Online Resources: Archives and Special Collections

Repositories with aviation and aerospace holdings. Please send suggestions for additional entries to prasasa@erau.edu.

• Arkansas State University, Archives & Special Collections: Holdings include the Cass S. Hough Aeronautical Collection.
• Auburn University Special Collections and Archives: The Aviation and Aerospace Collection contains materials on the history of both military and commercial aviation. Among the holdings are the papers of Eddie Rickenbacker and University Aviation Association records.
• Batesville (Indiana) Memorial Public Library: The Jim Mahle Memorial Aviation Collection contains material on military, commercial and private aviation.
• Boise State University, Special Collections and Archives: Holdings include the Michael Anderson Collection on Aviation History.
• Boston University: Aviation-related collections in the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University include papers of military and civilian pilots, as well as writers who wrote about aviation and astronauts.
• Bowling Green State University, Center for Archival Collections: Air transportation collections include Ercoupe Owners Club records and papers of Milton Hersberger, operator of Island Air Service.
• Brigham Young University: Aviation-related materials in Special Collections include photographs, early aviation printed material, Willis Carl Jackson and Holden C. Richardson Aviation Papers, Ken Schultz collection on Frontier Airlines, Utah aviation history files, interviews from the Western Aviation Oral History project and other collections.
• Brooklands Museum, Archives and Library: The Museum's technical archive contains information on aircraft built at Brooklands and at nearby manufacturing plants.
• California Institute of Technology: The Caltech Archives includes materials related to aviation pioneer Albert A. Merrill, the Harold R. Harris Aviation History Collection, the Charles E. Taylor Collection of Aviation Memorabilia, and collections related to aeronautical engineering and aeronautical engineers.
• California State University, Dominguez Hills: Collections include the 1910 Los Angeles International Aviation Meet Research Collection; a related digital collection on the air meet is also available.
• Canada Aviation and Space Museum Library and Archives: The Library and Archives is dedicated to fostering an understanding of the role aviation played in Canadian history as well as Canada's contributions to the development of aviation worldwide. The collection includes books, periodicals, technical manuals, research photographs, corporate and personal archival collections, as well as the Austro-Hungarian Aero-Technical Society of Vienna collection.
• Claremont Colleges Library, Special Collections: Holdings include the James Carruthers Memorial Aviation Collection and the Phillip H. Ault Aviation Collection.
• Cornell University, Weill Medical College: Personal papers and manuscripts include the papers of Hugh DeHaven.
• Dayton Metro Library: Holdings in the Local History Room include the Wright Brothers Collection.
• East Carolina University, Joyner Library: Collections include the William P. MacCracken Papers, materials related to the Wright Brothers and early flight, and papers of military and civilian pilots.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Aviation Safety and Security Archives: This repository on Embry-Riddle's Prescott, Arizona, campus holds records and papers of safety scientists, accident investigators and organizations involved in aviation safety and security, as well as safety and security-related published materials.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University Archives: Located at the Daytona Beach, Florida, campus, the University Archives document the history of Embry-Riddle.
• Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, Library and Archives Resource Center: Aviation library and archives, including The Hughes Archive containing documentation relating to the construction and fabrication of the Hughes Flying Boat, "Spruce Goose."
• Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, Museum Archives: Collections document the history of the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE).
• Flight Path Museum: Areas of special focus in the William A. Schoneberger Research Library include airlines, aircraft manufacturers, aviation pioneers and Los Angeles International Airport.
• Georgia State University, Southern Labor Archives: The archives' collections document Southern workers and their unions, including the Association of Flight Attendants, Eastern Airlines, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Union, as well as individuals involved in these organizations and in labor actions in the aviation/aerospace industry.
• Grand Rapids (Michigan) Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department: Archival collections include papers of pilots and of individuals involved in the development of airports and aeronautics in West Michigan, particularly Grand Rapids and Kent County.
• Harvey Mudd College: The Bates and Harvey Mudd Aeronautics Heritage Library documents Harvey Mudd College's rich aviation heritage and also makes available historical research materials on the history of the development of aviation and aeronautics, particularly in Southern California.
