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NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUMSmithsonian Institution, P. O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 John R. Dailey, Director The National Air and Space Museum has the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. The Museum's goal is to explore and present the history, science, technology, and social impact of aeronautics and spaceflight and to investigate and exhibit the nature of the universe and our environment. The Museum's Department of Collections and Research entails five divisions that present varied opportunities for research and study. The Divisions of Aeronautics and Space History conduct studies on the origin and development of flight through the atmosphere and in space, while the Museum's Center for Earth and Planetary Studies carries out programs of basic research in planetary and terrestrial geosciences and remote sensing. The Museum's preservation and restoration efforts occur at the Paul E. Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland. The Museum's collection of nearly 55,000 artifacts includes over 350 aircraft and more than 250 rockets, spacecraft, and guided missiles. The collection also includes engines, propellers, instruments and avionics equipment, flight clothing and space suits, personal equipment, medals and awards, and a broad range of cultural items. The Museum's art collection exceeds 4,000 pieces. Opportunities for hands-on research of the Museum's collections should be proposed well in advance of applications because of the heavy schedule of the Collections Division. The Archives Division contains a wide range of visual and textual materials, many emphasizing the technical aspects of aircraft and spacecraft. The archival collection contains approximately 11,000 cubic feet of material, including an estimated 1.7 million photographs, and 20,000 film and video titles. The archives holds over five hundred collections of personal and professional records, and many other accessions too small to be treated as collections. Descriptions of many of these collections are available at http://www.SIRIS.si.edu/. A major attribute of these collections is their visual representation of aircraft and spacecraft through photographs and technical drawings. The archives also holds many technical manuals that document the design, construction, and performance of aircraft and spacecraft and the engines that powered them. The National Air and Space Museum Technical Files contain 1,300 cubic feet of aviation- and space-related materials organized by subject in twenty-two series. Materials include photographs, press releases, clippings, correspondence, reports, brochures, and other documentation of individuals, organizations, events, and objects. Finding aids to some collections are available at http://www.nasm.edu/nasm/arch. Historical research in the Museum is aided both by these internal resources as well as the proximity to holdings and expertise in the Washington area. The Museum has programs of scholarly collaboration with major universities and government labs including Cambridge, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, Northwestern University, University of Virginia, and University of Pittsburgh. Museum professionals serve as committee members for scientists and historians working on advanced degrees at various universities. Scientific research in terrestrial and planetary geology and geophysics is aided by collections of hard copy and digital planetary data housed in the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. Included in the collections are more than 200,000 Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz and Space Shuttle prints and transparencies of Earth, selected Landsat images and digital data (primarily for Earth's desert regions), and complete sets of Ranger through Apollo images and photographs of the Moon. Images of the planets and their moons are available as prints, negatives and digital files. The Center has a variety of computers, and scanning and digitizing equipment, for use in research. The Museum's library contains an extensive collection of books, periodicals, rare materials, and microforms in the following subjects: the history of aviation and spaceflight, aeronautics and astronautics, earth and planetary studies, and astronomy. Access to a variety of electronic information sources is also available in the library at http://www.SIRIS.si.edu/. The library is a branch of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Research is fundamental and integral to all of the work of the National Air and Space Museum. The staff works closely with many professional aviation, scientific, and historical societies, and maintains close research associations with other related museums, both in this country and abroad. In addition to the Smithsonian Fellowships, the National Air and Space Museum provides research opportunities in history, science, and art that include fellowships, internships, a publications grant, and appointments as visiting scholars. Scholars are encouraged to apply for these opportunities:
