Reference Request
Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Record Unit 162
National Air and Space Museum
Records, 1912-1971
Collection Overview
General Information About This Collection | |
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Repository: | Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu. |
Creator: | National Air and Space Museum |
Title: | Records |
Dates: | 1912-1971 |
Quantity: | 27 cu. ft. (27 record storage boxes) |
Collection: | Record Unit 162 |
Language of Materials: | English |
Summary: | This record unit consists primarily of correspondence documenting the activities of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) director and its curators. Records include public inquiries and staff replies concerning aeronautical history and artifacts, requests and arrangements for lectures by the NASM staff, accession acknowledgements, exhibitions, fiscal matters, NASM reports, and personnel information, especially concerning Carl Weaver Mitman. Important correspondents include Paul Edward Garber, Esther C. Goddard, Philip S. Hopkins, S. Paul Johnston, and Carl Weaver Mitman. Institutions collaborating with NASM include the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and the Civil Aeronautics Board. |
Historical Note
The National Air Museum (NAM) 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 (NASM) 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.
Descriptive Entry
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.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- Garber, Paul Edward, 1899-1992
- Goddard, Esther C.
- Hopkins, Philip S.
- Johnston, S. Paul (Samuel Paul), 1899-
- Mitman, Carl Weaver, 1889-
- National Air and Space Museum (U.S.)
- United States. Air Force
- United States. Army
- United States. Civil Aeronautics Board
- United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- United States. Navy
Subject
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 162, National Air and Space Museum, Records
Container List
Series 1
Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, 1912-1958. Arranged alphabetically.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
Anonymous, circa 1952 (Fraud, waste, and abuse allegation) (Accession 23-017)
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, FY 1950
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
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
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
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
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
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)
Series 2
Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, 1956-1958. Arranged alphabetically.Box 7
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
N (2 folders)
O
P (4 folders)
Ra-Rz (3 folders)
Sa-Sz (5 folders)
Wa-Wz (5 folders)
X, Y, Z
Series 3
Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, 1934-1960. Arranged alphabetically.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
Aa-Az, 1959 (4 folders)
Box 9
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
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
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
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
Series 4
Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, FY 1961-1965, 1967. Arranged by fiscal year and alphabetically thereunder.Box 12
FY 1961 (1960-1961)
Ab-Az (2 folders)
Ruth Adams (Solbrig-Benoist Airplane), 1960-1961
B (2 folders)
Box 13
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
FY 1967 (1966-1967)
A, 1967 (2 folders)
B (2 folders)
Box 22
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
Series 5
Department of Education and Information. Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, 1968-1970. Arranged by fiscal year and alphabetically thereunder.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
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
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
Series 6
Department of Astronautics. Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, 1966-1967. Arranged by subject.Most of this correspondence and informational material was written and received by Frederick C. Durant III, curator of the Department.
Box 24
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
Series 7
Outgoing Chronological File, 1959-1970.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
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
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
Series 8
Personnel. Arranged alphabetically.Box 25
Altergott - Lundquist (32 folders)
McNamara - Wyeth (18 folders)
Series 9
Budget, Contracts, Transportation, Travel, Requisitions, Rents, and Utilities, 1948-1959. Arranged chronologically.Box 25
NAM Contact List
Budget, 1948
Other Obligations, 1948
Budget, 1949
Government Bill of Lading Data, 1949
Budget, Other Obligations, 1949 (6 folders)
Box 26
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)
Series 10
Reports, Storage Facilities, and Miscellaneous.Box 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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