• Henderson State University (Arkansas), Huie Library Special Collections: Holdings include the James Blackmon Aviation Collection of aviation books and images.
• History Nebraska: Holdings include records of the state's Department of Aeronautics, aircraft manufacturers and flying schools, and papers of pilots and others involved in aviation in Nebraska.
• Iowa State University Library, Special Collections: Collections include the Iowa Aviation Collection, Alexander Lippisch Papers and Ann Holtgren Pellegreno papers on the history of aviation.
• Kansas Aviation Museum: The museum's research archive contains documents, photographs, negatives, drawings and periodicals documenting the growth of aviation in Kansas and the United States.
• Library of Congress: Numerous aviation-related collections are held by the Manuscript Division and Prints and Photographs Division. Additional collections may be found in other divisions, including the Science, Technology and Business Division (including the L'Aerophile collection) and the Microform Reading Room (Europaische Beitrage zur Geschichte des Weltkrieges II, 1939-1945: Luftkrieg/European contributions to the history of World War II, 1939-1945: air war).
• Linda Hall Library: Independent research library devoted to science, engineering and technology.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Distinctive Collections: Collections include records of the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and personal papers of aeronautical engineers.
• Minnesota Historical Society: Air transportation-related collections include records of Northwest Airlines and Republic Airlines, papers of pilots, and collections related to Charles Lindbergh, aeronautical research and the history of aviation in Minnesota.
• Missouri Historical Society: Holdings include collections related to Charles Lindbergh, St. Louis aviation history and records of pilots (including hot air balloon pilots) and aeronautical engineers.
• Montana Historical Society: Aviation-related collections include Montana Aeronautics Commission records and papers and oral histories of pilots, including pioneer female aviator Esther Combes Vance.
• Museum of Flight (Seattle): The museum's Dahlberg Research Center includes the Harl V. Brackin Memorial Library and the Museum of Flight Archives.
• Museum of History and Industry (Seattle), Sophie Frye Bass Library: Archival holdings include material related to Boeing and to the United States Army Air Service's "Round the World Flight" in 1924.
• National Air and Space Museum, Archives Department: The Archives Division holds approximately 1,200 collections, including personal and professional papers of individuals, corporate and organizational records, and artificial collections. These collections include visual, textual and audio documentary materials on the history of flight from ancient times to the present, and many emphasize technical aspects of aircraft and propulsion systems.
• National Archives and Records Administration: Records of the United States government's involvement in aviation and aerospace, including records of the FAA, NTSB, NASA, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and military branches.
• National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Research Division: The Research Division's primary role is to support the museum's exhibits and aircraft restoration programs, but the Division also provides some research assistance to organizations and individuals seeking information about Air Force aircraft, operations and personnel. See the "Research Policy" section on the website for instructions on submitting a reference query or making a research visit request. Collections include USAF aviators' papers, diaries and logbooks (including WWI ace and airline executive Eddie Rickenbacker), as well as the museum's own records. Historical photos may be accessed via their website.
• National Naval Aviation Museum, Emil Buehler Library: Holdings include manuscripts, books and technical manuals, as well as photographs, oral recollections and subject files primarily focusing on the development of U.S. Naval Aviation from 1911 to the present.
• Oregon Aviation Historical Society & Museum: The Archives and Hedberg Aviation Resource Library contain published and unpublished materials related to the history of aviation in Oregon.
• Oregon Historical Society: Holdings include photographs (including Early Birds of Aviation, Ninety-Nines, WWII aviation and Charles Lindbergh), papers related to aviation businesses and aviation history in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, and aviation ephemera.
• Purdue University Archives and Special Collections: The Barron Hilton Flight and Space Exploration Archives includes the papers of engineers, aviation professionals, scholars and astronauts. Among the collections are papers of Amelia Earhart, Neil A. Armstrong and Eugene Cernan.
• Royal Air Force Museum London: Archival collections include records of RAF (also Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service) personnel, aircraft and facilities, as well as records of companies in the British aircraft industry and personal papers of individuals involved with both the RAF and aviation in general.
