FINDING AID TO THE NEIL A. ARMSTRONG PAPERS, 1671-2012 Purdue University Libraries Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center 504 West State Street West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2058 (765) 494-2839 http://www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol © 2014 Purdue University Libraries. All rights reserved. Revised by: Tracy Grimm, September 12, 2018 Processed by: Tracy Grimm, Donovan Irven, and Mary Sego, November 18, 2014 Descriptive Summary Creator Information Armstrong, Neil A., 1930-2012 Title Neil A. Armstrong papers Collection Identifier MSA 5 Date Span 1671-2012, predominant 1960-2012 Abstract This collection includes documents, coursework, working papers and subject files, correspondence, writings, speeches, photographs, and newspaper clippings related to Neil A. Armstrong's education, Navy career, training and career as a test pilot and astronaut, his career as a professor of engineering, and roles as advisor and participant for various commissions. Extent 221.3 cubic feet (466 mss, cubic feet, flat boxes, and OS items) Finding Aid Author Tracy Grimm, Donovan Irven, and Mary Sego Languages English and Russian Repository Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center, Purdue University Libraries Administrative Information Location ASC Information: Access Collection is open for scholarly research. A 48 hours notice and Restrictions: consultation with the Flight Archivist is required to access the collection. Portions of the collection are restricted per donor restrictions and third party privacy. Acquisition Donated by Neil A. Armstrong and Carol Armstrong, with the majority Information: of the papers donated by Carol Armstrong following the death of Neil Armstrong. Accession 20080923 Numbers: 20081007 20081111 20081217 9/12/2018 2 20090114 20090218 20120922 20121016 20121102 20130412 20151106 20160627 20170608 Preferred MSA 5, Neil A. Armstrong papers, Karnes Archives and Special Citation: Collections, Purdue University Libraries Copyright Purdue University per deed of gift. Notice: Related Purdue’s Place in Space: From the Midwest to the Moon: Materials http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/moon Information: James R. Hansen papers on Neil Armstrong: https://apps.lib.purdue.edu/archon/index.php?p=accessions/accession&id=470&q=armstrong 9/12/2018 3 Subjects and Genres Persons Armstrong, Neil A., 1930-2012 Armstrong, Viola L., 1907-1990 Armstrong, Stephen Koenig, 1907-1990 Organizations National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (U.S.) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.) United States. Navy--1910-1950 Society of Experimental Test Pilots Edwards Air Force Base (California). Aerospace Research Pilot School National Commission on Space (U.S.) NASA Advisory Council Purdue University Purdue University. School of Aeronautical Engineering University of Southern California. School of Aerospace Engineering University of Cincinnati. School of Aerospace Engineering Flight Archives at Purdue University Boy Scouts Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco President’s Advisory Council on the Peace Corps Commonwealth Club of Cincinnati Commercial Club of Cincinnati Topics Astronautics--Study and teaching. Astronauts--Training of. Astronauts--1960-1970. Apollo 11 (Spacecraft) Moon--Landing of space vehicles Apollo Gemini VIII (Spacecraft) Gemini Mercury Dyna-Soar (Space glider) X-15 (Rocket aircraft) NASA SPACE PROGRAMS Astronautical research Military service--1940-1950 Korean War Space exploration Space flight Lunar module 9/12/2018 4 Lunar Landing Training Vehicle Lunar surface Air pilots--Military Aircraft Moon rocks Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident (U.S.) Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae “First Flights” documentary Form and Genre Types Aerospace engineering--Handbooks, manuals, etc. Aerospace engineering--Periodicals. Aerospace engineering--Textbooks. Artifacts Astronautical charts Astronautics--Periodicals. Aviation--Periodicals. Awards Books Cassettes, Audio Clippings Correspondence Coursework Diagrams Diplomas Documents DVD Fan mail Films Handbooks Lunar photography Magnetic tapes Manuals Maps NASA publications Notebooks Papers Photographs Postcards Publications Recordings, Sound Reference Material. Report cards Scrapbooks Slides Space photography 9/12/2018 5 Speeches Subject files Textbooks Transcripts VHS Working papers Writings Occupations Astronaut Aerospace engineers Pilots (Aeronautics) Naval aviator Test pilots NASA--Deputy Administrator of Aeronautics Professor Corporate Chairman Businessman 9/12/2018 6 Biography of Neil A. Armstrong Neil Alden Armstrong was born near Wapakoneta, Ohio on