Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu
Tyler Dodson, Student Assistant, and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Robert R. Gilruth Papers, Ms1990-053, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Robert R. Gilruth Papers were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in multiple accessions during 1990 and 1994.
Processing Information
An initial description of the collection was completed after the donations in the 1994. In October and November 2012, the papers were re-housed as needed, books were removed for cataloging, artifacts were moved to a new box, and a finding aid was completed.
Biographical Note
Robert R. Gilruth (1913-2000) was an aerospace engineer and NACA/NASA administrator. He received his B.S. in aeronautical engineering from the University of Minnesota (1935), as well as his M.S. (1936). Gilruth was also a flight research engineer for Langley Aeronautical Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (1937-1945). From 1945 to 1950, he worked as chief of the Pilotless Aircraft Research Division, and assistant director (1950-58). He headed the Space Task Group for NASA (1958-61), and was charged with directing Project Mercury. From 1961 to 1972, he was the first director of the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) in Houston.
The NASA website has a number of more extensive resources on Gilruth's work, including interviews and press releases, discoverable by searching the site for "Gilruth."
Scope and Content
The collection consists of Robert R. Gilruth's papers, notes, records, articles, photographs, awards, degrees, certificates, and artifacts. A majority of the collection contains professional papers from Gilruth's work in NACA and NASA, including speeches and presentations, reports, photographs, oral history transcripts, notes, and newpapersclippings, as well as certificates, awards, and artifacts. Personal materials include a typescript diary, Gilruth's 1936 M.S. Thesis, and an unpublished memoir.
Arrangement
Materials in the collection are in their original physical order. Newspaper clippings and oversize materials were removed from boxes and are located in flat files. The contents list below shows the collection grouped by subject or material type into nine series, arranged alphabetically by series title.
Series I: Artifacts includes awards and other objects collected by or given to Gilruth during his career.
Series II: Awards, Certificates, and Degrees contains a variety of certificates marking Gilruth's achievements, degrees, and memberships to organizations.
Series III: Correspondence includes primarily incoming professional letters and telegrams received by Gilruth.
Series IV: Interviews and Memoirs consists of transcripts and memoirs relating to Gilruth and other aeronautics professionals.
Series V: Lectures and Speeches contains texts and drafts of speeches given by Gilruth.
Series VI: Newspaper Clippings includes a variety of complete newspapers and specific articles about or collected by Gilruth.
Series VII: Personal Papers consists of diaries, itineraries, writings, and other personal materials.
Series VIII: Photographs contains photographs of professional projects, including Gemini and Apollo missions, as well as images of colleagues and NASA locations.
Series IX: Reports, Notes, and Professional Writings consists of writing created by Gilruth during his career, notes, research articles, and subject files.
Separated Material
The following books were removed to the Rare Book collection:
Spacewatch , Screening Copy/27:40 (Video Cassette)
Shaping Tomorrow , NASA-Langley 70th Anniversary, 17 July 1987 (Video Cassette)
Gemini Program , Ivan D. Ertel
This Was Air Travel , Henry R. Palmer, Jr.
10:56:20PM EDT 7/20/69 , CBS News over CBS Television Network
Arizona Highways , Raymond Carlson
Men of Space , Shirley Thomas
Frontiers of Astronomy , Fred Hoyle
Model Research: The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 1915-1958 , Volumes 1 & 2, Alex Roland
Biomedical Results from Skylab , Richard S. Johnston and Lawrence F. Dietlein
Wind Tunnels of NASA , Donald D. Baals and William R. Corliss
The Moon Book , Bevan M. French
A Continent for Science: The Antarctic Adventure , Richard S. Lewis
Engineer in Charge , James R. Hansen
Managing NASA in the Apollo Era , Arnold S. Levine
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Aerospace engineers
- Archives of American Aerospace Exploration (AAAE)
- Project Apollo (U.S.)
- Project Gemini (U.S.)
