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Correspondence

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Finding aid
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Object Details

sova.sia.faru0398
Creator:
National Air and Space Museum. Department of Astronautics
Topic
Museum curators
Museum exhibits
Aeronautical museums
Astronautical museums
Astronauts
Creator:
National Air and Space Museum. Department of Astronautics
See more items in
Correspondence
Historical Note
Frederick Clark Durant, (1916-2015) was born in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and educated as a chemical engineer at Lehigh University (B.S., 1939). He served as a naval pilot during World War II. In the post war years his career led him through a variety of aspects of aeronautics and rocketry, in both the government and private corporations. He was employed with Bell Aircraft Corporation, 1947-1948; the U.S. Naval Air Rocket Test Station, New Jersey, 1949-1952; as an Engineering Consultant, 1953-1954; with Arthur D. Little, Inc., 1955-1957; Avco-Everett Research Laboratory, 1958-1961; and Bell Aerosystems Company, 1962-1964. In 1965 he joined the National Air Museum (the National Air and Space Museum - after 1966) as its Assistant Director for Astronautics. He held that post until leaving NASM in 1980 to pursue other interests. Durant is a recognized expert on the history of rocketry and is a member of numerous societies, among them the American Astronautical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and he is a past President of the American Rocket Society.
Extent
32 cu. ft. (64 document boxes)
Date
1965-1984, with materials dating from circa 1953
Archival Repository
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Identifier
Record Unit 398
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 398, National Air and Space Museum. Department of Astronautics, Correspondence
Rights
Box 33 contains copyrighted materials; see finding aid. Contact reference staff for details.
Genre/Form
Manuscripts
Descriptive Entry
This collection deals chiefly with Durant's tenure as Assistant Director for Astronautics at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). Perhaps the single topic of greatest interest is the effort to obtain a building for NASM, which was accomplished on July 1, 1976, when the new museum opened. A parallel theme concerns the drive to plan and complete the new museum's exhibits. Durant's wide contacts in the aerospace community, based on his years as an engineer and administrator, made him very useful in this respect. At the same time, there is a continuing interest in the on-going study of the history of military aviation and astronautics as well. Finally, there is documentation for Durant's private interests, which included stamp collecting, magic, and the activities of the Cosmos Club, to which he belongs. Correspondents include many of the United States astronauts; Arthur C. Clarke; Stanley Kubrick; and the creators of Star Trek, the popular television series.
SIA.FARU0398
Large EAD
https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_216965
Record Unit 398
SIA
Record ID
ebl-1503511304052-1503511304067-0

Showing 7 result(s)

  • Electronic resource 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Archival materials 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Correspondence 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Correspondence / Series 3: SUBJECT FILES AND PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1946-1979, AND UNDATED. / Box 56 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Correspondence / Series 3: SUBJECT FILES AND PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1946-1979, AND UNDATED. 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Correspondence / Series 3: SUBJECT FILES AND PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1946-1979, AND UNDATED. / Box 55 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • ead_component 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Clear facet(s):

Included:

  • Remove Online visual material: Yes close
  • Folder 16 NASM, NASA lunar sample exhibit, 1969-1970

  • Folder 18 NASM, SI lunar sample exhibit, 1970. Includes photographs

  • Folder 12 NASM, "The Artist and Space," National Gallery of Art, 1969. Includes photographs

  • SUBJECT FILES AND PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1946-1979, AND UNDATED.

  • Box 56

  • Box 55

  • Folder 17 NASM, plans for building. Includes photographs

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