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Gordon Yoder collection of Space Exploration memorabilia

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 292

Scope and Contents

The Gordon Yoder collection of Space Exploration memorabilia primarily contains items related to Apollo 11, with additional items related to NASA. Types of items include books and serials, commemorative plates, glassware, liquor bottles, space toys, posters, one of which is related to STS-1, along with other commercially produced commemorative objects produced to celebrate human spaceflight. Of note are issues of The Eagle, the newsletter of the Apollo 11 Collectors Society, magazines and newspapers with cover stories related to Apollo 11 and other Apollo flights, including several July 1969 issues of the Indiana newspaper, The Elkhart Truth.

Dates

  • 1964 - 2005

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material is in English.

Access Information

The 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.

Biographical Information

Gordon Yoder grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. After finishing high school, he served in the United States Navy for two and a half years. He attended Goshen College on the G.I. Bill. After two years as a student, Yoder decided to get a job at a local bank and attend banking school. He worked at a local bank for 19 years. He married Esther Detwiler on October 1, 1949 in New Wilmington, PA.

In 1972 Yoder met Dan Kauffman, the Director of College Relations at Goshen College, and Kauffman invited Yoder to come work for Goshen College in the College Relations Office in 1972. Yoder accepted the invitation, and he served as the Associate Director of Development at Goshen College until his retirement in 2004.

Extent

9.493 Cubic Feet (Three legal-size full-width manuscript boxes, one letter-size half-width manuscript box, seven cubic foot boxes, one flat box, and one poster box)

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into three series.
  1. Printed Material
  2. Audio Visual
  3. Collectibles and Memorabilia

Physical Access Information

The glassware is extremely fragile. Please consult an archivist if interested in viewing series three.

Technical Access Information

There is a commemorative sound recording (45 rpm record) of the Apollo 11 flight, which cannot be played, except upon advanced request. Contact Purdue University Archives and Special Collections if interested in using this material.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Gordon Yoder, with the assistance of his daughter, Purdue alumna, Diane Hershberger on May 29, 2018.

Processing Information

The collection did not have an original order. Glassware, ceramic items, china and objects such as toys were cleaned, sorted, and packed with acid-free tissue. Printed material has been placed in acid-free folders and boxes. Oversized posters and entire issues of newspapers have been separated out, and placed in appropriate oversized archival boxes.

Subjects

Collecting Areas

Related Names

Source

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Gordon Yoder collection of Space Exploration memorabilia
Status
Completed
Author
Mary A. Sego
Date
2019-04-10
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Second edition. Collection description first completed 2018-10-30.

Physical Storage Information

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