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 186 Collections and/or Records:
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
Roger B. Chaffee letter and postcard
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSA 282
Scope and Contents
The letter dated July 24, 1965 is from Roger Chaffee to his parents. On the reverse is a July 25, 1965 note from Martha Chaffee to her in-laws in which she signs, "Roger, Martha, Sheryl and Steve." In the letter, Roger discussed an upcoming flight and the astronaut's rotation as capsule communicator (CAPCOM). He mentions Gus Grissom, Gene Cernan, Jim McDivitt, Buzz Aldrin and Dave Scott. Both Roger and Martha discuss recent family activities at home. The postcard, dated July 1965, was sent...
Dates:
1967
Purdue Air Race Classic Team papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 54
Scope and Contents
The Purdue Air Race Classic Team papers document the Purdue Air Race Classic teams' involvement in the race. The papers feature Purdue Air Race Classic team photographs, clippings, correspondence, general race information; including participant lists and race results, Purdue team updates provided throughout the races and Air Race Classic programs which document Purdue's involvement in the races from 1994 – 2005. Some of the miscellaneous materials include a pamphlet from the...
Dates:
1994 - 2005
M. Jeanne Lucke papers
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 125
Scope and Contents
The M. Jeanne Lucke papers reflect Lucke's 20 years of employment with the TRW Systems Group in the 1960s-1980s. The types of material consists of an Apollo, Pathfinder and two Spacelab Mission adhesive patches, photographs with detailed descriptions of rocket launches and photographs of the planet Saturn taken from Voyager, along with a Titan IIIE/Centaur D-1T diagram and description. Also included among the items are a Voyager Encounters Jupiter booklet published by the National...
Dates:
1968 - 1985
Collection of Purdue Astronaut slide rules
Collection — Box 8 items
Identifier: MSA 254
Scope and Contents
Slide rules of six Purdue alumni astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Roy Bridges, Eugene Cernan, Richard Covey, Guy Gardner, and Jerry Ross.
Dates:
Other: undated
Collection on the 100th Anniversary of the First Official Airmail, first day cover, related stamps and souvenir booklet
Collection — Communal collections box 1: Series MSF 531, Series 6; Series UA 176, Series 3, Placement: 06, Folder: 1
Identifier: MSA 292
Scope and Contents
The collection contains the 100th Anniversary first day cover of the official airmail, Balloon "Jupiter," Lafayette, Indiana, 1859 and a copy of the souvenir booklet issued at that time. It also contains four United States, "Jupiter" postage stamps, commemorating the 100th anniversary in 1959. There are six other air mail stamps featured in the collection.An addition of two envelopes commemorating the world's first air mail flight and stamped with, "Via, Purdue Airplane - Capt....
Dates:
1859 - 1959
Martin L. Thornburg papers
Collection — Box Communal Collections 38, Placement: 16
Identifier: MSF 381
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of one folder which contains a paper by M. L. Thornburg.
Dates:
1923
Eugene A. Cernan "High Flight" poem
Collection — Box Communal Collections 68: Series MSP 194, Series 2; Series MSP 160, Series 5; Series UA 160, Series 6; Series UA 20, Series 6; Series UA 20, Series 7; Series MSA 371, Series 1; Series MSA 371, Series 2; Series UA 182, Series 2; Series MSP 311, Series 3; Series MSF 447, Series 1; Series MSA 320, Series 2; Series MSF 555, Series 4; Series UA 182, Series 4; Series MSF 553, Series 5; Series MSF 553, Series 10, Placement: 04
Identifier: MSP 149
Scope and Contents
Copy of "High Flight" poem by John Gillespie Magee Jr., affixed to board. The poem was taken by Eugene A. Cernan on Apollo 10's mission to the moon, May 18 - 26, 1969. It is inscribed by Cernan; "To Mitch Simmons - So as never to forget we took this copy of High Flight to the moon on Apollo X 18-26 May 1969. You above all can appreciate it's significance, Sincerely Gene Cernan."
The letter of authenticity was signed by Cernan on August 25, 2010 and is housed with the poem.
Dates:
circa 1969
Albert and John Bresnik film of Amelia Earhart
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 330
Content Description
This 16mm film shows Amelia Earhart as she is being photographed on and around her Lockheed Electra by Albert Bresnik in Burbank, California.
