shows the 747 flying over the Moscow skyline with text in Russian. On May 14, 1988, Pan American World Airways and Aeroflot Soviet Airlines commenced the first non-stop commercial service between New York and Moscow. The service used Pan Am B-747 aircraft and Aeroflot had control of half the seats as well as providing three flight attendants. Pan Am and Aeroflot had started one-stop service in 1968 with each airline using its own aircraft.

"After a year of inflation..." 1973 advertisement

This advertisement from 1973 begins with listing many of the hardships Americans faced in 1972 and 1973, including inflation, devluation, the Watergate scandal, brownouts, energy crises, gas and meat shortages, overtaxation, overmechanization, and computerization. The ad then encourages its readers to book a vacation with Pan Am to escape and relax.

"Beauty & the Beast" 1969 advertisement

This advertisement from 1969 features a black-and-white image of a young woman leaning against the PANAMAC computer. Pan Am reservation representatives used PANAMAC to instantly book flights for the airline's customers. The accompanying text frames the introduction of the PANAMAC computer like a fairytale, with the computer saving the "beautiful reservations representative" from "a fate worse than boredom."

"Faster than you can say 'Panamac'" 1964 advertisement

This advertisement from 1964 features a man calling a Pan Am reservation representative with complex booking details. The representative responds that she can do everything he asked for, and quickly, because of PANAMAC, Pan Am's computer reservation system. The accompanying text goes into detail about what PANAMAC is and how it works.

Clipper Class 1980s in-flight menu

This item is an in-flight menu for passengers flying "Clipper Class." In 1978, Pan Am introduced Business Class on international flights: Pan Am called the product "Clipper Class." There were a series of Clipper Class menus, all featuring one of the airline's iconic aircraft. The one featured on the front of this menu is the Boeing 747, which Pan Am introduced in 1970. Clipper Class was the service level between First Class and Coach.

"Theatre-in-the-Air to California" 1966 advertisement

This advertisement from 1966 features 12 colorful blocks showcasing different aspects and programs of Pan Am's in-flight entertainment system, called Theatre-in-the-Air. Some of the programs included are show tunes, feature-length movies, mood music, children's shows, and more.

February 1986 *Quipper* newsletter

This item is the first page of the final edition of the *Quipper*, a newsletter produced by Pan Am employees from 1981 to 1986. The *Quipper* began as a satirical newsletter but quickly became an outlet for employees, particularly those who joined unions, to air their grievances against Pan Am and express their opinions. [Read the final edition of the *Quipper* here.](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0341/id/100747/rec/12)

*Pan American World Airways Teacher*

The *Pan American World Airways Teacher* was an education guide published by Pan Am that was meant to help teachers in the United States teach their students about foreign countries. It was sometimes also called the *Classroom Clipper*. Each issue typically focused on a country or region. The focus for this Primary Source Set is the issue about Peru. [View the *Pan American World Airways Teacher* for Peru here.](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0341/id/9349)

Pan American World Jet Flight Game

This item is a board game produced in the 1960s to promote both Pan Am and international airline travel. The box cover features a Douglas DC-8 Pan Am jet flying over the ocean and mountains. The object of the game was for players to "pilot" a Pan Am jet from New York to 10 different destinations. The first player to reach all 10 destinations and return to New York won the game. [View the full board game and instructions here.](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/hmm0001/id/332/)

Pan Am *Sales Clipper* 18, no. 2

The *Sales Clipper* was one of many periodicals produced by Pan American World Airways. The *Sales Clipper* was specifically published for Pan Am's traffic and sales personnel.

Questions

The following discussion questions and classroom activities are primarily based on the source set found herein.  However, for further context and supplementary research opportunities, it is encouraged to visit the [Cleared for Takeoff: Explore Commercial Aviation](https://aviation.dp.la/) portal.  Additionally, you and your students may wish to review the [Pan Am Timeline](https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1tw6JSsgNWr6a7kqZxrFmTwcqD7f0ybam-XjqV57y810&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2) for deeper historical perspective.


