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Purdue University Astronauts collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 168

Scope and Contents

The Purdue University Astronauts collection consists of items relating to Purdue's alumni astronauts that had been collected by various donors before the advent of the Barron Hilton Flight and Space Exploration Archives. Included are newspaper clippings, Purdue University News Service press releases that had been written in regards to Neil A. Armstrong and Apollo 11, and various newspapers with Apollo 11 headlines and related clippings. Also included are Purdue University related publications featuring Purdue alumni astronaut stories; Purdue Alumnus, Purdue Engineer, and a program from the Purdue Engineering Astronaut Alumnus Award Convocation, held September 29, 1989.

Also of note are Space Shuttle mission decals, patches and a Challenger commemorative coin. Among the artifacts is a replica of a mechanical toy, "Rat Stuff," which was among the first 10 mechanical toys to be a part of a shuttle experiment on STS-54, which Purdue alums Gregory Harbaugh and John Casper were crew members.

Dates

  • 1965 - 2003

Language of Materials

Collection material is in English.

Access Information

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Portions of material in this collection are in the public domain. Other material copyrights held by Purdue University or original creator. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Historical Information

Purdue has been called the "cradle of astronauts," due to the fact that twenty-three Purdue graduates have been selected for space travel, including the first and last astronauts to walk on the moon, and two of the six American astronauts who have served on board Mir, the Russian space station. Purdue alumni have flown on about 37 percent of all human U.S. space flights. More than 40 space shuttle flights have had Purdue alumni on board. Many other Purdue graduates work(ed) for NASA and in the space industry.

Extent

0.915 Cubic Feet (One letter-size full-width manuscript box and one legal-size full-width manuscript box)

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series.
  1. Clippings, Press Releases and Publications
  2. Mission Decals, Patches and Artifacts

Acquisition Information

Donors various and unknown. Some clippings received from Purdue University News Service.

Related Materials

MSA 5, Neil A. Armstrong papers, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.
MSA 12, Donald E. Williams papers, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.
MSP 201, Dianna Thompson Collection of Apollo 11 Moon Landing news clippings, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.
MSA 332, Neil Armstrong newspaper clippings collection, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.
MSP 128, Space Exploration News collection, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Processing Information

All materials have been housed in acid-free folders and acid-free boxes. Polyester sleeves were used where deemed necessary for preservation purposes. All newsprint has been photocopied and in most cases original newspaper clippings have been discarded. Some clippings containing images of people or color graphics, or front pages of newspapers, have been preserved for display purposes, with photocopies made available for research.

Subjects

Collecting Areas

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Purdue University Astronauts collection
Status
Completed
Author
Mary A. Sego
Date
2019-08-12
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Edition statement
Second edition. Collection description first completed 2015-12-12.

Revision Statements

  • 2019-08-12: Collection description updated to new standards by Mary A. Sego.

Physical Storage Information

Links

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

http://www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol
Contact:
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839