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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution
Record Unit 162
National Air and Space Museum,
Records,
1912-1971
By Alan L. Bain
Historical Note
Descriptive Entry
Series Descriptions
Series 1. INCOMING AND OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE, 1912-1958. ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY.
Series 2. INCOMING AND OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE, 1956-1958. ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY.
Series 3. INCOMING AND OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE, 1934-1960. ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY.
Series 4. INCOMING AND OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE, FY 1961-1965, 1967. ARRANGED BY FISCAL YEAR AND ALPHABETICALLY THEREUNDER.
Series 5. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND INFORMATION. INCOMING AND OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE, 1968-1970. ARRANGED BY FISCAL YEAR AND ALPHABETICALLY THEREUNDER.
Series 6. DEPARTMENT OF ASTRONAUTICS. INCOMING AND OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE, 1966-1967. ARRANGED BY SUBJECT.
Series 7. OUTGOING CHRONOLOGICAL FILE, 1959-1970.
Series 8. PERSONNEL. ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY.
Series 9. BUDGET, CONTRACTS, TRANSPORTATION, TRAVEL, REQUISITIONS, RENTS AND UTILITIES, 1948-1959. ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY.
Series 10. REPORTS, STORAGE FACILITIES, AND MISCELLANEOUS.
The National Air Museum was created as a separate bureau of the Smithsonian
Institution by Act of Congress in 1946. Twenty years later its name was
changed to the National Air and Space Museum as part of the Congressional Act
authorizing construction of a separate building to house its collections.
Previous to 1946 the NASM collections were under the custodial care of the
Department of Anthropology, Division of Mechanical Technology, 1887-1919, and
the Department of Arts and Industries, Division of Mechanical Technology,
1919-1931, then the Division of Engineering, 1931-1946.
With the
creation of NAM, Carl W. Mitman, head curator of the Division of Engineering,
became Assistant to the Secretary for NAM. Mitman retired from the Smithsonian
in 1952 and Philip S. Hopkins was appointed as the Museum's first director in
1958. Hopkins was succeeded by S. Paul Johnson, 1964-1969, Frank A. Taylor,
acting director, 1969-1971, and Michael Collins, 1971 to the present.
Though the first accessioned artifact in the collection was the John F.
Stringfellow engine in 1889, the NASM collection dates back to the close of
the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia when the Smithsonian received a
group of kites from the Chinese Imperial Commission.
Important correspondents include Paul E. Garber, Esther Goddard, Philip S.
Hopkins, and S. Paul Johnson. Institutions collaborating with NASM include the
United States Army, Navy, and Air Force, NASA, and the Civil Aeronautics
Administration.
Most of this correspondence was written and received by Paul E. Garber. A smaller amount originated with Carl W. Mitman. After 1948, NAM curators Robert C. Strobell and Stephen L. Beers received and answered correspondence directed to the Museum.
Box 1 of 27
- C 1940-1954 (3 folders)
- Civil Aeronautics Administration, 1936-1955
- Civil Air Patrol, 1953-1955