AERONAUTICS DIVISIONThe Aeronautics Division is responsible for the historical research and collecting activities of the National Air and Space Museum related to all aspects of flight in the atmosphere. The goal of the division is to preserve, document, and interpret the history of aeronautical technology within a broad and appropriate political, economic, and social context. As part of this responsibility, the division acquires, documents, and maintains a collection of historically significant artifacts for public exhibition, study, and reference. Staff members conduct historical research leading toward scholarly and popular publications, exhibitions, lectures, seminars, and other forms of public presentation. Staff members also respond to a broad range of requests from the public on matters related to the history of aeronautics. RESEARCH STAFFANDERSON JR., John D., Curator for Aerodynamics, Division of Aeronautics. B.S. (1959) University of Florida; Ph.D. (1966) Ohio State University. Research specialties: Hypersonic aerodynamics, high-temperature gas dynamics, computational fluid dynamics, and history of aerodynamics. COCHRANE, Dorothy S., Curator, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1972) Ithaca College; M.Ed. (1975) Lehigh University. Research specialties: General aviation, aerial photography, history of women in aviation. CROUCH, Tom D., Senior Curator, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1966) Ohio University; M.A. (1968) Miami University; Ph.D. (1976) Ohio State University. Research specialties: Technology and society, U.S. social history, aerospace history. DASO, Dik, Curator of Modern Military Aircraft, Division of Aeronautics. B.S. (1981) United States Air Force Academy; M.A. (1992), Ph.D. (1996) University of South Carolina. Research specialties: American military history, airpower history, colonial/revolutionary America, Napoleonic France, history of technology. DAVIES, Ronald E.G., Curator, Division of Aeronautics. Fellow, Royal Geographical Society; Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society; Fellow, Royal Society of Arts; past Lindbergh Professor, NASM; Associate Academie Nationale de l'Air et de L'Espace; holder, Merito Santos Dumont (Brazil); and Ordem do Merito. Research specialties: History of world's airlines; development of air transport; commercial aircraft. HARDESTY, Von D., Curator, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1961) Bluffton College; M.A. (1964) Case Western Reserve University; Ph.D. (1974) Ohio State University. Senior Associate Member, St. Antony College, Oxford, 1994. Regents Publication Fellow, 1994-1995. Research specialties: History of Russian and Soviet aviation. General aviation history, American and European, air power history. JAKAB, Peter L., Curator, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1980), M.A. (1982), Ph.D. (1989) Rutgers University. Research specialties: History of technology; history of aviation and aeronautical engineering; history of early flight; Wright brothers; World War I aviation. KINNEY, Jeremy R., Curator, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1994) Greensboro College; M.A. (1998), Ph.D. (2003) Auburn University. Research specialties: Air racing; Aircraft Propulsion; Interwar Military Aviation; Aircraft Design, Technology, and Manufacturing; History of Technology; Twentieth Century United States. LEE, Russell E., Curator, Division of Aeronautics. B.S. (1981) Southwest Texas State University; M.S. (1992) George Mason University. Research specialties: Sport aviation (includes gliders, sailplanes, hang gliders, ultralight and amateur-built aircraft), tailless and semi-tailless aircraft, development of composite structures in sport aircraft. LONDON, Joanne Gernstein, Curator, Division of Aeronautics. B.S. (1983), M.A. (1987) Cornell University; Ph.D. (2000) George Washington University. Research specialties: Aviation posters. PISANO, Dominick A., Curator, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1966) Pennsylvania State University; M.S. (1974) Catholic University; Ph.D. (1988) George Washington University. Research specialties: Social and cultural aspects of American aviation; minorities in aviation; bibliographical and historiographical research in aviation. AFFILIATED RESEARCH STAFFCONNOR, Roger, Museum Specialist, Division of Aeronautics. B.S. (1993) Virginia Tech; M.A. (2002) George Washington University. Research specialties: Rotary-wing and V/TOL aviation; hovercraft; aircraft instrumentation and avionics. DIETZ, Thomas J., Museum Specialist, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1987) University of Virginia. Research specialties: Model aircraft, aircraft armament and ordnance, World War II German aircraft. LOPEZ, Donald S., Deputy Director. B.S. (1956) Air Force Institute of Technology; M.S. (1957) California Institute of Technology. Research specialties: Thermodynamics (propulsion), World War I aviation history; World War II aviation history. MOORE, Christopher, Museum Specialist, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1983) University of California, San Diego; M.A. (1997) George Mason University. Research specialties: Collections management. SPENCER, Alex M., Museum Specialist, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1987), M.A. (1990) Pennsylvania State University; Ph.D. (Candidate) Auburn University. Research specialties: British aviation, military flight clothing, aviation trophies and awards. VAN DER LINDEN, F. Robert, Curator of Air Transportation, Division of Aeronautics. B.A. (1977) University of Denver; M.A. (1981), Ph.D. (1997) George Washington University. Research specialties: U.S. commercial aviation, interwar military and naval aviation, special purpose aircraft. CENTER FOR EARTH AND PLANETARY STUDIESThe Center for Earth and Planetary Studies (CEPS) is a scientific research unit of the National Air and Space Museum. The Center's staff is actively involved in planetary and terrestrial geologic and geophysical research using remote sensing data obtained by Earth orbiting satellites, manned