1.  Compare the [1964 "Lifeline to Berlin "](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1918) advertisement to [Pan Am's "Lifeline to West Berlin" and "Berlin - Island of Democracy" (pages 86-92)](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1919). Based on these documents, how and why was Pan Am involved in international politics? What was Pan Am's role, prior to 1964, in international politics? What do these documents reveal about contemporary attitudes towards communism and democracy? What do these documents reveal about Pan Am's economic motives for flying to West Berlin?
2.  Examine a few of the [Pan American Cuban Airlift photographs](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1920) and their descriptions. What similarities and differences do you see between this airlift and the Berlin airlift in question 1? What impact does being able to see images of Cuban people and read descriptions of them have upon the portrayal of the airlift? What push/pull factors are contributing to this migration? How does this airlift and America's reception of Cuban refugees compare to contemporary refugee crises and reception in America?
3.  Read the [1942 "The Future of the People will be up to the People" advertisement](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1921) and  take a look at the cover of the ["World of Neighbors" brochure](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1922). What is Pan Am's vision for the post-WWII world? How do corporate interest, globalization, and democratic societies intersect in the two documents? What cultural stereotypes do you see present in these documents? How might a "World of Neighbors" look today, and is it different from what Pan Am envisioned after World War II?  
4.  Read [Pan Am's 1967 Stewardess brochure](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1923) and compare it to the [1969 "Show this page to your husband" advertisement](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1924) and the [1971 Pan Am stewardess advertisement](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1925). What do these documents reveal about gender expectations and careers of American women in the 1960s? How and why might these expectations and jobs have changed by the early 1970s? What do these documents reveal about Pan Am's marketing to single women and men, versus married women and men? How do the publication places of the ads affect their portrayal of women?
5.  Read the [1974 "An Open Letter to the American People" advertisement](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1926). Why would Pan Am employees of Korea, Japan, Guam, and other Pacific islands appeal directly to the American people and what were their grievances?  How did the authors leverage the airline's history in the Pacific to appeal to its readers?  What does the tone of the letter suggest to you? What other factors might be causing these overseas employees to be frustrated, particularly given the time period?
6.  Read the [1966 "Moscow and back" advertisement](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1927), the [1968 "First Scheduled Service to Moscow" booklet](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1928), and the description of the [New York to Moscow 1988 bronze sculpture](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1929). What do these items reveal about the tensions between corporations, commercial airlines, and countries? How do we continue to experience these tensions today? What do these documents reveal about the expectations and responsibilities of commercial airlines? What surprises you about the collaboration between U.S. and Russian airlines, and why?
7.  Read the [1973 "After a year of inflation..." advertisement](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1930). What does the ad suggest about life in 1970s America, and why might that headline resonate with readers?  Who was this advertisement geared towards? If you were writing that headline today what might you include, and how would you make that headline inclusive of different peoples' struggles?
8.  Compare the ["Beauty & the Beast" (1969)](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1931) and ["Faster than You Can Say 'Panamac'" (1964)](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1932) advertisements. Taken together, what do these advertisements reveal about the relationship of working women to emerging technologies and automation in the airline industry?  How do these advertisements work to construct gender roles and expectations?  If these advertisements were created today, how might women and their interaction with technology be represented? How might all genders be represented in advertisements for technology today?
9.  Look at the [1980s Clipper Class menu](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1933) and the [1966 "Theatre-in-the-Air to California" advertisement](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1934). What do these materials suggest about the experience of flying in the late 1960s to mid-1980s? How do these amenities and experiences compare to your own experiences of traveling? Why might your recent experiences be different from the Pan Am experience? What classes of people does Pan Am seem to be targeting and why?
10. Read the first page of the [February 1986 issue of the Quipper newsletter](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1935).  Why do you think the authors chose the newsletter format?  What are their primary grievances against Pan Am and the International Flight Attendants Union (IFAU) and what do these reveal about labor and corporate relations?

