Description printed on back of photograph: "A group at the State Department. Left to Right: Edward Lund, Harry MC. Connor, Howard Hughes, Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Lt. Thomas Thurlow and Richard Stoddart. July 1938."
Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes is appointed Aeronautic Adviser to the New York Worlds Fair 1939 by Grover Whalen, its president."