In 1986, the University Libraries at Virginia Tech established the AAAE as one of the core collecting areas for Special Collections and University Archives. Its purpose is to preserve and provide access to published and unpublished materials that document American aeronautical and space history, as well as related sciences. The AAAE includes books, articles, notes, photographs, reminiscences, memorabilia, oral histories, patents, drawings, and schematics. Current holdings comprise more than three dozen collections of papers from pilots, astronauts, physicists, chemists, engineers, NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) administrators and project managers, writers, illustrators, and researchers in industry and academia.
In this exhibit, you will find a selection of materials from just eight of these collections, providing a small glimpse into the many materials available for research. The collections on display were selected for their unique perspectives on the subject. From artists to news technicians to the founder of astrodynamics, you will find many interesting documents, illustrations and photographs to start your journey of discovery into American space and aviation history.
This exhibit was created as part of the project, "Piercing the Veil: Creating Access to the Archives of American Aerospace Exploration at Virginia Tech," funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) from 2022 to 2024.