Activity

-   Have students read the [*Pan American World Airways Teacher* for Peru (1950s)](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0341/id/9349), and have them pay particular attention to the "Suggestions for a Study Unit" (page 8). Then, in small groups, have students compare and contrast that educational booklet to what they have learned about Peru in school. What has changed, and why? Similarly, what hasn't changed about how they learn the history of Peru, and why? What additional topics would the students want to learn about? Then, have students locate additional materials about Peruvian history using various resources. With these materials, have students create their own educational brochures that address and include the diverse aspects of the culture, geography, people, and history of Peru. Alternatively, choose a [*Pan American World Airways Teacher*](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0341/search/searchterm/pan%20american%20world%20airways%20teacher!Pan%20American%20World%20Airways%20Teacher,%20Study%20units!Pan%20American%20World%20Airways%20Teacher/field/altern!contai!title/mode/all!exact!exact/conn/or!or!and/order/title) that addresses a different country or region and conduct the activity with that material instead.
-  Examine the route map from the [Pan American World Jet Flight Game](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1937). Have students choose a route from the map and then cross-reference that route with the [Pan Am Timetables](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/asm0341/search/searchterm/Printed%20Materials%3A%20Timetables/field/series/mode/exact/conn/and/order/title) from at least three different decades. How long (and/or how many stops) would it have taken to get from Point A to Point B? Then, have students look up their routes on a travel website---is there a difference in travel time? Compare the experience of looking up flight times and planning itineraries on paper versus searching for flights online.
-   Have students examine the [Pan American World Jet Flight Game](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/aviation/sources/1937) and its accompanying instructions, goals, and locations. Then, in small groups, have your students modernize the board game, updating and re-creating it for the present day. Deliverables for this activity can include a mock-up of the updated game (hand-drawn, digital, or whatever best suits your students) as well as game-play instructions and decision-making documentation. As they make their decisions, have students document and explain their rationale. Some points for your students to consider could be the game's:
    -   Medium and materials
    -   Audience and age range
    -   Goals and steps to achieve them
    -   Evaluation of actions: For example, if the game will be points-based, what causes players to gain or lose points?
    -   Mode of transportation/travel
    -   Map and featured locations
    -   Accompanying graphics, images, etc.

Teaching Guide: Shrinking the World

Resources

1. [Cleared for Takeoff: Explore Commercial Aviation](https://aviation.dp.la/) portal, Digital Public Library of America.
2. [Cleared to Land: The Records of the Pan American World Airways, Inc.](http://scholar.library.miami.edu/digital/exhibits/show/panamerican), University of Miami Libraries.
3. [Guide to Collections Related to Pan American World Airways](https://guides.library.duke.edu/panam/), Duke University Libraries.
4. [Pan American World Airways Collection](https://digitalcollections.library.miami.edu/digital/collection/hmm0001), HistoryMiami Museum.
5. [Pan Am Historical Foundation](https://www.panam.org/).
6. [Pan Am Museum](https://www.thepanammuseum.org/).
7. *Empire of the Air: Aviation and the American Ascendancy*, Jenifer Van Vleck (Harvard University Press, 2013).
8. [Across the Pacific](https://www.pbs.org/video/across-the-pacific-airborne-8ms7qa/), PBS.
9. [Records of the Civil Aeronautics Board [CAB] ] (https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/197.html), National Archives.
10. [National Air and Space Museum Archival Collections] (https://airandspace.si.edu/archival-collections), Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Overview

By the end of WWII, Pan American World Airways’ infamous fleet of flying boats became rapidly obsolete as the aviation industry transitioned to landplanes and as more runways were built.  Increasing demand for air travel led to continual aeronautical innovations, many of which were established or introduced by Pan Am. Their constant modernization not only transformed commercial aviation, but impacted the world socially, politically, and economically, thereby changing world culture forever. Whereas in its early days, the company had focused on connecting the world through new air routes, their primary goal in later years would be to carry even more people and do it bigger, better, and faster than ever before.  Truly, Pan Am helped “shrink the world.”

Consequently, the speed of life was moving at a sonic pace: sociopolitical developments impacted airlines, Pan Am in particular, ultimately setting the company on a crash course with insolvency in 1991.  The decades following WWII were tumultuous to say the least, characterized by both rapid economic growth and instability, many technological advances, more foreign wars, and the emergence of social justice movements such as feminism, civil rights, and environmental concerns.

This primary source set uses advertisements, cultural artifacts, and archival materials to demonstrate the seemingly symbiotic relationship between commercial aviation and globalization.  As we navigate through these historical artifacts, what observations can be made?  In a world that very much relies on aviation to advance its agenda, what lessons can be gleaned that may still be relevant today?

Reflect on these questions as you review the following source set. For further study, these objects and many other aviation-related materials may all be found in the [Cleared for Takeoff: Explore Commercial Aviation](https://aviation.dp.la/) portal.


English

Shrinking the World: Pan American Airways in the Postwar Era

aviation_085d7190211f6f6d61a14280ace1a29f.jpg

Courtesy of Duke University Libraries via North Carolina Digital Heritage Center.

J. Walter Thompson Company, "Lifeline to Berlin," 1964, Digital Public Library of America, <https://dp.la/item/085d7190211f6f6d61a14280ace1a29f>.

"Lifeline to Berlin" 1964 advertisement

Cite this item

Tips for Students

Item 1 of 21 in the Primary Source Set Shrinking the World: Pan American Airways in the Postwar Era