American panoramic photographer and aeronaut. Born Chester Melvine Vaniman in Virden, Macoupin, Illinois on 30 October 1866. Studied music at Valparaiso University, Indiana, and from 1887 until ca 1898 toured the United States as a singer with an opera company. In 1901, in Hawaii, he took up photography, building his own panoramic camera. Between February 1902 and February 1903 (when he left for Sydney) he photographed in New Zealand under contract to Pacific Mail Steamship Lines. He then travelled to Australia, where he made an extensive series of panoramic views. In August 1904 he travelled to Europe where he became involved in aviation. In 1908 he tested a triplane of his own design in France. He was then employed as a mechanic by William Wellman for two attempts to reach the North Pole by airship, in 1907 and 1909. On 2 July 1912 he died when the airship Akron, in which he was attempting to cross the Atlantic, exploded and crashed off Atlantic City, New Jersey. Sources: Lighter than air, an illustrated history of the airship, by Lee Payne. A diferent perspective (exhibition catalogue), by Alan Davies.
Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912, photographer :Auckland, Sunday, Feb[ruary] 9, 1903. [Pano...
Date: 1903
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: Eph-E-BUILDINGS-Auckland-1903-01
Description: Shows a panoramic view of Auckland with the wharves in the foreground, probably taken from above the end of a pier or bridge. Inscriptions: Recto - bottom centre - [Title]; Recto - bottom right - Protected 9.2.'03 / Melvin Vaniman / San Francisco Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph, 333 x 1004 mm.
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :[Napier]
Date: 20 Oct 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-420
Description: Note American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: Verso - bottom right - Protected 10.20.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Outsized panoramic print
Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912 :Wellington
Date: 10 Apr 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-276
Description: Panoramic view of Wellington city and harbour, taken October 1902 by Melvin R Vaniman of San Francisco. Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: bottom right - Protected 4.10.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Platinum print 23.2 x 76.4 cm
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :[Wellington from the Tinakori Hills]
Date: 10 Apr 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-431
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - Protected 4.10.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco; Verso - bottom left - Melvin Vaniman Co. Factory 3646 16th St. Frisco. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :Panorama of Wellington City, 1902
Date: 10 Apr 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912; Webster, Paul, active 1992
Reference: PA6-506
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Source of title - Title supplied by Library Inscriptions: bottom right - Protected 4.10.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s) (panorama). Provenance: Donated by Paul Webster, Wellington, 1992
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :Sanitorium grounds, Rotorua
Date: 1902-1903
From: Jack [Mr] :Panoramas by Melvin Vaniman of Albert Park, Auckland, and Sanitorium grounds, Rotorua
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-304
Description: Inscriptions: bottom left - Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Handcoloured print, framed
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :[Dunedin]
Date: 4 Jun 1902
By: New Zealand. Department of Agriculture; Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-417
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: Recto - bottom left - Protected 6.4.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :Wellington and Thorndon with Newman Terrace in the foregr...
Date: 27 Mar 1902
By: Thompson, D J A (Mrs), active 1994; Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-427
Description: Note American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - Protected 3.27.'02 Melvin Vaniman Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :Wellington and Thorndon with Newman Terrace in the foregr...
Date: 27 Mar 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-426
Description: Note American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - Protected 3.27.'02 Melvin Vaniman Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :[Wellington] 4.10.02
Date: 10 Apr 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-295
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: bottom right - Protected 4.10.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Mounted on card and matted
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :Lyttelton
Date: 10 Jun 1902
From: Creator of collection unknown :Panoramas of New Zealand by Melvin Vaniman
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-300
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: bottom left - Protected 6.10.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :Napier
Date: 20 Oct 1902
By: Huddart Parker Ltd; Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-418
Description: Note American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: Recto - beneath image - Napier; Recto - bottom right - Protected 10.20.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :[View of thermal area, Rotorua]
Date: 12 Jan 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-371
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: bottom right - Protected 1.12.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912 :Photograph of Auckland from Queens Wharf
Date: 9 February 1903
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-667
Description: View looking south over Auckland, taken Sunday 9 February 1903 from the mast of a ship at Queens Wharf, by Melvin Vaniman. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom centre - AUCKLAND. SUNDAY. FEB. 9, 1903.; Photographer's title on negative - bottom right - Protected. 9.2.03 Melvin Vaniman SAN FRANCISO. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin panoramic print 28 x 113 cm
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :[Wellington]
Date: 10 Apr 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-419
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - Protected 4.10.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :Bluff
Date: 10 Jun 1902
From: Creator of collection unknown :Panoramas of New Zealand by Melvin Vaniman
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-301
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: bottom left - Protected 6.10.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :[Wellington from the Tinakori Hills]
Date: 10 Apr 1902
From: Harper, Elisabeth Joan, 1914-2000 :Panoramas
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-430
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - Protected 4.10.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912 :Panoramic photograph of Dunedin
Date: 6 July 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA9-059
Description: Panoramic photograph of Dunedin, taken 6 July 1902 by Melvin Vaniman Source of title - Title supplied by Library Inscriptions: Recto - bottom left - Protected 6.7.'02 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco; bottom centre - [On frame] Dunedin 1903 Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Platinum photoprint 37 x 116.5 cm [visible image], with mat, in wooden frame 68.7 x 148.5 cm Provenance: No donor or provenance information available for this collection. Possibly part of a larger collection.
Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912 :Panoramic photograph of Wanganui
Date: March 1902
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-651
Description: Panoramic photograph of Wanganui taken from Durie Hill ca March 1902 by Melvin Vaniman (1866-1912) of San Francisco. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Carbon print 24.2 x 76.6 cm, on mount
Vaniman, Melvin R, 1867-1912 :Lyttelton
Date: 1 Jul 1903
From: Creator of collection unknown :Panoramas of New Zealand by Melvin Vaniman
By: Vaniman, Melvin, 1866-1912
Reference: PA6-305
Description: Probable American usage with inscription date Inscriptions: Protected 7.1.'03 Melvin Vaniman San Francisco Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).