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:

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/ ).