Skip to main content

Flight and Space. Barron Hilton Flight and Space Exploration Archives

 Collecting Area
Identifier: Flight and Space
Purdue Archives and Special Collections' collection of primary source materials on the history and development of powered flight began in 1940 with the gift of aviator Amelia Earhart's papers by her husband, George Palmer Putnam. Since that initial donation, the number of flight-related archival collections has increased to reflect the steady growth of faculty and alumni contributions to the development of flight and later, space exploration. The Barron Hilton Flight and Space Exploration Archives was established in 2011 with generous support provided by Barron Hilton and the Conrad Hilton Foundation and now includes the papers of engineers, aviation professionals, scholars, and astronauts including Purdue distinguished alumni such as Neil A. Armstrong and Eugene Cernan.

Found in 249 Collections and/or Records:

Zoe Dell Nutter papers

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 81
Scope and Contents

This collection contains aviation-related serial publications, copies of photographs, National Aviation Hall of Fame programs, and clippings pertaining to the life of aviatrix Zoe Dell Nutter.

Dates: 1965 - 2010

Aldrin Family papers

 Collection — Box Box 1
Identifier: MSP 18
Scope and Contents

The Aldrin Family papers include an autobiography of Robert Hutchings Goddard, letters, notes, and newspaper articles relating to Robert Goddard and rocketry, compiled by Edwin E. Aldrin, Sr, father of astronaut Buzz Aldrin. The papers are organized into three series.

Dates: 1929-2007; Other: Date acquired: 12/09/2006

Jerome M. Goldman papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 461
Scope and Contents The Jerome Goldman papers document Goldman's career as a Purdue University student in Aeronautical Engineering, his service in the United States Army Air Corp and his work afterwards as a pilot for United Air Lines, along with his key role in establishing Purdue Aeronautics Corporation and Purdue Air Lines as chief pilot, director of operations, and later vice president for operations and maintenance. Also included are papers from his work with International Learning Systems, the Federal...
Dates: 1941 - 1972; Other: Majority of material found within 1965 - 1972

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

Emilio Salazar papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 23
Scope and Contents The Emilio Salazar papers document flight instruction at the Purdue Aeronautical Corporation (PAC), and maintenance from the post World War II era to the 1970s. The majority of the papers date from 1950-1970. Aircraft covered by these materials are the DC-3, DC-6B, and DC-9. Many of the instructional materials used by PAC and Purdue Airlines were donated from major airlines such as: Eastern, United, Pan American, and Braniff. Materials from Salazar's later career cover pilot rules and...
Dates: 1928 - 1975; Majority of material found within 1950 - 1970

Cecil F. Warner papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 498
Scope and Contents The Cecil F. Warner papers document his teaching and research career dedicated to the areas of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, gas turbines, rocket propulsion and air pollution. The papers also reflect Warner's involvement within the community and countless volunteer hours committed to Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Kiwanis, First United Methodist Church and Home Hospital.Types of materials include: artifacts, audiovisual materials, booklets, books, CD-ROMs,...
Dates: 1921 - 2007; Other: Majority of material found within 1940 - 2010

Eugene Cernan's Framed Compilation of Flags and Patches, Carried to Moon on Apollo 10

 Collection — Item 1
Identifier: MSA 271
Scope and Contents One framed artifact containing a small American flag, two space mission patches (Gemini IX, Stafford-Cernan) and (Apollo X, Stafford-Young-Cernan), a Purdue University Centennial Year flag (1869-1969), and a note from astronaut Eugene Cernan, "These flags and patches were carried to the moon on Apollo 10. Presented to the faculty and students of Purdue University by Commander Gene Cernan. My sincere thanks to all at Purdue for helping make this accomplishment possible." (Signed by Eugene...
Dates: 1969

Karl D. Wood papers

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSF 464
Scope and Contents

The Karl D. Wood papers document the teaching and aeronautical engineering career of Karl D. Wood. Types of materials include: correspondence, calendar notations, miscellaneous papers and newspaper clippings.

