Skip to main content

Purdue University. School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

 Organization

Historical Information

On July 1, 1945, the School of Aeronautical Engineering became its own unit, separating from the School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. At the time the entire operation of the School was located at the Purdue University airport in two large buildings, with separate programs offered in aeronautical engineering and in air transportation. Elmer F. Bruhn, who had been head of the School since its beginning, decided in 1949 to return to teaching and research rather than continue in administration. A search was immediately begun for a new head. By midsummer of 1950 Dean Andrey A. Potter announced the appointment of Dr. Milton U. Clauser as the new head of the School effective September 1, 1950.

The School initially offered Bachelor of Science degrees in both aeronautical engineering and the new field of air transportation, with the first Masters degrees awarded in 1947, and the first PhD granted in 1950. Both programs were popular following World War II, as returning veterans brought total undergraduate enrollment to 736 students in 1947. Although the air transportation program was initially well accepted, and graduates received good positions in industry, enrollments declined, and the air transportation degree was discontinued in 1955.

The School merged with the Division of Engineering Science in 1960, and changed its name to the School of Aeronautical and Engineering Sciences. This joint program continued until the engineering sciences effort was ended in 1972, and the name changed again to the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Found in 19 Collections and/or Records:

Neil A. Armstrong papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 5
Scope and Contents The Neil A. Armstrong papers document the military, aeronautics, astronautics, teaching and corporate business career of Neil A. Armstrong. The papers also feature items from Armstrong's youth and education. The collection includes but is not limited to documents, coursework, working papers, subject files, correspondence, writings, speeches, recordings, photographs and newspaper clippings. The papers are divided into eighteen series, and further information on the scope and content of the...
Dates: 1671 - 2012; Majority of material found within 1960 - 2012
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Purdue University Department of Aviation Technology records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 12
Scope and Contents The Purdue University Department of Aviation Technology records document the historical background of the department, the Purdue University Airport, and key moments in the history of aviation in Tippecanoe County. Scrapbooks compiled by the department provide a rich collection of photographs and news clippings which highlight key historical moments, individuals, additions of labs and simulators, and aircraft at the Purdue University Airport. Publications among the...
Dates: 1928 - 2010; Other: Majority of material found within 1970 - 1999
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Mark N. Brown papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 302
Scope and Contents The Mark N. Brown papers include papers and memorabilia of retired astronaut and Purdue Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering alumnus, Mark N. Brown. Included are Brown's textbooks from his studies at Purdue, Air Force ROTC certificate, Apollo program photographs that were pinned to Brown's Purdue dorm room wall while he was a student in the early 1970s, a Purdue paper airplane contest trophy, along with other Purdue memorabilia.  The collection also includes NASA...
Dates: 1963 - 1991
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Mark Brown United States Space Shuttle Patches collection

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSA 274
Scope and Contents

The Mark Brown United States Space Shuttle Patches collection consists of two Space Shuttle patches with certificates of authenticity, signed by Purdue alum and Mission Specialist, Colonel Mark N. Brown. The patches include: Thirtieth Flight of the Space Shuttle (STS-28), Columbia, August 8 - 13, 1989 and Forty-third Flight of the Space Shuttle (STS-48), Discovery, September 12 - 18, 1991.  Also included is a copy of a letter from the donor, Curtis Haley to Ms. Flanary.

Dates: 1989 - 2009
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Charles F. Bolden Jr. lecture

 Collection — Box Communal Collections 62, Placement: 10
Identifier: MSP 177
Scope and Contents

The Charles F. Bolden, Jr. lecture (2010, 0.1 cubic feet) documents a lecture given by Charles F. Bolden, then 12th admnistrator of NASA. The lecture was given as part of the William E. Boeing Distinguished Lecture series on September 7, 2010 in Fowler Hall and was open to the general public. The collection contains one DVD.

Dates: 2010; Other: Date acquired: 04/09/2012
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Lana Murphy Couch papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 312
Scope and Contents

The Lana Murphy Couch papers document Couch's forty year career with NASA, first as a wind tunnel test engineer, and later in management positions. Types of materials include: correspondence, newsletters, papers, photographs, programs, publications, research and work reports, technical reports, VHS tapes, writings, and material related to award recognition.