- Science and Technology
- United States -- National Aeronautics and Space Administration -- Officials and employees
- United States. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
- United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Robert R. Gilruth Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Gilruth, Robert R. (Robert Rowe), 1913-
Back to Top
Container List
Series I: Artifacts
- box-folder 3 folder: 41
NASA Flag
undated - box 6
Membership Pin Inscribed "National Congress of Parents and Teachers 1897"
- box 6
Medal for winning the "News Tribune Miniature Aircraft Tournament 1929"
- box 6
Commemorative Red Ribbon with Commemorative Pin Inscribed "Mercury Orbital, Friendship 7"
ca. 1963 - box 6
Commemorative Object from the NASA-Ames Research Center
- box 6
Commendation Medal for Outstanding Achievements from the University of Minnesota
- box 6
Commemorative object inscribed "Authentic Silver Re-Strike 1768 Spanish Pillar Dollar Presented to Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, Southwestern Savings Association New Home Office Dedication, Houston, Texas, September, 1968"
Back to Top
Series II: Awards, Certificates, and Degrees
- box-folder 3 folder: 29
Skin Diving Diploma from Southwest Council of Skin Diving Clubs for Mrs. E. Jean Gilruth
1968 - box-folder 3 folder: 27
President's Award for Distinguished Federal Service
1962 - box-folder 3 folder: 31
Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from University of Minnesota
1936 - box-folder 3 folder: 32
Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering from University of Minnesota for Robert R. Gilruth
1935 - box-folder 3 folder: 33
Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering from University of Minnesota for Ester Jean Barnhill
1935 - box-folder 3 folder: 34
Citation for Houston Manned Spacecraft Center for Moon Landing Efforts from Rockefeller Public Service Awards
1969 - box-folder 3 folder: 35
Certificate of Appreciation, National Research Council, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
1981 - box-folder 3 folder: 36
Rockefeller Public Service Award for Distinguished Service, Princeton University
1969 - box-folder 3 folder: 39
Honrary Doctorate from George Washington University; Newsclipping and Letter
1962 - box-folder 3 folder: 38
Honorary Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Certificate and Letter
1962 - box 5
Honorary Citizen of Roswell, N. M. (Key to the City)
- box 5
Recognition Plaque from Space Industries International
- box 5
Honorary Degree from New Mexico State University
- box 5
Spirit of St. Louis Medal 1964 (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
- box 5
ASME Medal 1970 (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
- box 5
Honorary Degree from Michigan College of Mining and Technology
- box 5
Recognition of Outstanding Achievement from the Regents of the University of Minnesota
- box 5
Citation for Distinguished and Exceptional Service from the Mayor of the City of New York
- box 5
Honorary Degree from the George Washington University
- box 5
Certificates from the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (Elected Honorary Fellow and Fellow)
- box 5
Honorary Degree from the University of Minnesota
- box 5
Award from AIAA (Honorary Fellow)
- folder 6
Certificate of Membership, Internationalis Astronautica Academia
- folder 6
Sylvanus Albert Reed Award, Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences
- folder 6
Honorary Degree, Doctor of Science, Indiana Institute of Technology
1962 - folder 6
Membership Certificate, National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
1974 - folder 6
Certificate of Appreciation, NASA
1977 - folder 6
Distinguished Service Medal (Apollo 8), NASA
1969 - folder 6
Distinguished Service Medal (Apollo Program), NASA
1969 - folder 6
Certificate of Recognition, Duluth Central High School
1962 - folder 6
H. Res. 487, Recognition (Apollo 11) from the U. S. House of Representatives
1969 - folder 6
National Academy of Engineering Diploma
1968 - folder 6
National Air and Space Museum, Outstanding Achievement in Aerospace Technology
1985 - folder 6
Louis W. Hill Space Transportation Award
1961 - folder 6
Honorary Fellow Certificate, Royal Aeronautical Society
1969
Back to Top
