Chesterfield H. Janes papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 301
Scope and Contents
The Chesterfield H. Janes papers document the life of Janes as a Purdue student and as an IBM employee. Included within this collection are items from Janes stay in the X-Hall (presently called Meredith Hall), some memorabilia of the NASA astronauts, a collection of space related stamps and first day covers, and photographs of the Apollo-Saturn 202 (AS-202) launch.
Strengths in this collection are the X-Hall ephemeral materials. Included are receipts from the housing contract and receipts from the Excalibur Club. Another strength in this collection is the amount of space related stamps and photos of the AS-202 launch.
The items in this collection could help those researchers with an interest in stamps, the AS-202 launch, or Purdue student life in the 1950s. Types of material include memorabilia, printed material, photographs, stamps, corduroy pants (cords), slide rule, tie-tacks, a button, and an Apollo 11 medal.
Strengths in this collection are the X-Hall ephemeral materials. Included are receipts from the housing contract and receipts from the Excalibur Club. Another strength in this collection is the amount of space related stamps and photos of the AS-202 launch.
The items in this collection could help those researchers with an interest in stamps, the AS-202 launch, or Purdue student life in the 1950s. Types of material include memorabilia, printed material, photographs, stamps, corduroy pants (cords), slide rule, tie-tacks, a button, and an Apollo 11 medal.
Dates
- 1953 - 2012
- Other: Majority of material found within 1953 - 1975
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
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
Chesterfield Howell Janes was born on November 16, 1934 in Gainesville, Florida. Janes lived in Gainesville until 1946 when his parents divorced and he moved with his mother to Melrose, Florida. He finished high school in Melrose in 1953 and applied to Purdue University. Janes lived in the "X-Dorm," now Meredith Hall, and was a brother in Theta Chi fraternity, a member of the Amateur Rocket Society, a member of the Canterbury Club, and IAS. Janes graduated from Purdue in June of 1957 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
After graduation, Janes took a job with General Dynamics as an Engineer in their mechanical lab and also worked on ground support for the Atlas rockets in Florida. In 1961, General Dynamics transferred Janes to the Atlas-Centaur launch pad which would be responsible for launching the United States' first lunar probe, Surveyor-1. Janes' unique position in the Atlas program was assembling the rockets. He was responsible for putting the stages together and the payloads. One of Janes' proudest moments is when he, and another engineer, got to place the Surveyor-1 spacecraft into the nose cone of the Atlas-Centaur rocket.
In 1966, Janes applied to IBM and was accepted as the Engineer in charge of second shift. IBM awarded Janes the Manned Flight Awareness Award in 1966 and took him and his wife to Houston, Texas where he was a VIP for the Apollo-Saturn 202 launch. While at this launch, he met fellow Purdue graduates, Gus Grissom, and Roger Chaffee, who he was a classmate of at Purdue. While at IBM, Janes was the Mechanical Systems Manager during Apollo 11 and was in the firing room during the launch. Janes worked on the Saturn I, Saturn I-B, and the Saturn V rockets during his career at IBM. In 1993 Janes retired from IBM and took a job as a Quality Engineer at Homelite Corporation. Janes retired in April of 2009.
After graduation, Janes took a job with General Dynamics as an Engineer in their mechanical lab and also worked on ground support for the Atlas rockets in Florida. In 1961, General Dynamics transferred Janes to the Atlas-Centaur launch pad which would be responsible for launching the United States' first lunar probe, Surveyor-1. Janes' unique position in the Atlas program was assembling the rockets. He was responsible for putting the stages together and the payloads. One of Janes' proudest moments is when he, and another engineer, got to place the Surveyor-1 spacecraft into the nose cone of the Atlas-Centaur rocket.
In 1966, Janes applied to IBM and was accepted as the Engineer in charge of second shift. IBM awarded Janes the Manned Flight Awareness Award in 1966 and took him and his wife to Houston, Texas where he was a VIP for the Apollo-Saturn 202 launch. While at this launch, he met fellow Purdue graduates, Gus Grissom, and Roger Chaffee, who he was a classmate of at Purdue. While at IBM, Janes was the Mechanical Systems Manager during Apollo 11 and was in the firing room during the launch. Janes worked on the Saturn I, Saturn I-B, and the Saturn V rockets during his career at IBM. In 1993 Janes retired from IBM and took a job as a Quality Engineer at Homelite Corporation. Janes retired in April of 2009.
Extent
0.95 Cubic Feet (One letter-size full-width manuscript box and one flat box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The Chesterfield H. Janes papers are organized into two series.
- Purdue Student Memorabilia
- Professional Career – Printed Material and Memorabilia
Acquisition Information
Collection donated by Chesterfield H. Janes on April 18, 2014; September 13, 2013; and November 29, 2012.
Processing Information
The papers have been placed into acid-free folders and acid-free boxes. The photos have been removed from the album and placed into polyester sleeves. The cover of the album has been photocopied.
- Aerospace engineering
- Artifacts (Object genre)
- Black-and-white photographs
- Color photographs
- Cords
- Corduroy
- International Business Machines Corporation
- Memorabilia
- Postage stamps
- Printed ephemera
- Project Apollo (U.S.)
- Purdue University -- Alumni and alumnae
- United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Title
- Chesterfield H. Janes papers
- Status
- Under Review
- Author
- Max Campbell and Mary A. Sego
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- Third edition. Collection description first completed 2015-01-14.
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