• San Diego Air and Space Museum, Library and Archives: A repository holding publications, archival collections and technical specifications of aircraft. The collection focus is aviation/aerospace, with an emphasis on aerospace vehicles, events and individuals associated with the geographical area of San Diego, California.
• Seattle Public Library, Special Collections at the Central Library: The Aviation History Collection focuses on design, manufacturing and marketing of airplanes from 1930 to 1950.
• The State Historical Society of Missouri: Collections related to aviation include TWA-related collections; Leonard McMullin papers; U.S. Pilots Association records; Cantwell Aircraft Company records; and photographs, scrapbooks and other material related to Missouri aviation, airports and aviators.
• State Historical Society of North Dakota: The State Archives include records of the state Aeronautics Commission. Manuscript collections include materials related to aviation and airports in North Dakota and pilots from the state, including Carl Ben Eielson.
• Syracuse University, Special Collections Research Center: The Syracuse University Archives has established a special archives on the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster to bring together and make available materials about the disaster and to provide a place to memorialize the victims. The Special Collections Research Center also holds a number of aviation-related manuscript collections, including Mohawk Airlines Records and records of transportation law firm Speiser, Shumate, Geoghan, Krause & Rheingold.
• Texas A&M University — Commerce: Collections include the Jeana Yeager Aviation Collection, Arni Cole Collection (Cole Brothers Air Show) and papers of early pilot Yolanda Spirito.
• Texas Woman's University, Woman's Collection: Official repository of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) Archives, Whirly-Girls International, Women Military Aviators Inc., International Society of Women Airline Pilots, Air Race Classic and Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance. Some items have been digitized and are available online.
• University of Alabama in Huntsville, Salmon Library: Archives and Special Collections holds the Aircraft Engine Historical Society collection, as well as papers of aeronautical engineers, astronauts, pilots and research professionals.
• University of California, Santa Barbara: Aviation-related holdings include material about the Santa Barbara Airport, papers and photographs from military pilots, aviation trade catalogs and an oral history with John K. Northrop.
• University of Miami Libraries, Special Collections: Aviation collections include the records of Pan Am World Airways, Inc., as well as records and papers from other organizations and individuals, for the most part associated with Pan Am.
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas: Holdings include collections related to Western Airlines and Las Vegas-area aviation.
• University of New Orleans: Collections include the Newman Louisiana Aviation Collection.
• University of Oklahoma Libraries, Western History Collections: Transportation-related collections include records and original materials on aviation and air transport in the United States and Latin America.
• University of Oregon Libraries: Rare book collections include the Hallett Cole Zeppelin Collection and Lighter-Than-Air Library. The Oregon collection also includes publications and documents related to airports and aviation in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
• University of South Carolina Libraries, Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections: Collections include the Gilbert S. Guinn Collection of Military Aviation and History.
• University of South Carolina, South Caroliniana Library: Manuscript collections include Eastern Air Lines records relating to operations in South Carolina, John K. Montgomery (Tri-American Aviation Company) papers, Martin C. Dexter papers, and papers of aviators and flight instructors. The Library also holds Vertical (subject) Files on "Aviation in South Carolina."
• University of Southern California: Holdings include several collections which make up the USC Library of Aeronautical History.
• The University of Texas at Dallas, McDermott Library Special Collections Department: The History of Aviation Archives is the official repository for Civil Air Transport and Air America, and also holds numerous other collections on aviation history, including the Charles E. Rosendahl Lighter-Than-Air Collection and archival collections related to the history of Chance Vought.
• University of Utah: Special Collections include the Aviation-Early Flight Photograph Collection, Dean R. Brimhall papers, Alberta Hunt Nicholson papers and other aviation-related collections.
• University of Vermont: Aviation-related collections include Aircraft Accidents Records (created by the Vermont Aeronautics Commission) and the George D. Aiken papers, as well as collections related to airports in Burlington and Rutland, and papers of pilots and other individuals interested in aviation.

We welcome suggestions for resources to add to this list. Please send suggestions or corrections to prasasa@erau.edu.

When sending suggestions for additions to our Resources pages, please specify which page (e.g., Accident Information), what category or categories the item should be listed under, and justification for inclusion (i.e., how it relates to aviation safety and/or security).