Dates: 1935 - 1967; Majority of material found within 1942 - 1946

James M. Johnson papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 13
Scope and Contents

The James M. Johnson papers document the career of pilot James Johnson (Jimmy Johnson) and his colleagues in early flight and aviation training. Most of the collection is made up of photographs. There are also newspaper clippings and three pilot's log books. The photographs show Johnson individually, Johnson standing with colleagues, Johnson in or near airplanes, and airplanes individually. Many of the photographs were taken at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio.

Dates: 1905 - 1953; Majority of material found within 1905 - 1915

Toni Mayo papers and research files for "Defining Flight"

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 181
Abstract

Documentation and research notes from twenty personal narratives of Huntington County, Indiana pilots and aviatrixes who flew during the early to mid-twentieth century. The research notes from oral histories were used by Toni Mayo in the compilation of her master’s thesis and book, Defining Flight.

Dates: 1911-2003; Other: Majority of material found in 1998-2001; Other: Date acquired: 05/11/2013

Frederick L. Martin collection

 Collection — Box Communal Collections 9: Series MSA 163, Series 1; Series MSA 163, Series 2, Placement: 10
Identifier: MSA 166
Scope and Contents

The papers contain an article which describes the first flight around the world and Major Frederick Martin's part in it.

Dates: 1999

George Palmer Putnam papers

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 20
Scope and Contents The George Palmer Putnam papers are comprised of material from the original files provided by Sally Putnam Chapman, Putnam's granddaughter. Much of the material is correspondence, news clippings, and articles related to the life of Putnam, and various publishing projects. Also included are his will and various obituaries.Some of the unique items feature, "Reminiscences of GPP," by Robert Edwin Lee, playwright, close friend and one time business partner of Putnam; a first draft...
Dates: 1937 - 1999; Other: Majority of material found within 1937 - 1950

KCBS radio show on the disappearance of Amelia Earhart

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 191
Abstract

These audio files were transferred from two reel to reel recordings of a radio show broadcast on KCBS SanFrancisco in 1960. Host Don Mosely speculates on the disappearance of Amelia Earhart.  The first file (1.02 GB) is 30 minutes, and the second file is 24 minutes. The original reels have been retained.

Dates: 1960 - 1960

Paul Church papers

 Collection — Box Communal Collections 4, Placement: 10
Identifier: MSA 67
Scope and Contents

Photographs of Boilermaker Pete, Paul Church's P-47, after frag explosion on takeoff, along with photographs of other pilots. Article about crash, but publication information is not available, 1947.

Dates: undated

James R. Maris papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 478
Scope and Contents The James R. Maris papers document aspects of the Department of Aviation Technology's administration and teaching. Papers include a 1973 department administrative procedures manual; Professor Maris' course outlines, lectures and notes for Aviation Technology 358, Aviation History class, including lecture overheads which provide historical aircraft images, publications and handbooks on aviation careers, records of Purdue's Aviation Technology Flying Club, including meeting minutes, reports,...
Dates: 1944 - 1994; Majority of material found within 1992 - 1993

Michael Terry Keefe papers

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 126
Scope and Contents

The Michael Terry Keefe papers are comprised of news media passes, an adhesive patch, permits and color photographs taken by Michael Terry Keefe, Air Force Master Sergeant, photo journalist, 1955-1977 and retired Civil Service Air Force Chief, photo lab and range, 1977-1998. Some of the photographs include Space Shuttle shots, rocket launches, satellites and views from space. 

