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 243 Collections and/or Records:
William P. Duncan papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 500
Scope and Contents
The William P. Duncan papers document Duncan'a undergraduate education at the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation and his graduate school work at Purdue University in the School of Education. Also included are papers from his early years as a Purdue University instructor in the Aviation Technician Program, Technical Institutes, Division of Technical Extension, along with the Purdue Aeronautics Corporation maintenance manual and the revisions it went through from 1956-1958....
Dates:
1951 - 1994; Other: Majority of material found within 1951 - 1959
Charles M. Ehresman papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 490
Scope and Contents
The Charles M. Ehresman papers document the work and professional activities of Charles M. Ehresman, designer of Purdue University's High Pressure Rocket Laboratory, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, and operations manager of Purdue's Thermal Sciences and Propulsion Center (known today as Zucrow Laboratories). The collection also documents the design and construction of the High Pressure Rocket Laboratory and its early administration and operations, as well as materials...
Dates:
1897 - 2011; Other: Majority of material found within 1960 - 1972; Other: Majority of material found within 1997 - 2009
Yuri Gagarin Song Book and Commemorative Matches Box Set
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 205
Scope and Contents
The Yuri Gagarin Song Book and Commemorative Matches Box Set honors Gagarin's achievement as the first person in space. The collection includes a commemorative poem and song book from Moscow (1962) honoring cosmonaut Gagarin and his fellow cosmonauts; Gherman Titov, Andriyan Nikolayev, and Pavel Popovich, the first four Soviets in space. Also included is a commemorative box set of matches. The illustrated souvenir box (9 ¼" x 11 ½") contains 28 individual illustrated boxes of matches,...
Dates:
1934 - 1968
Charles C. Bock, Jr. papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 315
Scope and Contents
The Charles C. Bock, Jr. papers document the vast career of a test pilot. Within the collection, there is material about the Bell X-2, the X-15 (Rocket aircraft), the SR-71 Blackbird (Jet reconnaissance plane), the Rockwell B-1 (Bomber), and many other types of experimental aircraft. Included are photographs of fellow Purdue University alumni and "America's No. 1 Spaceman" Iven C. Kincheloe, Jr. In addition to the thirty-one photographs, the collection consists of nine 16mm films, one of...
Dates:
1956 - 2014
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
William R. Pogue papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 208
Scope and Contents
The William R. Pogue papers document aspects of William (Bill) R. Pogue's career as an astronaut. The papers include Pogue's autobiography, a DVD by Pogue; "We're go for launch to zero-g: a DVD video all about: living in space." The DVD features astronauts from 1961 to 1994, as they live, work, and cope in the zero gravity of space flight.Also included is a copy of a signed letter from Albert Einstein to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in regards to research on the atomic bomb....
Dates:
1939 - 2011; Other: Majority of material found within 1963 - 1994
John Dean scrapbook page and Purdue diploma
Collection — Communal collections box 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
Paul Roscoe collection of astronaut photographs
Collection — Box Box 1
Identifier: MSP 106
Scope and Contents
The Paul Roscoe collection of astronaut photographs (circa 1960s; 0.2 cubic feet) documents members of the NASA astronaut corps, NASA administration, and the Saturn missile. It includes both headshots and group photographs of various NASA personnel from the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. The headshots are solely of astronauts, some in their spacesuits. One notable photograph shows the Saturn missile, which was used during the Apollo missions to the moon, sitting at the launch pad. ...
Dates:
circa 1960s; Other: Date acquired: 01/02/2013
Len Cormier papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 207
Scope and Contents
The Len Cormier papers document Cormier's work as a commercial space flight pioneer. The majority of the papers include drawings, designs, blueprints, and papers related to engineer Cormier's work to design commercial reusable launch vehicles and other orbital vehicles. Types of materials include blueprints, business documents, CAD files, engineering designs, family documents, maps, a model (Space Van), papers, posters, research material, reports, topographical maps, and VHS tapes.
Dates:
1944 - 2008; Majority of material found within 1980 - 2007
Pierre J. Thuot papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 179
Scope and Contents
The Pierre J. Thuot papers document the three shuttle missions that Thuot flew. These were STS-36, STS-49, and STS-62. Within the collection, there is material on all three but with the main focus on STS-49. There is little information about STS-36 because it is still classified by the U.S. government. Included in the collection are over 50 color photographs of Thuot training for the Intelsat VI capture that he performed on STS-49. In addition to the photographs, included in...
Dates:
1989 - 1994
Chesterfield H. Janes papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 301
Scope and Contents
The Chesterfield H. Janes papers document the life of Janes as a Purdue student and as an IBM employee. Included within this collection are items from Janes stay in the X-Hall (presently called Meredith Hall), some memorabilia of the NASA astronauts, a collection of space related stamps and first day covers, and photographs of the Apollo-Saturn 202 (AS-202) launch. Strengths in this collection are the X-Hall ephemeral materials. Included are receipts from the housing contract...