and unmanned space missions, and field studies. Several members of the research staff participate on the science teams for current and future missions to Mars, including Mars Express, the two Mars Exploration Rovers, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Staff members are also actively involved in preparations for future missions to Mercury, the Moon, and the outer solar system. Research activities include the geologic evolution of planetary surfaces, geologic mapping, comparative studies of volcanic and tectonic landforms on the Earth and other terrestrial planets, and geomorphology and surface dynamics in arid and semi-arid regions of the Earth. The Center houses a NASA-supported Regional Planetary Image Facility that includes digital images and photographs of the Earth, Moon, and other planets and their satellites, as well as cartographic products generated from these images. This facility serves the research needs of the Center's staff and ensures that images and other planetary mission data are accessible to the larger community of investigators and interested public in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern regions of the United States. Scientific investigations using digital images and other digital data are supported by a variety of software packages, including ISIS, PICS, PCI, and ARC/INFO. Online search capabilities of terrestrial and planetary databases are also available. RESEARCH STAFFCAMPBELL, Bruce A., Geophysicist, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. B.S. (1986) Texas A&M University, Ph.D. (1991) University of Hawaii. Research specialties: Geophysical applications of imaging radar data, radar backscatter, volcanism, Venus geologic mapping. CRADDOCK, Robert A., Geologist, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. B.S. (1985) University of Georgia; M.S. (1987) Arizona State University; Ph.D. (1999) University of Virginia. Research specialties: Mars geology; lunar geology; fluvial processes; geomorphic analyses and quantitative modeling. JOHNSTON, Andrew K., Geographer. M.A. (1998) University of Maryland; B.A. (1991) George Washington University. Research specialties: Geography Remote sensing. MAXWELL, Ted A., Associate Director for Collections and Research, and Geologist, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. A.B. (1971) Franklin and Marshall College; M.S. (1973), Ph.D. (1977) University of Utah. Research specialties: Geomorphology, planetary geology. WATTERS, Thomas R., Senior Scientist, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. B.A. (1977) West Chester University; M.A. (1979) Bryn Mawr College; Ph.D. (1985) George Washington University. Research specialties: Structure/tectonics; planetary geology; tectonophysics and remote sensing. AFFILIATED RESEARCH STAFFGRANT, John A., Geologist, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. B.A. (1982) State University of New York; M.S. (1985) University of Rhode Island; Ph.D. (1990) Brown University. Research specialties: Planetary geology and process geomorphology. STRAIN, Priscilla L., Program Manager, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. B.A. (1974) Smith College. Research specialties: Remote sensing; lunar geology. ZIMBELMAN, James R., Geologist and Chairman, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. B.A. (1976) Northwest Nazarene College; M.S. (1978) University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D. (1984) Arizona State University. Research specialties: Planetary geology and volcanology; arid land geomorphology; remote sensing. DIVISION OF SPACE HISTORYThe Division of Space History (DSH) is the focal point for the space-related historical research, collecting and exhibit work of the Museum. Curators and staff within the department research and publish; engage in public outreach through exhibitions, lectures, and other means; and collect and manage the care of rocket and space artifacts in the Museum's National Collection. The Division embodies the Museum's mission to preserve, understand, and communicate the history of rocketry and space exploration, as part of the larger story of United States and world history. As a museum, our special strength is documenting this history through our artifacts. The Museum possesses an unparalleled collection that preserves many facets of rocketry and space exploration undertaken by the United States and, to a lesser degree, other countries. Our artifacts cover programs and technology created for human spaceflight, rocketry and missiles, computers and avionics, commercial satellites, military space, space sciences, ground- and space-based astronomy, and foreign space programs. These artifacts are on display in a number of venues: the Museum on the National Mall, at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, and, through the Division's active loan program, at museums around the United States and around the world. Using the Museum's collections, as well as archival and bibliographic sources, the Division investigates the disciplines that use the vantage point of space, including astronomy, space physics, atmospheric sciences, communications, and life sciences, and also the means by which humans have probed or explored space, including rockets, launch vehicles, and spacecraft. Its research encompasses historical studies of space science and exploration, as well as technical surveys of space disciplines. In addition, the Division undertakes historical studies of the social and cultural, economic and political aspects of space flight and exploration. RESEARCH STAFFCERUZZI, Paul E., Curator, Aerospace