Talbert "Ted" Abrams was an American photographer and aviator known as the "father of

Pater Patriae

Pater Patriae , also seen as Parens Patriae, is a Latin honorific meaning "Father of the Country," or more literally, "Father of the Fatherland".- Roman history :...

 aerial photography

Aerial photography

Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...

".

Early years

Born in Tekonsha, Michigan

Tekonsha, Michigan

Tekonsha is a village in Tekonsha Township, Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area...

, 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

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, and was assigned to the US Navy flying school at Pensacola. Following the war, his squadron took photos of rebel activities on Haiti

Haiti

Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...

, and Abrams became interested in the potential of aerial photography.

Career

In 1920, he left the military, purchased a war-surplus Curtiss JN-4

Curtiss JN-4

The Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" was one of a series of "JN" biplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of Hammondsport, New York, later the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. Although the Curtiss JN series was originally produced as a training aircraft for the U.S...

 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 (sold to Aerocom in 2003). 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

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, 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

Curtiss-Wright

The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....

 and went into semi-retirement.

Legacy

Every year, the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) presents the Talbert Abrams Award to a person who makes an outstanding contribution to aerial photography and map

Map

A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....

ping. Mount Abrams

Mount Abrams

Mount Abrams is a mountain east of Mount Brice, in the Behrendt Mountains. Discovered and photographed from the air by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition 1947–48, under Finn Ronne. Named by Ronne for Talbert Abrams, a noted photogrammetric engineer and instrument manufacturer, who was a...

 in the Antarctic

Antarctic

The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...

 is named after him. and the Abrams Planetarium

Abrams Planetarium

Abrams Planetarium is the planetarium on the campus of Michigan State University.-History:The Abrams Planetarium opened in 1963, and has had an estimated one million visitors since then. As a branch of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at MSU, the Abrams Planetarium is dedicated to teaching...

 in Michigan State University

Michigan State University

Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...