- Cleveland Model and Supply Company, 1931-1940
- Current Information Reports, FY1950
- D 1931-1956
- Dade Brothers, 1948-1955
- E 1935-1955
- F 1937-1955 (3 folders)
- G 1927-1956 (5 folders)
- Jack Stearns Gray, 1930-1950
Box 2 of 27
- Elizabeth Hiatt Gregory, 1932-1954
- H 1930-1957 (7 folders)
- George Hardy, Jr., 1948-1955
- Stephen J. Hudek, 1935-1954 (Also contains other H material)
- I 1940-1956
- Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, 1947-1956
- International Civil Aeronautics Conference, 1928
- J 1941-1957 (2 folders)
- Ernest L. Jones, 1949-1954
- K 1947-1955 (3 folders)
Box 3 of 27
- L 1937-1955 (4 folders)
- Harvey H. Lippincott, 1953-1955
- M 1947-1957 (9 folders)
- Christy C. Magrath, 1933-1955
- Maryland Flying Club, 1931
- James Mooney, 1931-1954
Box 4 of 27
- Na-Ny 1923-1958 (5 folders)
- National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, 1929-1955 (2 folders)
- National Aeronautic Association, 1931-1955 (2 folders)
- Navy Department, 1932-1957 (9 folders)
- O 1940-1955
- Pa-Pi 1935-1958 (4 folders)
Box 5 of 27
- Pl-Py 1938-1955 (2 folders)
- Pan American Grace Airways (Pan American World Airways), 1948-1949
- Harvey Phillips, 1932-1937
- Q 1941-1954
- Ra-Ry 1947-1955 (6 folders)
- J. Edward Reeves, 1935-1940
- Aline Rhonie, 1949-1953
- Paul Robertson, 1936-1938
- Rolls Royce, 1936-1945
- Roosevelt Field Collection, 1947-1953
- Sa-Sy 1932-1958 (8 folders)
Box 6 of 27
- Sperry Corporations; Sperryscope and Sperry Gyroscope, 1927-1955
- T 1953-1958 (3 folders)
- Toombs, Fred (Air Mail Pioneers), 1954
- Tusch, Mrs. C.A. ("Mother"), 1950-1952
- U-V 1953-1958 (3 folders)
- W (unarranged) 1947-1955 (3 folders)
- W 1953-1958
- A-Z (unarranged) 1912-1925,1951-1957 (4 folders)
Box 7 of 27
- Ca-Cz (5 folders)
- Da-Dz (2 folders)
- E
- Fa-Fq (2 folders)
- Ga-Gz (2 folders)
- Ha-Hz (3 folders)
- I
- J
- Ka-Kz (2 folders)
- La-Lz (2 folders)
- Mc-Mz (6 folders)
Box 8 of 27
- N (2 folders)
- O
- P (4 folders)
- Ra-Rz (3 folders)
- Sa-Sz (5 folders)
- Wa-Wz (5 folders)
- X, Y, Z
Before 1958, most of the correspondence was written and received by the appropriate curator. Beginning in 1958, the director of the Museum signed almost all outgoing correspondence.
Box 8 of 27
Box 9 of 27
- Air Force, 1956-1959 (4 folders)
- Air Force Museum, 1957-1960
- Army, 1957-1960
- Ba-Bz 1959 (6 folders)
- Warren M. Bodie, 1952-1959
- Paul C. Boyd (airplane sketches), n.d.
- Kimbrough S. Brown, 1956-1960
- Ca-Cz 1959 (5 folders)
- "Century of Flight", 1958
- Civil Air Patrol, 1955-1960
- Da-Dz 1959 (2 folders)
- Douglas Aircraft Company, 1934-1960
- E 1959
Box 10 of 27
- Eastern Air Lines, 1956-1959
- Fa-Fz 1959 (3 folders)
- Fairchild Aircraft Company, 1957-1959
- Federal Aviation Agency, 1959-1960
- Ga-Gz 1959 (2 folders)
- William R. Gordon; First Military Plane Bid, 1960
- Ha-Hz 1959 (4 folders)
- Herbert Hartwick, 1938-1960
- Erick Hildes-Heim, 1955-1957
- I 1959
- Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, 1955-1960
- J 1959
- Ka-Kz 1959 (2 folders)
- Kill Devil Hills Memorial Society, 1952-1957
- La-Lz 1959 (2 folders)
- Link Aviation, Inc., 1958-1959
- Loening Lecture, 1959
- Mc 1959
- Ma-Maz 1959 (2 folders)
Box 11 of 27
- Mb-Mz 1959 (2 folders)
- Roy C. Meates, 1958-1959
- Na-Nz 1959 (2 folders)
- National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, 1956-1957
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1959-1960
