Lana Murphy Couch papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 312
Scope and Contents
The Lana Murphy Couch papers document Couch's forty year career with NASA, first as a wind tunnel test engineer, and later in management positions. Types of materials include: correspondence, newsletters, papers, photographs, programs, publications, research and work reports, technical reports, VHS tapes, writings, and material related to award recognition.
Dates
- 1953 - 1997
- Majority of material found within 1970 - 1995
Creator
- Couch, Lana Murphy, 1941-2007 (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection material is in English.
Access Information
The collection is open for research.
Copyright and Use Information
Portions of the 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
Lana Murphy Couch was born in Smiths Grove, Kentucky on Nov. 27, 1941. She was the only child of Floyd W. and Fanny C. Murphy. Couch moved to Martinsville, Indiana in the early 1950s. She was a 1963 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in aeronautical engineering.
Couch was employed by NASA, Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. and NASA, Headquarters in Washington, DC from 1963 through 2003. She started her career as a wind tunnel test engineer and advanced through a series of increasingly responsible technical and management positions to retire in 2003 as the Associate Director for Business Management at NASA Langley Research Center.
She was a member of the Senior Executive Service and a Purdue University Distinguished Engineering Alumnus. Couch was a Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. She was the holder of several U. S. and international patents for improvements to wind tunnel design and was the author of many technical papers. She was also the recipient of numerous technical and management awards for her contributions to NASA and to aeronautical sciences including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, and the NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Medal.
Lana Murphy Couch passed away on April 22, 2007.
Couch was employed by NASA, Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. and NASA, Headquarters in Washington, DC from 1963 through 2003. She started her career as a wind tunnel test engineer and advanced through a series of increasingly responsible technical and management positions to retire in 2003 as the Associate Director for Business Management at NASA Langley Research Center.
She was a member of the Senior Executive Service and a Purdue University Distinguished Engineering Alumnus. Couch was a Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. She was the holder of several U. S. and international patents for improvements to wind tunnel design and was the author of many technical papers. She was also the recipient of numerous technical and management awards for her contributions to NASA and to aeronautical sciences including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, and the NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Medal.
Lana Murphy Couch passed away on April 22, 2007.
Extent
1.272 Cubic Feet (Three letter-size full-width manuscript boxes and one letter-size half-width manuscript box)
Arrangement
The papers are organized into four series. The material is in chronological order within each series.
- Writings and Publications
- Printed Material
- Audio Visual Material
- Personal File - Photographs, Correspondence, and Newsletter Articles
Technical Access Information
The VHS tapes must be migrated to digital format before use. Contact Purdue University Archives and Special Collections if interested in using this material.
Physical Access Information
Materials are stored off-site. At least 24 hours notice is required.
Acquisition Information
Source and date of acquisition are unknown.
Processing Information
All materials have been housed in acid-free folders and acid-free boxes. The photographs have been placed in polyester sleeves.
- Aerospace engineering
- Color photographs
- Correspondence
- Langley Research Center
- NASA Headquarters
- Newsletters
- Personal papers
- Programs (documents)
- Publications (Documents)
- Purdue University -- Alumni and alumnae
- Purdue University. School of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Technical reports
- United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- VHS
- Wind tunnel test engineer
- Wind tunnels
- Wind tunnels--Design and Construction
- Women aerospace engineers
- Women engineers
- Writings (documents)
Creator
- Couch, Lana Murphy, 1941-2007 (Person)
- Title
- Lana Murphy Couch papers
- Status
- Under Review
- Author
- Mary A. Sego
- Date
- 2020-03-25
- 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 2015-12-03.
Repository Details
Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository
Contact:
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839
archives@purdue.edu
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839
archives@purdue.edu