Dates: circa 1955-1998; Majority of material found within 1981

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

Gordon Yoder collection of Space Exploration memorabilia

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 292
Scope and Contents The Gordon Yoder collection of Space Exploration memorabilia primarily contains items related to Apollo 11, with additional items related to NASA. Types of items include books and serials, commemorative plates, glassware, liquor bottles, space toys, posters, one of which is related to STS-1, along with other commercially produced commemorative objects produced to celebrate human spaceflight. Of note are issues of The Eagle, the newsletter of the Apollo 11 Collectors Society, magazines and...
Dates: 1964 - 2005

Richard (Dick) G. Strippel Research and Writings on Amelia Earhart

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 204
Scope and Contents The Richard (Dick) G. Strippel Research and Writings on Amelia Earhart (1931-1999; 4.3 cubic feet) comprise the materials used to write the book, Amelia Earhart: the myth and the reality….  Strippel compiled the materials presented here in preparation for the book’s publication. The collection also contains the book proposal and drafts for Amelia Earhart: the myth and the reality…, correspondence related to the publication of...
Dates: 1931-1999; Other: Date acquired: 07/06/2016

Barbara Marie Stephens Sullivan Cape Canaveral and Eau Gallie, Florida photographs and memorabilia

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 202
Scope and Contents The Barbara Marie Stephens Sullivan Cape Canaveral and Eau Gallie, Florida photographs and memorabilia document activities at Cape Canaveral in the late 1950s through early 1960s. Included are selected community and aerospace materials related to the United States Space Program activities at the Cape during the mid-1960s through the 1980s and photographs of Eau Gallie, Florida from this time period.Of note are brochures and commemorative publications of the John F. Kennedy Space...
Dates: 1950 - 1986; Majority of material found within 1965 - 1969

Wilmer and Mildred Stultz papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 209
Scope and Contents The Wilmer and Mildred Stultz papers document the career, travels, and family life of the Stultzes. The photo albums feature some of the 50 planes flown by Stultz, colleagues in the aviation field, aerial photographs of air fields and cities, automobiles from the 1920s, key flights flown by Stultz and events surrounding those flights, including the 1928 flight of the "Friendship" Fokker with Amelia Earhart and Louis Gordon, and other aspects of his career. Types of materials...
Dates: 1917 - 1960; Other: Majority of material found within 1928

John Dean scrapbook page and Purdue diploma

 Collection — Box Communal Collections 49: Series MSA 29, Series 2; Series Series 1; Series Series 2; Series MSF 83, Series 3; Series MSP 142, Series 2, Placement: 03
Identifier: MSA 317
Scope and Contents The collection consists of John I. Dean's 1940 Purdue University diploma, and one scrapbook page belonging to Major Dean. The front page is titled "All Purdue Men," Lubbock Army Flying School, Lubbock Texas, May 1943. The scrapbook second page (or back page) is titled: "My Advanced Flying School Instructor and Students, Lubbock Texas, June 1943." Men identified in the photo are: L-R (standing) Bill Brucker, Al Edes, Burt Walkup (The Instructor), Me [John Irwin Dean], Paul Cooper. L-R...
Dates: 1940 - 1943

J. Michael Murphy papers

 Collection — Box Folder 1
Identifier: MSA 311
Scope and Contents

This collection includes two writings by J. Michael Murphy about his career experiences. One writing, "Papa and the Space Shuttle" was written in 2011 for his grandchildren. The other writing, "Reflection on My Trip to China" was written in 1995 as a reflection.

Dates: 1995-2011; Other: Date acquired: 07/11/2016

William G. Cowdin papers

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSA 310
Scope and Contents The William G. Cowdin papers document Cowdin's role as Aerojet program manager for the Dyna-Soar boost rocket engines. This collection includes two 8" x 10" photographs taken during a 1961 Dyna-Soar full scale mockup review, Boeing Co., Seattle, 1961. The photographs include NASA test pilots and Aerojet project team including Neil Armstrong, William Dana, James Woods, Henry Gordon, William Knight, and Aerojet program manager and Purdue graduate William Cowdin. Also included is a biographical...
Dates: 1961 - 2014

Amelia Earhart Press photographs

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 195
Scope and Contents

This collection consists of two photo albums containing 100 press photographs of Amelia Earhart. Many of the photographs include separate papers with detailed press release information such as places, dates, and individuals' names. Many of the photographs are Associated Press and International Newsreel photographs. There are 48 photographs in album one and 52 photographs in album two.

Dates: 1928 - 1937