Dates: 1953 - 1997; Majority of material found within 1970 - 1995
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Harold M. DeGroff, Jr. papers

 Collection — Box 1: Series MSF 477, Series 1; Series MSF 477, Series 2; Series MSF 477, Series 3; Series MSF 477, Series 4
Identifier: MSF 477
Scope and Contents The Harold M. DeGroff, Jr. papers document aspects of the career of longtime Purdue University faculty member and former Dean of Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics from 1955-1963, during the height of the "space race." Some of the featured items in the collection are a letter of recommendation for assignment to the Naval V-12 College of Training Program and a notice of separation from the United States Naval Service. Items pertaining to DeGroff's Purdue career...
Dates: 1943 - 2010; Other: Majority of material found within 1951 - 1968
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Alten F. Grandt, Jr. papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 528
Scope and Contents The papers consist of research files on the history of aerospace engineering (AAE) at Purdue University, photographs, annual reports, annual research reports, curricula, student lists, AAE faculty and staff information, pamphlets, news clippings (some related to Purdue astronaut alumni), and copies of the book, One Small Step: the History of Aerospace Engineering at Purdue, by Grandt, Gustafson, and Carigino. There is also a copy of “Aeronautical Engineering at Purdue University from 1950 to...
Dates: 1902 - 2016
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Winthrop A. Gustafson papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 522
Scope and Contents This collection includes photographs of astronauts, mission launch invitations, clippings, mission patches, and writings. Many items relate to or are from Purdue astronaut John Blaha and other Purdue astronauts whom had a connection to Professor Gustafson. Also includes Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics alumni newsletters and other publications. Lastly, there is a matted photograph of Earth presented to Dr. Gustafson in gratitude for his work as Co-Op coordinator for...
Dates: 1984 - 2011
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

James M. Longuski papers

 Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 2025-035
Dates: 1949 - 2015
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

George M. Palmer papers

 Collection — Box Box 1
Identifier: MSF 482
Abstract

Student course assignment results for AE 420, titled "Extrapolation 59," completed by K.E. Beyer, R. B. Chaffee, W. B. Fouts, and W. D. Harvey, May 23, 1957.

Dates: 1957
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Purdue University Astronaut Alumni posters

 Unprocessed Material — Folder 2024-047
Identifier: 2025-047
Dates: 1997 - 2005
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Purdue University Boeing Wind Tunnel scrapbook and School of Aeronautics and Astronautics photographs

 Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 2024-051
Dates: 1949 - 1991
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics brochure

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: UA 46
Scope and Contents

The Purdue University School of Aeronautics brochure (circa 1950s; 1 item) includes photographs of the Purdue Airport and laboratories, Aeronautical Engineering and Air Transportation curricula, outlines and descriptions.

Dates: circa 1950s; Other: Date acquired: 11/09/2012
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics records

 Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 2025-036
Dates: 1935 - 2017
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

John R. Simmons student papers

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSA 313
Scope and Contents The John R. Simmons student papers document some of the coursework Simmons completed while an Aeronautical Engineering student at Purdue from 1950-1954. Included are "AE-90 Class Div. A" assignments/tests, and various English essays. Also included among the papers is a report titled, "Aircraft Powerplant Testing," by the instructional staff of the Powerplant Division of the School of Aeronautics, Purdue University, September 1951, and several type-written sheets of Civil Air regulations....
Dates: 1943 - 1951
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Paul E. Stanley papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 50
Scope and Contents The Paul E. Stanley papers document the earliest years of the School of Aeronautics and the planning that went into creating the school. Other material among the papers pertain to the early years of the Purdue Airport and Division of Engineering Sciences. Neil Armstrong was a student of Stanley's, and there are clippings, front pages of newspapers, reports, an invitation sent by Armstrong to Stanley for his homecoming celebrating in Wapakoneta, Ohio, along with other pre and post-Apollo 11...
Dates: 1909 - 1972; Majority of material found within 1947 - 1969
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Totsye Harper Winslow collection on the Curtiss-Wright Cadettes

 Collection — Box Box 1
Identifier: MSA 195
Scope and Contents The Totsye Harper Winslow papers on the Curtis-Wright Cadettes (1943-1997; 0.25 cubic feet) documents role and history of the Curtis-Wright Cadettes at Purdue and in the Curtis-Wright Corporation during World War II.  Photographs, newsletter, and clippings document their time at Purdue as well as the Engineering Cadette Program.  Programs, newsletters, and papers document local and national reunions of the cadettes, as well as their history.  Also included is information on the individual...
Dates: 1943 - 1995; Other: Date acquired: 11/04/2008
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Maurice J. Zucrow papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 428
Scope and Contents The Maurice J. Zucrow papers document aspects of Zucrow's career in the areas of gas turbines and rocket propulsion. Included among the papers are his authored or co-authored reports, papers, books, and Purdue University Engineering Experiment Station bulletins. Many of the books include his annotations or copies Zucrow designated as "master copy," with extensive marginalia. Also included are some of the textbooks Zucrow used as a student, and other reference books he used in his career....
Dates: 1925 - 1965; Other: Majority of material found within circa 1940s - 1969
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections