Smithsonian Institution Archives

Farouk El-Baz Papers, 1927-2012

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FA17-262
Creators:
El-Baz, Farouk
Dates:
1927-2012
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
88.891 cu. ft. (80 record storage boxes) (14 tall document boxes) (1 16x20 box)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
Farouk El-Baz (1938- ) was born in Zagazig, Egypt. He received a B.S. in Chemistry and Geology in 1958 from Ain Shams University, Cairo. In 1960 he came to the United States, where he earned an M.S. in geology at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1961 and a Ph.D. in geology at the University of Missouri in 1964. After teaching for a short period, he worked as an exploration geologist for the Pan American-United Arab Republic Oil Company, 1966-1967.
In 1967 El-Baz joined the staff of the Lunar Exploration Department of Bellcomm, Inc., and Bell Telephone Laboratories, and in 1969, became supervisor of lunar science planning and lunar science operations. In this position, he worked directly with the United States space program on lunar data analysis, landing site selection, lunar exploration planning, and orbital science crew training. In 1969 he was named a member of the Apollo Program Science Support Team.
At Bellcomm El-Baz began pioneering work in remote sensing in which a variety of scientific means are used to examine the surface of the earth or the moon from space. This work led him into the use of space photography to study the earth's deserts.
In 1973 El-Baz joined the staff of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, where he established the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, which he directed until 1982. At the same time, he served as science advisor to President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, 1978-1981, and was Principle Investigator of the Earth Observations and Photography Experiment on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first joint American-Soviet space mission of July 1975.
In 1982 El-Baz became Vice President for International Development at Itek Optical Systems in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he oversaw the application of data from the Space Shuttle's Large Format Camera. The photography of this advanced system assisted greatly in his program of desert study from space. In 1986 he accepted the position of Director of the Boston University Center for Remote Sensing to promote the use of space technology in the fields of archaeology, geography and geology. During the Gulf War in 1991 El-Baz studied the effects of environmental disturbances on desert terrain.
In addition to his work on remote sensing, El-Baz is also known for his participation in the International Astronomical Union's Task Group for Lunar Nomenclature, which was responsible for naming the features of the moon's surface geography.
El-Baz has been a citizen of the United States since 1970.
This accession consists of El-Baz's personal papers documenting his professional and research activities at the Pan American-United Arab Republic Oil Company, Boston University Center for Remote Sensing, Itek Optical Systems, the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and Bellcomm, Inc., in regard to deserts, remote sensing, lunar science, earth and planetary studies, oil exploration, and large format cameras. The papers also document El-Baz's participation in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Apollo Program and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, as well as his involvement in field work, professional societies, conferences, committees, workshops and as science advisor to President Anwar Sadat of Egypt. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, and notes; meeting agendas and minutes; proposals; surveys; lecture papers; reports; press releases; contracts and agreements; budget summaries; photographs, slides, and negatives; awards information; publications and articles; newspapers, magazines, and clippings featuring or including comments about El-Baz; maps, illustrations, and drawings; and supporting documentation. Some materials are in electronic format.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 17-262, Farouk El-Baz Papers
Use Restriction
Restricted for duration of Farouk El-Baz's lifetime without written permission from Donor. Transferring office; 2/27/1983 Agreement of Transfer; Contact reference staff for details.

More Information

Notes

Personal Papers


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
El-Baz, Farouk Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sadat, Anwar, 1918-1981 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boston University. Center for Remote Sensing Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Air and Space Museum (U.S.). $ Center for Earth and Planetary Studies Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Itek Corporation. Itek Optical Systems Division Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bellcomm, Inc. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pan-American-United Arab Republic Oil Company Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Project Apollo (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Apollo Soyuz Test Project Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Space Shuttle Program (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lunar geophysics Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Remote sensing Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Petroleum -- Prospecting Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Astrogeology Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Professional associations Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lectures and lecturing Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Congresses and conventions Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Committees Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Astrophysics Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Space photography Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Astronautics Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Publications Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Contracts Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Deserts Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Moon -- Exploration Place Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newspapers Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Books Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
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Electronic records Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maps Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Illustrations Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Color photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white negatives Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Color transparencies Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white transparencies Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Color negatives Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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