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 243 Collections and/or Records:

Albert and John Bresnik film of Amelia Earhart

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 330
Content Description

This 16mm film shows Albert Bresnik photographing Amelia Earhart on and around her Lockheed Electra 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 — Communal collections box 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 — Communal collections box 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

Frank Evar Schultz papers

 Collection — Communal collections box 86: Series MSP 128, Series 3
Identifier: MSP 334
Scope and Contents

Includes one U.S. Department of Commerce "Pilot Rating Book for Navy", used by the Purdue Aeronautics Corp. at the Purdue University airport, belonging to Frank Evar Schultz. Also included are four postcards with handwriting from this time period, with one depicting the Purdue University airport, one depicting the Purdue Memorial Union, and two commemorating Schultz's first solo flight.

Dates: 1943

Elizabeth Speirs collection on Ramoth H. Trask

 Collection — Communal collections box 86: Series MSP 128, Series 3
Identifier: MSP 335
Scope and Contents

Includes Ramoth H. Trask's student pilot's permit from 1928, newspaper clippings of her obituary and posthumous donations to Purdue, and a photograph of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority in 1919 where Trask was a member.

Dates: 1919 - 1973

Donald K. Slayton typed manuscript on Project Mercury

 Collection — Communal collections box 73, Placement: 06
Identifier: MSP 138
Scope and Contents Includes one undated manuscript comprised of 11 typed pages. It is titled, "Status of Project Mercury From the Test Pilot's Viewpoint" appears to be a paper given at a conference, possibly the 1959 meeting of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. The paper discusses the original objectives of Project Mercury, delays the project is experiencing - specifically delays in the initial capsule delivery, outlines general problem areas with the program thus far, and discusses pilot training...
Dates: ca. 1959

Sirisha Bandla Purdue pennant Flown on Virgin Galactic Unity 22 Mission

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSA 407
Scope and Contents

One Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics black, gold, and white pennant. Pennant is signed on the reverse "FLOWN ON UNITY 7/11/21 S. Bandla #004". Bandla noted that the pennant was tucked into her inside pocket of her spacesuit during the test flight.

Dates: July 11, 2021

Audrey Powers papers

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSA 408
Scope and Contents This collection includes materials related to Audrey Powers's flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle, flight NS18 on October 13, 2021. Includes items Powers took on flight NS18 including a Purdue University pennant and two Blue Origin flight tags sent to Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics inscribed and signed with "Thank you -Audrey." Also includes a handwritten, custom greeting card from Powers to Dr. William Crossley, Head of Purdue University School of Aeronautics...
Dates: 2021 - 2021

Loral O'Hara's International Space Station Interview

 Collection — Digital folder MSA00409 Loral O'Hara's International Space Station Interview
Identifier: MSA 409
Scope and Contents

An interview between Purdue University students and NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara (MSAAE '09) during her Expedition 70 mission on the International Space Station (ISS). O'Hara answers questions about her experiences on the ISS, work and research, and advice for students interested in becoming astronauts.

Dates: 2024-01-03

Space and Flight Recordings collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 5
Scope and Contents

This collection contains Flight and Space recordings. Included are films produced by the Audio-Visual Center Motion Picture Production Units. These recordings contain footage of Astronauts visiting campus and extra stock footage used by the Motion Picture Production Unit for their films.

This collection contains flight and space recordings made for educational uses. Many recordings were produced by NASA.

Dates: 1939 - 2012

Frederick J. Noonan and Mary Beatrice Noonan papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 224
Abstract

Correspondence, photographs, newsclippings, and scrapbook, relating to Frederick Noonan’s career as a navigator for Pan American Airways China Clipper and as navigator for Amelia Earhart’s 1937 world flight attempt.

Dates: 1930-2008; Majority of material found within 1930-1937

Robert Lanson Dunham papers on George Pickels

 Collection — Communal collections box 86: Series MSP 128, Series 3
Identifier: MSS 3
Scope and Contents

Materials include one black and white photograph of Pickels with three other men at the Purdue University Airport. One of the men is Robert Lanson Dunham, roommate of Pickels. Also included is a clipping from the Purdue Exponent discussing Pickels's death.

Dates: ca. 1940

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

Neil deGrasse Tyson lecture

 Unprocessed Material — Box Envelope 1
Identifier: 20140425.6

Purdue University Aeronautics records

 Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 20070726
Dates: circa 1940 - 1981

Purdue University Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories records, addition 02

 Unprocessed Material — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20161007

Betty Nelson papers on Janice Voss

 Unprocessed Material — Communal collections box 16
Identifier: 20111014.1

South Shore Country Club program

 Unprocessed Material — Communal accessions box 14
Identifier: 20111007.1

Roberta Gleiter papers, addition 06

 Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 20120216

Jerry L. Ross papers, addition 13

 Unprocessed Material — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20170427