Dates:
May 20, 1937
Twentieth century aviation film
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 331
Content Description
Includes a film showing an unidentified aviator, biplane, and flight over what appears to be Los Angeles, California. Approximately 350 ft of DuPont 35 mm black and white camera original negative without splices. (circa 1934-1935)
Dates:
circa 1934 - 1935
Charles H. Daudt First National Intercollegiate Air Meet scrapbook
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSA 236
Scope and Contents
This scrapbook documents the administration, participants, and results of the first National Intercollegiate Air Meet held June 21-22, 1935 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The scrapbook, created by the air meet manager, Charles H. Daudt, includes entry forms, race event rules, race maps, publicity material, participant scores for each event, and results. The scrapbook also includes correspondence related to the original donation of the scrapbook by Charles Daudt in 1976 to...
Dates:
1934 - 1976; Majority of material found within 1934 - 1935
Terry White photographs of Amelia Earhart
Collection — Box Communal Collections 70, Placement: 05
Identifier: MSP 321
Scope and Contents
Includes ten 3"x5" black and white photographs taken by Terry White of Amelia Earhart in Hawaii on her first world flight attempt in 1937.
Dates:
1937
Neil A. Armstrong Interview by Certified Practicing Accountants of Australia video recording
Collection — Digital folder MSP 322 Neil A. Armstrong Interview by CPA of Australia video recording
Identifier: MSP 322
Scope and Contents
This interview was conducted by Alex Malley, CEO of the Certified Practicing Accountants of Australia (CPA Australia) and originally appeared publicly in four parts on CPA Australia's website during the spring 2012. The interview is an edited version of Neil Armstrong's last public interview. CPA Australia removed Alex Malley from the recording and edited in Malley's interview questions as text frames. In this edited version, Armstrong appears with green screen format as background. The...
Dates:
2012
Clarence Frank Cornish papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 323
Scope and Contents
The Clarence Frank Cornish papers consist of letters, correspondence, photographs, awards and certificates, flight logs, aviator textiles and goggles, newspaper clippings, and artifacts documenting Clarence "Cap" Frank Cornish's air training and service during World War One, his service at Army Air Forces Headquarters during World War Two, his work for the Aeronautics Commission of Indiana, his participation in several aeronautical organizations, and his role in the development aeronautics...
Dates:
1908 - 2018; Majority of material found within 1917 - 1995
Rudolph Van Meter photographs of Amelia Earhart
Collection — Box Communal Collections 42, Placement: 2, Folder: 1
Identifier: MSP 6
Scope and Contents
The Rudolph Van Meter photographs of Amelia Earhart contains 12 photographs, most taken by Van Meter of Earhart in Hawaii, during her first world flight attempt. Also included are a photograph of Rudolph "Rudy" Van Meter and photographs taken by the US army.
Dates:
1937
Purdue Space Day student organization records
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 190
Content Description
Includes Flight Space Day booklets (1996-2012), 3.5" floppy discs, individual photographs of participating astronauts, thank you letters, and news clippings.
Dates:
1996 - 2023
Clifford W. Henderson Collection on the National Air Races
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 308
Scope and Contents
The Clifford Henderson Collection on the National Air Races consists of a scrapbook of newspaper clippings of the 1928 National Air Races and Aeronautical Exposition, two autograph albums with comments and signatures of attendees from the 1929 and 1932 National Air Race competitions, and one photo album of the photographs from the 1929 races. Many of the notable pilots of the 1920s and 1930s are included in the collection, including:Pancho Barnes, Vincent Bendix, Amelia Earhart,...
Dates:
1928 - 1936
Collection of Amelia Earhart related materials
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 188
Scope and Contents
The Collection of Amelia Earhart related materials consists of items collected by the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections over the years as a supplement to the George Palmer Putnam collection of Amelia Earhart papers. There are numerous articles about Earhart, including information about her relationship with Purdue University and activities held in her honor. The collection also contains firsthand accounts of encounters with Earhart written by those who knew her while she was...
Dates:
1928 - 2010; Majority of material found within 1928 - 1990
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
Zelda Gould collection of Amy Otis Earhart correspondence and photographs
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 79
Scope and Contents
The Zelda Gould collection of Amy Otis Earhart correspondence and photographs documents the thoughts and feelings Amelia Earhart's mother, Amy Otis Earhart, was experiencing after the disappearance of her daughter, and then coming to terms with her fate. Topics also include World War II and the events following the war, politics and elections, current events of the era, hobbies, personal concerns, thank-you notes, among other topics. There are some newspaper clippings about...
Dates:
1930 - 1950; Majority of material found within 1940 - 1949
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-
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
Jack A. Marchand papers on the Voyager Project
Collection — Box Communal Collections 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