Clippings, miscellaneous museum, circa 1980

This sub-series contains materials collected and compiled by Viola L. Armstrong about or related to her son, Neil A. Armstrong. Of note is a scrapbook which contains significant items from Armstrong's childhood, teenage years and beyond. Among the items in the scrapbook are Armstrong's first grade artwork, cards, clippings, elementary and high school grades, certificates, programs from school events, membership cards, scout history, a common logarithms notebook, a history assignment, war ration books and a few items from his early Navy days. Other items are a Valentine from Armstrong'’s son, Ricky to his grandmother, Viola, a booklet featuring Purdue fraternities, a program from the Purdue convocation when Armstrong was conferred with an honorary doctorate, miscellaneous thumbnail photographs from NASA, many featuring Armstrong and Apollo 11. There are also items from Armstrong's community service efforts; a Lions Club calendar featuring honorary member Armstrong on the cover and a 1973 Easter Seals newsletter containing an article about Armstrong's efforts to launch the Ohio campaign. Viola Armstrong also placed poetry written by Armstrong's brother, Dean in the scrapbook, a family history she had written, various letters, some written by Armstrong in his youth, and miscellaneous family mementos. Box two contains manuscripts by Viola Armstrong, correspondence, clippings, a photo album from a plaque dedication and a sketch of Armstrong and his parents done by Richard Chadwick, a Wapakoneta art teacher. The "Individual High School Report," cards from Upper Sandusky High School were not originally with the family material. They were placed in the series for ease of use by researchers. The “Apollo 11” binder material remains in original order, but it was removed from the binder for preservation purposes. The material is composed of items related to Apollo 11 that Viola Armstrong had collected; correspondence, cards, clippings, pamphlets, brochures, prayers and miscellaneous items. Of special note are four small slips of paper Viola had written on as the day progressed on July 20, 1969. It provides insight into her thoughts that day as the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander approached the lunar surface. Also found among the binder material is a signed proclamation by the President of the United States of America, Gerald Ford, declaring Space Exploration Day, 1976.

The second binder included in this series is the "Museum" binder. The binder material has been removed from the binder but retained in its original order. Its contents relate to the Neil A. Armstrong Museum, Wapakoneta, Ohio and various events held at the museum. Among the items is correspondence, including a letter on White House stationery from Pat Nixon to Mrs. Stephen K. Armstrong; lists of items on loan to the museum; numerous clippings, some related to Apollo 11 anniversary events held at the museum or in Wapakoneta; newsletters; news releases; pamphlets, museum stationery and miscellaneous ephemera.