Dates:
1953 - 2012; Other: Majority of material found within 1953 - 1975
George M. Palmer papers
Collection — Communal collections box 86: Series MSP 128, Series 3, Placement: 13
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
David C. Leestma papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 193
Scope and Contents
The David C. Leestma papers document his personal experience as an astronaut during the early years of the Space Shuttle program and as a NASA manager and director. Included are papers related to the three missions for which he served as a mission specialist; STS-41-G, STS-28, and STS-45. Leestma later served as manager and director at the Johnson Space Center's Astronaut Office, Flight Crew Operations Directorate, Advanced Planning Office and for initiatives such as the Space...
Dates:
1969 - 2015; Majority of material found within 1982 - 1998
Ralph H. Schneck Military collection
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 123
Scope and Contents
The Ralph H. Schneck Military collection (2.2 cubic feet; 1854-1973) documents Ralph H. Schneck’s childhood, military training, and service in the United States Army Air Corps. The collection includes personal correspondence, photo albums with detailed captions, artifacts and a DVD of Schneck giving a personal account of his childhood until his enlisting in the Army. Schneck’s correspondence and photographs in particular give a rare, detailed glimpse into the daily existence of a soldier...
Dates:
1854 - 1973; Other: Date acquired: 01/07/2013
Ralph S. Johnson papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 25
Scope and Contents
The Ralph S. Johnson papers document the pioneering aviation career of Ralph S. Johnson. Included among the papers are aeronautical engineering drawings done by Johnson, along with articles and papers authored by him. The newspaper clippings, awards, and honorary Doctorate of Engineering from Purdue University focus on the latter part of his career, as he was being recognized as an aviation pioneer. The biographical information was often collected and written by the authors, as a...
Dates:
1924 - 2010; Majority of material found within 1930 - 1947
Collection on A. A. Sego
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 30
Scope and Contents
The Collection on A. A. Sego documents the life and career of Sego, a 1917 Purdue alumnus and test pilot. The collection includes Sego's 1917 leather bound Gala Week program, one photograph of Sego in his aviator helmet, and several photocopied articles pertaining to his life and career.
Dates:
1917 - 2004; Majority of material found within 1917 - 1919
Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program collection
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSO 1
Scope and Contents
The Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program collection documents the history of Purdue University. The collection consists of recordings and transcripts of oral history interviews conducted with individuals associated with Purdue University.
Dates:
2006-
Jack A. Marchand papers on the Voyager Project
Collection — Communal collections box 37, Placement: 02
Identifier: MSF 353
Scope and Contents
The Jack A. Marchand papers on the Voyager Project are papers, newsletters, and correspondence Marchand collected as part of the volunteer team for the Voyager Project. Many of Marchand's students at Purdue University wrote reports on the Voyager Project.
Dates:
1986 - 1990
Rose Bowl ticket envelope signed by Purdue astronauts
Collection — Communal collections box 73, Placement: 1
Identifier: MSP 249
Scope and Contents
One Rose Bowl ticket envelope, signed by Purdue astronauts Neil Armstrong, Eugene Cernan, Roger Chaffee, and Gus Grissom in 1967. Signatures were collected by Dean O. D. Roberts and his wife.
Dates:
1967
Doris Hurt Powers papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 2
Scope and Contents
The Doris Hurt Powers papers (1942 – 2008; 2 cubic feet) documents the student, aviation, and business activities of Doris Hurt Powers. Powers’ experience as a woman breaking into the male-dominated fields of engineering and aeronautics is well documented through autobiographical speeches and her memoir Nothing but Blue Skies. One strength of the collection are the speeches delivered by Powers that address the particular challenges and opportunities...
Dates:
1945-2011; Other: Date acquired: 03/04/2009
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
Paul Church papers
Collection — Communal collections box 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
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
Mark K. Craig papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 81
Scope and Contents
The Mark K. Craig papers document Purdue alumnus (BSAE 1971) Mark Craig's almost fifty year career in space exploration. Craig contributed to the Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz, Space Shuttle, Space Station, Mars Rover Sample Return, and Lunar-Mars Exploration programs in positions progressing from co-op intern to NASA Assistant Administrator. The papers also reflect Craig’s work on space policy and NASA strategic planning. The collection notably includes materials related to the...
Dates:
1917 - 2016; Majority of material found within 1980 - 2000
George W. Haskins papers
Collection — Communal collections box 24, Placement: 03
Identifier: MSF 166
Scope and Contents
One folder containing an article about George Haskins becoming Head of the Aviation Department at Purdue, and an article by him.
Dates:
1919