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 251 Collections and/or Records:
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
Frederick L. Martin collection
Collection — Communal collections box 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
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
Faith Wayne Pearson papers
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSA 258
Scope and Contents
This collection includes clippings and articles pertaining to Pearson’s aviation activities while at Purdue, as well as her involvement in the Purdue engineering program, with the debate team, the WBAA campus radio station, Alpha Chi Omega, her acquaintanceship with Dr. Lillian Gilbreth, and her employment in the campus bookstore. The collection also includes photographs of Pearson's aviation activities, in addition to one photograph of Pearson, circa 1995, a speech she composed detailing...
Dates:
1940-2000; Majority of material found in ca. 1940s
Robert Lanson Dunham papers on George Pickels
Collection — Communal collections box 86
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
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
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
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
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
John C. Franks papers on the Civilian Pilot Training Program
Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 171
Scope and Contents
The John C. Franks papers on the Civilian Pilot Training Program include twenty photographs of Franks and a number of unidentified flight students. The subjects of the photographs are the Purdue University Airport, flight students, and airplanes, including a Weaver Aircraft Company of Ohio (WACO) aircraft, and a Howard DGA-18, which was a training aircraft. There is also a photograph of a World War II military fleet. Identifying information is included with the photographs. Along with the...
Dates:
1942 - 1946
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
George Palmer Putnam collection of Amelia Earhart papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 9
Scope and Contents
The George Palmer Putnam collection of Amelia Earhart papers (1785-1948; 31.1 cubic feet) documents the personal life, aviation career, and business activities of pilot Amelia Earhart. Types of materials include: advertisements, articles, artifacts, awards, blueprints, books, certificates, charts, commemorative coins, contracts, correspondence, data sheets, diagrams, ephemera, flight logs, licenses, maps, newspaper clippings, notebooks, notes, permits, photographs, poetry, postage stamps,...
Dates:
1785-1948; Other: Majority of material found within 1928-1937
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
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
Virgil "Gus" I. Grissom papers
Collection — Communal collections box [restricted] 57: Series UA 62, Series 1; Series MSF 508, Series 1; Series UA 153, Series 2; Series UA 15, series 1; Series MSF 529, Series 1; Series MSP 49, Series 1; Series MSF 554, Series 2; Series MSF 554, Series 1; Series MSA 396, Series 4, Placement: 01
Identifier: MSA 130
Scope and Contents
Copies of employment related materials of Mr. Grissom from the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville Railway Company, Monon Route.
Dates:
1947 - 1990
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
Ernest S. Stoops papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 295
Scope and Contents
The papers of Ernest S. Stoop documents the academic and professional career of Ernest S. Stoops, Purdue class of 1949. Collection includes autobiographical literature, professional papers, correspondence, photographs, and artifacts relating to his involvement in the Purdue University Army ROTC and his professional career, most notably his involvement in the development of launch systems for the HELLFIRE missile. Collection includes his ROTC memorabilia and Purdue Zouaves Uniform.
Dates:
Circa 1916 - 2015; Majority of material found within 1940 - 1988
Ruth Senderrek Mecca papers on Curtiss-Wright Engineering Cadettes
Unprocessed Material — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2022-046
Dates:
circa 1944 - 2000
Charter Air Service memorandum
Unprocessed Material — Box Communal Accessions 52
Identifier: 2023-026
Collection of Aircraft Navigation tools and kit
Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 2023-115
Dates:
circa 1940
Charles F. Holleman papers
Unprocessed Material — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2023-122
Dates:
1939 - 1993
Michael Bogner Space Memorabilia collection
Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 2023-123
Amelia Earhart with Lockheed Electra photographic reprint and newspaper clippings
Unprocessed Material — Box Duplicates and Discards Box 1
Identifier: 2023-124
Dates:
2014 - 2018
Apollo 11 California Newspapers collection
Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 20140113.1
Dates:
July 15, 1969 - July 25, 1969
Our Poetic Tribute to Amelia Earhart album
Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 20120416
Dates:
2012