Research in NASA History: A Guide to the NASA History Program

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Research in NASA History: A Guide to the NASA History Program

September 14 2009

This updated version of Research in NASA History: A Guide to the NASA History Program explains what kinds of resources are available from the NASA History Division at Headquarters, the Field Centers, the National Archives, and other relevant organizations for researchers in aerospace history.

INTRODUCTION
As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008, historians as well as scientists and engineers could look back on a record of accomplishment.

Much has been written about the evolution of NASA’s multifaceted programs and the people who carried them out. Yet much remains to be done, and we hope this publication will facilitate research in this important field. As an active internal function, NASA history also marks its 50th year in 2009.

Aware of the historic mission on which it was embarking, NASA hired its first Chief Historian, Eugene M. Emme, in 1959. Emme remained on the job until 1978 and was the first of an unbroken line of NASA Chief Historians that included Monte D. Wright (1978–82), Sylvia Fries (1983–90), and Roger D. Launius (1990–2002). These individuals also served as Directors of the History Office at NASA Headquarters. As is evident from this publication, the various NASA Centers also carry out historical and archival functions.

Research in NASA History describes the efforts of NASA to capture and record the events of its past and to make that past accessible to NASA personnel, the historical community, and researchers. It describes the research opportunities and accomplishments of NASA’s Agency-wide history program. It also offers a concise guide to the historical documentary resources available at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC; at NASA facilities located around the country; and through the federal records systems.

This third edition of Research in NASA History replaces the first two editions published in 1992 and 1997, respectively. Those editions were preceded by History at NASA (1986), prepared by Sylvia Fries, and the Guide to Research in NASA History, first issued in 1976 and written by Alex Roland (second through seventh editions).

As an introduction to the field of space history, researchers may wish to consult Critical Issues in the History of Spaceflight (NASA SP-2006-4702), edited by Steven J. Dick and Roger D. Launius and published in 2006. Readers will find there some measure of the riches that await researchers in NASA history.

Steven J. Dick
NASA Chief Historian Director, NASA History Division February 2009

Download Research in NASA History: A Guide to the NASA History Program

PDF format, 2MB, 90Pages. Thanks to NASA History.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Office of External Relations
History Division
Washington, DC 20546
MONOGRAPHS IN AEROSPACE HISTORY, NO. 43
Third Edition
2009 NASA SP-2009-4543

CONTENTS
Part 1: The NASA History Program 5
1. Introduction 7
2. The NASA History Program 9
3. NASA History Series Publications 13
Part 2: Sources of NASA History in the Washington, DC, Area 25
4. Resources of the NASA History Division 27
5. Resources at Related NASA Offices 37
6. Guide to Related Government History Resources 39
Part 3: Sources of NASA History at the Centers 45
7. Historical Research at the NASA Centers 47
8. Historical Materials at Ames Research Center 49
9. Historical Materials at Dryden Flight Research Center 51
10. Historical Materials at Glenn Research Center 53
11. Historical Materials at Goddard Space Flight Center (Including Wallops Flight Facility) 55
12. Historical Materials at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 57
13. Historical Materials at Johnson Space Center 59
14. Historical Materials at Kennedy Space Center 69
15. Historical Materials at Langley Research Center 75
16. Historical Materials at Marshall Space Flight Center 83
17. Historical Materials at Stennis Space Center 85