1940 C&S Air Lines Airway Map and Air Log
DESCRIPTION
A fascinating survival from the golden age of regional aviation, this Chicago and Southern Air Lines route map promotes the airline's celebrated "Valley Level Route," a streamlined air corridor linking the industrial Midwest with the rapidly growing cities of the American South along the Mississippi River basin.
The Valley Level Route
The map focuses on Chicago and Southern's core network, dividing its service into three principal segments: Chicago to St. Louis to Memphis, Memphis to New Orleans, and Memphis to Shreveport to Houston. Unlike many airline maps of the era that emphasized nationwide networks, this piece celebrates a single carefully developed route system. Airports, radio beacons, lighted airways, and intermediate stops are plotted in detail, illustrating the infrastructure that made reliable commercial air travel possible during the 1930s and 1940s. Promotional text repeatedly highlights the advantages of flying over nearly 900 miles of flat terrain, allowing for faster, more economical service between major Midwestern and Southern cities.
Cities of the Mid-South
The reverse transforms the map into a travel brochure, pairing aerial photographs of Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Jackson, New Orleans, Shreveport, and Houston with descriptions emphasizing each city's economic importance and cultural appeal. Together, these images create a portrait of an emerging regional economy connected by modern air transportation. A small system map demonstrates how the Valley Level Route linked into broader national networks, while advertising from Sinclair Oil, the airline's exclusive lubricant supplier, reflects the close relationship between aviation and the petroleum industry during the period.
Chicago and Southern Air Lines
Founded in 1933, Chicago and Southern Air Lines built its reputation around efficient north-south service connecting the Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast. The airline became known for dependable operations and competitive fares before expanding into international routes in the Caribbean and Latin America. In 1953 the company merged with Delta Air Lines, bringing an end to one of America's most successful regional carriers. Today, pieces such as this offer a glimpse into a vanished era when airlines could thrive by specializing in a single well-defined route and cultivating a distinct regional identity.
CONDITION
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622