Collection is of artifacts collected since the 1950s for Caribair passenger airline company which ceased operations in 1973.  Caribair, a notable Puerto Rican airline, was founded in 1939 as Caribbean Atlantic Airlines and later rebranded in 1948. It quickly became a beloved choice among both locals and tourists, making its mark as the first Puerto Rican airline to operate jet airplanes on regularly scheduled passenger routes, particularly its fleet of DC-9s.

Initially a subsidiary of National Airlines, Caribair's early operations focused on connecting cities within Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, the airline's status as a subsidiary was short-lived, as the Civil Aeronautics Board revoked this designation soon after its inception. Following its name change in 1950, Caribair experienced rapid expansion, significantly growing its international route network. New destinations included St. Croix, St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, St. Thomas, and the Dominican Republic.

The introduction of DC-9 jets further enhanced Caribair's reputation, enabling service to a wider array of cities, including Martinique, St. Lucia, Aruba, and Kingston. Despite a small fleet, which also included aircraft such as the DC-3, Convair CV-340, Convair CV-440, Lockheed Model 50, Convair CV-640, and Stinson SM-6000, Caribair's varied aircraft aligned well with its operational needs.

In the 1960s, Caribair began operating flights on behalf of Eastern Airlines, a strategic move aimed at increasing Eastern's presence in Puerto Rico. However, by the early 1970s, Eastern recognized that acquiring Caribair outright was the best path forward, especially in the face of rising competition from Delta Air Lines. The acquisition was completed in 1973, effectively marking the end of Caribair as an independent airline. By 1980, Eastern Airlines had absorbed Caribair's fleet and established a hub in San Juan, concluding a significant chapter in Caribbean aviation history.

Link to the collection's finding guide.