Joseph Baylor Roberts, Sr., 1902-1994, served on the photographic staff of National Geographic Magazine from 1936 to 1967. Roberts was a lifelong observer of aviation history, having witnessed the successful demonstration of a military aircraft by the Wright Brothers in 1909. A Marine Corporal between 1919 and 1921, he pioneered photo reconnaissance for the Marine Corps and demonstrated the potential timeliness of aerial photo reconnaissance by photographing President Harding and his guests aboard the presidential yacht enroute from Washington Navy Yards to Quantico and then presenting finished prints to the President on his arrival at the base. He joined the photographic staff of National Geographic Magazine 1936. Roberts retired from U.S. Navy reserve with the rank of Commander 1963 and from the National Geographic Society as Assistant Director of Photography in 1967.