Janice Voss papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSA 9

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Janice Voss papers (1962-2004) document the early years and career highlights of astronaut Janice Voss. The collection includes materials from Voss’ childhood, including elementary school class pictures and report cards as well as materials from her time as an astronaut. Items pertaining to her professional career consist primarily of materials created and collected by her parents to celebrate her participation in space shuttle missions during the period of 1993-2000, and also includes audio visual materials such as “flight day highlights” from her STS-63 mission as well as assorted videotaped interviews. Additionally, the collection contains a number of honors and awards presented to Voss by community organizations. The papers are organized into five series.

Dates

1962-2007
Other: Majority of material found in 1990-1997
Other: Date acquired: 01/08/2008

Creator

Voss, Janice, 1956-2012 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. 24 hours notice is required to access the collection.

Biographical or Historical Information

Dr. Janice Voss was born on October 8, 1956 to James and Louise Voss in South Bend, Indiana. Voss attended Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, Massachusetts and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science in 1975. She then earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, and a Doctorate in Aeronautics/Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977 and 1987, respectively. Having worked on computer simulations and as a crew trainer at the NASA Johnson Space Center during her graduate studies, Voss took a position at the Orbital Sciences Corporation upon completing her doctorate, where she was involved with mission integration and flight operations. In January 1990, Voss was selected by NASA to become an astronaut, and qualified as a mission specialist in July 1991. She flew on five space flights from 1993 until 2000, including the STS-57, STS-63, STS-83, STS-94 and STS-99, having logged a total of 49 days and 18.8 million miles in space. From 2004 to 2007, Voss was the Science Director for the Kepler spacecraft at the NASA Ames Research Center. Most recently, she served as Payloads Lead of the Astronaut Office Station Branch. Janice Voss died of breast cancer in February of 2012.

Extent

6.00 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

Arranged into 5 Series: 1. Youth, 1962-1986 (2 folders). 2. Education, circa 1977-1982 (.5 cubic feet). 3. Professional Career, 1975-2007 (.5 cubic feet). 4. Multimedia, 1993-circa 1995 (1 cubic foot). 5. Oversize Materials, 1962-2000 (2 cubic feet).

Method of Acquisition

A majority of the collection was donated by James and Louise Voss in February and May of 2009. The oversized aerial photograph of the Hexion chemical facility was donated by Janice Voss in August 2008. The Purdue pennant flown aboard the United States Space Shuttle Endeavor with Voss was donated in August, 2009 by the Purdue Office of the Vice President for University Relations. The Purdue banner with Voss' photograph on it was donated by Betty Nelson in 2010.

Accruals and Additions

20090211 20090507 20090519 20091028 20101217

Related Materials

MSA 5, Neil A. Armstrong papers, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

MSA 6, Roy Bridges, Jr. papers, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

MSA 12, Donald E. Williams papers, 1978-1990, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

MSA 309, Joni Comstock collection on Janice Voss, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Processing Information

Materials have been re-housed into acid free folders and boxes, and into polyester sleeves when appropriate. Newsprint and clippings have been photocopied onto acid-free paper and the originals have been preserved for display purposes. In an attempt to retain their intrinsic value, the contents of the scrapbooks have not undergone preservation treatment. Artifacts have been separated and grouped together in a separate series for preservation and storage purposes. Materials continue to be received for this collection, and archival processing is ongoing.