Series III: Correspondence
- box-folder 1 folder: 17-18
Low/Mcdivitt Correspondence (2 folders)
- box-folder 1 folder: 19
Letters of Congratulations
- box-folder 1 folder: 20
Letters and Telegrams
1968-1971
Back to Top
Series IV: Interviews and Memoirs
- box-folder 4 folder: 19
Oral History Transcript -- Interview with R. R. Gilruth on Gemini Program
1968 - box-folder 4 folder: 20
"Notes on Interview with Milton W. Rosen at NASA HQ, Washington, 14 November 1969"
- box-folder 4 folder: 21
Oral History Transcript -- Interview with R. R. Gilruth on NASA History
1969 - box-folder 4 folder: 23
"The Director of MSC -- Excerpt from MSC Historical Interview with Geaorge M. Low"
ca. 1970 - box-folder 4 folder: 24
"Memoir: from Wallops Island to Mercury, 1945-1958"
ca. 1970 - box-folder 4 folder: 25
"United States Manned Space Flight, 1960-1970" (for use by mandatory publishing company encyclopedia yearbook)
- box-folder 4 folder: 26
"Transcript of Tape Made by Messrs, Gilruth, Lunney, Johnson, and Hardy Following Their Trip to Moscow, 23-29 October 1970"
- box-folder 4 folder: 30
Oral History Transcript -- Interview with R. R. Gilruth on Apollo Program
1973 - box-folder 4 folder: 33
Oral History Transcript -- Interview with R. R. Gilruth on Skylab Program
1975 - box-folder 4 folder: 36
Manuscript Notes for a Memoir
undated - box-folder 4 folder: 32
Memorandum for Record: Telcon Interview (Eugene Emme)
1975
Back to Top
Series V: Lectures and Speeches
- box-folder 3 folder: 28
"Investiture '92"
- box-folder 3 folder: 30
"Space Heros Get 'Missed' College Credit"
1962 - box-folder 4 folder: 14
Address to the Rice University Associates
1963 - box-folder 4 folder: 15
Commencement Address to Michigan College of Mining and Technology
1963 - box-folder 4 folder: 16
Speech at Macalester College: "The Manned Space Flight Program - A Progess Report"
1964 - box-folder 4 folder: 17
Unidentified Speech Marked "Draft"
1964 - box-folder 4 folder: 22
Commencement Address to Hanco*ck High School, Hanco*ck, Michigan
1970 - box-folder 4 folder: 28
"To the Moon and Beyond" (Wright Memorial Lecture)
ca. 1971 - box-folder 4 folder: 29
"Farewell Speech Notes" (as Director of MSC) March 3, 1972
1972-03-03 - box-folder 4 folder: 31
"Address to the Special Session"
ca. 1975 - box-folder 4 folder: 34
"Wings Club Speech"
ca. 1976
Back to Top
Series VI: Newspaper Clippings
- box-folder 3 folder: 26
Newspaper Clippings RE: Receipt of NASA's Distinguished Service Medal
1962 - oversize folder: 1-5
Oversize Clippings and Full Newspapers (5 folders)
Back to Top
Series VII: Personal Papers
- box-folder 2 folder: 17
Books
- box-folder 3 folder: 25
Currency
- box-folder 3 folder: 40
Commencement Programs
- box-folder 4 folder: 13
Typescript Diary
1961-02-10-1961-03-03 - box-folder 4 folder: 18
Typescript Diary
1967-05-08-1967-05-22 - box-folder 4 folder: 27
Itinerary for a Trip to Moscow
1971-11-26-1971-12-09 - box-folder 4 folder: 35
Henry Dethloff, Draft of a History of Johnson Space Center
1989
Back to Top
Series VIII: Photographs
- box-folder 2 folder: 2
Dedication of Recreation Center (Photographs)
1973 - box-folder 2 folder: 19
Photographs - Apollo 12
1969 - box-folder 2 folder: 20
Photographs
- box-folder 2 folder: 21
Photographs - Apollo 15
- box-folder 3 folder: 1
Key to Photos from Space
- box-folder 3 folder: 2-7
Photographs (6 folders)
- box-folder 3 folder: 8-10
Project Mercury Photographs (3 folders)
ca. 1960s - box-folder 3 folder: 11
Photographs - Apollo 10
1969 - box-folder 3 folder: 12
Photographs
- box-folder 3 folder: 13
Photographs - L.B.J.'s Visit to Center
1965-1968 - box-folder 3 folder: 14
Photographs - Apollo Spacecraft and Operations (general)
- box-folder 3 folder: 15
Photographs - Russians at MSC
1971 - box-folder 3 folder: 16
Photographs - Gemini
1965 - box-folder 3 folder: 17
Photographs - Goddard Museum
- box-folder 3 folder: 18
Photographs - Dr. Gilruth and Jerry Warrenburg
- box-folder 3 folder: 19
Photographs - JSC - Pictures of Facilities
1965-1973 - box-folder 3 folder: 20
Photographs - Apollo 14 and Moon
- box-folder 3 folder: 21
Photographs - Royalty
1967 - box-folder 3 folder: 22
Photgraphs - Distinguished People (1960's-1970's)
ca. 1960 - 1970 - box-folder 3 folder: 23
Photographs - Apollo - Suyz Negotiations and J.S.C.