August 5, 1930 to Viola Louise Engel Armstrong and Stephen Koenig Armstrong. He was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. At the age of 16, in 1946, he earned his student pilot certificate. He graduated from Blume High School in Wapakoneta, Ohio and having been accepted to the Navy’s Naval Aviation College Program, attended college at Purdue University beginning the fall of 1947. His studies in aeronautical engineering were interrupted in the spring of 1949 when he was called to military duty. His active military service spanned 1949 – 1952. He served as a naval aviator in the Korean War during which he flew 78 combat missions. In 1952 he resumed his studies at Purdue University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1955. In 1955 he accepted a position as an Aeronautical Test Pilot at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ (NACA) Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio. Later in 1955 he would join NACA’s aeronautical research pilots at the High-Speed Flight Station at Edwards Air Force Base, in California. From 1955 until 1962 he flew a number of experimental aircraft including the X-1B, the F-100C, and the X-15. He authored and co-authored a number of research papers during this period and also conducted research as a pilot-engineer on the developing Dyna-Soar project. In 1962 Armstrong transferred NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston as one of the nine astronaut trainees of the astronaut class of 1962. Along with astronaut training activities, he was given the responsibilities for operations and training under Alan Shepard, chief of the astronauts. One of his tasks was to calculate how many crews were needed at any one point in time to meet the requirements of the program’s goals. He served in supporting roles for Mercury 9, his first flight crew assignment was as backup commander to Gordon Cooper on Gemini V. Throughout this period his work responsibilities were divided between general training, planning and calculations of the best “trajectories and sequences of events,” and in lab spacecraft systems tests and simulations. (see Hansen, 235) He served in a supporting role for Gemini III, command pilot for Gemini VIII that launched in March 1966. He served as commander of Apollo 11 that launched in July 1969 and became the first human to walk on the moon. Following the Apollo 11 mission, he embarked on the “Giant Step” world tour and later a Bob Hope USO Tour. He received numerous awards, achievement medals, and honors following the Apollo 11 mission. In 1970 he earned his Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California. From 1970 -1971 he served as Deputy Associate Administrator for Aerospace in NASA’s Office of Advanced Research and Technology. From 1971 through 1979 he taught and conducted research as Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Armstrong served on several corporate boards including Cardwell International, Gates Learjet Corporation, Marathon Oil Company, United Airlines, U.S. Steel Corporation, and Space Industries International. He also consulted on issues of management as well as on aerospace. He served on commissions including the Presidential Advisory 9/12/2018 7 Committee for the Peace Corps, the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, the National Commission on Space, and the NASA Advisory Council. He was also a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco. He wrote and delivered hundreds of speeches throughout his professional career and into his retirement. He continued to receive fan mail until his death in 2012. He was married to Janet Shearon from 1956-1994, and to Carol Held Knight from 1994 to 2012. Neil Armstrong died on August 25, 2012 following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. Sources: Neil A. Armstrong Papers, 1671 – 2012. The Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center, Purdue University Libraries, West Lafayette. Neil Armstrong: Engineer, Pilot, Astronaut, Teacher Commemorative Website. University of Cincinnati. Website. Accessed 18 November 2014. http://digitalprojects.libraries.uc.edu/armstrong/index.html Hansen, James R. First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Biographical Data Website. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Website. Accessed 18 November 2014. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/armstrong-na.html 9/12/2018 8 Collection Description Scope The Neil A. Armstrong papers (1671-2012; 221.3 cubic feet) document the military, aeronautics, astronautics, teaching and corporate business career of Neil A. Armstrong. The papers also feature items from Armstrong's youth and education. The collection includes but is not limited