Soule, Hartley A. Papers A Guide to the Hartley A. Soule Papers, 1950-1967 Ms.1987.004

A Guide to the Hartley A. Soule Papers, 1950-1967 Ms.1987.004


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Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech

Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu

The processing, arrangement, and description of this collection 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.

Special Collections Staff

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.1987.004
Title
Hartley A. Soule Papers 1950-1967
Quantity
3 Cubic Feet, 2 boxes; 1 folder
Creator
Soule, Hartley A. (Hartley Aiken), 1904-1988
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
The collection includes research files, personal notes, film scripts, and publications collected by Soule, an aerospace engineer, on the fields of aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace, particularly on the NACA and NASA programs, including the X-1 and X-15 jets, and the Mercury and Gemini space programs.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Hartley A. Soule Papers, Ms1987-004, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Hartley A. Soule Papers were donated to Special Collections in 1986.

Processing Information

Some initial processing was completed in the late 1980s by Special Collections staff. Additional processing, arrangement, and description of the collection commenced in June 2012 and was completed in October 2012. Final processing and description was completed in May 2024 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) .


Biographical Note

Hartley A. Soule (1904-1988) was an aeronautical engineer and NASA administrator. He received his B.S. degree from New York University in 1927 and joined the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) the same year. His list of positions at Langley included head of the Spin Tunnel Section, Chief of the Stability Research Division, and Assistant Director. Soule assisted in establishing the NASA High Speed Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base and the Mercury Ground Tracking and Data Acquisition System, and led development on the X-1 and X-15 experimental jet programs. He retired from NASA in 1962.

Scope and Contents

The Hartley A. Soule Papers include notes, memoranda, calculations, and drawings on the High-Speed Flight Research Station (1950-1954); Research Airplane Program (1953-1957); X-15 program (1958-1962); Dyna Soar program (1957-1962); Projects Mercury and Gemini (1961-1962); and history of the high-speed aircraft program (1963-67). Materials are arranged in two series. Series I: Papers, includes notes, correspondence, memos, subject files, and work projects. Series II: Publications, contains bound reports, scientific publications, and journals.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series. Series I: Papers, is organized by subject/material type. Files are in alphabetical order. Series II: Publications, is organized chronologically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Aeronautical engineers
  • Archives of American Aerospace Exploration (AAAE)
  • Science and Technology
  • United States -- National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics -- Officials and employees
  • United States -- National Aeronautics and Space Administration -- Officials and employees
  • United States. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
  • United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Hartley A. Soule Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Soule, Hartley A. (Hartley Aiken), 1904-1988

