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National Air and Space Museum Archives
Ralph Hazlett Upson Collection
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NASM.XXXX.0177
- Creators:
-
Upson, Ralph Hazlett, 1888-1968
- Dates:
-
1911-1968bulk 1940-1960
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
7 Cubic feet21 boxes
- Repository:
This collection contains Upson's papers and notebooks. The material consists of notebooks, both general (1911-35) and experimental (1928-68) and reference files on a variety of aeronautical subjects. The collection also contains material from Upson's teaching career, as well as miscellaneous personal documents.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
This collection contains Upson's papers and notebooks. The material consists of notebooks, both general (1911-35) and experimental (1928-68) and reference files on a variety of aeronautical subjects. The collection also contains material from Upson's teaching career, as well as miscellaneous personal documents.
There is approximately seven cubic feet of correspondence, reports, manuscripts, notebooks and various other materials.
Arrangement note
Arrangement note
- Contents:
- Series 1: Personal and Career
- Subseries 1: Personal
- Subseries 2: Career
- Subseries 3: Education
- Subseries 4: Authorship
- Subseries 5: Correspondence
- Series 2: Notepads and Notebooks
- Subseries 1: Notepads and Appointment books
- Subseries 2: Notebooks
- Series 3: Subject files
- Series 4: Miscellaneous
Biographical/Historical note
Biographical/Historical note
Ralph Hazlett Upson (1888-1968) was an aeronautical engineer, inventor and pilot. After graduation from Stevens Institute of Technology (ME 1910) he rocketed to prominence by winning the International Balloon Race (1913) and American National Balloon Race (1913, 1921). He worked as chief engineer of the aeronautical department of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (1914-1920), during which time he flew the first United States Navy coastal patrol airship on a demonstration flight (1917) and served on the Navy Design Mission to Europe (1918-19). He then moved to the Aircraft Development Corp. (Chief Engineer 1922-27) while serving as chairman of the Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) division of the Aeronautical Safety Code Commission, US Bureau of Standards (1922-24). He went to work for Aeromarine-Klemm Corp. and a number of other companies (1928-42), during which time he designed the first successful metal-clad airship, the ZMC-2 (1929). After a brief tenure at H. J. Heinze Co. (Chief of Aeronautical Engineering (1942-44) he moved into academia at New York University (NYU, Research Specialist and Lecturer 1944-46) and the University of Minnesota (Professor of Aeronautical Engineering 1946-56; Professor Emeritus 1956-1968). Upson then worked for Boeing (Research Specialist 1956-64) and remained an active consultant until his death.
Administration
Author
Kate Igoe
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Francis A. Upson, gift, 1974, XXXX-0177
Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Processing Information
The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) received these materials in 1974. This was a donation from Frances Upson, the wife whom Ralph Upson met aboard ship on his way to the 1913 Gordon Bennett Race. Original order, when identified, has been maintained.
Upson's book
Free and Captive Balloons
will not be found in this collection, but is contained within the holdings of NASM's Library. The researcher may also wish to consult the NASM Archives' Aerospace Vehicle and Engine Drawings Collection (XXXX-0002), which includes 138 drawings of the Aircraft Development Corporation's MC-2.Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access note
No restrictions on access.
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Ralph Hazlett Upson Collection, Acc. XXXX-0177, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
More Information
General note
General note
An artifact from this collection, the Early Bird plaque of Ralph Upson, was transferred to the Aeronautics Division of the National Air and Space Museum.
Keywords
National Air and Space Museum Archives
14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151
NASMRefDesk@si.edu