- Title: U.S. Department of Commerce | Aeronautical Communication Stations
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Author: U.S. Department of Commerce, Air Navigation Division
- Date: October 2nd, 1933
- Condition: Light toning is visible in the lower left quadrant. Issued folding with minor creasing at the corners; otherwise, the map remains in excellent condition
- Inches: 19 3/8 x 12 3/8 [Image]
- Centimeters: 49.21 x 31.43 [Image]
- Product ID: 308416
This official government-issued chart from the early 1930s, specifically designed to document the national network of aeronautical communication infrastructure across the continental United States. Rendered in monochrome on thin, lightly toned paper typical of the era, the map presents a detailed schematic of the United States, with state boundaries and major cities clearly outlined but with an emphasis on the overlay of aviation communication routes rather than topographical or political features.
The primary focus of the map is the intricate web of radio and teletype circuits that supported air navigation and communication during the formative years of commercial aviation. Solid and dashed lines crisscross the country, representing established and proposed point-to-point radio stations, as well as teletype and radio circuits. The legend at the bottom of the map deciphers these symbols, distinguishing between operational, under-construction, and proposed facilities. Notably, the map marks intermediate weather reporting stations, automatic and semi-automatic teletype stations, and radio circuits, with specific call letters inscribed at each station location for clarity.
A series of numbered lists in the lower left and right corners detail the principal teletype and radio circuits, connecting major urban centers such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami, and extending to key regional airports and weather stations. The density of communication lines is greatest in the Northeast and Midwest, reflecting the concentration of early commercial air traffic, while long, strategic routes reach across the West and South, underscoring the ambition to create a truly national air communication system.
The map’s technical precision and utilitarian design reflect its intended use as a reference tool for pilots, air traffic controllers, and government officials managing the rapidly expanding infrastructure of American aviation.
Background on Creator
The U.S. Department of Commerce was a key federal agency dedicated to promoting industry and commerce and ensuring the protection of life in the United States. Headquartered in the Herbert C. Hoover Building in Washington, D.C., which had been completed just a few years earlier in 1932, the department was led by Secretary of Commerce Daniel C. Roper. The organization included several important bureaus and offices, such as the Bureau of Air Commerce (directed by Eugene L. Vidal), the Bureau of the Census, the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, the National Bureau of Standards, the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection, and others.
The department’s functions in 1935 encompassed a broad range of activities, from overseeing commercial aviation and maritime affairs to managing patents, fisheries, and the collection of economic and population data. Its Bureau of Air Commerce, for example, played a crucial role in developing the nation's civil aviation infrastructure, including the regulation of airways and navigational aids—reflected in the production of official airway maps during this era. The Department of Commerce was instrumental in supporting the growth of American industry and trade, serving as a central hub for economic data, standards, and regulatory oversight at a time of significant technological and commercial transformation in the United States.