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 181 Collections and/or Records:
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 include...
Dates:
1943 - 2010; Other: Majority of material found within 1951 - 1968
Distinguished Engineering Alumni photograph
Unprocessed — Box Communal Accessions 68
Identifier: 2024-019
Dates:
1967
Donald K. Slayton typed manuscript on Project Mercury
Unprocessed — Box Communal Collections 73, Placement: 6
Identifier: 20130614.1
Dates:
circa 1959
William P. Duncan papers
File — 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
Dwight W. Eggleston photographs of Amelia Earhart
Unprocessed — Digital folder 2024-061 Dwight W. Eggleston photographs of Amelia Earhart
Identifier: 2024-061
Dates:
May 31, 1937 - June 1, 1937
Amelia Earhart at Purdue papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 450
Scope and Contents
The Amelia Earhart at Purdue papers document Amelia Earhart's arrival at Purdue University, her time there, and the efforts to memorialize Earhart after her disappearance. Types of materials include correspondence, ephemera, administrative reports, photographs, publicity materials, and speeches.
Dates:
1935 - 2000; Majority of material found within 1935 - 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
Amelia Earhart movietone film
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 197
Scope and Contents
The Amelia Earhart movietone film is a 25 minute documentary television episode created by David Wolper for the Biography series (1961-1963). The film documents Amelia Earhart's life (1897-1937) including her upbringing and family, accomplishments in the field of aviation, and disappearance. It includes archival footage of Earhart, significant moments that occured during her life such as women gaining the right to vote and World War I, and her rise in the field of aviation including...
Dates:
March 25, 1962
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
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 pertaining...
Dates:
1897 - 2011; Other: Majority of material found within 1960 - 1972; Other: Majority of material found within 1997 - 2009
Elayne Marian Brower papers
Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2023-012
Dates:
1958 - 1992
Elizabeth Powell collection of Surveyor materials
Unprocessed — Box Communal Accessions 28
Identifier: 20120521
Dates:
1966 - 1967
Elizabeth Speirs collection on Ramoth H. Trask
Unprocessed — Box Communal Accessions 3
Identifier: 20130319.3
Dates:
1918 - 1973
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 Cernan)
Dates:
1969
Collection on the 100th Anniversary of the First Official Airmail, first day cover, related stamps and souvenir booklet
Collection — Box Communal Collections 1, 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. L....
Dates:
1859 - 1959
Frank Evar Schultz papers
Unprocessed — Box Communal Accessions 4
Identifier: 20140407.1
Dates:
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
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, designed...
Dates:
1934 - 1968
Larry Gee papers and space memorabilia
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 276
Scope and Contents
The Larry Gee papers and space memorabilia document Larry Gee's 22 year career as an engineer in the aerospace industry. Memorabilia and artifacts include commemorative space flight flags, Space Shuttle Mission patches, commemorative pins, Apollo 11 anniversary memorabilia, Columbia commemorative coin, DVDs, astronaut space shuttle crew photographs, data sheets, awards, certificates, newsletters and various documents from Gee's work with Space Shuttle main engines, Atlas engines, Delta engines,...
Dates:
1988 - 2011; Other: Majority of material found within 1988 - 2005
George Hawkins, George Mueller, and Neil Armstrong photograph
Unprocessed — Box Communal Collections 73, Placement: 5
Identifier: 20130222
Dates:
May 2, 1968
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 copy...
Dates:
1937 - 1999; Other: Majority of material found within 1937 - 1950
Mark S. Geyer papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 272
Scope and Contents
The Mark S. Geyer papers document Geyer's time as Manager, Russian Elements Team for the International Space Station. The material provides a glimpse into the technical interface with the Russian Space Agency and its contractors to integrate Russian elements and systems into the International Space Station. The papers include a rich assortment of development schedules. Types of material include: correspondence, minutes, reports and schedules. Some of the materials are photocopies of...
Dates:
1994 - 2002; Other: Majority of material found within 1997 - 1998
Roberta Banaszak Gleiter papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 251
Scope and Contents
The Roberta Banaszak Gleiter papers (8 cubic feet; 1931-2011) contain materials that document both Gleiter’s personal and professional life such as letters of appreciation and commendation, awards, certificates, speeches and presentations, photographs, academic transcripts, items pertaining to Gleiter’s involvement in professional organizations, and materials documenting Gleiter’s time at Purdue. These include her Purdue University student identification card, materials pertaining to Gleiter’s...
Dates:
1931-2011; Other: Majority of material found in 1956-2011; Other: Date acquired: 12/09/2011
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
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 Amelia...
Dates:
1930 - 1950; Majority of material found within 1940 - 1949