- National Aviation Education Council, 1958-1960
- Navy, 1956-1959 (4 folders)
- Joseph Nieto, 1954-1960
- O 1959
- Pa-Pz 1959 (3 folders)
- Pan American Grace Airways, Inc., 1958-1959
- Q 1959
- R 1959 (4 folders)
- Roswell Museum and Art Center, 1959
- Robert Rust, 1955-1959
- Sa-Sg 1959
Box 12 of 27
- Sh-Sz 1959 (4 folders)
- Sperry Gyroscope Company, 1956-1959
- Ta-Tz 1959 (4 folders)
- U 1959
- Underwood and Underwood, 1956-1957
- University Aviation Association, 1959
- Va-Vz 1959 (2 folders)
- Wa-Wz 1959 (4 folders)
- Orville Wright Estate, 1957
- X, Y, Z 1959
Box 12 of 27
- Ab-Az (2 folders)
- Ruth Adams (Solbrig-Benoist Airplane), 1960-1961
- B (2 folders)
Box 13 of 27
- Ca-Cz (2 folders)
- D
- E
- Fa-Fz (2 folders)
- Ga-Gz (2 folders)
- Ha-Hz (2 folders)
- I
- J
- K
- La-Lz (2 folders)
- Ma-Mz (3 folders)
- N
Box 14 of 27
- O
- P
- Q
- Quantas Overseas Airline, 1960-1961
- R
- Sa-Sz (3 folders)
- U
- V FY 1962 (1961-1962)
- A 1960-1962 (2 folders)
- Air Force, 1961-1962
- Air Force Museum, 1960-1962
- Army, 1960-1962
- B (2 folders)
Box 15 of 27
- C 1960-1962 (4 folders)
- D
- E
- F 1960-1962 (2 folders)
- G (2 folders)
- Esther C. Goddard, 1957-1962 (2 folders)
- H (2 folders)
- I
- J
- Joseph P. Juptner, 1960-1962
- K
Box 16 of 27
- L
- Mrs. Walter E. Lees, 1957-1959
- Harvey Lippincott, 1955-1962
- Ma-Mz (2 folders)
- N
- Navy, 1960-1963
- O 1960-1962
- P (2 folders)
- Rusty Plehinger, 1960-1962
- Q 1961
- R
- Sa-Sz (2 folders)
- T 1960-1962 (2 folders)
Box 17 of 27
- Wa-Wz 1960-1962 (4 folders)
- E. D. Weeks, 1956-1961
FY 1963 (1962-1963)
- A (2 folders)
- Ba-Bz 1963 (2 folders)
- Ca-Cz 1963 (2 folders)
- Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association, 1963 (2 folders)
- Joseph Roland Chenier, 1960-1962
- D
- E
- F
- Ga-Gz (2 folders)
Box 18 of 27
- Ha-Hz (2 folders)
- I
- J
- K
- L
- Link Foundation, 1958-1963
- Harvey Lippincott, 1962-1963
- Ma-Mz (4 folders)
- N
- National Aeronautic Association, 1960-1963
- National Aviation Hall of Fame, 1963
- National Aerospace Education Council, 1960-1963
- NASA, 1960-1963
- O
- P
- Q
- Ra-Rz (2 folders)
- Sa-So (2 folders)
Box 19 of 27
- Sp-Sz
- Smithsonian, 1961-1963
- T
- U
- V
- Wa-Wz (2 folders)
- X, Y, Z 1960-1963
FY 1964 (1963-1964)
- A 1962-1964
- Ba-Bz (2 folders)
- Ca-Cz (2 folders)
- D
- E
- F
- FAA 1964
- Federation Aeronautique Internationale, 1961-1964
Box 20 of 27
- G
- H (2 folders)
- I, J, K (2 folders)
- L (2 folders)
- Ma-Mz (2 folders)
- N-O
FY 1965 (1964-1965)
- Ma-Mz 1962-1965 (4 folders)
- Na-Nz (2 folders)
- NASA 1964-1965
- Navy, 1964-1965 (2 folders)
Box 21 of 27
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- Sa-Sz (3 folders)
- Senate, 1965
- Silver Hill, 1965
- SAO, 1965
- Smithsonian, 1965 (3 folders)
- T
- U
- V
- Victoria and Albert Museum, 1965
- W 1965 (2 folders)
- A 1967 (2 folders)
- B (2 folders)
Box 22 of 27
- C
- D
- E (2 folders)
- F (2 folders)
- G (2 folders)
- H (2 folders)
- I
- J
- K
- L (2 folders)
- M
- N (2 folders)
- NAFMAB and NASA
- Navy
- O
- P
- R
- Sa-Sz (2 folders)
- Smithsonian
- T and U
- USAF
- USAF Museum
- V
- W
- X, Y, Z
In 1965, a Department of Education and Information was officially established within NASM to handle research inquiries. Beginning in 1969, the Department began retiring its ephemeral correspondence. Also included are memoranda written and received by Departmental staff members.
