FAMILY ALBUM

 

Group Photo - 1911 L to R: Unidentified, Unidentified, Katherine Stinson, Joe Best, Van Best Collection of Robert J. O'Connor, 1-11-05

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES via email from Robert J. O'Connor, 4-21-04 Ralph--      My wife is the daughter of Joe Best, pioneer aviator. Her name is Phyllis Best O'Connor --she is one of Joe's two daughters--the other is Averill Alice Laverne Best Jorgenson.      Joseph Frank Best was born in Riverside-Sheboygen,Wisconsin on Dec. 16 1894 and passed away August 21st 1969 .in Seattle, Wa.      He married Jenny Elfreida Lyden from Pelican Rapids Minn.in1915.

 

KATHERINE STINSON - AVIATRIX - 1911 BEST BROTHERS AIRPLANE      Joe was also a very close friend of Katherine Stinson (the fourth U.S. woman to receive her pilots license) and we have a letter written in longhand from her to Joe framed into a picture with some of the wing covering material as a background. Photo & legend from Robert J. O'Connor, 1-11-05

 

KATHERINE STINSON - 1911 Collection of Robert J. O'Connor, 4-1-05

 

Katherine's Letter to Joe - 1914      Katherine Stinson wrote letters frequently to Joe Best and always called him "Little Brother," as she was two years older than he. This is the only letter left that I know of. You can read a copy of the letter by clicking on: Dear Little Brother Collection of Robert J. O'Connor, 4-1-05

 

KATHERINE STINSON - 1911 Sincerely Yours - Katherine Stinson Collection of Robert J. O'Connor, 1-11-05

 

I hope this information is of some use for your records.      Thank you for your interest---the daughters are very grateful for your efforts as am I. Sincerely, Robert J. O'Connor 9014-21st Ave. N.W. Seattle, Wa.98117

 

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