Container List

Series I: Papers
1950-1972, n.d.
  • box-folder 1 folder: 2
    Biographical Information
    1962-1969
  • box-folder 1 folder: 1
    Correspondence
    1957-1967
  • box-folder 1 folder: 3
    High Speed Research Airplane Program
    1951-1972
  • box-folder 1 folder: 4
    Memos, Technical Documents
    1957-1959, 1963, 1967-1968
  • box-folder 1 folder: 5
    Mercury Project- Budgets
    1959-1960
  • box-folder 1 folder: 6
    Mercury Project- Clippings
    1959
  • box-folder 1 folder: 7
    Mercury Project- Correspondence
    1958-1961
  • box-folder 1 folder: 8
    Mercury Project- Flight Plans
    1957, n.d.
  • box-folder 1 folder: 9
    Mercury Project- General Reports
    1958-1960
  • box-folder 1 folder: 10
    Mercury Project- Photographs
    n.d.
  • box-folder 1 folder: 11
    Mercury Project- Reports From Vendors
    1960, 1961
  • box-folder 1 folder: 12, 13
    Mercury Project Tracking Systems
    1956, 1959-1962
  • box-folder 1 folder: 14
    Mercury Project Tracking Systems- Memoranda of Understanding
    1960-1961
  • box-folder 1 folder: 15
    NACA Chronological Correspondence
    1957
  • box-folder 1 folder: 16
    NACA Clippings
    1951, 1959
  • box-folder 1 folder: 17
    NACA Photographs
    1950, 1954, n.d.
  • box-folder 1 folder: 18
    NACA Sketchings
    1945, 1947, n.d.
  • box-folder 1 folder: 19
    NASA Clippings
    1969
  • box-folder 1 folder: 20
    NASA Dyna Soar Project
    1962
  • box-folder 1 folder: 21
    NASA Flight Research Center
    1967-1968
  • box-folder 1 folder: 22
    NASA Manned Space Center Information
    1963-1966
  • box-folder 1 folder: 23
    Notes, 1950
  • box-folder 1 folder: 24
    Notes, 1951
  • box-folder 1 folder: 25
    Notes, 1952
  • box-folder 1 folder: 26
    Notes, 1953
  • box-folder 1 folder: 27
    Notes, 1954
  • folder 1
    Oversize Drawings
  • box-folder 1 folder: 28, 29
    Pacific Missile Range Technical Memoranda
    1959-1960
  • box-folder 1 folder: 30
    Space/Space Flight Publications
    1958, 1960-1962, 1969, n.d.
  • box-folder 1 folder: 31
    West Africa Publications
    1959-1960, n.d.
  • box-folder 1 folder: 32
    X-1
    1947-1948, 1952, 1957
  • box-folder 1 folder: 33
    X-15 Clippings
    1957-1961, 1964, 1969
  • box-folder 1 folder: 34
    X-15, John V. Belker Paper on Project Origins
    n.d.
  • box-folder 1 folder: 35
    X-15 Memorandum of Understanding
    1961-1962
  • box-folder 1 folder: 36, 37
    X-15 Movie Scripts
    1962-1964, 1968
  • box-folder 1 folder: 39
    X-15 Program Review Conference
    1965
  • box-folder 1 folder: 38
    X-15 Public Relations Materials
    1962, 1964
  • box-folder 1 folder: 40
    X-15 Public Relations Material(Press Kit)
    1954, 1958, n.d.
  • box-folder 1 folder: 41
    X-15 Technical Data
    1962
Series II: Publications
1959-1967, n.d.
  • box-folder 2 folder: 1
    Project Mercury - Report to NASA
    1959-08
  • box-folder 2 folder: 2
    A Proposal to NASA; Operation and Maintenance of the Guaymas Sonora Mexico Site
    1960-06-01
  • box-folder 2 folder: 3
    Project Mercury - Final Report to NASA
    1961-06
  • box-folder 2 folder: 4
    National Geographic
    1961-09
  • box-folder 2 folder: 5
    Missiles and Rockets, NASA
    1961-11-27
  • box-folder 2 folder: 6
    National Geographic
    1962-02
  • box-folder 2 folder: 7
    Results of the First United States Manned Orbital Space Flight
    1962-02-20
  • box-folder 2 folder: 8
    Final Report Project Mercury
    1962-03-01
  • box-folder 2 folder: 9
    Results of the Second United States Manned Orbital Space Flight
    1962-05-24
  • box-folder 2 folder: 10
    National Geographic
    1962-06
  • box-folder 2 folder: 11
    Results of the Third United States Manned Orbital Space Flight
    1962-10-03
  • box-folder 2 folder: 12
    Mercury Project Summary
    1963-05-15-1963-05-16
  • box-folder 2 folder: 13
    Project Mercury: A Chronology
    1963
  • box-folder 2 folder: 14
    Astronautics and Aeronautics: Charting Apollo Flights/The X-15 Project/Superconducting Coils
    1964-02
  • box-folder 2 folder: 15
    National Geographic
    1966-11
  • box-folder 2 folder: 16
    The Evolution of the Manned Space Flight Network
    1967-05-08
  • box-folder 2 folder: 17
    The Evolution of the Manned Space Flight Network through Gemini
    1967-12-01
  • box-folder 2 folder: 18
    Proposal to NASA - Project Mercury Slides
    n.d.