German-born University of Washington aeronautical-engineering professor Frederick Kurt "Fred" Kirsten (1885-1952) came to the Puget Sound area in 1902. He was considered a pioneer in aircraft research, and the Kirsten Wind Tunnel Laboratory at UW is named for him. Professor Kirsten held nearly 100 patents for his inventions, including the Kirsten, a "clean" pipe still sold by the Kirsten Pipe Company, Inc., in Seattle.
In this image a group of people stand on a dock for the christening of the "Spider," a boat featuring a cycloidal propeller used to stabilize boats and enable them to make right-angle turns at full speed. Professor Kirsten formed the Kirsten-Boeing Engineering Company with funding from William E. Boeing, and designed the boat which was used to demonstrate the propeller to the Navy Bureau of Engineering. Later, Professor Kirsten adapted the cycloidal propeller for use on airplanes which enabled planes to take off, fly, and land without noise.
Identifications on verso: Small boy with sailor hat, about fifth from left, is Frederick Eugene "Gene" Kirsten (1919-2015). He is standing with family friend Mrs. Leede. Small girl with dark coat and hat and light socks is Dorothea Marie (Kirsten) Hardisty (1917-2001), who christened the boat. Her mother, Agatha Helen (Fray) Kirsten (1893-1952), is standing behind her in a light hat, looking towards the camera. To the right of Agatha is her husband, inventor F. K. Kirsten, wearing a light coat without a hat. Dr. Leede, a family friend, is immediately to the right of Professor Kirsten. Facing them, the tall man wearing a light suit and dark hat, is William E. Boeing, Sr. To the right of Mr. Boeing, also facing the Kirstens, the bald man in a dark coat is George Wright Arnold, Professor Kirsten's patent attorney. To the right of Mr. Arnold, wearing a dark hat and facing the camera, is UW professor Everett Owen Eastwood. Photographer's number: K-27
Caption information source: The Seattle Daily Times, November 21, 1952, p. 43 and July 19, 1940, p. 26 Caption information source: https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2017-0114
ID Number: 2017.44.1
Date: 1922
Physical Description: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 7.5 x 9.5 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