Box 22 of 27
FY 1969 (1968-1969)
- A
- C-D
- G
- H
- Henri Hegener, 1967-1968
- J
- L
- Memos
- Alvin R. Moses, 1967-1969
- N
- P
- R
- M. Toda, 1968-1969
FY 1970 (1969-1970)
- A
- B (2 folders)
Box 23 of 27
- Raymond D. Berkheimer
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- Information and Education - Memoranda
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S (2 folders)
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X, Y, Z
- B-F 1971
Most of this correspondence and informational material was written and received by Frederick C. Durant III, curator of the Department.
Box 24 of 27
- NASM
- NASM Personnel
- NASM Art
- Visits to NASM
- Smithsonian/NASM Attendance Records
- Smithsonian Institution/NASM Legal Authority to Obtain Material
- Smithsonian/NASM: L. S. Swenson in regard to the biography of H. L. Dryden.
- NASM/ASTRO Notes (Mailing List).
- SI Assistant Secretary (Science), Dr. Galler.
- SI SAO (2 folders)
- SI Educational Advisory Committee
- SI Education and Training
- SI Film Programs
- SI International Exchange Service
- SI International Symposium on Artificial Environments of the Future (2/18/1967).
- SI Sample invitations for presentations.
- SI Organization and Methods
- SI Press Releases.
This file has been sampled to reflect filing system changes and changes in administrative policy towards correspondence with the public. From 1961 through 1962 two chronological files were kept, an "Information Blues" file and a "Day File".
Box 24 of 27
- Day File, November-December 1959
- Miscellaneous, 1959-1960
- Day File, January-April 1960
- Information Blues, August-September 1961
- Day File, May-December 1961
- Information Blues, January-February 1962
- Day File, January-June 1962
- Information Blues, March-April 1963
Box 25 of 27
- May 1964
- June 1965
- July 1966
- Frederick C. Durant III, Daily Correspondence, September-October 1966
- Education and Information Department, June 1968
- Education and Information Department, February 1969
- Education and Information Department, May 1970
Box 25 of 27
- Altergott - Lundquist (32 folders)
- McNamara - Wyeth (18 folders)
Box 25 of 27
- NAM Contact List
- Budget, 1948
- Other Obligations, 1948
- Budget, 1949
- Government Bill of Lading Data, 1949
- Budget, Other Obligations, 1949 (6 folders)
Box 26 of 27
- Budget, 1950 (2 folders)
- Transportation of Things, 1950
- Other Obligations, 1950
- Rents and Utilities, Fiscal 1950
- Budget and Other Obligations, 1951 (2 folders)
- Rents and Utilities, 1951
- Transportation, 1951
- Rents and Utilities, 1952
- Transportation of Things, 1952
- Travel, 1952
- Budget and Other Obligations, 1952 (2 folders)
- Budget and Other Obligations, 1953 (2 folders)
- Purchase Orders, 1953
- Rents and Utilities, 1953
- Transportation of Things, 1953
- Transportation, Other Obligations, Rents and Utilities, 1954 (2 folders)
- Budget, 1955 (2 folders)
- Transportation, 1955
- Printer, Transportation, Travel, 1956 (2 folders)
- Printer, Travel, Monthly Obligations, Transportation, 1957 (4 folders)
- Budget, Monthly Obligations, Printer and Travel, 1958 (4 folders)
- Budget, Monthly Obligations, Travel, 1959 (5 folders)
Box 27 of 27
- Weekly Reports, 1953 (2 folders)
- Weekly Reports, 1954
- Weekly Reports, 1955-1956
- Budget, FY 1956
- Budget, FY 1957
- Annual Report
- Buildings. Considerations for Future Planning.
- Fairchild and Boxing Project
- Fairchild Cancellation.
- Fair Employment Practices
- "Farm" Occupancy
- Flyaway Project
- Job descriptions - obsolete
- The Link Foundation
- Management Report Background
- NAM Storage, Naval
- Park Ridge - Specimens shipped to
- Planning Committee, 1954
- President's Scientific Research Board, 1947
- Suitland - Assignment of Land
- Suitland Specifications - Estimates and Contracts
- Specifications
- Miscellaneous - to be sorted
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