The Stuart Graham collection,
held by the Canada Aviation Museum,
contains photographs, scrapbooks, logbooks
and other unique materials,
documenting Graham’s experiences as a pilot
and the evolution of Canadian aviation.
Graham’s flying career began
during the First World War
when he piloted seaplanes
for the British Royal Naval Air Service.
Upon his return to Canada, Graham was hired
by the Laurentide Company of Grand’Mère, Quebec,
a pulp and paper mill, where he flew
two war surplus Curtiss HS-2L flying boats,
patrolling for forest fires
and surveying logging terrain.
Graham was the first bush pilot
in Canadian history.
He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1926
and became the first
Federal Air Services District Inspector
for Eastern Canada in 1928.
During the Second World War,
Graham designed airfields across Canada
for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
Training skilled British-Commonwealth pilots
was one of Canada’s major contributions
to the Second World War.
Until his retirement in 1963,
Graham was an important figure
at the Montreal-based
International Civil Aviation Organization.
In 2001, Graham was inducted into
Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame
for his involvement in Canadian aviation.