Talbert Abrams

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Talbert "Ted" Abrams (August 17, 1895-August 26, 1990) is known as the "father of aerial photography".

Born in Tekonsha, Michigan, Abrams learned to fly at the Curtiss Aviation School while working as a mechanic for Curtiss. He served in the US Marine Corps during World War I, and was assigned to the US Navy flying school at Pensacola. Following the war, his squadron took photos of rebel activities on Haiti, and Abrams became interested in the potential of aerial photography.

In 1920, he left the military, purchased a war-surplus Curtiss JN-4 and founded a small airline, ABC Airline (Always Be Careful!) but remained more interested in photographic work. In 1923, he purchased a Standard J-1, fitted it with cameras, and founded the Abrams Aerial Survey Corporation (still in existence today). Over the next few years, he created the Abrams Instrument Corporation to develop better cameras and instruments for his work, and the Abrams Aircraft Corporation to develop specially designed aircraft.

During World War II, he founded the Abrams School of Aerial Surveying and Photo Interpretation to teach these skills to the US military, while his Instrument Corporation built reconnaissance cameras for aircraft.

In 1961, he sold the Abrams Instrument Corporation to Curtiss-Wright and went into semi-retirement.

Every year, the American Society of Photogrammetry presents the Talbert Abrams Award to a person who makes an outstanding contribution to aerial photography and mapping.