- box-folder 3 folder: 24
Guest List and Photographs of Earth
ca. 1970s - folder 7
Oversize Photographs and Small Artworks
Back to Top
Series IX: Reports, Notes, and Professional Writings
- box-folder 2 folder: 1
Drafts - Chapters 10, 11, and unknown
- box-folder 1 folder: 1-4
Reports and Articles (4 folders)
- box-folder 1 folder: 5
Apollo Notes - #1
1967-04-1967-07 - box-folder 1 folder: 6-7
Apollo Notes (2 folders)
1967-08-1967-12 - box-folder 1 folder: 8
Apollo Notes - #3
1968-01-1968-03 - box-folder 1 folder: 9-10
Apollo Notes - #4 (2 folders)
1968-04-1968-07 - box-folder 1 folder: 11-13
Apollo Notes - #5 (3 folders)
1968-08-01-1968-12-31 - box-folder 1 folder: 14-15
Apollo Notes - #6 (2 folders)
1969-01-01-1969-03-30 - box-folder 1 folder: 16
Apollo Notes
1969-04-30-1969-11-05 - box-folder 2 folder: 3-16
Reports and Articles (14 folders)
- box-folder 2 folder: 18
Miscellaneous
- box-folder 3 folder: 37
"R.A.E. News. The Journal of the Royal Aircraft Establishment" Vol. 24 No. 3
1971 - box-folder 4 folder: 1
"The Effect of Wing-Tip Propellers on the Aerodynamic Charateristics of a Low Aspect Ratio Wing" (MS Thesis, U. Minnesota)
1936 - box-folder 4 folder: 2
"An Investigation of the Lift and Thrust Theoretically Available from the Angular Momentum of a Propeller Wake"
ca. 1938 - box-folder 4 folder: 3
"Notes on the Stalling of Vertical Trail Surfaces and on FIN Design" -- F. L. Thonpson and R. R. Gilruth
1940 - box-folder 4 folder: 4
"Analysis and Prediction of Longitudinal Stability of Airplanes" -- R. R. Gilruth and M. D. White
1941 - box-folder 4 folder: 5
"Lateral Control Required for Satisfactory Flying Qualities..." - R. R. Gilruth and W. N. Turner
1941 - box-folder 4 folder: 6
"Lateral Control Required for Satisfactory Flying Qualities..." -- R. R. Gilruth and W. N. Turner (NACA Report No. 715)
1941 - box-folder 4 folder: 7
"Requirements for Satisfactory Flying Qualities of Airplanes"
1941 - box-folder 4 folder: 8
"Requirements for Satisfactory Flying Qualities of Airplanes" (NACA Wartime Report)
1941 - box-folder 4 folder: 9
"Requirements for Satisfactory Flying Qaulities of Airplanes" (NACA Report No. 755)
1943 - box-folder 4 folder: 10
"Analysis of Vertical-Tail Loads in Rolling Pull-Out Maneuvers"
1944 - box-folder 4 folder: 11
"Aerodynamic Problems of Guided Missiles"
1947 - box-folder 4 folder: 12
"Resume and Analysis of NACA Wing-Flow Tests"
1947-1948
Back to Top