Computing and Electronics, Division of Space History. B.A. (1970) Yale University; Ph.D. (1981) University of Kansas. Research specialties: Aerospace electronics, computing, microelectronics, missile guidance & control. COLLINS, Martin J., Curator, Civilian Applications Satellites, Division of Space History. B.G.S. (1977) University of Michigan; M.A. (1985), M.L.S. (1985), Ph.D. (1998) University of Maryland. Research specialties: History of post-World War II science and technology; history and culture of communications satellites; globalization; oral history and archives. DAVID, James E., Curator, Military Space, Division of Space History. B.A. (1973) Occidental College; M.A. (1990) Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Research specialties: Federal records management; classification and declassification of federal records, location and accessibility of agency, White House, and Congressional records. DEVORKIN, David H., Curator, History of Astronomy and the Space Sciences, Division of Space History. B.A. (1966) University of California, Los Angeles; M.S. (1968) San Diego State University; M.Phil. (1970) Yale University; Ph.D. (1978) University of Leicester. Research specialties: History of modern astrophysics; history of astronomy and the space sciences; oral history and biography. LAUNIUS, Roger D., Curator, Planetary Exploration and Mercury and Gemini Programs. B.A. (1976) Graceland College; M.A. (1978), Ph.D. (1982) Louisiana State University. Research specialties: Aerospace history; history of NASA; history of space exploration; planetary science; space access; colonies in space; human and robotic space exploration. LEWIS, Cathleen S., Curator, Russian and Soviet Space Programs, International Programs, Division of Space History. B.A. (1980); M.A. (1983) Yale University. Research specialties: History of Russian and Soviet space programs; International cooperation in space; blacks in aviation and spaceflight; biological sciences in space. NEUFELD, Michael J., Chair and Museum Curator, Division of Space History. B.A. (1974) University of Calgary; M.A. (1976) University of British Columbia; M.A. (1980), Ph.D. (1984) The Johns Hopkins University. Research specialties: German rocketry and aeronautics; World War II, the Holocaust, and strategic bombing; U.S. space and guided-missile history since 1945. NEAL, Valerie, Curator, Skylab, Space Shuttle, Spacelab, and Space Station History, Space History Division. B.A. (1971) Texas Christian University; M.A. (1973) University of Southern California; Ph.D. (1979) University of Minnesota. Research specialties: Post-Apollo human spaceflight (Skylab, Space Shuttle, Space Station); Shuttle-based space science, especially Spacelab missions. NEEDELL, Allan A., Curator, Apollo Program, Division of Space History. B.A. (1972) Cornell University; M.A. (1974), Ph.D. (1980) Yale University. Research specialties: History of modern physical sciences and the organization of American science; history of space exploration; Apollo spacecraft and associated artifacts. WEITEKAMP, Margaret A., Curator, Social and Cultural Dimensions of Spaceflight. B.A. (1993) University of Pittsburgh; M.A. (1996), Ph.D. (2001) Cornell University. Research specialties: Space exploration in popular culture, including memorabilia and ephemera from actual space exploration as well as space science fiction memorabilia, merchandise, and props; space-themed toys; women in early U.S. space program. WINTER, Frank H., Curator, Rocketry, Division of Space History. B.A. (1978) University of Maryland. Research specialties: Rocket history, rocketry and astronautics from ancient China to post-World War II. AFFILIATED RESEARCH STAFFSKOMER, Jennifer Kay, Museum Specialist, Division of Space History. B.A. (1999) University of Michigan; M.A. (2002) George Washington University; PhD (expected 2011) George Mason University. Research specialties: NASA photography program, NASM's human spaceflight camera collection, material culture, visual culture. YOUNG, Amanda Joan, Museum Specialist, Division of Space History. No advanced degrees. Research specialties: US Spacesuits - Early development through Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs; Astronaut Equipment - including medical, personal hygiene, in-flight etc. RAMSEY ROOM, NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM BRANCH, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIESNamed in honor of Admiral DeWitt Clinton Ramsey, an early naval aviator, this room contains rare library materials concerning the history of aviation and spaceflight. The William Burden collection of early ballooning works and the Bella Landauer Collection of aeronautical sheet music are housed in this room along with a large number of big-little books from the 1930s, the Tom Swift series, other children’s books, and works by Jules Verne. In addition, the Ramsey Room contains a large number of first editions, many of them autographed by pioneers of flight. The William Upcott scrapbook with original letters written by the Montgolfier brothers in the 1870s also contains original prints and rare newspaper clippings collected by Upcott, a 19th-century British book dealer, and the 1836 Moon Hoax portfolio documents the hoax perpetrated by the New York Sun reporter R. A. Locke. The Ramsey Room is located within the Branch Library and adjacent to the Archives Division. The Smithsonian Institution Libraries encourages independent research projects by Smithsonian fellows and short-term visitors. |
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Last update 12-04-07 e-mail: veenbaasp@si.edu |